Mycopunk
"Its build-crafting fuels a perfect co-op chaos engine."
About
Mycopunk is a cooperative first-person shooter for up to four players. You take on missions to fight hordes of fungal aliens on hostile worlds. The core loop involves completing objectives, looting new weapon parts and character upgrades, and returning to base to customize your build. A central mechanic involves targeting and destroying specific limbs on larger enemy organisms to disable their abilities.
Verdict
When Mycopunk is firing on all cylinders with a full squad, it's one of the most inventive co-op shooters in years. The sheer density of its customization systems offers a theory-crafter's paradise, letting you assemble absurdly specific builds to tear through fungal hordes. Its core combat is a beautiful, chaotic dance. However, this brilliance is frequently interrupted by crashes and hobbled by a solo mode that feels punishingly unbalanced, making it a phenomenal game that is still fighting its own technical debt.
You'll like it if …
- +You live for deep, complex build-crafting and theory-crafting.
- +You want a chaotic co-op shooter to play with a dedicated group.
- +The thought of stripping parts off a giant fungus to build a better gun appeals to you.
You'll dislike it if …
- −You primarily play shooters solo.
- −Visual clutter and screen-filling particle effects give you a headache.
- −Frequent crashes and technical jank are deal-breakers.
Breakdown
- +Frantic, chaotic co-op combat that feels great with a full squad.
- +The 'enemy organism' mechanic adds a welcome tactical layer to big fights.
- +Character kits are versatile, with unique and satisfying mobility options.
- −Solo play is poorly balanced, with overwhelming enemy numbers and frustrating difficulty.
- −Some larger enemies feel like bullet sponges, slowing the pace of combat.
- −Enemy accuracy can feel unfair, with certain attacks instantly depleting your health.
- +Extraordinarily deep build-crafting systems for both characters and weapons.
- +A dedicated roguelike mode provides huge replay value and a space for build experimentation.
- +Progression feels meaningful, consistently rewarding players with new tactical options.
- −A 1.0 balance change to a key late-game upgrade system has frustrated some veteran players.
- +The world-building establishes a unique and compelling grungy sci-fi aesthetic.
- −Its Borderlands-style humor is divisive and won't land with everyone.
- +A vibrant and colorful art style gives the game a distinct visual identity.
- −Visual clutter from effects can become overwhelming in heavy combat, harming clarity.
- −Technical issues like display ratio bugs and poor optimization affect some systems.
- −The game starts with a loud, unskippable introductory movie.
- −Frequent, hard crashes can cause a complete loss of mission progress and loot.
- −The UI and hub menus are confusing to navigate without trial and error.
- −Lacks modern PC features like DLSS or substantial graphics customization.
- −Localization for non-English languages is incomplete, with untranslated objectives.
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