Steam drops free Bloodborne-inspired retro demo, scratch that FPS itch

A new Bloodborne-inspired first-person shooter has just launched on Steam, offering a nostalgic throwback to the classic PS1-era horror games of the 1990s.

Even better, you can experience a taste of this promising retro FPS right now for free, making it well worth checking out for fans of FromSoftware’s gothic action RPG.

Released for PlayStation 4 in 2015, FromSoftware’s Bloodborne is widely regarded as one of the talented studio’s finest games, and that’s saying something considering its impressive back catalogue, which includes Dark Souls, Armored Core and Elden Ring, to name just a few.

However, long before FromSoftware became synonymous with modern action RPGs, the studio began making a name for itself on the original PlayStation with King’s Field in 1994.

While the game was only released in Japan, its sequels eventually made their way to the West. Fittingly, today’s game takes inspiration from the retro delights of the PS1 era, while also drawing clear influence from Bloodborne.

Gunmetal Gothic is a blend of Bloodborne and King’s Field

Announced in 2025, the game in question, as stated in the subheading above, is Gunmetal Gothic, developed and published by the indie studio ynoham. What’s more, its free demo is now available on Steam and also allows co-op play, so you can cause all sorts of mayhem with a friend.

“You are an Anchorite, the last line of defence for the survivors of Vestige, a city overrun by invaders from another dimension,” reads the synopsis of the game on Steam.

“Take the fight to these vile mechanical creatures alone or with friends as you explore a dark, stylised world and shoot, cast, and manoeuvre your way to victory! Customise your character with a variety of guns, spells, and gear, and upgrade them to take on even greater challenges!”

In the Gunmetal Gothic demo, you can customise your loadout before taking on hordes of enemies, unlock new equipment as you progress, and discover valuable loot along the way. You’ll also need to keep an eye on the clock, as completing missions as quickly as possible is key to chasing the highest score.

What is the community saying about Gunmetal Gothic?

At the time of writing, the Gunmetal Gothic demo is rated as “Positive” from 16 Steam user reviews.

“A game like Bloodborne's style and classic Resident Evil gameplay had a baby. It's arcadey, it's got cool guns and magic, AND it has multiplayer! I'm excited to see its full release,” wrote AshTheObscure.

“Oozing with PSX style, Gunmetal Gothic recalls Bloodborne's Victorian alleyways with added retro charm. Third-person gunplay meets dungeon crawler exploration in a short but satisfying gameplay loop that is best experienced with friends. Currently my most anticipated indie release!” explained SmoughMoney.

“Fantastic work so far, cannot wait for the final game to come out. Absolutely in love with this,” declared coreycloud.

READ MORE: PlayStation Plus 40-hour freebie is a worthy Bloodborne follow-up

Does Gunmetal Gothic have a full release date?

While Gunmetal Gothic doesn’t have a firm release date just yet, its Steam page currently lists June 2027 as the planned launch window. In the meantime, you can play the demo for free today and add the game to your wishlist to stay up to date with the latest announcements.

Hopefully, if Gunmetal Gothic proves to be a hit on Steam, it could eventually make its way to consoles too. Fingers crossed.