If you love mechs or giant robots as much as I do, it’s worth checking out Steel Hunters, the new free-to-play PvPvE Steam game from the developers of World of Tanks. If you miss Titanfall, loved Pacific Rim, or want more after Armored Core 6, it’s available now. While mech battle royale sounds great on paper, however, player sentiment has been torn on Steel Hunters since launch, with people loving and hating the game in equal measure.
The latest experience from World of Tanks, Warships, and Warplanes developer Wargaming, Steel Hunters is quite a unique proposition. The mech game blends battle royale and extraction mechanics, as you fight other players while trying to gather alien resources amid a cataclysm. It’s out now in Steam Early Access, and won’t have any microtransactions in its first season.
Now that Steel Hunters has been out on Valve’s platform for a few days, general player sentiment has found its footing. The free Steam game is sitting at a 55% positive rating, or ‘Mixed,’ from over 1,600 user reviews. While it’s worth noting some of these reviews are down to initial connectivity issues, a lot of them are saying the same thing: it feels like a rough draft.
“Steel Hunters has some serious potential, but right now, it feels like it’s only halfway to becoming the game it could be,” ‘marioduartemd19’ writes on Valve’s storefront. “The environment feels dull and empty, which makes it hard to stay engaged for long periods. There’s a lack of meaningful activities beyond the core gameplay, and it’s difficult to shake the feeling that the game is unfinished.”
“I want to like this game but it’s dull. Like… really dull,” another player writes, asking Wargaming to “Make moving around the map more dynamic. Faster. Give us more PvE things to do.”
It’s not all bad, mind you. There are plenty of positive reviews that highlight the duo gameplay and overall feel. “The matches are fast paced and really encourage you to engage and fight immediately when you see other players,” ‘GiraffeTamer12’ writes.
“The gameplay is fun, mixing team stuff with crazy battles that kept me playing,” ‘GhostArrow’ adds. “I like how every hunter plays their own way, so you can go wild or sneak around, whatever you feel like.”
There’s a lot of cautious optimism around Steel Hunters right now, so it’ll be interesting to see where Wargaming takes it. As an avid fan of mechs, whether they’re in Titanfall or Neon Genesis Evangelion, it’s certainly a game I’ll be keeping an eye on. You’ll find it on Steam here.
If you want more make sure to check out all the best multiplayer games. Otherwise, the best free PC games can save you some cash.
You can follow us on Google News for daily PC games news, reviews, and guides. We’ve also got a vibrant community Discord server, where you can chat about this story with members of the team and fellow readers.
