Steam drops '9/10' free download with serious Dark Souls vibes

If you’re eager for a bit of Soulsborne goodness, especially as you agonisingly wait for Bloodborne 2 that will never arrive, then this alternative should be on your wishlist.

When it comes to challenging action RPGs, it doesn't get much better than what’s offered by FromSoftware, whether it's Dark Souls, Armored Core, Elden Ring and more.

FromSoftware has crafted its formula so well that it’s inspired a plethora of games courtesy of the titles above, collectively known as “Soulsborne”, and if that sounds like your thing, then this free Steam download might tickle your fancy.

The game in question is Morbid Metal, developed by Screen Juice and, surprisingly, published by Ubisoft, which is something a bit different from the likes of Assassin’s Creed, Far Cry and Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six.

“Morbid Metal is a Hack 'n' Slash, Action Rogue-lite, where you can shapeshift into unique characters to slaughter enemies with powerful combos,” reads the synopsis on Steam. “Switch characters in real-time to unleash your power and fight your way through hordes of deadly machines and intense bosses.”

After watching its gameplay trailer on the Steam page, Morbid Metal also very much reminds me of a bullet-hell Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, and judging by the user reviews, its free playable demo is proving to be a hit.

“Super slick, fast paced and fun. The demo is only 30 minutes, but it's a fun ride,” wrote Grimslinger.

“God, this was too fun to play. I've played a lot of hack n slash, and this one just speaks to me,” said the sound, Atmos.

“This dev really cooked. The combat feels smooth and unique because of the different characters and their skills. I will definitely buy this game,” revealed Vusgot.

Morbid Metal enters its Steam early access phase on 20 August 2025. Hopefully, we’ll see a console launch at a later date.