Tears of Metal officialy early access, a mix of Musou and Roguelite

After months of positive feedback from multiple playtests and its public demo, Tears of Metal officially entered Steam Early Access on July 23. It marks not only an important milestone for Paper Cult, but also the moment when players can finally see whether the excitement built throughout its testing period truly lives up to expectations.

A Scottish rebellion brought to life through fast-paced, large-scale battles

In reality, Tears of Metal didn't simply appear out of nowhere before launching. From its earliest playtests, Paper Cult chose to develop the game alongside its community, continuously refining the gameplay based on player feedback. The demo later gained strong momentum during Steam Next Fest, attracting a large number of players and earning overwhelmingly positive impressions. As a result, Tears of Metal had already established itself as one of the more promising indie titles long before entering Early Access. In many ways, this release is the product of more than a year of testing and refinement rather than a rough first build arriving on Steam.

The game's premise is simple, but it provides a solid foundation for everything that follows. Players take on the role of a Scottish warrior rising up against a mysterious invading force known as The Metal, gathering allies and gradually reclaiming lands that have fallen under enemy control. That backdrop also gives Paper Cult the perfect excuse to throw players into large-scale battles where overwhelming enemy numbers become part of the experience.

When it comes to battles where one warrior stands against an entire army, many players will immediately think of Dynasty Warriors. That same familiar feeling can also be found in Tears of Metal, as the game constantly throws waves of enemies at the player. However, instead of following the traditional Musou formula, Paper Cult blends its fast-paced combat with roguelite progression and cooperative gameplay to create a gameplay loop with strong replay value. Each run allows players to unlock new upgrades, recruit additional allies, and prepare for even tougher encounters ahead. The result is a game that captures the thrill of large-scale hack-and-slash combat while carving out an identity of its own.

And unsurprisingly, the gameplay has become the aspect most players have been talking about since the first day of Early Access.

Early community impressions have been largely positive. Players have praised the game's fast-paced combat, enjoyable co-op experience, and distinctive hand-drawn art style. At the same time, many are hoping Paper Cult will continue expanding the experience throughout Early Access by introducing more bosses, additional characters, new abilities, and greater endgame challenges. Those are also among the areas the developers have already confirmed they plan to build upon during the Early Access period.

What impressed me most about Tears of Metal isn't just its gameplay. The game creates a unique atmosphere through the combination of its hand-drawn visuals, medieval Scottish setting, and energetic soundtrack. Some games encourage you to slow down and admire their worlds, but Tears of Metal has the exact opposite effect. Every time hundreds of enemies flood the battlefield, you'll probably find yourself putting on a headset, turning the volume up a little, blasting some power metal or folk metal, and charging straight into the fight. It's not something the game asks you to do—it simply feels like the most natural way to experience it. That combination of music and relentless combat gives every battle an infectious energy, creating a personality that few indie games manage to achieve.

Of course, it's still far too early to draw any final conclusions, as Tears of Metal has a long Early Access journey ahead before reaching version 1.0. Even so, what Paper Cult has delivered on day one already demonstrates a remarkably solid foundation. If the studio continues expanding the game while listening to community feedback, just as it has throughout development, Tears of Metal has every opportunity to become one of the most noteworthy indie co-op games in the months ahead.

Visit the official Steam page for more informations, and don't forget to check out our price comparison tool to purchase Tears of Metal at the best price with the latest deals available.