Metal Slug
Metal Slug is a 1996 run-and-gun developed by Nazca and published by SNK for the Neo Geo arcade and home systems. Players blast through side-scrolling battlefields on foot or in the titular tank, rescuing prisoners and facing waves of enemy soldiers and outlandish war machines.
The game is renowned for its lavishly detailed, hand-drawn animation and slapstick humor, with expressive characters and explosive, chaotic set pieces. Cooperative two-player action, a variety of pickups and swappable weapons like the heavy machine gun and shotgun, and freed hostages who rewarded the player with items and bonuses kept the pace frantic and fun. The armored Slug tank could be entered, upgraded, and even ejected from in a pinch.
Its craftsmanship set a benchmark for the genre and launched a beloved long-running series famous for its animation. The original and its sequels appear in numerous SNK compilations and on classic-game services, ensuring its explosive, cartoonish action stays easy to jump into today.
Play it today
Modern alternatives to Metal Slug, with the devices they run on and their price. Ordered editorially by how well each one stands in for the original, with community votes weighted in as they accumulate.
Prices, platform availability and Steam Deck compatibility can change at any time. Always check the store page before buying.
| Alternative | Price | Steam Deck | Runs on |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blazing Chrome Indie | € 16,99 | Steam Deck Verified | PC, Mac, Linux, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch |
| Metal Slug Tactics Indie | € 24,99 | Steam Deck Playable | PC, Mac, Linux, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch |
| METAL SLUG (ACA NEOGEO) | € 7,99 | Steam Deck Verified | PC, Mac, Linux, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch |
| Broforce Indie | € 14,79 | Steam Deck Playable | PC, Mac, Linux, PlayStation, Switch |
| Metal Slug 3 | € 6,99 | Steam Deck Unsupported | PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch |
Blazing Chrome Indie
€ 16,99A retro indie run-and-gun echoing Metal Slug and Contra.
Blazing Chrome runs on PC, Mac, Linux, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch. Not available on iPhone, iPad, Android phone, Android tablet.
Metal Slug Tactics Indie
€ 24,99A modern tactical reimagining of the classic run-and-gun series.
Metal Slug Tactics runs on PC, Mac, Linux, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch. Not available on iPhone, iPad, Android phone, Android tablet.
METAL SLUG (ACA NEOGEO)
€ 7,99The official arcade re-release of the Neo Geo original.
METAL SLUG (ACA NEOGEO) runs on PC, Mac, Linux, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch. Not available on iPhone, iPad, Android phone, Android tablet.
Broforce Indie
€ 14,79A destructible-terrain run and gun of pure 80s action-movie excess, co-op throughout.
Broforce runs on PC, Mac, Linux, PlayStation, Switch. Not available on iPhone, iPad, Android phone, Android tablet, Xbox.
Metal Slug 3
€ 6,99The high point of the series, with branching routes and the best animation SNK ever drew.
Metal Slug 3 runs on PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch. Not available on Mac, Linux, iPhone, iPad, Android phone, Android tablet.
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