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# Heavy Metal & Highland Steel: Tears of Metal Reveals Ruadh Stonecrusher and Spring 2026 Release
- URL: https://www.agamingnetwork.com/heavy-metal-highland-steel-tears-of-metal-reveals-ruadh-stonecrusher-and-spring-2026-release/
- Published: 2026-02-25T19:22:34.000Z
- Updated: 2026-02-25T19:22:34.000Z
- Author: Marcel Dee
- Tags: Made In Canada, News

Montreal-based indie studio **Paper Cult** has just cranked the volume on their medieval hack-and-slash roguelike, **Tears of Metal**. In a brand-new trailer released today, February 25, 2026, the team unveiled **Ruadh Stonecrusher**, a powerhouse new character who brings a literal hammer-down approach to the battlefield.

With the game currently boasting over **400,000 wishlists** on Steam, the hype is reaching a fever pitch as Paper Cult confirms that *Tears of Metal* will officially enter **Early Access in Spring 2026**.

### Meet Ruadh Stonecrusher: The Battalion’s Heavy Hitter

While the starting character offers a balanced approach to horde-slaying, Ruadh is all about devastation.

- **The Giant Hammer:** The trailer highlights Ruadh’s ability to carve through swathes of enemies with massive, wide-reaching swings. His playstyle emphasizes raw power and crowd control.
- **Customization Tease:** The reveal also gave fans a sneak peek at character customization, suggesting players will be able to tweak their heroes' appearances and loadouts to fit their specific "Scottish battalion" aesthetic.

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/a3/ec/a3eca723-12fa-420a-82c8-9461bd427c84/content/images/2026/02/combat_1.png)

### Reconquer Your Island: Core Gameplay Features

*Tears of Metal* blends the massive scale of a "Musou" (Dynasty Warriors) game with the tactical depth and replayability of a roguelike.

- **Lead the Charge:** Fight through **45+ handcrafted environments** alongside a persistent Scottish battalion. Your soldiers aren't just background noise; they gain experience and permanent upgrades, becoming essential assets—provided you keep them alive.
- **The Dragon Stone Meteor:** The invasion isn't just political; it’s supernatural. Discover over **100 artifacts** and mighty powers mined from the mysterious Dragon Stone to create explosive builds.
- **Co-op Mayhem:** While perfectly playable solo, the game shines in **4-player online co-op**, allowing you and your friends to coordinate upgrades and share the glory of reclaiming your home.

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/a3/ec/a3eca723-12fa-420a-82c8-9461bd427c84/content/images/2026/02/combat_2.png)

### Try the Demo Now

If you can't wait until Spring, a robust demo is currently available on Steam. It allows you to:

1. Play through **Act I** and face off against the boss, Gilles the Hog.
2. Experiment with **4 clans of Emblems** (power-ups).
3. Test out the **Challenge System** to unlock skins and trinkets.
4. Try out the **"Warcry Button"**—a community-requested feature that lets you rally your troops with a literal shout.

[Tears of Metal on SteamTears of Metal is a medieval hack-and-slash co-op roguelike. Carve through hordes of enemies to reclaim your island with the help of your formidable Scottish battalion. As you advance deeper into the trenches, uncover more about the mysterious Dragon Meteor and the treacherous enemy invasion.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/a3/ec/a3eca723-12fa-420a-82c8-9461bd427c84/content/images/icon/favicon-165.ico)STEAM![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/a3/ec/a3eca723-12fa-420a-82c8-9461bd427c84/content/images/thumbnail/capsule_616x353-138.jpg)](https://store.steampowered.com/app/1913120/Tears%5Fof%5FMetal/?ref=agamingnetwork.com)