Tears of Metal Review Summary

A highly fun hack-and-slash with satisfying combat, though multiplayer desync, lag, frame drops, crashes, and limited content for the price hold it back.

Highly fun and enjoyable: Many players find the game extremely fun and engaging, often describing it as one of the most enjoyable experiences they've had. The fun factor is consistently praised across reviews.

Satisfying combat feel: Combat is frequently described as satisfying, smooth, and rewarding, with good hit feedback and a balanced learning curve. The feel of combat is a standout feature.

Appealing art style: The visual style and aesthetics are frequently commended for being appealing, unique, and well-executed. Players appreciate the game's artistic direction.

Great co-op experience: Playing in co-op, whether with one friend or a group, is highly enjoyable and often considered the best way to play. The multiplayer mode is fun and works well.

Great hack-and-slash roguelike blend: The combination of hack-and-slash combat with roguelike elements is highly praised as a fantastic and fresh twist on both genres. Many consider it a perfect blend.

Multiplayer desync and lag: Players frequently report severe desync, high ping, freezing, and lag in multiplayer, with issues worsening in larger lobbies and when switching hosts. Some describe multiplayer as unplayable due to constant frame drops and jitters.

Content limited for price: Many players feel the game lacks sufficient content for its price, citing few characters, limited modes, and repetitive maps and enemies. The overall price is considered too high for what is currently offered.

No mid-run save feature: Many reviews complain about the absence of a mid-run or mid-campaign save, forcing players to complete long runs in one sitting. This is especially frustrating given crashes can cause total progress loss.

Metaprogression is too grindy: Out-of-run progression is widely criticized as excessively grindy, with slow resource gain and multiple categories requiring many runs to unlock upgrades. Some note gains are negligible unless fully maxed out.

Unfair difficulty and balance issues: Difficulty is often described as unfair, with later levels and enemy scaling making the game punishing. Character balance is also criticized, with some characters feeling weak.

Hack-and-slash combat core: The game is fundamentally a hack-and-slash experience with fast, chaotic melee combat against hordes of enemies. This core gameplay defines the primary action loop and is mentioned across many reviews.

Roguelike and roguelite elements: The game incorporates roguelike or roguelite structures, including runs, random upgrades, and replayability between attempts. These mechanics blend with the hack-and-slash combat to create a hybrid experience.

Boss and mini-boss fights: Players frequently mention boss battles and mini-boss encounters with distinct designs, attack patterns, and difficulty levels. These fights are a highlight, featuring telegraphed attacks and multiple phases.

Co-op and multiplayer support: The game offers cooperative multiplayer for up to four players, with both online and local options. Many players enjoy teaming up with friends for runs.

Dynasty Warriors and Musou style: The gameplay is heavily inspired by Dynasty Warriors or Musou titles, featuring large-scale battles and over-the-top combat. Many reviewers compare the experience directly to these franchises.

Steam Deck Performance Problems: On Steam Deck, the game runs poorly with low FPS, freezes, and crashes, especially in later acts. Visuals are subpar and missing graphical options hinder optimization.

Frequent Frame Drops: Constant frame drops occur throughout the game, especially in later acts and during multiplayer. Even on powerful setups, FPS can drop significantly, impacting the overall experience.

Poor GPU Optimization: The game uses 100% of the GPU even on systems exceeding recommended specs, leading to high GPU temperatures and potential hardware strain. Players report that performance does not scale with hardware capability, indicating a fundamental optimization issue.

Crashes and Stability Issues: The game crashes frequently, sometimes causing loss of progress or even system crashes. Stability issues are prevalent on PC and Steam Deck, often during loading or intense gameplay moments.

Late Game Performance Drops: Performance degrades significantly in later stages, particularly in Act 3, with severe frame rate drops and stuttering. This makes the endgame experience frustrating.

Strong overall recommendation: Many reviews express high enthusiasm with statements like 'cannot recommend enough' and 'highly recommend.' The sentiment is very positive and emphatic.

Positive value recommendation: Multiple reviews highlight good value for money at the current price or even without a discount. The game is generally described as worth buying for the price.

Not recommended currently: Several players do not recommend the game in its current state or at this stage. They advise against buying it right now.

Appeals to Warriors fans: Several reviewers specifically recommend the game for players who enjoy Dynasty Warriors or musou-style hack-and-slash action. It is also noted as suitable for fans of both hard roguelikes and Dynasty Warriors.

Worth it in Early Access: Some players feel the game is worth the full Early Access price and worth getting during early access. They consider it a worthwhile purchase despite its unfinished state.

Community fair range: $15.00 - $25.00.

Game completion: 50.0h.

Story completion: 34.0h.

Session length: 3.5h.

Endgame: 80.0h.

Reports suggest the game clicks after early friction: combat can be fun immediately, but bare starts, slow unlocks, and grindy progression delay the broader payoff until items, characters, troops, and player mastery develop.

Friction: Very bare and stripped-down early game; No weapon or customization choices for the first 5 hours; Slow, grindy meta progression with scarce resources; Limited starting characters and forced investment in the default hero; Multiplayer balance, desync, and lobby issues; Lack of a save function causing lost progression.

Co-op Squad Player: Teams up in duos or larger parties, coordinates builds and emblems, and grinds together across runs. Motivation: Shared co-op fun and chaotic multiplayer battles with friends. Stance: buy.

Solo Roguelite Challenger: Plays solo, learns boss patterns, manages scarce healing, and builds toward solo progression. Motivation: A self-sufficient challenge and a complete solo roguelite experience. Stance: buy.

Musou-Roguelite Build Crafter: Chains full combos, experiments with clans and emblems, upgrades an army, and pursues meta progression. Motivation: Satisfying musou combat combined with deep roguelite build crafting. Stance: buy.

Across the returned cohorts, the game is generally playable but performance is inconsistent, with several mid-range, high-VRAM, and handheld reports citing frame drops, stutters, crashes, or freezes alongside working setups.

Windows <8GB VRAM: positive. Most reviewers report the game runs and is playable, though some mention frame drops, bugs, or occasional crashes.

Windows 12-15GB VRAM / 16-31GB RAM: mixed. Several players report solid performance or playable co-op, but crashes, multiplayer frame drops, and late-game lag are also commonly described.

Windows 8-11GB VRAM: mixed. Many reviewers find it playable, but FPS drops, stutters, and crashes are frequently reported, especially in later acts and multiplayer.

Steam Deck: Feedback on the Steam Deck experience is mixed but polarized. A substantial group reports the game plays well with excellent controller support and only minor slowdowns. However, a recurring cluster of technical barriers emerges: users must force Proton Experimental or a Proton Hotfix just to install the game, several players hit hard freezes when loading into Act 3 or resuming from shutdown, and others report low 30-40 FPS alongside missing Deck-specific graphical options. Latency and stutter worsen under high unit counts, and at least one user questions the game's Steam Deck Verified status. The mandatory Proton workaround alone forces the experience into the 'tinkering required' tier, compounded by genuine stability failures that block progression for some.

Linux and Proton: The available Linux/Steam Deck evidence is limited but consistent: users report that the game requires setting a Proton compatibility tool, specifically Proton Experimental or Proton Hotfix, to install or download it on Steam Deck. Once that tweak is applied, at least one user reports a positive experience. There is no evidence of heavy workaround chains, anti-cheat blockers, or gameplay-breaking instability.

Monetization: The reviews contain only base-price/value commentary and positive willingness to buy traditional DLC. No direct evidence indicates in-game real-money purchases, paid power, loot boxes, gacha, battle passes, or a cash shop. Under the evidence threshold, the monetization score remains in the fair range.

Frequent Dynasty Warriors comparisons: The game is repeatedly compared to Dynasty Warriors for its large-scale hack-and-slash combat, often with a roguelite twist. Reviewers mention specific entries in the series and note similarities in gameplay style.

Early access release status: Many reviewers note that the game is in early access or beta, with ongoing development and planned content additions. This status sets expectations for incomplete content and future growth.

Roguelite blend with Hades: Reviewers compare the game to Hades and Risk of Rain 2, noting a blend of roguelite mechanics with large-scale combat. It combines elements from these games to create a unique experience.

Scottish theme and setting: The game features a distinct Scottish setting, atmosphere, and theme. This unique backdrop differentiates it from typical Dynasty Warriors games.

Positive outlook on future updates: Reviewers are excited about future additions, including new characters, updates, and potential DLC. They look forward to the full release.