Every time I browse my Steam library, Metal Eden catches my eye, serving as a constant reminder of its sheer mechanical brilliance. This cyberpunk odyssey feels like a masterful fusion of Doom Eternal’s aggressive rhythm and Ghostrunner’s high-stakes agility. Nearly half a year since I finished it, the experience still resonates. It’s an overlooked gem that deserves a much larger audience—if it’s not on your radar yet, it absolutely should be.
As the year winds down, we are revisiting some personal favorites from our staff that might have flown under your radar. If you have already explored our Top 10 Best Games of 2025 and need another thrill to carry you into 2026, these recommendations are for you.
The setting is Moebius, a neon-drenched metropolis on the brink of total collapse due to a looming temporal disaster. Enter Aska, a specialized Hyper Unit android built for high-stakes survival. Her consciousness can be seamlessly transferred between expendable cybernetic shells, each outfitted with jetpacks, grappling hooks, and the capability to wall-run through treacherous urban landscapes. Aska is a walking arsenal, capable of cycling through seven distinct firearms—ranging from surgical sniper rifles to devastating shotguns—to dismantle any opposition. Her quest to stop the city’s destruction pits her against gargantuan Engineers who guard the essential Cores, leading players through industrial ruins, desolate deserts, and combat arenas that offer some of the most fluid gunplay released in 2025.
Metal Eden wears its inspirations proudly, turning every wave-based encounter into a visceral coliseum where hesitation is fatal. By weaving together jetpack maneuvers, turbo boosts, and strategic resource management, players must maintain constant movement. The result is a kinetic, breathless shooting gallery that delivers a pure, unadulterated rush of adrenaline.
This sense of momentum extends beyond combat. The game features platforming sequences reminiscent of Ghostrunner, challenging you to chain together wall-runs and grapples while picking off enemies mid-air. These linear segments serve as the perfect bridge between Moebius’s various locales, acting as high-speed gateways to the next major arena where you can test your latest weapon modifications.
While the game occasionally leans into Metroid Prime-style exploration and features a somewhat talkative radio companion, these moments rarely detract from the core experience. When the action reaches its zenith, the minor lulls are easily forgiven. Metal Eden shines brightest when the triggers are pulled and the world is moving at a mile a minute.
For a deeper dive into my experience, you can read my full Metal Eden review here.
