It’s been four years since we’ve seen anything new from Wargaming, the team behind the likes of World of Tanks and its sister title, World of Warships. Starring a cast of Armored Core-style mechs with their own unique abilities, thrust into gameplay loop that blends traditional extraction shooters with the conventional battle royale format, Steel Hunters is the company’s newest venture. I got an early glimpse at what it looks like in practice – and, if you’re lucky, you can too.
In Steel Hunters, it’s all about Starfall. A mysterious resource that’s spawned in the wake of a global calamity, your job is to go in, grab it, and take down anything that gets in your way. Sounds simple in practice, right?
Wrong. You’ll be battling it out against five other teams of two (12 players in total) in order to extract – and there’s only one ship out of the Hunting Grounds. Gameplay mirrors that of other battle royale games, with added tower defense and, of course, mechs. Each Hunter has their own unique set of skills, which can be kitted out with different gear pieces in order to customize their loadout even further, letting you really hone your playstyle.
Steel Hunters is played in duos, and choosing the correct pairing results in Duo Symbiosis. A stealth-focused Hunter like Heartbreaker, for instance, who can identify and snipe enemies from afar, works well with a damage-heavy tank like Fenris or Ursus who can head into the fray and distract foes. While players won’t get a buff or extra abilities, instead the focus is choosing mechs with synergies that give you the upper hand in combat.
For me, however, it’s the sheer scale of Steel Hunters that piqued my interest. Akin to Armored Core, Wargaming has created a world that feels small next to your towering mechs. Freight containers feel like Lego bricks, really giving you a sense of verticality and scale – this is a mech-focused game, after all, you want to feel huge.
If Steel Hunters has you intrigued, then there’s even more good news. Wargaming is running a PC closed beta test in the wake of The Game Awards. The Steel Hunters beta test will run from Friday, December 13 through to Sunday, December 22. Note that it’s invite-based, and you can sign up via the Wargaming Game Center or Steam to secure yourself a spot.
In the meantime, however, we have a list of all the best multiplayer games if you’re looking for something new to play with your friends. Alternatively, if you’re looking ahead to 2025 in the wake of The Game Awards, here’s our guide to all of the upcoming PC games for next year and beyond.
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