Believe it or not, metal has always had a staple holding within the world of video games. Sure, Avenged Sevenfold tend to make their way into the conversation from time to time — the Call of Duty featured “Not Ready To Die” single comes to mind. But, it goes back much father that online multiplayer cameos from M. Shadows and the rest of the Avenged Sevenfold flock. So, let’s get into the nitty gritty stuff.
Tim Schafer , the unofficial father to adventure games, is himself a massive metal fan. After sculpting the wonderful creations of Monkey Island, Full Throttle, Grim Fandango, Schafer would later go on to join forces with Tenacious D vocalist and Dio super fan Jack Black. Together, Schafer and Black formed something truly special.
Brutal Legend was released back in 2009 and featured Jack Black as the voice for the game’s main character. A wonderful tale featuring cameos from the likes of Motorhead’s Lemmy, Ozzy Osborne and Judas Priest’s Rob Halford — as well as the single most metal soundtrack to be featured in any game — Brutal Legend quickly gained cult status as the most metal game ever produced.
While Tim Schafer’s magnificently metal-tastic Brutal Legend will likely never see a sequel, there are still a surprisingly large number of rather metal video games released every year. 2018 was certainly no different.
5. Gwent: The Witcher Card Game
The Witcher series is about as metal as it gets. Filled with horrifying monsters and brutal violence, the world of the Witcher is one fraught with macabre imagery and sinister drama. In all likelihood, it won’t be too long until a Witcher themed metal band makes its way to the mainstream. If power metal band Seven Kingdoms can make a shtick out of Game of Thrones, then why not Witcher too?
While the latest Witcher game was certainly metal enough to deserve a spot on this list, the game is now a few years old. The mini-game Gwent, however, just had an official 2018 release.
Well, the mini-game for 2015’s The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt was not so mini, as it turns out. Consequently, the video game developing geniuses over at CD Projekt Red have since come forward with a full fledged free-to-play version of Gwent for all to enjoy. Included within the game is some seriously metal artwork that any brutal music fan worth their salt is going to want to check out. A virtual card game, Gwent combines real time strategy with the macabre glory of the Witcher series. For that, Gwent: The Witcher Card Game has earned a spot on this list.
4. Kingdom Come: Deliverance
Kingdom Come: Deliverance was released back in Feb. of 2018. Published by Deep Silver and developed by Warhorse Studios, Kingdom Come offers a rather intense look into 15th century Bohemia. Holding a focus on realism and historical accuracy, Kingdom Come plunges a sword into the player’s hand and pushes them off into a brutal conquest for Bohemia’s future.
Having brushed aside the far too familiar high fantasy trope, Warhorse Studios has instead offered a glimpse into the far more brutal and grueling world of a war torn Bohemia. The game itself requires serious patience, thanks to the title’s rather slow and steady pacing. Beyond that, the combat takes more than a little time to master.
At any rate, this grueling battle through a 15th century world of warfare and Bohemian bloodshed is about as metal as it gets. For that, Kingdom Come: Deliverance has earned a spot on this list.
3. Monster Hunter: World
Monster Hunter has turned into a powerful beast that rivals the very creatures within the game’s own content. Across the world players are jumping online to hunt down massive monsters together in multiplayer. Meanwhile, solo participants are gearing up for intense single player battles of their own.
Filled with raging monsters and ever interesting creatures of all shapes and sizes, Monster Hunter: World always manages to keep the player engaged and intrigued by the rather simple loop of kill, loot and kill again. At any rate, this intense beast slaying game has earned a spot on the 2018’s most metal games list.
2. Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice
Okay, yes, Hellbalde: Senua’s Sacrifice was initially released back in 2017. However, a VR supported edition and an Xbox version of the game were each released in 2018. As metal as this game is, it deserves to be on this list. Trust me.
Ninja Theory really went out of their comfort zone with this one. Stepping away from the Devil May Cry series for a while, the development team decided to concoct what they call an “independent AAA game.” The result was Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice.
Hellblade is centered in Nordic culture and viking lore. However, the puzzle based action adventure story is truly about psychosis at its core. Exploring the difficult topic of mental illness in a mature, touching and thought provoking fashion, Hellblade manages to inform, provoke and entertain all in one. Through the entire experience, the player is submerged into a world filled with horrifying nightmares and viking tales alike.
The end result is a metal fueled adventure that stands tall as a mature exploration of mental illness, as well as a visual experience worthy of any Iron Maiden album cover. Thanks to that, Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice has earned a spot on this list.
1. God of War
Sony Santa Monica Studios has pulled God of War, kicking and screaming, into the forefront of gaming once again. The God of War franchise was seemingly growing somewhat stale after the release of the third game, as the following releases began receiving middling critical reception.
However, Santa Monica Studios knocked it out of the proverbial park with the latest God of War. Released in April 2018, the latest game changed out the well worn Greek aesthetic for a tour of Norse mythology. To every viking metalheads’ utter joy, Kratos has now found himself within the realm of the Norse gods.
Featuring a more intimate narrative, God of War offers a touching journey between Kratos and his newly introduced son. Still, there is plenty of over-the-top giant killing and draugr slaying to keep things intense along the way. In the end, the latest within the God of War franchise has found a beautiful balance between intimacy and downright brutality.
For that, God of War has earned the top spot on this list. For all things video games, keep it tuned to GameTruth.
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