Full Metal Schoolgirl: D3 Publisher's Cyberpunk Roguelike Launches October 23, 2025

D3 Publisher released Full Metal Schoolgirl (Japanese: Zenshin Machine Girl) on October 23, 2025, bringing cyberpunk roguelike action to PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch 2, and PC via Steam and Epic Games Store. Developed by Yuke's, the game features fully mechanized schoolgirls storming a 100-story corporate skyscraper, blending elements from D3's Onechanbara and Earth Defense Force franchises into a satirical cyberpunk experience.

Corporate Uprising: Story and Setting

Full Metal Schoolgirl takes place in a dystopian future where cyborg high school girls rise up to destroy Meternal Jobz, a giant exploitative corporation. Players ascend a 100-story skyscraper filled with the Working Dead, corporate slaves turned into cyborgs and forced to continue working even after death. This darkly satirical premise combines cyberpunk aesthetics with commentary on modern work culture.

D3 Publisher producer Nobuyuki Okajima described it as "a game about rebellion and chaos" and "a thrilling close-quarters battle experience set in a brutal satire of late-stage capitalism powered by bullets, blades, and the support of your livestream audience."

Roguelike Tower-Climbing Gameplay

Full Metal Schoolgirl employs roguelike elements with procedurally generated content:

• 100-Story Structure: Each floor presents new challenges and enemy encounters
• Changing Layouts: Floor layouts, trap placements, and security systems randomize with every attempt
• Permadeath Mechanics: Defeat sends players back to the first floor, losing all weapons and equipment
• Persistent Progress: Materials and rewards carry over between runs for permanent upgrades
• Trial and Error Design: Success requires learning enemy patterns and optimal routes

The procedural generation ensures no two climbs play identically, encouraging experimentation with different weapon loadouts and strategies.

Weapon Transformation and Combat Systems

The machine girl's core combat ability is instant weapon transformation, seamlessly converting her arms into various armaments during battle. At launch, the game features over 100 different weapons and equipment types for customization:

Combat Style Fusion: - Melee Combat: Close-quarters slashing inspired by the Onechanbara series - Gunfighting: Third-person shooting mechanics from Earth Defense Force - Hybrid Gameplay: Switch between melee and ranged combat fluidly - Combo Systems: Chain attacks across multiple enemy types

This dual-combat approach rewards players who master both shooting accuracy and melee timing, creating dynamic encounters where switching between ranges determines survival.

Livestream Mechanic

A unique feature in Full Metal Schoolgirl is the livestream system, where the machine girls broadcast their corporate invasion to viewers. Players earn Cash Chats from their in-game audience, which can be used for:

• Gathering materials from defeated enemies during runs
• Collecting viewer donations that persist through deaths
• Unlocking permanent stat upgrades using collected materials
• Customizing playstyle through augment combinations

While death resets weapon inventory, the persistent upgrade system allows players to gradually become stronger, making previously impossible floors accessible through strategic enhancement choices.

Reception and Reviews

Full Metal Schoolgirl received mixed to positive reviews upon launch. Steam reviews currently sit at "Very Positive" for recent reviews and "Mixed" overall.

Push Square described it as "effectively Returnal for weeaboos, with a thick anime aesthetic bringing character to its familiar roguelite underpinnings." Critics praised the fast third-person action and satirical premise but noted the simplistic roguelike structure with progression focused on stat-raising rather than deep build variety.

Some reviewers criticized the repetitive level design across the 100-floor climb, while others found the livestream mechanic and overall silliness entertaining. The general consensus positions Full Metal Schoolgirl as a charming B-tier experience typical of D3 Publisher's catalog.

Game Information

For more information, visit the official Full Metal Schoolgirl website or check your platform's digital storefront.

For more Nintendo Switch 2 news, see Nintendo Q2 2025 Sales Record.