DaRmaZat Steel Seed is a stealth-driven action-adventure set in a post-apocalyptic sci-fi world where machines now rule the remnants of a once-human civilization. Developed by Storm in a Teacup — the studio behind the atmospheric Close to the Sun — and published by ESDigital Games, it launches on April 22, 2025, for PC and other major platforms.
As a player, you step into the role of Zoe, a cybernetic survivor navigating an underground machine-built facility not meant for human life, accompanied only by her drone companion, Koby. At its core, Steel Seed is about infiltration, survival, and the fragile remnants of humanity, in a desolate world.
Between steel and shadows: A world on the brink
You awaken as Zoe, a cybernetic woman on an operating table, your father Dr. Archer having taken drastic measures to ensure your survival. The world — whatever that may mean— is dying, and you’re humanity’s last hope. After your awakening, you’re joined by Koby, a flying drone companion that assists in both traversal and combat. Together, your goal is to locate four “shards” that are said to hold the key to humanity’s future.
The hub zone, known as the Assembly, introduces you to S4VI, an AI who provides cryptic exposition about the so-called “seeds” — digital descendants that may carry the legacy of mankind. It’s all steeped in vague terminology and abstract lore: digital data, AI legacies, lost futures. The game seems content to let most of its narrative sit in the background, revealed through terminal journals or brief conversations that raise more questions than they answer. Although the story toys with philosophical sci-fi ideas, it struggles to ground them in emotional or thematic weight.
However, the world tells its own story. From sterile metal hallways to desert-like wastelands and eerie biodomes, it offers more than enough variety. Each zone clearly reflects a different layer of this machine-run ecosystem, brimming with environmental storytelling. You’re often left wondering what you’re truly fighting for — or against — beyond survival.
And then there’s the game’s biggest tonal tell: its strong visual and thematic nods to Star Wars. “Koby, your hovering drone companion, bears a strong resemblance to Jedi: Fallen Order’s BD-1 — from his emotional support role for Zoe, to his multifunctional tech assistance. Meanwhile, a central antagonist named Hogo radiates Darth Vader energy, with a presence and menace that feel more like homage than original creation. These familiar archetypes might have worked as inspiration, but their close resemblance borders on derivative, pulling you out of the game’s otherwise unique world.
Shadows are safer than swords
Steel Seed is, without a doubt, a stealth game. While Zoe is equipped with a glitch sword (essentially a lightsaber) for melee combat and can dodge-roll and lock onto enemies, direct encounters are clearly discouraged. The enemies hit hard, telegraph their attacks poorly, and can overwhelm you quickly. Instead, you’re meant to sneak past or stealth-kill from behind, collect Glitch (the game’s primary resource), and stay unseen.
The stealth mechanics are decent: defeated enemies alert their allies, patrols adapt dynamically, and there’s a sense of tension as you crouch through blue-glowing grass or hide behind machinery. But combat, when unavoidable, quickly reveals the game’s shortcomings. Using Koby to shoot enemy weak spots for stun bonuses sounds good on paper, but often fails in practice due to awkward controls and cooldown timers. Enemy lock-on for Koby interrupts Zoe’s camera focus, leading to disorienting sequences that make fast-paced fights feel clumsy. That’s when you’re not just defaulting to spamming the light and heavy attack buttons, hoping the enemies drop before you do.
Upgrades for Zoe and Koby are split into stealth, utility, and combat, with three distinct skill trees and roughly 40 possible unlocks. While this system encourages player customization, many offensive abilities — such as glitch mines or kinetic barrels — feel redundant in a game that overwhelmingly punishes combat. If you’re playing stealthily (as the game clearly wants), most of these upgrades become optional at best.
Zoe can heal, upgrade, and fast travel at S4VI points (teleport stations), but these conveniences don’t fix the deeper issues. Another major annoyance: she can’t pick up loot or health packs during combat. You must wait until all enemies are unaware again or defeated — an artificial restriction that often leads to frustrating deaths. Platforming sections are frequent and unforgiving, often combining limited-time climbing puzzles with poor lighting and no flashlight, forcing retries of long traversal segments after a single missed jump.
A rust-colored realm that gleams
Where Steel Seed truly shines, is in its presentation. Its realm — while grim and mechanical — is visually stunning. From glowing foundries to towering industrial interiors, the lighting design, particle effects, and environmental detail are impressive. The game’s occasional use of 2.5D camera angles adds cinematic flair to exploration, and even without DLSS or Frame Generation, the performance remains solid on PC.
The soundtrack complements the visuals with sweeping, occasionally haunting compositions. It’s cinematic and immersive, especially during key moments of discovery or escape. Unfortunately, while serviceable, the voice acting and dialogue writing fall a bit short—performances often lack emotional depth, and parts of the script veer into simplistic or cliché territory.
Final Thoughts
Steel Seed has all the ingredients for a compelling sci-fi journey: a striking world, a mysterious premise, and a strong visual identity. But despite its aesthetic allure, the game’s repetitive design, shallow story, and frustrating mechanics weigh it down. For a game so focused on stealth, it makes the mistake of trying to be an action game too — without giving either side the depth they need. And while it introduces interesting tools and ideas, they’re rarely necessary thanks to a stealth-first approach that renders most combat options irrelevant.
There’s ambition here, clearly — but it’s buried beneath a layer of monotony. Steel Seed flirts with meaningful ideas — about resilience, digital identity, and what remains when the human element is all but gone — but these deeper themes never quite crystallize in the gameplay.
Additional Information
Release Date: April 22, 2025
Reviewed On: PC. Download code provided by the publisher and PR agency.
Developer: Storm in a Teacup
Publisher: ESDigital Games
Official Website: https://esdigital.games/category/steel-seed
Relevant links: Steel Seed on STEAM
