Mycopunk Early Access review: This is how you do a co-op shooter

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When I received the code for “Mycopunk” last week, I wasn’t quite sure what to anticipate. After all, Devolver Digital has a knack for consistently releasing fantastic games. The blend of chaotic robot and fungus visuals caught my eye, yet first-person shooters aren’t typically my preferred genre.

However, when I discovered that the multiplayer mode wouldn’t be accessible during this review period, I found it peculiar, considering I believed “Mycopunk” to be a multiplayer-centric shooter. Nevertheless, I was pleasantly surprised at how much enjoyment I derived from playing “Mycopunk” alone.

Mycopunk – A Quirky, Satirical, and Engaging Game Debut from Pigeons at Play

Pigeons at Play, the developers behind Mycopunk, have aptly named their debut title. This game is an excellent choice for a quick 30-minute session, whether played solo or with friends. The humor in Mycopunk is shamelessly goofy and taps into the satirical anti-capitalist sentiment that games like Helldivers 2 and Lethal Company have popularized.

However, Mycopunk offers more than just aesthetics. Its gameplay is snappy, smooth, and creative. Despite being in Early Access, the missions vary greatly, there’s a unique upgrade system for both weapons and characters (or employees as they’re referred to in-game), and most importantly, it remains enjoyable even when played alone. Few multiplayer-focused games can maintain that level of fun as effectively as Mycopunk does.

Today, the distinctive shooter game titled “Mycopunk” goes live on Steam in its Early Access phase. While if team-based first-person shooters don’t usually appeal to you, it’s worth giving this one a glance. The unique abilities and weapons within “Mycopunk” are enjoyable and cooperative by design. If the term “Early Access” makes you hesitant, I understand, but allow me to clarify how Pigeons at Play is utilizing this time: they are using it to polish and refine the game based on player feedback during its development process.

How is the Team Approaching Early Access

Today, the game titled “Mycopunk” is debuting in Early Access on Steam. To clarify, when a game is released in Early Access, it means that while the game is technically available for purchase, it is still under development and may have unfinished features or bugs. This is why Steam has a feature that reminds users if a developer hasn’t updated the game for a long time. In my case, I’ve taken a look at the “Mycopunk” developer’s statement regarding Early Access, and I’ll be sure to pass on the important points from it in this review.

The team behind Pigeons at Play, when announcing their early access release on Steam, have expressed that they consider it equivalent to a fully-fledged game with all the desired content. Instead of releasing major updates during development, they plan to utilize early access for balancing adjustments based on your feedback and adding even more features.

The Mycopunk team intends to broaden the storyline during the Early Access period (and beyond 2.0) and introduce fresh content that enriches the world and offers exciting equipment for gameplay. Unlike other games, Mycopunk’s developers label their Early Access version as 2.0 instead of 1.0 when it leaves Early Access. Apart from adjustments based on community input, the major change you can anticipate with the end of Early Access is a price hike. The team has confirmed that they plan to increase the game’s price at launch. If this intriguing game appeals to you, don’t hesitate due to concerns about balanced skills and weapons. Instead, secure your savings and potentially influence the game’s future by joining Early Access.

Mission Mayhem

As a gamer, I can’t help but view Mycopunk as a hero shooter in many aspects. Although it only features four heroes, each one possesses distinctive abilities that are beneficial on their own and even more so when used in tandem with teammates. While Overwatch might be the first game that comes to mind, I believe a more fitting comparison would be Risk of Rain 2.

Just like Risk of Rain 2, Mycopunk is a cooperative shooter set in a vast 3D open space, where players collaborate to combat waves of enemies. However, it’s the unique elements that make Mycopunk stand out from other noteworthy games in this genre.

As a gamer, diving into procedurally generated landscapes brimming with adversaries feels like a walk in the park. However, each mission comes with unique targets that shift the focus every time. One of my top missions had me taking down a satellite orbiting above and retrieving valuable data from it. Now, the data extraction wasn’t the thrilling part, but the way the gameplay executed it sure was. To ready the satellite for collection, I needed to string power cables across the entire map. At first, this felt like an unwelcome task. But then, I discovered I could slide along the very cables I laid down, similar to a skate park rail in Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater. This unexpected feature drastically altered my approach to the mission, transforming it into a genuinely fun experience.

In another operation, we were tasked with eliminating an enemy spy satellite from its orbit. During this mission, I was responsible for establishing an orbital strike and ensuring precision in targeting. As soon as the shot was fired and I had successfully fended off hordes of enemies, destruction started cascading onto the planet. I then had to dodge remnants of debris while battling more adversaries, anxiously waiting for a rescue shuttle to arrive and transport me to safety. The sequence of events in this mission was not only thrilling but also amusingly unexpected. Although it wasn’t the company’s intent to create such humor, it’s undeniably a risk they are prepared to take.

PROS:

  1. Creative mission designs;
  2. heroes and weapons are hard to go wrong with;
  3. fun and goofy anti-capitalist aesthetic.

CONS:

  1. Enemy variety can potentially get stale and repetitive;
  2. have not had a ton of multiplayer experience so far.

The Various Heroes, I Mean Employees

In the game Mycopunk, you’ll find four playable characters, often referred to as employees. Each character possesses two unique skills. Typically, one skill enhances mobility, while the other inflicts damage, although this isn’t always the case. For instance, the Scrapper has two mobility-focused skills. The first is akin to a double jump that can extend for a longer duration, and the second allows the creation of a tall pole for allies to swing on as needed by grappling onto it. In contrast, the Bruiser has a jump and a slam attack, along with the ability to erect a temporary shield.

Beyond the customization already offered, it’s worth noting that unlike in games like Overwatch, every character isn’t confined to a single weapon type. Instead, any hero can wield any weapon, giving players the freedom to make their own choices. At an initial stage, the selection is most straightforward according to individual taste. For each mission, you get to pick one primary and one secondary weapon. Initially, you’ll have a shotgun that inflicts burn damage on any ricocheted bullets. Your second starting weapon is a semi-automatic rifle. After completing the first mission, you’ll unlock my preferred weapon, a rifle that builds up charge with each accurate shot, transforming into a temporary laser beam upon full charge.

In this game, as you progress, you will find that both your hero and weapon can acquire unique passive abilities. These abilities are earned based on how frequently you utilize them. Each upgrade has a distinct shape that needs to be positioned on a hexagonal grid alongside other upgrades, creating an engaging puzzle scenario. For instance, you might need to place ricocheting bullets in the corners while also considering extra elemental damage. In essence, each upgrade comes with its own unique layout that must be arranged on a grid together with other enhancements. While experimenting with each character, I didn’t encounter any significant choices to make, but it’s simple to envision the challenge of designing the optimal upgrade map for every hero and weapon.

Final Thoughts

I’m genuinely thrilled about the future of Mycopunk! Normally, I might advise against a small independent studio tackling a cooperative shooter project like this one. However, Pigeons at Play appears to have a solid grasp of their craft. What sets them apart is that I seldom find myself as confident in a studio embarking on Steam Early Access. Unlike many who use the platform for funding, refining mechanics, or adding content, this developer has already established a clear vision, secured funding through Devolver Digital, and built an audience with their Steam Next Fest demo. An impressive 120,000 people gave it a spin!

One more point I’d like to highlight is the diverse array of adversaries. Although they might look similar initially, there’s an intriguing blend of distinctness and likeness among them all. Each enemy has what you could call a ‘core’ or ‘vulnerability’, which is their weak spot. The regular enemies have this core protected by limbs that spread out, making them dangerous in close combat. Other adversaries come equipped with shields, ranged weapons, and unique skills. However, no matter the challenge, it’s straightforward to determine a suitable response. The more intricate enemies tend to emerge only at specific stages within a mission.

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2025-07-10 21:32