Recently, I was struggling through my weeklies for Destiny 2, particularly with going up against cheaters in Iron Banner and slogging through Crucible when all I wanted to do was literally anything else. I love the game, don't get me wrong, but sometimes a break is needed. But I was so close to Legend and just needed a few more rounds, so I decided to blast Slayer's Reign in Blood album from 1986 and go ham. Immediately, my attitude changed and I just started slaughtering other Guardians. It was pretty epic, not going to lie, but it got me thinking: What are some good games to play for heavy metal fans?
There are the obvious choices that literally incorporate heavy metal into the experience, but there are others that just pair well when needing that additional boost of motivation when looking to pwn. Some of the games don't have actual metal in the title itself, so I've supplied a few band recommendations for those in particular. So, without further ado, here are my 10 games to play for heavy metal fans!
Top 10 games to play for heavy metal fans
Doom
Raining blood, from the bowels of Hell? Honestly, I think it's pretty obvious that any of the Doom games are perfect for metalheads, and not just because of the ramped-up music that the games have. Doom, especially in later years, is a hodgepodge of fast-paced action, hand-banging music, and weapon mechanics that make you truly believe that you can conquer any foe. Listen to the organic game's soundtrack while ripping and tearing, or put on some Otep to provide some juxtaposition; one thing is for certain: This game was made for heavy metal fans.
Plus, could you imagine Doomguy in the pit with all of his armor? Talk about bringing the heat.
Coffee Crisis
Coffee Crisis is one of my favorite games over the last decade. This indie title comes from Mega Cat Studios and honestly? It's bats--- bonkers regarding gameplay. So what is Coffee Crisis? It's a neo-rogue brawler that basically has players take on the role of the few remaining baristas left on Earth. Even better? They have enough heavy metal pumping through their veins to throw aliens into the mosh pit of annihilation. It's a fun game to play solo but infinitely more chaotic with its co-op, so I can't recommend this enough.
Plus, coffee. That's just paradise.
Killing Floor 2
Killing Floor 2 is a 6-player co-op game that basically has players just slaughter through as many Zeds as possible. The addition of the 12-player Versus Survival mode too also ups the ante, actually letting players be the Zeds in an effort to claw their way through survival.
The combat in Killing Floor 2 makes the first game almost a distant memory. Much like Doom, this game is incredibly fast-paced and the combat relies heavily on building up a chaotic momentum. It's also incredibly gory, so if I could recommend a band to check out whilst murderin' some Zeds, might I suggest you check out 3 Inches of Blood?
Iron Maiden: Ed Hunter
Iron Maiden: Ed Hunter is an album and it's a game, but its primary function is to be an album. With that in mind, don't go expecting this to be a monumentally good game like the ones mentioned above (and the ones following this recommendation). It is comprised of just eight levels that can easily be seen as repetitive. I recommend this one because you're getting a sweet album with the added bonus of some light gameplay. It's a pretty bad setup, but it's bad in a way that almost makes it good.
If you're an Iron Maiden fan, this is a must, especially with the level 8 finale with The Evil That Men Do. Despite being metal, it's also surprisingly enough a solid game to fall asleep to. It's short, straight to the point, and has phenomenal music. The perfect calm before the storm that is the next day. Just... don't expect it to be Game of the Year material.