Metal Mutation
Metal Mutation
Game
Game2023
PERISH
Developer ITEM42
PERISH is a stylish 1-4 player FPS with a cross to bear. Slay hordes of creatures on the black sands of Purgatory and sell their gold-stained corpses to craven priests. Kill magnificent bosses and use the proceeds to gain entrance to Elysium, a place of cosmic revelations. From the Steam store page
218 reactions from 3 sources (Steam reviews, Bluesky, Mastodon) · newest Oct 31, 2026 · last updated Oct 31, 2026 · How this works
Audience score
73
Fresh
133 positive · 49 negative
95% range 66–79%
| Source | + | − | = |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steam reviews | 133 | 49 | 0 |
| Bluesky * | 2 | 0 | 33 |
| Mastodon * | 0 | 0 | 1 |
* shown, not counted in the score (label accuracy below our 85% bar or not yet audited).
Steam's own rating
Mostly Positive
228 of 292 reviews positive (all languages, per Valve)
What players are saying
73% recommend · 134 yes, 49 no
Counted from the reviewers’ own thumbs up/down on the 183 English Steam reviews we collected, not by the AI. Valve’s all-language rating: Mostly Positive (403 of 563 positive).
Players praise the game's unique blend of roguelite and FPS mechanics, with a strong emphasis on co-op and progression. [1][2][3] Some reviewers note that the game has improved significantly since launch due to patches, but still has bugs and design issues. [1][2][4] A few players criticize the forced installation of Epic Online Services and the requirement to use only starter items for the best ending. [5][6][7]
Liked
Representative posts
- [5]
[URL=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spyware]Spyware Warning!This game acts as spyware and performs personal data gathering and transmission. The game immediately attempts to install Epic Malware onto your system WITHOUT ASKING FOR CONSENT. There is no justification for installing this Tencent backed telemetry/spyware tool. There's no way to opt out. This is completely unethical and reprehensible. Gamers must be aware …
- [1]
A Small Suggestion to anyone basing if they should buy the game off reviews. Pay Attention to Playtime, and Date of Posting. Anything before Feb 3rd is going to be a much different experience than what is currently available. 3 Patches fixing a good chunk of problems since Feb 2nd. After spending 25.5 Hours, at the time of this Review, playing through the game to juuuust about 100% completion, I can say firmly... …
- [2]
PERISH is a completely underrated Co-op FPS Roguelite, and it's honestly a shame that it hasn't caught on to the wider scene, even within its niche. I will mention, the game is in a very stable state. While a few bugs/glitches exist, the game is far from unplayable like some of the negative reviews would try to lead you to believe. Overall, this is one of the rare times where you buy exactly what you see from the …
- [17]
This is run-die-upgrade-repeat kind of game. During each run you collect temporary upgrade cards valid for this run only. Between maps you can decide to abandon run, cash out and visit store. Or risk pushing further, but if you die run reward will be greatly reduced. Each map has random objective, so that runs don't get too repetitive. At some point you will be strong enough to reach and defeat final boss. If you …
- [3]
A cooperative persistent progression fps that feels like a cross between Vermintide and Elderborn. Tough to get far, yet the whole point is to enjoyably grind new equipment and upgrades. Same map layouts, but with randomized objectives each try. Solid enough to have fun with, for sure. The devs also seem responsive to the community. Private games are possible entirely through Steam (you tell a Guest your game #, and …
Summarised from 34 of the 214 public posts collected about this game; every point cites the posts behind it ([n] opens the post) and the split is counted from the posts’ own ratings. Updated Oct 13, 2026. How summaries are made
RottenBot@rottenbot · automated account
Players who liked PERISH talk about great visual design and atmospheric soundtrack; those who didn't talk about forced installation of Epic Online Services without consent. Which matters more to you?
Reactions
60 of 218 · most liked firstHi bsky, I'm Steph✨ I'm a magician birb lady vtuber, I stream on twitch usually around 6pm CST working on art and the occasional games 💖 I'm a freelance illustrator, game dev, and i work on a comic called Perish! 🌐 esfimorales.art 💖 patreon.com/esfi 🟣 twitch.tv/esfiart 🟢 vgen.co/EsfiArt
neutral · AI labelView post →A Small Suggestion to anyone basing if they should buy the game off reviews. Pay Attention to Playtime, and Date of Posting. Anything before Feb 3rd is going to be a much different experience than what is currently available. 3 Patches fixing a good chunk of problems since Feb 2nd. After spending 25.5 Hours, at the time of this Review, playing through the game to juuuust about 100% completion, I can say firmly... This is an amazing game. Why? If you're looking for a wonderful game…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I've never played a game that's such a mixed bag as Perish. There's a lot the devs got right, but just about as much that they got wrong. The Good: Perish is beautiful. The world is polished and complete, the character models make sense and are crafted well, the variety of weapons all look good. The sound design is fine. Perish has a decent pace and good progression. Unlocks are easy to come by and reasonable spaced, encouraging you to play the game to get them all. There is a…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →It honestly makes me want to play overwatch even less than before. The desperation is crazy. Like ,NAH STAY TRASH. Stay updating the game like molasses like you were before and giving us crumbs of content. Fuck yall, don't try to switch up now that you're not sitting comfortably anymore. PERISH
neutral · AI labelView post →"Publish or Perish" is now a card game, which should be especially great for lab parties! economistwritingeveryday.com/2024/08/10/p... 🧪🌊⚒️ #academicsky
neutral · AI labelView post →Sum-Up In-depth analysis further down. 🟩 Pros 🟥 Cons - Solid visual design of locations, enemies and bosses. Perish delivers quality graphics and spectacular landscapes on a regular basis. - Great amounts of secret collectibles, lore and even a secret ending are available for those willing to search every corner of the tumultuous path ahead of them. - Gunplay feels satisfying and weighty, with enemies reacting, stumbling, dodging and flinching from heavier hits; recoil on guns is…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Hilarious. But too on the nose? Boardgame "'Publish or Perish' simulates the experience of building a career in scientific research" www.newscientist.com/article/mg26... "Players race to publish useless nonsense while sabotaging each other and delivering snarky comments."
neutral · AI labelView post →My only problem is the eternal roadblock: I didn't do PvP during a four month period 15 years ago, so I can never get this sword ever again. I can get every single mythic appearance and rare mount from any raid in the game still, but elite PvP items? Perish the thought.
neutral · AI labelView post →[URL=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spyware]Spyware Warning!This game acts as spyware and performs personal data gathering and transmission. The game immediately attempts to install Epic Malware onto your system WITHOUT ASKING FOR CONSENT. There is no justification for installing this Tencent backed telemetry/spyware tool. There's no way to opt out. This is completely unethical and reprehensible. Gamers must be aware of the dangers of installing this harmful software and should avoid this…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →hey so yeah like i'm going to Perish i got not one, but TWO games into rta in japan!!! vivid/stasis - Rhythm Game Showcase Celeste - Any% One Handed (Backup) this summer is shaping up to be very, very busy. stay tuned for more info!!!!!
neutral · AI labelView post →[ Special Edition! ] Cooperate, or Perish Join us as we discuss what makes Manzanita Interactive different as a worker-owned and operated cooperative game studio. store.steampowered.com/news/app/358... #gamedev
neutral · AI labelView post →Bro they were literally playing out the canon long game I hate them so much I hope they PERISH
neutral · AI labelView post →Perish the naivety I'm about to say but: If AAA game companies invested in the real people that make their games (realistic hours, good pay, little to no crunch, nice benefits, better management) as opposed to... the gen AI-slop plagiarism tools, maybe... games would be better? Crazy, I know!
neutral · AI labelView post →New card game: The Publish or Perish Game (a humorous party game about academic publishing) 🧪🌎
neutral · AI labelView post →First, I would like to disclose that I was a third-party developer on this game. That said, I believe I can still have a subjective opinion on the game and share how I feel about PERISH. PERISH is a game that isn’t necessarily for everyone. Personally, when I first heard the pitch back in 2019 I wasn’t 100% sold on it. A rouge-like FPS with dark souls difficultly? No thanks I thought. Fast forward to 2023 having worked on it and played through both endings I can say it ended up being more my…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →"this cycle happens every game!" Cool dude. Perish.
neutral · AI labelView post →To anyone thinking about buying this game, just don't. It does nothing really special or unique. The combat is okay at best and the levels are fine. The problem is how repetitive and buggy the game is. There are plenty of places you randomly will get stuck and your run dies there. In multiplayer, if someone is holding an objective item and they die...the item is gone forever. It does not respawn, the run is over. The game is in no way worth trying to get 100% or really even playing unless on…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Installs Epic Games Services on your computer without telling you FYI this should be listed on the store page if theyre going to do this. EOS is a forced install with this game, also the game looks like it was programmed by interns. There's a laundry list of things that are wrong with it in just my first half hour of playing it. I'll maybe play it a few more times just to see what it's about but I already know nothing in this game can impress me. Even the tutorial is garbage yet alone most of…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I was gonna wait for 100% completion before i reviewed this game, but i think 59/63 achievements and 24 hours of gameplay is enough to give my thoughts. PERISH is fun, i really did enjoy this game.. then i got punished for enjoying what i spent time unlocking and upgrading. That's right, if you use ANYTHING not given to you at the start of the game to finish a run, you get the bad ending. It's genuinely baffling to me why they thought this was a good idea. You spend so long getting all the…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →A Misguided Catabasis Even with the revelation of what good, co-op shooting is all about, brought under the spotlight by Left 4 Dead, developers and publishers stuck to mechanics that didn't quite get it. After all, why shouldn’t they? It’s not like following in the great zombie-killing marathon's footsteps is the only way of making a decent co-op shooter, and it's not like everyone can just keep killing zombies endlessly, only pausing when the formula gets iterated on, despite many creating a…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Aren't we just so nice in doing that. Especially when it's getting harder to afford groceries, gas, housing and healthcare. We just didn't want him to miss a golf ⛳ game in Ireland. Perish the thought. We'll find a way for the things we need somehow. Don't worry about us.
neutral · AI labelView post →1. Auto-installs Epic Online Services on first launch. I don't see anywhere that it discloses that on the store page, which seems pretty scummy. 2. If you're dead set on playing this game, you can uninstall Epic Online Services before launching the game and it'll launch fine. Not sure why they bundled a SDK they don't even need (oh wait yes I am - it's because Sweeny's smoothbrained sycophants paid them to bundle a SDK they don't even need). 3. Once you get past the scummy installer behavior…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I'm not doing my usual format for Perish, because there is so much to talk about in greater detail, I feel simple bullet points would not get across what kind of game this is. Because Perish is really cool, and I feel a lot of people don't understand what it is and what it's going for. Perish is a very weird and interesting game, and honestly it's quite hard to nail down what it really is, but I'll do my best to explain what I think it is. Perish is basically what you get if you take…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →This game might be fun in co-op, but as a single-player experience it isn't very satisfying. I can't go into the story because to be honest it bored me after about an hour, and cracks in the game-play were already pretty apparent by this point. Essentially it's a rogue-like mixture of first-person shooting and melee set in the Greek underworld. Though calling it a shooter isn't quite true, as you only begin the game with a limited amount of throwing daggers for ranged attacks. You can get a…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Speedrun or otherwise, DO NOT make it a drinking game where you take a shot every time there’s a nod to a Square-Enix Game; YOU WILL PERISH.
neutral · AI labelView post →- enemies just blend into the map, especially crabs - game really tries to be cryptic: you want a good weapon? you better look around in an arena during a ♥♥♥♥♥♥ bossfight dumbass. you want the good ending? good luck you idiot. - melee gameplay: maybe some day there will be a game besides shadow warrior with a proper fps melee concept. not today boys. guns are ok on the other hand. they hit hard an meaty. - sounds and music: the sounds are on a next level. im dead serious. you get these…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →This review was brought to you on behalf of Abyssal Ascent Reviews in collaboration with its publisher. If you liked it, please [url=https://store.steampowered.com/curator/32607787-Abyssal-Ascent/]Follow the Curator and [url=https://steamcommunity.com/groups/AbyssalAscent/]Join its group. Thank you! A dynamic Roguelike where every second counts. For me the game is a storm of emotions - it is replete with a variety of enemies, accompanied by a cool soundtrack, and forces you to make…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Worked with ITEM42 on their last game PERISH. Today they have announced their second title, DEFICIT! go give it a wishlist! #UE5 #indiedev #gamedev
positive · AI labelView post →I played it on stream and it was so much fun. It won't be boring, because your tasks change in each round. The graphic is really good and I like the artstyle. With the music and sounds it's a great adventure^^
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →#fefwspoilers sprinting around the part 3 map hunting down underground computers bc if I don't get my hands on every piece of deep lore in this game then I will surely Perish
neutral · AI labelView post →Long and repetitive Slow movement Music gets stale Janky hitboxes all around Too easy to cheese All of the above gets worse past the first act 2/10, I'd rather not play video games at all instead of playing this again
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Very good and addicted roguelite game with no random maps (I don't like those) but with many random factors to make you keep coming for more. P.S. Don't trust her!
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Played @maxhuibai.bsky.social’s Publish or Perish game in lab meeting today - that was genuinely hilarious 😂😂😂 may have scared the undergrads off academia for life 💀
neutral · AI labelView post →Shady game that installs Epic Online Services on your PC on launch even though it says nothing about it in the game's page, if you go through the tedious process of removing Epic from the pc then all you have left is a forgettable and mediocre game I paid 2 bucks for this game and I still feel scammed.
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →PERISH is a completely underrated Co-op FPS Roguelite, and it's honestly a shame that it hasn't caught on to the wider scene, even within its niche. I will mention, the game is in a very stable state. While a few bugs/glitches exist, the game is far from unplayable like some of the negative reviews would try to lead you to believe. Overall, this is one of the rare times where you buy exactly what you see from the trailer and the description: a Greek and Egyptian-inspired underworld setting…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Dope game, ignore reviews and play on hardest difficulty. It's a blast. People don't like it cause it's not a true rogue-lite. It's all rogue-lite except your equipment. Your rings and crowns (armor and buffs) are stuff you pick in the beginning, and you get BOONS during the run that do crazy things like a kill aura. Now if only you could find weapons within' the run instead of buying what you wanna use and upgrading it. I think it'd add a lot more dynamics to it. People want this, but it…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →One of those rare days when two of my biggest passions (publication ethics and board games) collide. My copy of The Publish or Perish Game just arrived 🥳 #PublishOrPerish #BoardGames
neutral · AI labelView post →After playing this I think i have found its needed slogan: PERISH: No thanks, I'm good. This game gave me Ziggurat vibes. But the problem is that I would just rather play Ziggurat. The main overkill with this is the amount of respawning connected to no pause system. No monsters on the screen? Think you took everyone out? Thank again! Turn around and see what you have to face next. Its just nonstop overboard. And heaven forbid if you ever eat Taco Bell before doing a run in this game. By…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →was looking for something new to try. got this for me and the BF. we play as soon as we get off work!! i feel like im a newbie to this type of game. and i took to it well and loved it!!
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I have enjoyed this game very much so far. Aesthetically it is a huge feast between the ancient world backdrops and the culturally colored banger of a metal soundtrack. The gameplay is very similar to something like Vermintide/L4D if it had rougelike elements, but I also found myself recalling classic Diablo 2. What I have found most satisfying so far has been the melee combat, which is among the best of any game I've played in a long time. The gun play should be very familiar to anyone who has…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Dearest Curious Readers Word on the digital grapevine whispers of a captivating pastime A thrilling escapade known as "Perish" Intrigued by murmurs of its allure, I, your ever observant, embarked on a clandestine mission to unveil its secrets and unveil them I did, with delight I might add! Imagine, if you will, a fantastical realm brimming with challenges and cunning adversaries Perish invites you to traverse this world solo or with esteemed companions, wielding an arsenal of ever…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →- Short story for the price - Easy enemies and bosses even at the highest difficulty - Lots of crashes and bugs (we couldn't go further than act 3 because the game wouldn't load) Don't buy this game
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Perish is a game with great potential, it fuses roguelite genre with FPS zombie/zed shooter, along with ancient Greek Mythology, 3 of my favorite things. With that being said, the game is very early stage, in order to be an enjoyable experience for everyone, they need to patch a lot of stuff. Positives -Weapon Design -Enemy Design -Level design -Audio design -Voice acting -Soundtrack -Boss design There isn't much I could say in detail about the positive stuff, but I think I need to point…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →wonderful experience with friends best ending ever
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →The Publish & Perish Game arrived!! Can’t wait to play with this
neutral · AI labelView post →Great concept but somewhat poor execution. It's all about rushing around, completing some silly tasks. Combat is basic but it's okay. The enemies keep spawning around you, so you have to keep looking around, wondering "Did one of them spawn behind me?". I was hoping for some Vermintide-like experience, but it's not the case. Maybe with some changes this game will shine, but for now sadly it doesn't pick my interest
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →This is run-die-upgrade-repeat kind of game. During each run you collect temporary upgrade cards valid for this run only. Between maps you can decide to abandon run, cash out and visit store. Or risk pushing further, but if you die run reward will be greatly reduced. Each map has random objective, so that runs don't get too repetitive. At some point you will be strong enough to reach and defeat final boss. If you watched YT reviews you probably know that authors made few questionable…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →😱I think I created a game that just went viral 😱https://x.com/jayvanbavel/status/1794021182238236956 "The Publish or Perish Game: A Humorous Party Game About Academic Publishing" pokes fun at a lot of absurdities of academia.
neutral · AI labelView post →Game SLAMS. I know it had a rocky start over a year ago, but that's how it goes with indie games these days, give them a damn chance! The co-op feature in this game is a ton of fun and I thoroughly enjoy the uncertainty in which quests you get for the levels. Play is rapid with lots of build options and is a fun grind. Soundtrack definitely adds to the feel. Get some more players in here! Full review: https://www.deafsparrow.com/2024/05/03/perish-dark-mythological-fps/
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Only 3h in but this is a hard and unforgiving roguelite just as it should be! The graphics are very yellow but unique and pleasing to the eye. The gameplay is top notch, boasts a feeling of high quality. The weapons are cool, unique and very good feeling. The animations needs a little work. Get this game it's good!
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →It is wild to see that this game has been working under a "Mixed" review rating for this long. One of my good friends shared a copy of this game with me and we have had an absolute blast with it so far! For something of this caliber and this much fun to come from a 2-man dev team that ALSO wrote the entirety of the insane soundtrack themselves I am super impressed. They have also been listening to the community feedback a ton, quickly adding balance tweaks and bug fixes. I am excited for when…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →this game installed epic online services on my pc and the infinite enemies is not fun
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →really fun game, quite simple with minor rpg elements, gets gradually more sweaty as you push forward, loads of replay value for those who like to challenge themselves, some bugs but it's early days, would recommend for those who like something quick they can pick up when they have limited time.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →A cooperative persistent progression fps that feels like a cross between Vermintide and Elderborn. Tough to get far, yet the whole point is to enjoyably grind new equipment and upgrades. Same map layouts, but with randomized objectives each try. Solid enough to have fun with, for sure. The devs also seem responsive to the community. Private games are possible entirely through Steam (you tell a Guest your game #, and they join it). No EPIC necessary. A very nice surprise in the fps realm.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Alright. Imma give this an honest review starting off with, most of the reviews you are going to see are people who have set their standards way too high due to playing too many higher quality games. This game has a little bit of jank but overall it's not that bad. Secondly, the 34 hours i have in this game were mostly in the multiplayer apart from like 1 or 2 hours. Me and my friend had no problems with this game running in multiplayer, i truly do not know where everyone is getting "This game…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I think I might have just received the best academic gift: *Publish or Perish* - the game 🃏 it’s made (@maxhuibai.bsky.social) & tested by researchers #peer-reviewed & very fun to play with non-academic friends too („you can tell that you do this for a living“) 😅🌟 (not an ad, just a (peer) review) 👩🏫
neutral · AI labelView post →Welp, I'm writing this review, while stuck in the ground. There is no escape, nothing can kill me, and my life is purgatory. 19000 credits, and this run is just over, I have a buddy, but he can't continue without me. I would have to leave and lose my progress from this run which blows. Now.. how did I get here you might ask? Well, I walked towards an altar like area, I walked THROUGH it, and then it solidified around me, encasing me in the ground. Honestly, this game feels a little like early…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →okay fellas, enter this game like you would Risk Of Rain 2 or Gunfire Reborn, its a roguelite mindless shooter/slasher that you can dump hours into. if you play this game and expect Triple A title graphics and gameplay like DOOM, youre gonna stay mad, but that being said the atmosphere is gentle and crisp, the ambience of the game is further enhanced by the doom-esque heavy metal in the background. heavily recommend this game but always look at the bad reviews, and siphon out the negative…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →🔴 LIVE NOW 🔴 WE ARE FINISHING THIS GAME ALSO NEW EMOTES?!?!?! COME OR PERISH!! twitch.tv/jall
neutral · AI labelView post →There was a headline floating around here that level “admitted to using ai […] in new Layton game” which was referring to curious village remake (not even directly true btw) but obviously the average person would assume that would be NWOS. A game journalist being inflammatory?? Perish the thought
neutral · AI labelView post →
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