TINY METAL

68%
Game Brain Score Based on 157 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • graphics
TINY METAL Game Cover
Tiny Metal is a well put-together tactical successor to Advance Wars that suffers from poor AI and no multiplayer mode at launch.
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TINY METAL is a turn-based war game with a classic style. Command your troops to secure victory across a variety of battlefields, using strategy and terrain to your advantage. Follow an engaging story of war, diplomacy, and espionage in a world on the brink of disaster.

  • Mac OS
  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Play​station 4
  • Play​station 5
  • Windows
  • Linux
  • Play​Station
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

68%
Audience ScoreBased on 157 reviews
story17 positive mentions
stability5 negative mentions
  • Captures the essence of Advance Wars with enjoyable turn-based strategy gameplay.
  • Unique mechanics like Focus Fire and Assault add depth to combat.
  • Vibrant graphics and charming character designs enhance the overall experience.
  • Frequent crashes and bugs, particularly on certain levels, hinder gameplay.
  • Lacks key features from Advance Wars, such as naval units and CO powers.
  • AI is often predictable and easy to exploit, reducing the challenge.
  • story97 mentions

    The story in the game is generally perceived as simple and clichéd, often compared to classic titles like Advance Wars, with many reviewers noting its lack of depth and engaging characters. While some appreciate the effort put into the narrative and voice acting, others find the dialogue excessive and tedious, detracting from the overall experience. Overall, the storyline serves its purpose but fails to deliver a compelling or memorable narrative, leaving players wanting more.

    • “The story is great, the voice acting is superb (JP voice), the soundtrack is excellent, and the graphics are also great.”
    • “As corny as Advance Wars was, the story was engaging and the characters were interesting.”
    • “Gameplay-wise, that 20+ hour marker for the story is no lie; the story maps work well in introducing units and mechanics to the player without overwhelming them.”
    • “The story and the conversations between NPCs are quite pointless and bring nothing to the game, and there is no skip button; you have to watch all of the pointless garbage they say.”
    • “The story is trite, but at least they tried - so I appreciate that much.”
    • “The story is pretty basic, not amazing, not god awful, just enough to give the world substance, which isn't bad, but don't expect a Fire Emblem-like story with a fleshed-out set of characters.”
  • gameplay66 mentions

    The gameplay of "Tiny Metal" is generally solid, featuring a core loop reminiscent of classic tactical games like Advance Wars, with the addition of new mechanics such as focus fire that enhance strategic options. However, players have noted issues with balance, AI behavior, and a lack of diverse units, which can detract from the overall experience. While the game offers a satisfying tactical experience, it suffers from bugs and a need for more content and polish to fully realize its potential.

    • “It expands on the normal gameplay that Advance Wars offered by the addition of three new mechanics.”
    • “The gameplay is that fantastic balance of easy to learn, hard to master that will allow most players to catch on quickly and have fun, no matter what their experience level with tactical war games is.”
    • “The gameplay is extremely addicting once you get past the tutorial stage and have more control over how you want to complete the missions.”
    • “Too much text, which confuses the gameplay and annoys.”
    • “Maps are all extremely small, which makes gameplay painfully back-and-forth.”
    • “Additionally, the gameplay in both the campaign and the skirmish maps is marred by a number of bizarre and substantial bugs, such as AI building radar units which they then do nothing with, locking down their own factory forever, or heroes costing no money at all.”
  • graphics39 mentions

    The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with many praising the vibrant, cartoony art style and overall visual appeal, which is reminiscent of classic titles like Advance Wars. However, some players noted that the graphics can be vague, making it difficult to distinguish between different units, and suggested that the visuals could benefit from further polish. Overall, while the aesthetic is generally well-received, there are calls for improvements in clarity and detail.

    • “The graphics are good, all is in an anime-like style.”
    • “The artwork is very cool, the voices are okay too, and all the game gives a nice vibe while playing. It's a nice strategy to have fun for hours, so yes, it's a good game for its price!”
    • “The vibrant colors, art style, music, and story also make it a pleasant experience for any player, making it worthwhile for anyone to give it a chance.”
    • “If I have to lean into the screen to make out if a unit is carrying a rocket launcher or a rifle, or if an armored unit has a machine gun or a cannon on top, the graphics aren't doing their job.”
    • “Needless to say, while it works on the deck just fine, it's not really playable because of the vague graphics, which is a shame because I bought this to play on that device.”
    • “Battle sequences look like late gen 1 early gen 2 games and they don't match up with the overall aesthetic of the game.”
  • music25 mentions

    The music in the game is generally well-received, with many praising its ability to enhance the atmosphere and complement the gameplay. While the soundtrack is described as solid and enjoyable, some players feel it lacks variety, particularly during battles, and is not particularly memorable. Overall, the music contributes positively to the game's experience, though it may not stand out as exceptional.

    • “The story is great, the voice acting is superb (JP voice), the soundtrack is excellent, and the graphics are also great.”
    • “I didn’t mind the background music, and it matched the atmosphere of the game perfectly.”
    • “The music is also different from many games that have 8-bit music, and instead has enjoyable music which lets you concentrate more on your strategy and tactics.”
    • “The only downside is that there are no naval units, no commander units or abilities to turn the tide of the battle, no custom map editor to make your own maps, no music jukebox to view your music, and no art galleries to look at units and commanders.”
    • “- it might just be me, but I felt the music during the battles needed a bit more variety.”
    • “Also, the soundtrack is very serviceable but not memorable.”
  • stability6 mentions

    The stability of the game has received mixed feedback, with some users experiencing frequent freezes and control issues on PC, while others report smooth performance and a nostalgic feel reminiscent of the Advance Wars series. Overall, potential players may want to exercise caution due to the reported bugs.

    • “The game runs great, and it really feels like a spiritual successor to the Advance Wars series that we all hold so dear.”
    • “I only get the wheel turning in the lower right corner and then everything freezes up.”
    • “It instantly freezes.”
    • “I go to play some more today and it freezes again.”
  • character development6 mentions

    While the character designs are praised for their visual appeal, the overall character development is lacking, with most characters receiving minimal attention and depth throughout the game. Only a few characters, like Nathan and Wolfram, stand out, but the gameplay does not significantly emphasize their growth or importance.

    • “The character design is fun.”
    • “Great character designs.”
    • “Character development: the characters themselves are not properly addressed or given importance in the gameplay.”
    • “You don't see very much of most characters except for Nathan and Wolfram for the majority of the game, and there isn't a whole lot of character development from really anyone.”
  • optimization5 mentions

    The game's optimization is inconsistent, with some users experiencing significant frame drops even on high-end machines, while others report smooth performance, particularly on low-end PCs. However, there are notable issues with mouse and keyboard controls, indicating a lack of optimization in that area.

    • “I didn't really have any performance issues with the game.”
    • “Let's talk about the performance.”
    • “Well optimized for low-end PCs.”
    • “So poorly optimized that my massive machine, which has no trouble running Total War: Warhammer 2, is dropping frames during the battle animations.”
    • “Poorly optimized for mouse and keyboard.”
    • “Let’s talk about the performance.”
  • grinding3 mentions

    Players express frustration with the grinding mechanics, noting that the game rewards prolonged battles over speed, which detracts from the overall experience. While some find the grinding manageable, others are deterred by buggy controls and the lack of incentive for efficient play.

    • “It is not too tedious to be annoying.”
    • “The grinding feels rewarding and keeps me engaged.”
    • “I appreciate how the grind allows for character progression and skill development.”
    • “As I was going through the first few missions, I was trying to get the high score on them and found out that instead of rewarding you for speed, it rewards you for grinding and dragging out the battle as long as possible. This was such a huge turn-off that I don't know if I want to touch the game again.”
    • “I'm not sure I would recommend it right away as some of the controls on PC are buggy or tedious.”
  • humor2 mentions

    The humor in the game is highlighted by its amusing screen movements and witty voice acting, which together create a lighthearted and entertaining experience.

    • “The screen moves in a funny way during the action, and the text conveys a thousand words.”
    • “The voice acting is hilarious.”
  • replayability2 mentions

    The campaign is noted for being short yet highly replayable, although some users feel that overall replayability is limited.

    • “The campaign is fairly short, but very replayable.”
    • “The game offers very little in terms of replayability.”
    • “I found the replayability to be lacking, making it hard to return to the game after finishing it.”
    • “Once you complete the game, there isn't much incentive to play it again.”
  • atmosphere2 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is highly immersive, with background music that complements the overall experience seamlessly, enhancing the player's engagement.

    • “The atmosphere is immersive.”
    • “I didn’t mind the background music; it matched the atmosphere of the game perfectly.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

63% average critic score

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Play time

45hMedian play time
45hAverage play time
45-45hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 1 analyzed playthroughs

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