Steel Judgment

Steel Judgment has been on Steam for five days at the time of writing, which makes it an unusual subject for a review — but its reception in those five days is unusual too: twenty-seven reviews, every single one of them positive, for a solo-developer Early Access roguelite FPS that wears its influences proudly on its sleeve. This review treats that reception for what it actually is: a strong, specific early snapshot of an unfinished game, not a settled verdict on a finished one.

Ultrakill's movement, Risk of Rain's power curve

The comparison reviewers reach for almost unanimously is a mashup of Ultrakill and Risk of Rain 2, and it's an accurate one. Movement is fast and technical — bouncing off enemies, air-dashing, uppercutting your way through danger — while a Risk of Rain-style item system lets stacking upgrades combine into genuinely game-breaking combinations, exactly as the store page dares you to attempt. A taunting mechanic that builds energy specifically rewards playing aggressively rather than kiting, giving combat a distinct rhythm that several reviewers single out as the game's most addictive hook. You can also steal enemy abilities outright, adding another layer to how builds come together across a run.

A boss roster pulled from world mythology

What gives Steel Judgment a visual identity beyond its influences is its cast: bosses and named figures drawn from mythological traditions across multiple cultures rather than a single pantheon, fought across realms in a setting called Asphodel — itself a name borrowed from the Greek underworld. Reviewers reference specific bosses by name with real enthusiasm, a good early sign that the cast is landing as intended rather than blurring together.

What reviewers are already flagging, five days in

Because reception has been so positive, it would be easy to treat this as an uncomplicated success story — but the same reviewers praising the game are also the ones surfacing specific, concrete issues. Several describe parrying as unreliable in the middle of larger enemy hordes, getting punished for attempts that should have connected. A recurring balance complaint contrasts weak healing against an emergency-fuel mechanic some call overtuned, the kind of numbers-tuning issue that's exactly what an Early Access period exists to catch. And unsurprisingly for a five-day-old release, several reviewers explicitly ask for more weapons, additional game modes, and multiplayer support, alongside genuine excitement about where the game could go from here.

Final verdict

Steel Judgment is a genuinely strong Early Access opening — sharp movement combat, a distinctive mythological cast, and a near-unanimous positive reception in its first days that's rare even for well-received Early Access launches. It settles at 7.5 rather than higher for the reason that should be obvious for a five-day-old build: it's thin on content, still being actively rebalanced, and everything here is a snapshot rather than a finished product. If the genre appeals to you and you're comfortable buying into ongoing Early Access development, this is a strong bet on a solo developer worth watching closely as the game matures.

Price and review data checked 5 August 2026.

If you'd rather your build-crafting progression persisted across a stable, finished world instead of an evolving Early Access build, Wanderer is fully released and ready now.