Bite the Bullet

Released in 2021 and deliberately retro, this game reminiscent of Metal Slug is made for blowing off some steam. You play as a mercenary (male or female) tasked with shooting anything that moves and then chowing down on your enemies to gain strength, recover health, and even go into beast mode for a few seconds! The co-op mode is fantastic if you’re feeling a bit cannibalistic!

“To bite the bullet” means to strive to accomplish a difficult or risky task. And there’s no title more apt for this fast-paced roguelike that’s a great way to blow off some steam, where gratuitous violence and irreverent humour reign undisputed. In this futuristic, pixelated 16-bit world, you play as Chewie (or Chewella), a soldier armed to the teeth who Darwin Corp. has assigned the mission of retrieving genetic material from the mutants that now inhabit the Earth.

And how, precisely, are you supposed to do that? Well, by eating them all raw, of course! It’s a strategy that’s as barbarous as it is environmentally responsible, and one that will enable you to level up until your character evolves into a kind of enraged, blue Hulk with extraordinary powers: Zombro! But before letting loose your ultimate rage, you’ll first need to work your way through all of the stages on the way to morbid obesity. Because by devouring everything you mow down in a hail of bullets, you’ll become a super-fat-soldier with a need for calories. There’s only one solution: to tuck right in!

Like a cross between Metal Slug and your favourite fast food joint, Bite the Bullet is a 2D “Run and Gun” rogue-lite with a delicious retro vibe, cooked up by Mega Cat Studios. Packed with pop-culture references and featuring an aggressive (and customisable) soundtrack, it’s maybe not the best choice for kids to get their hands on, despite the super-straightforward gameplay. Who it is good for, though, is anyone who’s totally stressed out and needs to blow off some steam! With a unique mechanic for levelling up your character, Bite the Bullet also has RPG-like features for an even more immersive experience. This means that you can power up the skills and equipment of your choice, and evolve in line with what you eat. An ode to cannibalism that is nevertheless no excuse to skip on your five-a-day!