Every day new games are released on Steam, but many of them go completely unnoticed, mostly for good reason. However, in this flood, a true gem can sometimes emerge. MeinMMO editor Benedict Grothaus has found such a gem – with the help of YouTuber HandOfBlood.
Actually, I’m currently sinking all my free time into the new patch of World of Warcraft and – unfortunately once again – League of Legends. At least, if there isn’t a Pen&Paper night scheduled.
On the evening of November 16, I just needed something new. A casual game that I can play and “stop at any time”. Even though I was already tired, I still wanted to play something.
Through a video by HandOfBlood, who is back on YouTube after a long illness, a pretty new game came to my mind, which is supposed to be a lot of fun for little money: Slime 3K: Rise Against Despot (via YouTube).
Since November 2, the game has been in Early Access on Steam, available for just €4.99 and takes up a slim 275 MB. Bought, downloaded, lost 4 hours, almost missed work. And today after work, it will continue immediately.
A bit like the Powerpuff Girl of indie games
HandOfBlood roughly describes Slime 3K as a mix of Vampire Survivors, Reverse Bullet Hell, and Deckbuilder. For me, the game resembles Enter the Gungeon more, just a lot more chaotic.
You play an experimentally created slime that stands against its creator, an evil AI that rules the world in the year 3000. The goal of the game is to create various levels and defeat bosses.
To do this, you hack your way through endless waves of enemies, level up in stages, buy new weapons, and upgrade your abilities – until either you or the boss that appears later finally dies.
Between the levels, there is a meta-progression that allows you to improve your slime and build decks. For example, it gains more life or acquires special properties that enhance certain builds.
You build decks from cards that you unlock over time. Only cards you have equipped appear in the shops in each level. Thus, you influence which abilities you can receive at all and plan builds even before a run.
Haha, assault rifle goes Ratt-att-att-att
What made Slime 3K so exciting for me, even just to watch, were the crazy possibilities and the completely insane humor. The slime constantly smiles, even as it hacks its way through thousands of people – which, according to the description, it also enjoys.
The description of the assault rifle is simply “Ratt-att-att-att” and its usage frequency. Nothing else. The already somewhat questionable “eye-catcher” is even a starting ability.
Builds can quickly become absolutely crazy. In round 4, I already destroyed entire screens full of enemies with flames, gas cans, rockets, and burning tires. It just kept getting more.
I unlocked new abilities that … are related to food and finances. Yes, such builds exist too and I don’t know where this journey will go.
What sets Slime 3K apart from other games of its kind are cursor weapons. Depending on the build, you don’t shoot automatically, but have to aim actively – or simply have zombies and small bubbles that take care of the work for you in a summoner build.
Here will once be a great headline, honestly!
The game also flirts with its insane humor by stating that it is not even finished. Slime 3K is in Early Access and whenever a level is completed, the game reminds you. Then it states something like: “This will be an amazing reward screen. With lights and stuff. Until then, you get this one.”
Even the tutorial says that you will only get a (very detailed) explanation until there’s “something better.” But honestly: as a casual gamer, I wouldn’t need much more. I’ve already had a lot of fun and want to keep playing.
Surprisingly, Slime 3K is “only” mostly positive with 79% on Steam, but also with just 327 votes. However, I can already see a rating somewhere between 80 and 90% on the horizon.
Certainly, Slime 3K will not be a game that I play every day for the next 2 years, but I’ll probably play it from time to time. It’s delightful to just slaughter – uh, relax – as a smiling slime.
If I’m ever looking for a new game again, I might return to Schuhmann’s tip:
