Steel Seed

“Steel Seed doesn't do anything particularly new, but it does recreate tried and true gameplay and traversal elements and wraps it in a stunning presentation. I have trouble with the final act as I think it falls a bit short of the promise the first two acts build up to, but overall the complete package is a pretty good game marked by solid mechanics and progression. It settles into a core loop but encourages you to explore options to play that out, and for the most part offers a pretty cool narrative wrapping neat ideas into a gorgeous bit of world building.”

“While Storm in a Teacup's about-face from mechanical simplicity is audacious, Steel Seed is something I'm more compelled to admire than recommend.”

“The blend of stealth and action in a mysterious sci-fi setting held so much promise. It's genuinely disappointing, then, to find a game that feels like it never quite coalesced…a bit like a seed that never quite sprouted.”

“Steel Seed from developer Storm in a Teacup is a gorgeous and stunning stealth-action game that does a lot of things right, but also stumbles at times with difficulty.”

“The paper-thin melee combat doesn't take away from the polished and satisfying stealth that Steel Seed so brilliantly excels at. Thanks to snappy controls and intricately crafted level design featuring an array of mechanical obstacles, the 3D platforming is very fun and varied throughout this post-cataclysmic indie title. The narrative is surprisingly decent too, especially with how it encourages exploration through the collection of various data logs hidden about. If you're up for some fun platforming, well designed stealth, and sci-fi vibes, Steel Seed is well worth diving into.”

“The more I played of Steel Seed the more I felt like that old saying where the kid asks for McDonalds and their mom says they have that at home. Yea, well Steel Seed is like the Stellar Blade we have at home. While the game itself is competent, its greatest sin for me is that it just wasn’t very fun. This seed didn’t bring forth the crop I thought it would, and I suggest just skipping this one.”

“Steel Seed is the kind of game that you'd love to see do better, because while its combat lacks polish and its story is fairly generic, you can feel that this is a game born out of ambition. Unfortunately, while they're never bad, most of its elements can't keep up the same level of quality as its breathtaking vistas.”

“While enjoying my time playing Steel Seed, it didn't just end up reminding me of other games in the genre space & with not much to set it apart, I fear this game may struggle to find traction unless it's given a push or put onto a subscription service like Gamepass.”

“Steel Seed follows the exploits of Zoe and her robot companion Koby as they delve (or often, slide) their way deep into the depths of a vast post-apocalyptic world ruled by rogue robots”

“Steel Seed is a competent and polished game that demonstrates Storm in a Teacup's growing ambitions. Its stealth mechanics, art direction, and precision of its basic controls showcase a studio that is increasingly mastering its craft. However, its excessive adherence to formulas established by major studios limits its potential to truly stand out. I enjoyed my time with Steel Seed despite its limitations. Its lack of originality may be its greatest weakness, but it also makes it an accessible and familiar experience for fans of the genre.”

“Steel Seed is hard to pigeonhole into a specific genre, but thanks to its heavy sci-fi atmosphere it plays brilliantly. Admittedly, we won't find anything innovative here, but the game defends itself as a whole. It is worth giving it a chance especially if you have a taste for futuristic, post-apocalyptic climates.”

“Steel Seed is not going to win any awards for originality, but it's a solid stealth-focused action adventure game that is entertaining throughout.”

“Zoe may be the chosen one destined to save the world, but the game around her never really feels like it's convinced of it — or itself. And if you can’t persuade yourself of the story you’re telling, it’s damn hard to convince anyone else.”

“Steel Seed may not be the most original game around, but its action-adventure formula serves as a solid tribute to the Uncharted and Star Wars Jedi series, offering an intriguing story and setting, engaging traversal and stealth mechanics, and impressive world design that captures the scale of a world overtaken by machines. Unfortunately, the lack of originality, along with a general lack of depth, does impact the experience, as the gameplay starts to feel repetitive a few hours in. Still, Zoe’s journey is one worth taking for those seeking an experience in the vein of Naughty Dog’s beloved dormant franchise.”

“Steel Seed successfully blends its inspirations into a compelling sci-fi adventure that feels both fresh and familiar. It truly shines during its climbing and cinematic platforming segments, delivering memorable moments that echo its influences without feeling derivative.”

“Despite Steel Seed being steeped in familiar tropes and clichés, the developers paid close attention to the visuals and crafted gameplay that strikes a solid balance between stealth action and hack-and-slash mechanics.”