Mycopunk is an upbeat love letter to extraction shooters

Engadget - Apr 28th, 2025
Open on Engadget

Indie studio Pigeons at Play, alongside publisher Devolver Digital, has announced 'Mycopunk,' a four-player, first-person shooter set to make its debut in early access on Steam later in 2025. The game introduces players to a team of eccentric robots, each equipped with unique classes and abilities, tasked with exterminating an invasive fungus on a valuable planet. Mycopunk emphasizes customization with a plethora of quirky weapons, upgrades, and a spatial upgrade system that enhances the gameplay experience. The game's main loop involves mission-based combat against tentacled fungus monsters, with players collecting resources for future upgrades and surviving intense action sequences.

Visually inspired by the works of comic artist Moebius, Mycopunk delivers a living graphic novel aesthetic, blending retrofuturism with modern gaming mechanics. Originally a senior thesis project, the game has evolved into a deeply engaging co-op shooter filled with creative and humorous touches drawn from the developers' own gaming experiences. The game features a vast hub world where players can explore, test abilities, and interact with quirky elements like Roachard, a roach who serves as mission control. A demo is available on Steam, offering a taste of the game's unique flair and fast-paced action.

Story submitted by Fairstory

RATING

6.8
Fair Story
Consider it well-founded

The article provides an informative and engaging overview of the upcoming game Mycopunk, highlighting its unique features and visual style. It excels in clarity and timeliness, effectively capturing the essence of the game for its target audience. However, the article's promotional tone and lack of critical perspectives suggest a potential bias, and its source quality could be improved by incorporating more diverse viewpoints. While it is unlikely to provoke controversy or impact broader societal issues, it serves its purpose well within the gaming community, offering insights into a new release with potential appeal to fans of the genre.

RATING DETAILS

8
Accuracy

The story accurately describes the game Mycopunk's genre, developers, and publishers, aligning with available sources such as Steam and gaming previews. Specific details about the game's premise, character customization, and gameplay loop are consistent with promotional materials and previews. However, some claims, like the number of weapon upgrades and the visual style's inspiration, require further verification. The story's description of the hub world's features and game depth is subjective, reflecting personal impressions rather than objective facts. Overall, the story presents a mostly accurate picture, supported by credible sources, but some elements need confirmation.

7
Balance

The article provides a balanced overview of Mycopunk, focusing on various aspects like gameplay, visual style, and development history. However, it primarily highlights positive features, such as customization and visual appeal, without mentioning potential drawbacks or criticisms. This lack of critical perspective may suggest a bias towards promoting the game. Including diverse viewpoints, such as potential challenges or areas for improvement, would enhance the balance and provide a more comprehensive understanding.

8
Clarity

The article is well-structured and uses clear, engaging language to convey information about Mycopunk. It effectively introduces the game's key features and mechanics, allowing readers to understand its core concepts. However, the tone is somewhat promotional, which may affect perceived neutrality. Overall, the article is easy to follow and presents information logically, with vivid descriptions that capture the game's essence.

6
Source quality

The article relies on direct information from the game's developers and publishers, which are authoritative sources for details about Mycopunk. However, it lacks references to independent reviews or third-party analyses that could provide additional context and validation. Including a wider range of sources, such as expert opinions or player feedback, would strengthen the article's credibility and offer a more nuanced perspective.

5
Transparency

The article lacks explicit transparency regarding its sources and the basis for its claims. While it draws on information likely provided by the developers and publishers, it does not clearly attribute statements or disclose any potential conflicts of interest. Greater transparency about the information's origin and any affiliations would enhance the article's trustworthiness and allow readers to better assess its impartiality.

Sources

  1. https://store.steampowered.com/app/3247750/Mycopunk/
  2. https://www.gamesradar.com/games/co-op/i-had-fun-blasting-fungus-limbs-in-mycopunk-devolver-digitals-co-op-shooter-but-itll-take-a-lot-to-lure-me-away-from-deep-rock-galactic/
  3. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nT4jTAMY7m8
  4. https://checkpointgaming.net/features/2025/04/mycopunk-hands-on-preview-exterminate/
  5. https://www.dualshockers.com/mycopunk-hands-on-preview/