Skip to main content
Join The Community
- Join our community
11
Premium Benefits
24/7
Access Available
21K+
Active Members
Commenting
Join the discussion
Exclusive Articles Coming Soon
Member-only articles
Weekly Newsletters
Weekly gaming & entertainment news
Member Badges
Earn badges as you go
Exclusive Competitions
Members-only prize draws
Curated Deals Coming Soon
Tech and gaming deals worth grabbing
GET COMMUNITY ACCESS QUICK
For the quickest way to join, simply enter your email below and get access. We will send a confirmation and sign you up to our newsletter to keep you updated on all your gaming news.
By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.
FIND OUT ABOUT OUR MAGAZINE
Want to subscribe to the magazine? Click the button below to find out more information.
Find out more
GET Community ACCESS QUICK

Join the GamesRadar community for quick access. Enter your email below and we'll send confirmation, and sign you up to our newsletter.

By submitting your information, you confirm you are aged 16 or over, have read our Privacy Policy and agree to the Terms & Conditions. Geographical rules apply.

Background
Welcome to GamesRADAR+ Community !
Hi ,

Your membership journey starts here.

Keep exploring and earning more as a member.

MY ACCOUNT

Badge picture
Earn your first badge
Read 1 article to unlock your first badge.
Keep earning badges
Explore ways to get more involved as a member.
Latest Games News

Latest Games News

Breaking gaming news and updates

Read Now
Latest Games Reviews

Latest Games Reviews

Expert verdicts on the newest releases

Read Now

See what you’ve unlocked.

Explore your membership benefits.

Explore
Member Exclusives

Stay Ahead with GamesRadar+

Get the biggest gaming news, reviews, and releases straight to your inbox.

Explore

Sign Out
GamesRadar+ GamesRadar+
US EditionUS CA EditionCanada UK EditionUK AU EditionAustralia
Sign in
  • View Profile
  • Sign out
  • Games
    • Game Insights
      • Games News
      • Games Features
      • Games Reviews
      • Games Guides
      • Big in 2026
      • Big Preview
      • Future Games Show
      • Golden Joystick Awards
    • Genres
      • Action Games
      • RPGs
      • Action RPGs
      • Adventure Games
      • Third Person Shooters
      • FPS Games
    • Platforms
      • PS5
      • Xbox Series X
      • PC
      • Nintendo Switch
      • Nintendo Switch 2
      • Tabletop Gaming
    • Franchises
      • Grand Theft Auto
      • Pokemon
      • Assassin's Creed
      • Monster Hunter
      • Fortnite
      • Cyberpunk
      • Red Dead
      • The Elder Scrolls
      • The Sims
  • Entertainment
    • TV Shows
      • TV News
      • TV Reviews
      • Anime Shows
      • Sci-Fi Shows
      • Superhero Shows
      • Animated Shows
      • Marvel TV Shows
      • Star Wars TV Shows
      • DC TV Shows
    • Movies
      • Movie News
      • Movie Reviews
      • Big Screen Spotlight
      • Superhero Movies
      • Action Movies
      • Anime Movies
      • Sci-Fi Movies
      • Horror Movies
      • Marvel Movies
      • DC Movies
    • Streaming
      • Apple TV Plus
      • Disney Plus
      • Netflix
      • HBO
      • Amazon Prime Video
      • Hulu
    • Comics
      • Marvel Comics
      • DC Comics
  • Hardware
    • Insights
      • Hardware News
      • Hardware Reviews
      • Hardware Features
      • Buying Guides
    • Computing
      • Desktop PCs
      • Laptops
      • Handhelds
    • Peripherals
      • Headsets & Headphones
      • TVs & Monitors
      • Gaming Mice
      • Gaming Keyboards
      • Gaming Chairs
      • Speakers & Audio
    • Accessories & Tech
      • Gaming Controllers
      • Tech
      • SSDs & Hard Drives
      • VR
      • Accessories
      • Retro
  • Deals
    • Toys & Collectibles
    • Lego
    • Dungeons and Dragons
    • Merch
  • Video
    • Video
    • GR+ Replay - Submit Your Clips
  • Newsletters
    • Quizzes
    • About Us
    • How to pitch to us
    • How we score
    • Newsarama
    • Retro Gamer
  • Home
  • Games
    • View Games
      • Games News
      • Games Features
      • Games Reviews
      • Games Guides
      • Big in 2026
      • Big Preview
      • Future Games Show
      • Golden Joystick Awards
      • Action Games
      • RPGs
      • Action RPGs
      • Adventure Games
      • Third Person Shooters
      • FPS Games
    • Platforms
      • View Platforms
      • PS5
      • Xbox Series X
      • PC
      • Nintendo Switch
      • Nintendo Switch 2
      • Tabletop Gaming
      • Grand Theft Auto
      • Pokemon
      • Assassin's Creed
      • Monster Hunter
      • Fortnite
      • Cyberpunk
      • Red Dead
      • The Elder Scrolls
      • The Sims
  • Entertainment
    • View Entertainment
    • TV Shows
      • View TV Shows
      • TV News
      • TV Reviews
      • Anime Shows
      • Sci-Fi Shows
      • Superhero Shows
      • Animated Shows
      • Marvel TV Shows
      • Star Wars TV Shows
      • DC TV Shows
    • Movies
      • View Movies
      • Movie News
      • Movie Reviews
      • Big Screen Spotlight
      • Superhero Movies
      • Action Movies
      • Anime Movies
      • Sci-Fi Movies
      • Horror Movies
      • Marvel Movies
      • DC Movies
    • Streaming
      • View Streaming
      • Apple TV Plus
      • Disney Plus
      • Netflix
      • HBO
      • Amazon Prime Video
      • Hulu
    • Comics
      • View Comics
      • Marvel Comics
      • DC Comics
  • Hardware
    • View Hardware
      • Hardware News
      • Hardware Reviews
      • Hardware Features
      • Buying Guides
      • Desktop PCs
      • Laptops
      • Handhelds
    • Peripherals
      • View Peripherals
      • Headsets & Headphones
      • TVs & Monitors
      • Gaming Mice
      • Gaming Keyboards
      • Gaming Chairs
      • Speakers & Audio
      • Gaming Controllers
      • Tech
      • SSDs & Hard Drives
      • VR
      • Accessories
      • Retro
  • Deals
    • Toys & Collectibles
    • Lego
    • Dungeons and Dragons
    • Merch
  • Video
    • View Video
    • Video
    • GR+ Replay - Submit Your Clips
  • Newsletters
    • Quizzes
    • About Us
    • How to pitch to us
    • How we score
    • Newsarama
    • Retro Gamer
Trending
  • Nintendo Direct
  • Summer Game Fest 2026
  • Xbox Games Showcase
  • Future Games Show
  • New Games 2026
  • Best gaming tech
  • Submit your clips. Win prizes
  • SGF 2026 schedule
Sign up to the GamesRadar+ Newsletter

Weekly digests, tales from the communities you love, and more


By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

You are now subscribed

Your newsletter sign-up was successful


Want to add more newsletters?

GamesRadar+

Every Friday

GamesRadar+

Your weekly update on everything you could ever want to know about the games you already love, games we know you're going to love in the near future, and tales from the communities that surround them.

GTA 6 O'clock

Every Thursday

GTA 6 O'clock

Our special GTA 6 newsletter, with breaking news, insider info, and rumor analysis from the award-winning GTA 6 O'clock experts.

Knowledge

Every Friday

Knowledge

From the creators of Edge: A weekly videogame industry newsletter with analysis from expert writers, guidance from professionals, and insight into what's on the horizon.

The Setup

Every Thursday

The Setup

Hardware nerds unite, sign up to our free tech newsletter for a weekly digest of the hottest new tech, the latest gadgets on the test bench, and much more.

Switch 2 Spotlight

Every Wednesday

Switch 2 Spotlight

Sign up to our new Switch 2 newsletter, where we bring you the latest talking points on Nintendo's new console each week, bring you up to date on the news, and recommend what games to play.

The Watchlist

Every Saturday

The Watchlist

Subscribe for a weekly digest of the movie and TV news that matters, direct to your inbox. From first-look trailers, interviews, reviews and explainers, we've got you covered.

SFX

Once a month

SFX

Get sneak previews, exclusive competitions and details of special events each month!


Join the club

Get full access to premium articles, exclusive features and a growing list of member rewards.


An account already exists for this email address, please log in.
  1. Games
  2. Strategy Games

Gorgeous new tactical RPG based on 28-year-old run and gun arcade game may be the best way to reignite a forgotten franchise

News
By Ashley Bardhan published 22 October 2024

Metal Slug Tactics is out November 5

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

A screenshot shows Metal Slug Tactics characters shouting in front of a sandy terrain.
(Image credit: Leikir Studio)
  • Facebook
  • X
  • Pinterest
  • Flipboard
  • Email
Share this article
Join the conversation
Follow us
Add us as a preferred source on Google
Subscribe to our newsletter

Retro reboot publisher Dotemu revealed a new trailer for Metal Slug Tactics, a tactical RPG that could dramatically reinvigorate SNK's run and gun series, Metal Slug. 

Despite having roots in one of the most dynamic arcade games of all time, the 28-year-old Metal Slug franchise has started to rust. It hasn't received a fresh main game since 2008, and its most recent installments (the defunct card game Metal Slug: Commander and middling side-scroller Metal Slug: Awakening) left the IP to fall apart on mobile. 

But Metal Slug Tactics — which will be available on Steam and all consoles — seems to want to bring Metal Slug back to its smooth and simple beginnings. Big gun go boom, and all that. A press release promises a "respectful homage to an all-time classic," and gameplay footage appears to back that up. 

Latest Videos From
Watch full video here:
YouTube YouTube
Watch On

Tactics' sandy pixel-art battlegrounds are reminiscent of the original game's earth-colored environments, and the press release promises 36 different weapons and 176 weapon mods to help players set it on fire. And they may need to. Like they had to in the original Metal Slug games, players will lead the trigger-happy Regular Army in its quest to repel the treasonous Rebel Army, which looks mean among the mummies and undead dogs also present in Tactics. 

"Wield classic Metal Slug weaponry, leveraging skill trees, perks, and a super attack-fueling adrenaline system to outwit and demolish the flanks of the series’ signature villains," the press release continues. "Experience a huge replayability with its die-and-retry roguelite progression." 

You may like
  • A tank fires missiles at players in Metal Slug, from Retro Gamer #98 30 years on, Metal Slug's action and stylish visuals owe Studio Ghibli a debt: "We were very much inspired"
  • Edelgard von Hresvelg in Fire Emblem: Three Houses 10 Best Tactical RPGs of all time
  • Vaunted art showing character aiming guns at a giant enemy Manor Lords publisher announces Vaunted, a new strategy game from ex-StarCraft devs inspired by a classic tactics RPG

Sounds exciting, or, at least, more exciting than what the Metal Slug series has started getting used to. You can investigate it once Metal Slug Tactics releases on November 5. 

Until then, try out one of the best strategy games you can play right now.

Sign up to the GamesRadar+ Newsletter

Weekly digests, tales from the communities you love, and more

By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.
CATEGORIES
PC Gaming Xbox One Xbox Series X PS5 PS4 Nintendo Switch Platforms Xbox PlayStation Nintendo
Ashley Bardhan
Ashley Bardhan
Social Links Navigation
Senior Writer

Ashley is a Senior Writer at GamesRadar+. She's been a staff writer at Kotaku and Inverse, too, and she's written freelance pieces about horror and women in games for sites like Rolling Stone, Vulture, IGN, and Polygon. When she's not covering gaming news, she's usually working on expanding her doll collection while watching Saw movies one through 11.

Read more
A tank fires missiles at players in Metal Slug, from Retro Gamer #98
Action Games 30 years on, Metal Slug's action and stylish visuals owe Studio Ghibli a debt: "We were very much inspired"
 
 
Edelgard von Hresvelg in Fire Emblem: Three Houses
RPGs 10 Best Tactical RPGs of all time
 
 
Vaunted art showing character aiming guns at a giant enemy
Strategy Games Manor Lords publisher announces Vaunted, a new strategy game from ex-StarCraft devs inspired by a classic tactics RPG
 
 
A screencap of the Gundam Rogue Orbit trailer featuring the head of a mech suit with glowing green eyes and a starry sky in the background.
Action Games Suit up—a stylish new Gundam game with big mechs and bigger swords is finally on its way
 
 
Shadow of the Road screenshot showing a humanoid bird-like figure hovering over a molten battlefield with wings outstretched
RPGs A "small team with a lot of big ideas" is making a Final Fantasy Tactics-inspired RPG set in steampunk Japan
 
 
Guillotina in Mewgenics
Roguelike Games Final Fantasy Tactics beat Pokemon when the Mewgenics creators were trying to figure out its combat
 
 
Latest in Strategy Games
Star Wars Zero Company character looks sullen
Strategy Games Star Wars Zero Company confirmed for August release as former XCOM devs debut action-packed gameplay trailer
 
 
Screenshot of a Clone Trooper shooting their gun from Star Wars: Zero Company
Strategy Games Star Wars Zero Company release date leaks one day before Summer Game Fest
 
 
Civilization 7: a screenshot of a bronze man playing the violin during the trailer for Civilization 7.
Strategy Games Civilization 7 and Borderlands 4 had "missteps," Take-Two boss admits, but publisher 2K is still "crushing it"
 
 
Heroes of Might and Magic: Olden Era view of a city.
Strategy Games With 1 million copies sold, Heroes of Might and Magic: Olden Era reveals early access roadmap
 
 
The Witch-King from The Lord of the Rings standing in front of a vast army, in artwork for The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-earth 2 - Rise of the Witch-King
Strategy Games The Lord of the Rings: Battle for Middle-earth 2 is a career highlight for Civilization 7's director
 
 
Don't Kill Them All at FGS 2026
Strategy Games Keep your Orcs calm during battle in Don't Kill Them All, as if they get too angry you lose it all
 
 
Latest in News
Resident Evil Code Veronica
Resident Evil In anticipation of the Resident Evil: Code Veronica remake, fans are remembering how weirdly silly the original game is
 
 
A screenshot from Deltarune Chapter 2, showing Spamton smiling in his shop.
RPGs Toby Fox says Deltarune Chapter 6 is "developing well" and Chapter 7 may begin development "before the end of the year"
 
 
Muramasa: Revenant Blades ghost and shinobi
Action RPGs Famed Japanese dev Vanillaware is bringing one of its best action RPGs to PC in a historic first
 
 
Tom holland as Telemachus in The Odyssey
Action Movies The Odyssey Trojan Horse popcorn bucket is a work of art – and I want to see Christopher Nolan holding one
 
 
Kingdom Hearts Sora illustration
Kingdom Hearts Kingdom Hearts AI art accusations hit Square Enix, and that sure looks like slop to me
 
 
Sung Jin-Woo in Solo Leveling season 1
Anime Shows Solo Leveling season 3 finally gets release window - and our worst fears have come true
 
 
LATEST ARTICLES
  1. Ewan Mitchell in House of the Dragon season 3
    1
    House of the Dragon showrunner says they've started showing scripts to HBO for season 4
  2. 2
    In anticipation of the Resident Evil: Code Veronica remake, fans are remembering how weirdly silly the original game is
  3. 3
    Toby Fox says Deltarune Chapter 6 is "developing well" and Chapter 7 may begin development "before the end of the year"
  4. 4
    The Odyssey Trojan Horse popcorn bucket is a work of art – and I want to see Christopher Nolan holding one
  5. 5
    Famed Japanese dev Vanillaware is bringing one of its best action RPGs to PC in a historic first

GamesRadar+ is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

Add as a preferred source on Google Add as a preferred source on Google
  • Terms and conditions
  • Contact Future's experts
  • Privacy policy
  • Cookies policy
  • Accessibility statement
  • Careers
  • About us
  • Advertise with us
  • Review guidelines
  • Write for us

© Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, New York, NY 10036.

Please login or signup to comment

Please wait...