Skin Deep mixes immersive sim, sandbox chaos, and shooter action into a creative hidden gem coming soon to Steam.
Looking for the next insider tip for shooter fans on Steam? Do you like the good old Deus Ex and how you can achieve your goal in countless different ways? Then keep an eye on Skin Deep this week and don’t be put off by the graphics.
A shooter that does everything differently
Skin Deep (to the game on Steam) is no ordinary first-person shooter – and you’ll notice that after just a few minutes. Instead of mindless shooting, you’ll find a mix of immersive sim
à la Deus Exand Dishonored, as well as sandbox chaos.
You take on the role of an agent who is awakened from cryosleep whenever space pirates capture a ship. Your mission: Take out pirates, rescue spaceships. The only problem is that there are no weapons within reach and you literally have to become MacGyver.
The gameplay focuses on maximum freedom: You can sneak through ventilation shafts, knock out opponents with banana peels, send enemies into space via air locks, and trigger chain reactions with all kinds of everyday objects.
Instead of linear levels, you get huge, non-linear spaceships that you can explore and manipulate in a variety of ways. Every encounter is different, which ensures enormous replay value and plenty of room for creativity.
However, the game doesn’t take itself quite as seriously as other representatives of the genre, as you can see in the trailer:
What the critics say
- Windows Central praises the clever interlocking gameplay systems, the humor, and the varied ways to interact with the environment. Although there are still some technical issues (especially in the last third of the game), the gaming experience remains fun and surprising throughout.
- PC Gamer calls it a “masterclass in immersive sim chaos,” even if the game lacks that one big, memorable level that you’ll still be telling your friends about years later.
- The Verge celebrates the mix of cartoon logic, physics-based gameplay, and the ability to try absolutely everything.
- GameSpot highlights how Skin Deep takes the classic strengths of the genre and adds a fresh, humorous twist. The open level structure invites experimentation, with each room becoming a playground for clever (and often hilarious) solutions.
The first user reviews on Steam are also very positive: The demo, which is no longer available, has a whopping 93 percent positive rating, which is remarkable for an indie title with an unusual approach.
For anyone who’s tired of generic shooters and is looking for a potential hidden gem: mark April 30, 2025, in your calendars, because that’s when Skin Deep will be released on Steam. You can expect an unusual mix of playful freedom, a dash of humor, and lots of creative possibilities that will breathe new life into the shooter genre.
