Screenshots & trailers
Review sentiment over time
Weekly positive-review rate (green) and review volume (bars). Dashed lines mark significant patches; the amber line is the start of the current scoring window. Hover the dots to see what drove a dip or a jump.
How this score was computed
The VGC Score is a weighted blend on a press-comparable 0-100 quality scale. Steam approval rates are first calibrated (95% positive on Steam ≈ 89.5 quality, since Steam approval skews high). Press and tracked creator reviews each count ~2x a player review and share one cap against player evidence (creator buy/skip calls pool into an approval rate, calibrated like Steam approval); all-time sentiment is capped and halved (it's context, not verdict); reviews of the current build carry the most weight when a fresh patch anchors the window; and a 'typical game' prior keeps small samples from pegging the scale. Because press reviews and Metacritic user aggregates describe the launch build, their weight decays as the game ages (3-year half-life after a 1-year grace). That's how a game that launched rough can outgrow its old reception once updates win players over. Reviews under 2h playtime (the refund window), non-Steam activations, and free copies are downweighted.
| Component | Positive | Quality (0-100) | Weight (pseudo-reviews) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Press reviews (OpenCritic) | – | 76 | 146 |
| All-time Steam reviews | 77% | 72 | 770 |
| Metacritic user ratings | – | 68 | 23 |
| Post-patch Steam reviews (trust-weighted) | 81% | 75 | 300 |
| Calibration prior (typical game) | – | 72 | 50 |
Scoring window: since the last significant patch (Nov 12, 2025) · 300 reviews sampled · 105 total reviews in window · weighted 110.2 up / 26.4 down · computed 3h ago · full methodology →
Press & Creators reviews (96)
Individual verdicts from outlets we track: scored reviews first, most trusted outlets first among them. The small badge is each outlet's trust score: how well its scoring history aligns with players.
- 85
“Overall, the fun gameplay had depth, and the quirky story was both engaging and humorous. Metal Slug Tactics is a cool twist and does a great job of keeping the series relevant.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“"The familiar Metal Slug on a completely new frontline."”
read full review ↗ - 70
“There is a good game here, sometimes a great one. Excellent art and animation, smart gameplay twists, and a genuinely refreshing pace really add some exciting new depth to the tactics genre and are huge positives. But it takes a while for the experience to smooth out and actually become enjoyable, and restrictive gameplay design choices don't do it any favours, either. Metal Slug Tactics is one for the tactics fans looking for a fresh take, but just know you'll have to put in some work to see the best parts of it.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“Leikir Studio’s Metal Slug Tactics mostly gets things right in its attempt to spin a run-and-gun action franchise into a roguelike grid-based tactical RPG. The core gameplay mechanics and characters are there, but there’s more that could have been done with the storied franchise. What results is a fun title that grows old as the same routines are made and the incentive to try new strategies are only superficially there.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Metal Slug Tactics is a difficult game to define. On one hand, it faithfully captures the atmosphere of coin-ops, and it innovate the traditional mechanics of turn-based RTS, making everything more dynamic, with masterful management of the visual and sound aspects. On the other hand, a low-budget game that repeats itself after the first few hours of play, despite the gigantic amount of variables, combinations and weapons available to the player.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“For fans of the franchise who aren’t usually RPG fans, this one is going to be fun. Tactical RPG fans who don’t generally play run-and-gun platformers are going to have fun with it. And if you’re a fan of both? This is a must-buy. It’s a sign of how you can do interesting things in a familiar space with novel implementation.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“Metal Slug Tactics is a new take on the legendary franchise that puts side-scrolling action aside for a more in-depth tactical approach. While the combat and roguelike systems are highly engaging, they still suffer from many bugs that prevent this game from reaching greater heights.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“This strategy title offers some neat-yet-short challenges, a replayable roguelike structure that lets you mix and match new units as well as tons of unlocks and Metal Slug backstory lore to uncover, as well as features a slew of new mechanics that other future strategy titles should borrow from. [...] Metal Slug Tactics is a strange entry in the series, but a fresh and welcoming one indeed.”
read full review ↗ - 76
“A generally successful morphing of the classic arcade series into a new genre, but it isn’t without its issues”
read full review ↗ - 95
“Metal Slug Tactics was a pleasant surprise, exceeding expectations in several aspects. The wide variety of gameplay mechanics and the replayability are remarkable, providing an experience that goes beyond a simple tribute to the past.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Metal Slug Tactics doesn't reinvent the strategy game genre. In fact, if there's one criticism to be made, it's this lack of innovation. But does that make it a bad game? Absolutely not! What it does, it does well. The developers respect the very essence of the series and its story. Returning to the heroes we know and their abilities is a real pleasure. Humor, though discreet, is always present. For Metal Slug fans, this is a definite “yes”. For fans of strategy games, it's also a title worth discovering. In short, Metal Slug Tactics has something for everyone.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“From the moment it was announced Metal Slug Tactics was a winner in our eyes. Marrying the SNK classic with the turn-based tactics genre is a golden idea on paper. Hearing it’s a roguelike in the vein of Into the Breach was the coup de grâce for this game being anything but a banger. And we’re happy to say it lives up to those lofty expectations.”
read full review ↗
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Patch history
- METAL SLUG TACTICS: UNITY SECURITY PATCHNov 12, 2025significant · resets scoring window
- METAL SLUG TACTICS: PATCH 1.0.3Jan 21, 2025significant · resets scoring window
- METAL SLUG TACTICS: PATCH 1.0.2Dec 10, 2024significant · resets scoring window
- METAL SLUG TACTICS: HOTFIX 1.0.1.1Nov 25, 2024
- METAL SLUG TACTICS: PATCH 1.0.1Nov 14, 2024significant · resets scoring window