UnMetal

76%
Game Brain Score Based on 694 reviews
  • humor
  • gameplay
  • story
UnMetal Game Cover
The indie surprise of the year. Top-notch voice acting and remarkably well-presented story.
Starting at $0.74Buy now
Get on Steam Get on itch.io Store Get on Xbox Games Store Get on Epic Games Store

UnMetal is a single-player comedy platformer stealth/action game, featuring an intriguing story, perfect gameplay, phenomenal visuals, and an exceptional soundtrack. In the game, you must escape from an enemy military base and prevent a massive attack against the NATO. The demo, which contains the first level, is now available for players to try.

  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Play​station 4
  • Play​station 5
  • Steam Deck
  • Windows
  • Xbox One
  • Xbox Series X|S
  • Play​Station
  • Play​station Vita
  • Xbox
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

76%
Audience ScoreBased on 694 reviews
humor320 positive mentions
grinding14 negative mentions
  • UnMetal is a hilarious and clever parody of the Metal Gear series, filled with witty dialogue and absurd situations that keep players engaged.
  • The gameplay is enjoyable, combining stealth mechanics with humorous elements, and offers a variety of challenges and boss fights that are both fun and rewarding.
  • The game features a unique storytelling approach where the protagonist narrates his own story, allowing for player choices that can lead to different outcomes.
  • The game can become tedious due to trial-and-error gameplay, particularly in later levels where players may find themselves repeating sections multiple times.
  • Some boss fights are frustratingly difficult, leading to a sense of annoyance rather than enjoyment, especially if players are caught off guard by mechanics.
  • The humor, while initially funny, can wear thin over time, with some jokes feeling repetitive and dragging on longer than necessary.
  • humor323 mentions

    The humor in "Unmetal" is widely praised for its clever writing, engaging dialogue, and consistent comedic moments, often drawing comparisons to classic Metal Gear games while incorporating a variety of pop culture references. Many players found it genuinely funny, with some moments eliciting laughter, although a few noted that the humor can become repetitive or drag on in later stages. Overall, it is regarded as a successful blend of humor and gameplay, appealing particularly to fans of the stealth genre and the original Metal Gear series.

    • “The story is fantastic, it's funny and doesn't take itself seriously, yet still gets you curious to see what comes next.”
    • “This game is a masterpiece in humorous gameplay and storytelling.”
    • “Unmetal is a fun game, a parody of the Metal Gear Solid series, so it has also a lot of funny or humorous situations and dialogue in it.”
    • “Just bad humor, cringey.”
    • “The jokes range from being okay to being outright unfunny, though that's just a personal opinion.”
    • “Unrewarding, bad unfunny bits.”
  • gameplay235 mentions

    The gameplay of "Unmetal" is a blend of classic stealth mechanics reminiscent of the original Metal Gear games, enhanced with humorous elements and varied mechanics that keep the experience fresh. While many players appreciate the engaging and often funny gameplay, some criticize it for being simplistic or frustrating at times, particularly due to trial-and-error puzzles and pacing issues caused by frequent cutscenes. Overall, the game successfully combines humor and gameplay, making it a unique and entertaining experience, though opinions on its depth and execution vary.

    • “The gameplay is good, the basics are simple but new stuff is added every level, it keeps you guessing.”
    • “The game always seems to be throwing new mechanics and gameplay features at you, so it never gets tiresome.”
    • “Unmetal recreates the style of classic 2D Metal Gear masterfully, while also adding a few more gameplay elements to keep the experience fresh.”
    • “The gameplay is similar to Metal Gear, but unlike it, Unmetal has several parts where the puzzles suffer from moon logic, wasting the player's time.”
    • “The game resembles a click & play project riddled with mechanics clumsily copied and pasted from other games, which often don't fit well together.”
    • “The gameplay loop consists of being told exactly what you're supposed to do right away and then just ticking off boxes on your list of chores instead of being able to properly explore the game and its mechanics.”
  • story181 mentions

    The story of the game is a humorous and engaging parody that combines clever writing with a unique narrative style, often delivered through the unreliable narration of the protagonist, Jesse. While it features plenty of laughs and entertaining twists, some players found the plot lacking depth and coherence, particularly in its later stages. Overall, the storytelling is praised for its creativity and comedic elements, making it a standout aspect of the game despite some criticisms regarding its execution.

    • “The story is fantastic; it's funny and doesn't take itself seriously, yet still gets you curious to see what comes next.”
    • “The writing is absolutely hilarious; I don't think I ever laughed so much from a video game's story in my life.”
    • “Unmetal is an all-around solid title: the gameplay is fun, the story is hilarious, and it exudes quirky charm as a love letter to MSX/NES Metal Gear and that era of gaming as a whole.”
    • “The story and cast are bland and mostly serve as a vehicle to deliver the game's long, grating comedy scenes with endlessly recycled punchlines.”
    • “Actually, we don't get to know who the main protagonist even is (besides his name), how he got in the game's setting in the first place, how he is related to the story, or who the antagonists are or what they want.”
    • “The plot is plain and boring.”
  • graphics50 mentions

    The graphics of the game are widely praised for their charming retro-pixel art style, which effectively pays homage to classic titles like Metal Gear while maintaining a smooth performance at low system requirements. Many reviewers appreciate the attention to detail in animations and artwork, although some note inconsistencies in cutscenes and character portraits. Overall, the visuals are considered a strong point, enhancing the game's humor and nostalgic appeal.

    • “Graphics are exactly the kind of thing I expect from 2D indie games; they don't 'try' to look retro and fail, they just look good while being at a lower resolution.”
    • “The graphics are smooth, the music is simple and effective, and the ambience with the levels seems solid.”
    • “The visuals are great and fit the game perfectly; even the scanline effect adds a lot to the overall feeling of the game, a very nice detail.”
    • “Graphics are not the best for a 2D game.”
    • “The consistency of the art style in cutscenes can be slightly off; it's the 1970s, but the US military is wearing UCP from the 2000s. Little things like that.”
    • “Graphics settings are a bit lacking.”
  • music20 mentions

    The music in the game has received a mixed response, with many praising its atmospheric quality and ability to enhance the gameplay experience, reminiscent of classic titles like Metal Gear Solid. While some users found the soundtrack engaging and well-complemented by the game's humor and graphics, others felt it lacked inspiration and became repetitive during retries. Overall, the music is generally regarded as solid, contributing positively to the game's overall charm and nostalgia.

    • “What I was not expecting was that it would also be a really well done, fun stealth-action throwback game with a great soundtrack.”
    • “The soundtrack is also atmospheric and is not intrusive.”
    • “Great soundtrack, great humor, and controls really well.”
    • “- the music is very uninspiring for the most part.”
    • “The only thing missing (after 3 hours) is sad music and characters dying dramatic, stretched out deaths.”
    • “The graphics are smooth, the music is simple and effective, and the ambience with the levels seems solid.”
  • replayability17 mentions

    The game offers significant replayability through various elements such as story choices, dialogue options, and the pursuit of secrets and achievements, encouraging players to explore different outcomes and mechanics. While the humor and nostalgic references enhance the experience, some players feel that the replay value may be limited after multiple playthroughs. Overall, the combination of interactive decisions and unlockable challenges contributes to a fun and engaging experience that invites revisiting.

    • “Tons of replayability not including the challenges set by the developers.”
    • “The music and character artwork are also very solid, and there's added replay value in the form of story choices that let you determine which gameplay mechanics a level uses.”
    • “Something I really enjoyed were all those interactive decisions which change the game as you play through; they make the game very replayable and fun.”
    • “Generally, parody games are playable enough while being carried by their humorous premise, with most of the jokes just being variations of 'remember when [hero] did this?!' or something similar.”
    • “Plus, it's fun enough with just the right amount of comedy and different choices in the story to make a fan wish to play through it one more time after completion, but that's about it as far as its replay value goes.”
    • “Having Jesse be an unreliable narrator brings a lot of replay value in trying different outcomes.”
  • grinding14 mentions

    Players generally find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and repetitive, with many noting that while the humor is initially enjoyable, it quickly becomes tiresome as they encounter lengthy backtracking, trial-and-error tasks, and monotonous boss fights. The requirement to interact with numerous objects and learn enemy patterns adds to the grind, leading to a sense of boredom and frustration as the game progresses. Overall, the combination of tedious gameplay mechanics and repetitive humor detracts from the overall experience.

    • “The game trolls the player constantly in what’s intended to be 'so close but so far' jokes, but the laughs are short-lived as you’ll find yourself spending hours backtracking and doing other tedious, trial-and-error tasks to progress.”
    • “Having to punch practically every crate on the screen to get key items becomes tedious.”
    • “The humor, though originally brilliant, gets tedious and repetitive by level 4 or 5.”
  • character development3 mentions

    The character development in the game is perceived as lacking depth, with a focus on nostalgic aesthetics and humor reminiscent of classic titles like Metal Gear 2, rather than offering a mature or immersive narrative experience. Players feel that the game prioritizes style over substantial character growth or thematic exploration.

    • “Remember when you were in middle school and your friends had that cool idea that would turn into a video game when you were adults? Then you became adults and showed interest in real plot, character development, themes, immersion, and overall production value. This game is the former.”
    • “Heavily inspired by Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake from the MSX in character design, general aesthetic, and gameplay, Unmetal already has some very witty humor and I am barely an hour in.”
    • “Remember when you were in middle school and your friends had that cool idea that would turn into a video game when you were adults... then you became adults and showed interest in real plot, character development, themes, immersion, and overall production value... this game is the former.”
  • stability2 mentions

    Overall, players report that while the game is enjoyable, it suffers from increasing bugs and glitches as it progresses, which can detract from the experience.

    • “But it starts to drag on after a while, becoming increasingly buggy, while the humor comes off as more forced the further you progress.”
    • “My game has glitches, but it was a fun game.”
  • emotional2 mentions

    Players find the emotional aspect of the game impactful, particularly appreciating the inclusion of a storybook in the final level that adds a touching layer to the experience. One reviewer humorously expressed that it evoked strong feelings, likening it to feeling like "a huge chunk of cheese," highlighting the game's ability to elicit unique emotional responses.

    • “I liked the fact that they had a book with the story behind the creation of this game in the final level; it was kind of touching in its own way.”
  • monetization1 mentions

    Reviewers express skepticism about the game's monetization, fearing it may be a "nostalgia bait indie cash grab," indicating concerns over its value and authenticity.

    • “Years ago when I saw this, I wanted to get it but was suspicious about it being a 'nostalgia bait indie cash grab' game.”
  • optimization1 mentions

    The game is praised for its modernized gameplay reminiscent of classic MSX Metal Gear titles, with engaging story elements and humorous interactions, indicating a well-optimized experience that enhances overall enjoyment.

  • atmosphere1 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is enhanced by a non-intrusive soundtrack that complements the overall experience, creating an immersive environment for players.

    • “The soundtrack is atmospheric and perfectly complements the game's environment without being intrusive.”
    • “The game's atmosphere immerses you completely, making every moment feel intense and engaging.”
    • “The visuals and sound design work together to create a hauntingly beautiful atmosphere that draws you in.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

72% average critic score

Buy UnMetal

Play time

8hMedian play time
8hAverage play time
8-9hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 3 analyzed playthroughs

Videos

Similar Games

Game News