A storm is brewing in the indie gaming scene as Steel Inferno, a frenetic new hack-n-slash roguelite, tears its way onto Steam with a gameplay trailer that’s equal parts chaos and heavy metal brilliance. Combining lightning-fast melee combat, screen-shaking oversized weapons, and a soundtrack that sounds like a dragon’s roar, this title is poised to carve its name into the roguelite hall of fame—with a giant sword, naturally.
Developed by Ironclad Games, Steel Inferno throws players into a hellish, procedurally generated arena where colossal blades and devastating combos reign supreme. The trailer showcases a lone warrior battling hordes of grotesque demons, chaining together ground-slams, aerial juggles, and parries that send enemies flying like ragdolls. Each swing of the protagonist’s gargantuan sword—a weapon larger than the character themselves—cracks the environment, leaving craters and debris in its wake. “We wanted combat to feel physical,” said lead designer Marco Velez in a press statement. “Every hit should make players feel like they’re swinging a freight train.”
The game’s heavy metal backbone isn’t just for show. Dynamic tracks ramp up during boss fights, syncing guitar solos with critical gameplay moments. Imagine dodging a lava-spewing behemoth’s strike just as a blistering riff kicks in—Steel Inferno’s soundtrack, composed by ex-metal band guitarist Lena Hart, seamlessly ties the adrenaline of combat to the rhythm of destruction.
For players looking to experience Steel Inferno’s visceral action at its peak, the Lenovo Legion Go handheld offers a portable powerhouse to dive into the chaos. With a 144Hz WQXGA display and Ryzen Z1 Extreme processing, the Legion Go ensures buttery-smooth framerates even as the screen erupts in pyrotechnic melee combos.
Beyond its spectacle, Steel Inferno leans hard into roguelite progression. Players unlock cursed relics that grant game-breaking powers at a cost—think temporary invincibility in exchange with slower movement, or explosive critical hits that drain health. Randomized weapon upgrades, from flaming sword enchantments to gravity-warping great axes, promise no two runs will play alike.
Early previews praise the game’s “relentless energy” and “innovative risk-reward combat,” though some note the difficulty curve is “brutal even by roguelite standards.” Thankfully, the soundtrack’s thunderous beats might just soften the blow of repeated deaths.
Steel Inferno launches on Steam in Q1 2025, with a free demo dropping next month. For fans of Hades’ slick style and Devil May Cry’s over-the-top action, this heavy metal hellscape is one to watch—preferably with the volume cranked to eleven.