Earlier this year, I had the opportunity to preview Mycopunk, which, at the time, was an upcoming co-op shooter with intriguing character mechanics, smooth gunplay, and a mind-blowing art style. I say upcoming at the time, because that’s not the case anymore. Today, Pigeons at Play and Devolver Digital have finally released this game in early access, and it’s a must-play for fans of the genre. What makes Mycopunk stand out from other shooters is its varied missions, top-notch customization, and just pure chaotic fun that you can’t find anywhere else, and yes, all of this is part of the early access launch, which you can experience right now.
Mycopunk Is Available On Early Access
Devolver Digital uploaded a video today showcasing some of the over-the-top action you can experience in Mycopunk during its early access. For the unaware, you’re part of a squad of rejected robots working as mercenaries for a company. What’s your job? Dive into a dangerous planet to get rid of the fungal menace while also making a few bucks in the process. It may not seem like it, but Mycopunk has a bit of lore in it, which you can discover by roaming around the base or listening to everyone’s favorite boss, Roachard.
World-building aside, Mycopunk features the best gunplay I’ve experienced in recent times, which is enhanced with an in-depth level of customization options. As I mentioned in my preview, all guns are usable by every class. Once you complete missions, you’ll get a few upgrades, which you can equip in a DNA-like screen. Some of these upgrades vastly change how your weapons work. For instance, there’s a gun that shoots tracking bullets at enemies. One upgrade allowed me to shoot more bullets at the cost of a slower firing rate. That’s just one upgrade, though. Mycopunk is one of the most customizable co-op shooters on the market, which makes every gun relevant thanks to its plethora of upgrades and build options.
Mycopunk Brings Necessary Improvements to the PvE Co-Op Shooter Genre
While I love the PvE co-op shooter genre, and we’ve seen its resurgence in the last couple of months, I must admit that most of those games still have several issues, some that aren’t part of the early access of Mycopunk. For instance, other shooters tend to give you a lot of weapons, but only a handful become “meta.” Mycopunk, on the other hand, has a great weapon lineup, but instead of cluttering it with dozens of guns, it gives you upgrades to make each weapon feel unique and relevant throughout the game.
Another reason why I love it so much is ammo management. Usually, players will only worry about their primary weapon and get a few extra just for the sake of filling their loadout. However, Mycopunk encourages you to swap weapons, as it is the only way to refill ammo. That way, the game actually makes you plan a proper loadout and makes all of your guns useful during your missions. Clever stuff!
I could go on and on about everything else I love about Mycopunk, but I will leave that for the review we’ll write once the game exits early access and launches its 1.0 update. In the meantime, I’ll be diving into New Atlas to do some fungal extermination as any of the unique mercenary robots. If you have the chance, you should do it, too. Mycopunk is one of the most bombastic and refreshing co-op PvE experiences out there, and one that is worth supporting through this early access period and beyond.
