When I first heard about Steel Seed, I was immediately intrigued. A dystopian, stealth-action game with emotional storytelling and complex AI dynamics? Right up my alley. Now that I’ve spent hours navigating its haunting world, I wanted to share my personal take on the story, gameplay, combat, and sound, because Steel Seed left quite an impression on me. This is my personal review of the Steel Seed video game.
NOTE: The Review Copy of Steel Seed was provided by ESDigital Games. This Review was done on PC.
Story
The story is where Steel Seed truly shines. You play as Zoe, a fierce yet vulnerable protagonist trying to survive in a world ruled by advanced AI. What really drew me in was not just the dystopian setting, but Zoe’s personal journey. She’s not your typical “save-the-world” hero. She’s flawed, stubborn, and haunted by loss, which makes her feel incredibly real.
Her relationship with KOBY, an AI companion, adds layers of complexity. At first, I wasn’t sure how I’d feel about an AI sidekick, but KOBY isn’t just there for exposition—he’s woven into the heart of the story. Their dynamic oscillates between camaraderie and tension, and it made me question the boundaries between human and machine. The game touches on deep themes like trust, identity, and survival, and honestly, I found myself thinking about these long after I put the controller down.
Gameplay
Gameplay-wise, Steel Seed struck a great balance between stealth and action. I loved that it didn’t force me into one playstyle. Some missions had me sneaking through crumbling industrial complexes, using shadows and distractions to avoid detection, while others let me go in guns blazing—though I quickly learned that wasn’t always the smartest approach.
What I appreciated most was the freedom to experiment. The environments are designed with multiple paths and clever verticality, so whether I wanted to crawl through vents, hack security systems, or scale ledges, there was always a way to tailor the experience to my style. The crafting system allowed me to upgrade gadgets and gear, which added a nice layer of strategy without feeling overwhelming.
Combat
Even though Steel Seed leans heavily on stealth, the combat is nothing to overlook. It’s fast, fluid, and surprisingly challenging. Zoe’s melee skills felt tight and responsive—landing a perfectly timed counter or chaining attacks felt immensely satisfying. I enjoyed switching between close-quarters combat and using ranged weapons, especially when the heat of battle escalated.
KOBY isn’t just a narrative companion; he’s invaluable in combat. He can hack into enemy drones, disable tech barriers, and even deploy shields when things get hairy. There were moments where a well-timed assist from KOBY turned what felt like an impossible fight into a narrow victory. The enemy AI genuinely impressed me—they adapt to your tactics, flank you, and force you to stay on your toes.
Boss battles deserve a mention too. They’re intense and require more than just brute force. Understanding enemy patterns, managing resources, and using the environment to my advantage made each encounter feel unique and rewarding.
Sound
I can’t talk about Steel Seed without highlighting the sound design. It’s phenomenal. The ambient sounds alone set the mood—whether it’s the distant hum of abandoned machinery or the subtle crackle of static in derelict corridors, it pulls you right into the world. The soundtrack shifts seamlessly from eerie, atmospheric tones during stealth segments to pulse-pounding beats when combat kicks off, adding to the immersion.
The voice acting is another standout. Zoe’s voice actor delivers an emotionally grounded performance that made me care about her struggles. KOBY’s synthetic voice, while cold and calculated, somehow conveys subtle hints of emotion, which made their interactions all the more compelling. It’s rare for me to notice environmental audio cues in games, but here, I found myself relying on sounds to detect enemy movements or changes in the environment.
Verdict – Score 7/10
Looking back, Steel Seed is more than just an action-adventure game—it’s an experience. It challenged me not just with its gameplay but with its thought-provoking narrative. The combination of stealth, fluid combat, and atmospheric sound design kept me hooked, while Zoe’s journey left a lasting impression.
Sure, it’s not perfect. A few pacing issues cropped up in the second act, and I hit some difficulty spikes that felt a bit unbalanced. But those were minor compared to the overall experience. If you’re into games that make you think while keeping you on the edge of your seat, I can’t recommend Steel Seed enough. It’s the kind of game that lingers with you long after the credits roll.
Thank you for reading the Steel Seed Review. Steel Seed is now available on PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.
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