Heavy Metal Death Can

About Heavy Metal Death Can

Heavy Metal Death Can is a retro-styled survival horror game set aboard a military submarine in an alternate 1970s Sweden. Developed by Krufs Productions, it released on December 31, 2026, for PC, Linux, and Mac. You play as a crew member trapped under the ocean, battling a sentient sludge that’s mutated your colleagues into oil-spewing zombies. The game mixes tense stealth with resource management, as you scavenge for supplies, avoid enemies, and piece together the story of the sub’s collapse. Its pixelated visuals and synth-heavy soundtrack evoke a grim, 70s-inspired atmosphere. The goal isn’t just survival, it’s uncovering the truth behind the sub’s transformation into a “death can.”

Gameplay

You spend most sessions sneaking through cramped submarine corridors, managing a flashlight with a limited battery, and avoiding enemies that patrol in predictable patterns. Combat is rare and punishing; you’ll mostly rely on stealth and tools like sonar pulses to locate hidden enemies. Ammo and healing items are scarce, so you’ll often be forced to ration them. The environment is claustrophobic, with echoes of your footsteps and distant screams heightening tension. You’ll explore interconnected rooms, solving environmental puzzles to unlock new areas and discover logs that detail the sub’s descent into madness. The game’s difficulty spikes in the final third, where enemies become faster and more aggressive, testing your patience and planning.

What Players Think

On PlayPile, the game averages 4.3/5 from 12,400 players, with 72% completing it. Community moods include “claustrophobic,” “relentless,” and “rewarding.” Metacritic scores it 72, with praise for its oppressive atmosphere but criticism for uneven pacing. Average playtime is 9.2 hours, though 40% of players report over 15 hours due to backtracking and retries. Steam reviews highlight the “unforgiving difficulty” and “nostalgic pixel art,” while some call it “a punishing grind” with “too little feedback on objectives.” Achievements are optional, with 18 total, including “Silent as the Deep” for completing the game without killing anyone.

PlayPile's Take

Heavy Metal Death Can is a niche pick for fans of retro horror and stealth challenges. Its punishing difficulty and slow pacing won’t appeal to everyone, but the tense atmosphere and retro aesthetic land well for 60, 90 hours of investment. At $39.99, it’s reasonable for a single-player indie, though the $10 discount on Steam in 2027 made it more accessible. If you can handle the trial-and-error gameplay and appreciate its synthwave horror vibe, it’s a worthwhile experiment. Skip it if you prefer action or faster pacing.

Storyline

Set on a military submarine deep in the ocean in an alternate universe based on 1970s Sweden, you must fight against the terrible Sludge, an all-encompassing filth which has turned your crew into horrific, oil-spewing zombies. As you sneak through the dark, echoing passageways haunted by the sound of your own footsteps, you must seek out survivors and uncover clues to discover how and why your serene ocean workplace is now, quite literally, a death can.