Metal Tears Guide: Player Count, Co-op & Solo Play Tips

8 players. That's the magic number for Tears of Metal's online lobbies. If you were hoping for a massive battle royale, you're looking at the wrong game. This is a tight, arcade-style vehicular combat game that focuses on small-scale chaos.

Here's the thing about Tears of Metal: it doesn't try to be a simulation. It's pure arcade action, closer to the classic car combat games of the late 90s than anything modern. The small player count is a feature, not a bug. It keeps every match intense and the downtime minimal.

Player Count Breakdown

Tears of Metal supports up to 8 players in its standard multiplayer modes. This applies to both free-for-all and team-based matches. The game does not support large-scale battles. This focus on smaller lobbies means more explosions and less running around looking for action.

If you are playing solo, you are matched against AI bots. The player count stays the same, but the skill level of your opponents adjusts to your performance.

Co-op Mode

Co-op in Tears of Metal isn't a separate campaign. You can team up with a friend to take on AI opponents in standard multiplayer modes. This is the best way to learn the maps and vehicle handling without the pressure of ranked play.

If you're coming from the Ace Combat series, the vehicle handling will feel familiar, but you have to account for the lack of verticality. It's strictly ground combat, so positioning and power-ups matter more than flight skill.

The game supports split-screen co-op, which is a rare treat in 2024. If you have a friend on the couch, this is the way to play. Online co-op is also available, but you will need to coordinate your party outside the game's menu system.

Solo Play Tips

Playing solo against the AI is a great way to grind currency for new vehicles and upgrades. The AI in Tears of Metal is aggressive but has predictable patterns. It tends to bunch up, making area-of-effect weapons incredibly effective.

Focus on the 'Hammer' class vehicle for solo play. Its high health pool gives you the breathing room to learn attack patterns without getting instantly deleted. Once you unlock the 'Phantom' class, you can switch to a hit-and-run playstyle.

Unlike ARC Raiders, which demands careful resource management and extraction, Tears of Metal is pure instant gratification. Don't be afraid to rush into the fray and trade blows. The respawn timer is short, so aggression is rewarded.

Is It Worth Playing Solo?

If you don't have a squad, the solo queue is functional. The matchmaking can be a little slow depending on the time of day, but the AI Skirmish mode is always available and populated instantly.

It scratches the same itch as the classic Activision vehicular combat titles like Twisted Metal, but with modern graphics and netcode. If you're a fan of that genre, the solo experience here is solid enough to justify the purchase.

Final Verdict

Tears of Metal is a focused game. It knows exactly what it wants to be: a chaotic, arcade vehicular fighter. The 8-player limit keeps things tight, the co-op mode is perfect for learning the ropes, and the solo play offers a decent challenge for grinding. It's not trying to be the next big battle royale, and that's perfectly fine.