Antivirus PROTOCOL

About

Antivirus PROTOCOL is a single player casual strategy game. It was developed by FIREHIVE Games and was released on September 17, 2025. It received positive reviews from players.

Antivirus PROTOCOL is an incremental game where you collect data fragments from viruses to upgrade your abilities and weapons. Progress through levels by defeating powerful Virus Bosses, unlocking new enemies and resources along the way. Adapt your strategy and enhance your arsenal in this satisfying, evolving battle to eradicate the viral threat.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

85%

Audience ScoreBased on 130 reviews

gameplay6 positive mentions

music3 negative mentions

The game features beautiful aesthetics with a simplistic design that is easy on the eyes, enhancing the overall experience.
Gameplay is engaging and well-balanced, providing a relaxing yet rewarding experience that keeps players hooked until completion.
The music complements the chill vibe of the game, adding to the enjoyment without becoming repetitive.

The game is criticized for being too short and lacking in content, with some players feeling it doesn't justify its price.
The skill tree is described as overly linear and restrictive, limiting player choice and making progression feel monotonous.
Several players reported issues with repetitive gameplay and a lack of enemy variety, leading to a feeling of boredom as the game progresses.

gameplay
21 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
57%
14%
The gameplay is generally praised for its smoothness and addictiveness, particularly in the early stages where upgrades feel meaningful and new mechanics are introduced. However, some players find it repetitive due to limited song variety and a lack of engaging mechanics, leading to a sense of autopilot in later levels. While there are enjoyable elements, such as the vibrant visuals and occasional unique challenges, the overall experience is marred by a lack of depth and variety in gameplay.
- “Overall, the gameplay and mechanics are amazing!”
- “The gameplay is smooth, vibrant, and just addicting.”
- “The early game is fantastic, upgrades feel meaningful, new mechanics show up every prestige, and the story is a nice bonus.”
- “Attack speed was given out too early, and maxes out quickly, but what I think really exemplifies the lack of thought and care with the gameplay is how armor upgrades just completely disappear after the early game.”
- “The gameplay is also very basic with no redeeming qualities.”
- “There's no dodging mechanic, no other mechanism distinguishing it from an oversized mob.”
graphics
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
43%
43%
14%
The game's graphics feature a pixelated CRT art style that some players find charming and aesthetically pleasing, while others criticize it for lacking creativity. Although it includes some distracting graphical effects that can be disabled, the overall visuals are described as polished, cohesive, and visually satisfying, contributing to a cozy gaming experience.
- “Firstly, I just want to express my absolute love for the aesthetics of it.”
- “[*][b]Polished and cozy[/b] - the game runs well, it looks nice, it has many satisfying sound effects, stimulating visuals, and a very chill soundtrack.”
- “The visuals are cohesive and pretty.”
- “By default, it comes with a number of annoying graphical effects which thankfully can be turned off.”
story
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
57%
14%
29%
The game features a simple yet engaging story that enhances the overall experience, with players appreciating its chill vibe and meaningful upgrades. While some reviews note the story as a fun addition rather than a central focus, it is generally well-received and adds depth to the gameplay. Overall, the narrative complements the game's mechanics and keeps players invested throughout their journey.
- “A simple little game for people that like a chill lo-fi game with a good story. 5-stars.”
- “Fun game, numbers get bigger and there is a nice story. Took about 9 hours to beat; looking forward to more from the dev! <3”
- “They did add a story and lore to it, told throughout the game, which was fun.”
- “No story.”
- “They did add a 'story' and lore to it, told throughout the game which was fun.”
music
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
17%
50%
The music in the game is described as a chill soundtrack that complements the overall vibe, enhancing the relaxing experience despite being somewhat repetitive with only a few tracks. Reviewers appreciate the polished audio design, noting that it contributes positively to the game's atmosphere and visual appeal, making it enjoyable for players looking to unwind.
- “Lastly, the music is almost contrasting to the nature of the game, and further accentuates the chill vibe that I think the devs intended.”
- “Polished and cozy - the game runs well, it looks nice, it has many satisfying sound effects, stimulating visuals, and a very chill soundtrack.”
- “Lastly, the music is almost contrasting to the nature of the game, and further accentuates the chill vibe that I think the developers intended.”
- “Although it is the same 4-5 songs (rough estimate as I was so hooked on the gameplay itself), it never felt too repetitive or boring.”
- “The only area of the game it does a decent job in is with the music and visual design, both of which are more than adequate for the standards of short incrementals.”
grinding
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
80%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be excessive, often requiring significant time investment to progress, especially at higher levels. While some achievements are attainable with minimal grinding, many feel that the need to repeatedly defeat enemies for currency disrupts the overall flow of the game.
- “It has amazing difficulty scaling, but it's a bit too grindy for me.”
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “So, you end up spending several minutes grinding a handful of enemies until you build enough currency to finally get back into the linear progression.”
replayability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is criticized for its lack of replayability, with players noting that it can be completed in under five hours and offers no incentive to play again.
- “I finished the game in just under 5 hours and it has zero replayability.”
- “Zero replay value.”
humor
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Users feel that the humor in the game does not justify its price, suggesting it would be more appropriately valued at $3-$4 rather than the current $5.50. Overall, the comedic elements may not meet expectations for all players.
optimization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's optimization is noted to be lacking, particularly in the upgrade path, which can lead to a lengthy experience of around 3.5 hours to achieve 100%. However, players still find it enjoyable and worth the price for a fun evening.
- “It took me around 3.5 hours of a not optimized upgrade path to reach 100%, but it was a fun game to spend the evening with, especially for the price.”