Metal Slug Tactics turns the arcade series’ run-and-gun action into grid-based, turn-based squad combat. Its appeal rests on translating movement, weapons and familiar pixel-art style into tactical battles and repeat runs—not on recreating the old games’ pace. Meristation praised its presentation and soundtrack, while noting that limited enemy and environment variety and console interface issues can wear on the experience.
What kind of game is Metal Slug Tactics?
Metal Slug Tactics is a tactical roguelite spin-off, not a conventional side-scrolling shooter. Leikir Studio developed it, Dotemu published it, and SNK supplied access to the Metal Slug IP. Dotemu describes it as the franchise’s first tactical RPG. The premise brings back General Donald Morden, whose new army follows a coup; the Peregrine Falcon Squad sets out to stop him. Dotemu’s game page and its press kit outline the concept and story.
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Metal Slug Tactics - Compatible for NS - UK PAL | $49.89 | Buy on Amazon |
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Metal Slug Tactics Commanding Officer Edition (Switch) | $163.94 | Buy on Amazon |
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Metal Slug Tactics - Nintendo Switch | Buy on Amazon |
Rather than advancing through a level while firing continuously, you move a squad across a grid and make tactical decisions in turn-based battles. The layout changes between encounters using shuffled arrangements of hand-crafted terrain sectors. That structure gives the game two jobs: make each fight about positioning and actions, then make repeated runs feel different enough to invite another attempt.
How do combat and progression work?
Positioning drives the fights
Dotemu describes a combat system built around movement, skills and an adrenaline meter that fuels super attacks. The Steam description also highlights SYNC attacks, which let squad members coordinate their offense, and reinforcements such as artillery, airstrikes and the Metal Slug vehicle. These systems place the emphasis on managing a team’s actions and opportunities rather than simply reproducing the original games’ shooting rhythm. Steam’s product description lists these features.
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- Brand new. UK Import PAL version. Game in English. UK Nintendo store account may be required for any online features.
Runs combine changing battlefields with unlocks
Battlefield layouts are assembled from hand-crafted terrain sectors, while experience earned after battles unlocks weapons and bonus perks. The roguelite structure ties those unlocks to repeated play, alongside choices about squad members, equipment and abilities. It offers reasons to vary a run, but changing layouts alone do not guarantee that every encounter will feel distinct.
Dotemu’s content figures
Dotemu lists the following quantities on its official game page. They are publisher-provided figures, not an independent count:
| Content | Dotemu’s listed figure |
|---|---|
| Hand-crafted maps | 110 |
| Mission types | 20 |
| Playable characters | 9 |
| Weapons | 36 |
| Weapon mods | 176 |
| Loadouts and combos | 36 |
Dotemu’s figures indicate a sizeable range of gear and combinations to explore. They do not, by themselves, establish how much of that variety a player will feel from one encounter or run to the next.
How good is Metal Slug Tactics?
Meristation’s November 9, 2024 review praised the pixel art’s connection to the main series, fluid animations and Tee Lopes soundtrack. It also noted an option to speed up animations—useful in a turn-based game where repeated presentation can affect pace. These are one outlet’s observations, not a universal critical consensus. Meristation’s review also raises two meaningful drawbacks: a limited range of environments and enemies can make runs feel repetitive, and the console interface and controls could be better.
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Rank #2
- Unveil the inaugural tactical RPG in the METAL SLUG series
- Savor extensive replay value with its roguelite die-and-retry mechanics
- Marvel at stunning pixel art graphics, a loving nod to the series
- Engage Morden's forces across 110 meticulously designed maps and 20 varied mission types
- Equip the ideal arsenal for each mission with 36 unique weapons and 176 mods
That makes variety and platform comfort the key questions for prospective players. The game’s roster, weapons, mods and shuffled terrain give you pieces to experiment with, but Meristation’s criticism suggests that the visible battlefield and enemy pool may not expand at the same rate. If you are considering a console version, interface and control comfort deserve particular attention; the review does not establish that every player will find them troublesome.
PlayStation’s U.S. store page showed 3.30 out of 5 from 566 ratings when retrieved on October 4, 2026. PlayStation says these ratings come from verified owners and are moderated; they are a platform-specific snapshot that can change, not a critic-review score or a measure of the game on other platforms. See the PlayStation Store listing.
Platforms, editions and buying details
Dotemu announced a November 5, 2024 release on PC, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One. Its launch announcement also included Game Pass availability at launch. That historical announcement does not confirm current catalog status. The launch prices it gave—$24.99, €24.99, £20.99 and R 73.99 for the respective markets—are not a reliable guide to current pricing. Dotemu’s launch announcement records those details.
Nintendo Switch
Nintendo’s U.S. listing identifies the Switch edition as digital. It specifies one player, a 1.4 GB download, TV, tabletop and handheld modes, and Japanese, French, German, Spanish, Brazilian Portuguese and American English language support. It also says that play on Nintendo Switch 2 behaves consistently with Nintendo Switch. These are details of the U.S. listing, not a claim about every regional store page. Nintendo’s U.S. listing has the platform details.
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- TACTICAL RPG WITH ROGUELITE ELEMENTS: Metal Slug Tactics offers a fresh perspective on the iconic battles of the METAL SLUG series. Lead your squad to victory through strategic guile and superior firepower in a perfect blend of classic action and tactical depth. Unleash powerful special attacks and shape the outcome of each encounter!
- Accumulate experience after each battle to unlock new weapons or bonus perks to upgrade your team's firepower and tactical skills. Assemble your team and rewrite the rules in this modern tribute to a cult classic!
- Choose between iconic brothers-in-arms from across the METAL SLUG series and create the perfect team to stop Morden's devious plans. Determine the best weapon loadouts and mods to maximize combo efficiency on the battlefield. Launch simultaneous attacks with the "SYNC" mechanic to deal massive damage to the enemy.
- FIGHT YOUR WAY TO VICTORY - Embark on an exalting campaign through beautiful, hand-crafted maps to end the war and defeat the infamous Rebel Army once and for all! You're going to face many challenges, so brace yourself for countless deaths, but don’t give up and push through.
- FEATURES: Discover the first tactical RPG in the METAL SLUG franchise, Experience a huge replayability with its die-and-retry roguelite progression, Enjoy amazing pixel art graphics, a heartfelt tribute to the series, Battle Morden’s Army in 110 hand-crafted maps and 20 different mission types.
PC and soundtrack
Steam lists the base game and a separate digital product for the Original Game Soundtrack. At retrieval, the displayed U.S. prices were $24.99 for the game and $7.99 for the soundtrack; store prices can change. Steam also shows selected review excerpts from IGN, Push Square and PC Gamer, which are curated snippets rather than a complete review consensus. Check the Steam listing for current details.
Physical copies and Game Pass
Meristation reported in November 2024 that physical copies were limited releases sold through specialist retailers such as Limited Run Games and Pix’n Love. Nintendo’s U.S. page, by contrast, marks its Switch version “Digital.” The report does not establish what physical stock is available now, in which regions, or whether Amazon carries a particular edition. Likewise, the launch announcement establishes Game Pass availability at release, not whether the game remains in the current catalog. Check the relevant retailer or subscription catalog before buying or subscribing.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How replayable is it, and how long does it take?
The roguelite run structure, shuffled battlefield layouts, unlockable weapons and perks, and squad and loadout choices provide the documented basis for replay. Dotemu lists nine characters, 36 weapons, 176 weapon mods and 36 loadouts and combos, alongside its map and mission counts. However, those totals are not a playtime estimate, and the reviewed sources do not establish a reliable completion time. Meristation’s concern that enemy and environment variety may feel limited is relevant if you are deciding how much repetition you will enjoy.
Who should play it?
- Consider it if you want a tactical, turn-based take on Metal Slug, enjoy managing a squad and experimenting with gear, or value the series’ pixel-art look and music.
- Think twice if you mainly want the old games’ continuous run-and-gun action, or if repeated encounters and a limited range of enemies and environments are likely to frustrate you.
- Choose your platform carefully if interface and control comfort are priorities: Meristation specifically flagged console controls and interface, while the available assessment does not provide a standardized comparison across platforms.
For comparisons with other tactical roguelites, focus on how movement and action economy shape fights, whether progression meaningfully changes later runs, how much the roster and equipment support different builds, and how battlefield variety holds up. There are no standardized comparative measurements in the cited material, so those are decision questions rather than a claim that Metal Slug Tactics wins on any one axis.
Quick Recap
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