While there’s still a huge appetite for competitive PvP shooters, we’re really in a golden age of co-op PvE experiences. Already you can play the likes of Helldivers 2, Space Marine 2, and Deep Rock Galactic, and the likes of Killing Floor 3 and FBC Firebreak will soon join the party. It’s a tough realm to break into, but Mycopunk is the latest to give it a go with a striking art style, surreal weapons with outrageous upgrades, and a humorous tone. Despite only just being revealed, you can try it out straight away thanks to a multiplayer demo that’s live right now on Steam.
Given the prominence of Borderlands in the genre (and with the Borderlands 4 release date on the way in a few months too) a co-op FPS game with cel-shaded visuals might seem like an odd decision. But from what I’m initially seeing of Mycopunk, it’s doing plenty to make sure it stands out. Its overarching premise initially sounds quite Helldivers 2-y, as you’re part of a squad aboard a space station orbiting an infested planet that gears up, enters a drop pod, and blasts down to the surface. The threat you’re facing? Fungus. Out of control, deadly fungus. It’s corrupting the entire planet, its wildlife, and its technology, and you’re part of the clean-up crew.
In squads of up to three players, you’ll head into battle with a loadout packed with futuristic weapons, tools, and abilities. In what is one of the most novel-looking gunsmith systems I’ve seen, you can configure several mods into one gun using an almost Tetris-like minigame. Mods have different numbers of nodes presented in different shapes, and you’ve got to piece them all together like a puzzle on a grid with a limited number of spaces.
While out on your mission, you’ll be mowing down fungal matter, bugs, and out-of-control robots as you look to stop the spread. You’ll also scavenge for resources that’ll go towards upgrading your gear. There’s also a light extraction element where you must return to your pod with everything you’ve gathered. While traversal happens mostly on-foot, there appears to also be environmental elements like jump pads and rails that add different dimensions, as well as vehicles.
Content-wise, there’s an impressive amount on offer given this is the debut game from Pigeons at Play, but it’s the art style that I’m really digging. The robot designs, the weapon details, the grimy and corrupted environments – all of it looks great with its cel-shaded approach.
The best part about Mycopunk is that, despite only being revealed for the first time today, you don’t have to wait to give it a go.
A Steam demo for Mycopunk, with multiplayer support enabled, is available right now. You can download it here.
For more, check out our list of the best co-op games and the best space games.
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