Back around this time in 2020 it was revealed that a new Metal Slug game was in the works for mobile through a partnership with SNK and Call of Duty Mobile developer Timi Studios. The game was tentatively titled Metal Slug: Code J, and it has been in various forms of beta testing or soft launch for the past couple of years. Now the game, which is officially called Metal Slug: Awakening, is finally widely available on both iOS and Android platforms. It is also heading to Steam and was supposed to launch today as well but it’s still in review with Valve, so whenever it gets approved the game will become available on its Steam page. You can also download the standalone Windows version over on the official site, if you’re really hot to be playing this on your PC (or Steam Deck, perhaps).

So there’s no way around this: I am a massive Metal Slug fan for decades now, and I’m incredibly nervous about Metal Slug: Awakening because it’s free to play. Like super free to play. I’ve gone through the first couple of missions and so far it’s definitely fun to play, but eventually you do get to a point where you hit “that screen" that we all know from every free to play game; the screen that has a bunch of menu icons and there’s all sorts of avenues to upgrade or unlock this or that, or collect mission rewards, or hop into social events, etc. As much as I’m loving the visuals in Metal Slug: Awakening which respect the original games well while bringing things into 3D (or 2.5D I guess), and as much as I’m loving all the wacky weaponry and run ‘n gun gameplay, I’m just… nervous.

Sure, the first impression is pretty great, and perhaps everything continues to be great and all the free to play stuff is nice and unobtrusive. Only time will tell, and I certainly hope my nervousness isn’t scaring you off because I think everyone should give Metal Slug: Awakening a download and try it for themselves. Maybe this is the dawning of a new era with a Metal Slug game that will get constant new content for years to come, and all my worrying about one of my all-time favorite franchises getting ruined by modern gaming practices is all for naught. Maybe. My fingers are crossed.