If you’ve been craving a stylish, brutal, and slightly unhinged stealth-action experience, SteamDolls is about to answer the call. The stealth-lite platformer from The Shady Gentlemen is officially launching into Steam Early Access on February 11th at 1pm EST / 10am PST / 6pm UTC. A brand-new trailer has just dropped, locking in the release date, and there’s even a free demo available if you want to get a taste of the action early.
At the heart of SteamDolls is The Whisper, a bloodthirsty yet undeniably charismatic protagonist voiced by David Hayter (yep, Metal Gear Solid’s Solid Snake himself). The game throws players into a gritty, steampunk-inspired world teetering on the edge of chaos. With a blend of brutal combat and precise stealth, you can carve a bloody path through enemies or slip through the shadows, leaving no trace.
The Early Access version will launch with six chapters, offering 5-7 hours of gameplay, with support for English, French, German, Italian, and Spanish. The developers are looking for player feedback to refine the mechanics and balance before the full release.
SteamDolls Early Access trailer
A Metal Gear reunion and a passion project years in the making
Originally revealed in 2019 and based on a comic book from the same team, SteamDolls has been a passion project brought to life by a successful Kickstarter campaign. It boasts a voice cast that Metal Gear Solid fans will instantly recognise, with David Hayter, Christopher Randolph, and Jennifer Hale lending their talents to the game’s dark, dystopian world.
Visually, SteamDolls stands out with a striking mix of 2D comic-book art and 3D cinematics, creating a world that feels both gritty and alive. Each area tells its own story, from an overgrown chapel lost to time to flesh-like tunnels pulsating with life, an electrified industrial bunker, and a city overrun by an insectoid infection.
Between missions, players can return to their home base, upgrading The Whisper’s skills, uncovering hidden lore, and customising the lair with trophies earned along the way.
Stealth or slaughter—your choice
Beneath the stylish art and AAA voice work, SteamDolls delivers a brutal, intricate city to explore. As The Whisper, you’ll sneak through its shadowy alleys and crumbling ruins, either stalking prey from the darkness or tearing through foes with ruthless finishers. Hacking into terminals lets you unlock memories from the past, piecing together the world’s secrets while dodging its dangers.
SteamDolls key features
- Stealth-lite platforming mixed with brutal, fast-paced combat
- Gruesome finishers for those who prefer the direct approach
- Hacking mechanics that reveal lost memories, solve puzzles and unravel the city’s mysteries
- Gorgeous comic-inspired visuals, blending hand-drawn 2D art with cinematic 3D sequences
- A vast, interconnected world full of grotesque creatures and hidden lore
- An all-star voice cast, including David Hayter, Christopher Randolph, and Jennifer Hale
- Customisable skill trees, allowing you to refine your playstyle
- Base-building elements, where you can upgrade The Whisper’s abilities and personalise his home
With The Shady Gentlemen developing and Top Hat Studios, Inc. assisting with publishing, SteamDolls is shaping up to be a dark, stylish, and deeply engaging entry into the stealth-action genre. If you’re up for a game that mixes stealth, action, hacking, and a world dripping in atmosphere, you might want to mark February 11th on your calendar.
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