CARRION

About

Carrion is a reverse horror game where you play as an amoeba-like creature. Starting off in a small form, you must stalk and consume laboratory workers to grow and evolve. As you become larger and more powerful, you'll need to utilize your new abilities to solve puzzles and take down your adversaries. The game offers a unique take on the horror genre, providing a thrilling experience as you become the monster.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

+11

95%

Audience ScoreBased on 14,610 reviews

gameplay1.1k positive mentions

replayability77 negative mentions

gameplay
2,281 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
48%
49%
3%
The gameplay of "Carrion" is widely praised for its unique mechanics and fluid controls, allowing players to embody a monstrous creature as they navigate through a research facility, solving puzzles and engaging in combat. While the game offers a satisfying experience with a mix of action and puzzle-solving, many reviewers note its relatively short playtime of around 4-6 hours and a lack of replayability, which some feel may not justify its price. Overall, the game is celebrated for its innovative approach to the horror genre, combining engaging gameplay with a compelling aesthetic.
- “The gameplay is really fantastic, with an innovative control scheme unlike anything I've played before.”
- “The gameplay also requires you to use your abilities and the objects around you to defeat the harder enemies that you'll encounter later on.”
- “The gameplay loop is fun and doesn't get boring thanks to the power-ups.”
- “The gameplay is rather simple, and the main campaign is short.”
- “The gameplay loop is mostly puzzles and running around, but it is very satisfying to mow down NPCs.”
- “The gameplay is very repetitive; all you do is move from one area to another by opening locked doors, nothing significant new will happen in the game except unlocking some abilities.”
story
1,404 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
28%
66%
5%
The story in *Carrion* is minimalistic and primarily conveyed through environmental storytelling and brief flashback sequences, allowing players to piece together the narrative themselves. While some players appreciate the simplicity and ambiguity, others feel it lacks depth and could benefit from more elaboration. Overall, the game focuses more on gameplay mechanics and the experience of being a monstrous entity rather than delivering a complex plot.
- “The story is simple, which makes it easy to step into the role of the monstrous protagonist.”
- “The story is dark and minimal, but it will keep you going.”
- “The story is also simple and short, but this game was all it needed to be.”
- “The game is all about gameplay and immersion; there is little to no story, and you kind of have to imagine the plot here.”
- “The story is minimal and told only through gameplay, with no dialogue or cutscenes, which may leave players wanting more depth in the plot.”
- “The story is simple and straightforward, but it lacks depth and complexity, making it feel somewhat lackluster.”
graphics
1,062 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
58%
41%
1%
The graphics of "Carrion" have received widespread acclaim for their beautifully crafted pixel art style, which effectively conveys both horror and atmosphere. Reviewers highlight the detailed animations and the game's ability to balance graphic violence with a retro aesthetic, creating a unique visual experience that enhances gameplay. Overall, the pixel graphics are praised for their charm and effectiveness in immersing players in the game's grotesque themes.
- “The pixel art style is beautifully executed, evoking nostalgia while delivering a fresh, modern experience.”
- “The graphics are gorgeous, rendering the gore in as much detail as the 16-bit graphics allow.”
- “Carrion visually is a pixel art style game reminiscent of 8-bit games, and the graphics are very polished.”
- “The graphics and gameplay are just lacking.”
- “Graphics are painfully bad, which contributes to a less than immersive 1980's arcade type experience that has you retracing your movements through a labyrinth over and over again.”
- “The graphics are simple, but obviously made with a lot of thought and consideration.”
music
683 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
58%
41%
1%
The music in the game has been widely praised for its atmospheric and immersive qualities, effectively enhancing the horror experience. Many reviewers noted its ability to evoke classic horror film scores, particularly drawing inspiration from works by John Carpenter and Ridley Scott, which complements the game's retro pixel art style. While some found the soundtrack to be somewhat repetitive or understated, the overall consensus is that it significantly contributes to the game's eerie ambiance and emotional engagement.
- “The whole thing feels like a love letter to John Carpenter's 'The Thing', from the glistening gory mass of the player character, to the retro graphics, to the minimalist soundtrack.”
- “The music supports the gameplay well.”
- “The atmosphere is wonderfully eerie, enhanced by an atmospheric soundtrack that perfectly complements the game's dark tone.”
- “The music is pretty forgettable atmospheric horror stock.”
- “The art style is great, very detailed for the pixelated look it goes with, but the music is pretty forgettable atmospheric horror stock.”
- “The soundtrack is a bit bland and doesn't really stand out, which is disappointing given the game's potential.”
atmosphere
448 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
64%
35%
1%
The atmosphere of "Carrion" is widely praised for its immersive and eerie qualities, enhanced by stunning pixel art, atmospheric sound design, and a haunting soundtrack that evokes classic horror films. Players appreciate the game's ability to create a sense of dread and tension, effectively capturing the experience of being a monstrous antagonist in a dark, oppressive environment. However, some reviews note that the lack of guidance and map features can lead to frustration, detracting from the overall experience.
- “Carrion uses a pixel-art style which might look simple at first glance, but is subtle in its complexity, and oozes atmosphere.”
- “The atmosphere is creepy and immersive, with haunting sound design and eerie environments that keep you on edge.”
- “The atmosphere is wonderfully eerie, enhanced by an atmospheric soundtrack that perfectly complements the game's dark tone.”
- “The atmosphere is creepy.”
- “I personally wish there was more done to create that atmosphere of terror and power around the monster; even with all the guts and text in the background saying about its danger, it just doesn't feel like the facility is massively worried about this monster causing havoc.”
- “The atmosphere felt appropriately grim, with certain areas breaking the overall dark theme with vibrant colors.”
replayability
322 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
16%
61%
24%
The game's replayability is a contentious topic among players, with many noting its short playtime of around 4-8 hours and a lack of significant replay value after completing the main story. While some players appreciate the potential for replay through mod support and community-created content, the absence of difficulty options and linear gameplay limits the experience for others. Overall, the consensus is that while the game is enjoyable, it offers minimal replayability unless players engage with mods or aim for speedrunning.
- “The gameplay loop feels great and the included mod support makes this game very replayable.”
- “Every puzzle can be attacked in several ways, giving this game good replayability.”
- “It's extremely fun and replayable, and just so much fun being a weird monster terrorizing humans and solving puzzles.”
- “There are no difficulty options, the game is highly linear, and there is no replay value.”
- “Unfortunately, there is little to no replay value, so only expect to get around 5-6 hours out of this game.”
- “The game is short, however, and lacks any real replayability.”
grinding
146 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
3%
14%
84%
The grinding aspect of the game has been widely criticized for its tediousness, primarily due to excessive backtracking and a lack of a map, which makes navigation frustrating. Many players found the gameplay repetitive and monotonous, especially as they progressed, with puzzles often feeling like padding rather than engaging challenges. While some enjoyed the initial novelty, the overall experience tended to become a slog, detracting from the enjoyment of the game's unique mechanics.
- “There's no tedious tutorial level so much as a steady ramping of difficulty as your crimson monster friend grows in size and abilities.”
- “No grinding, but maybe take an hour off for getting lost and sitting idle in menus.”
- “For the short amount of time I spent with the game, it wasn't tedious in the least.”
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “The novelty of sneaking around in vents and ripping people apart wears off very fast and what's left is uninteresting gameplay with tedious puzzle sections and a lot of backtracking without a map or clearly stated objectives.”
- “Traveling throughout the game, collecting a measly amount of upgrades to progress gets tedious after the first couple of hours and by then you've seen most of what the game has to offer.”
humor
114 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is characterized by its dark, absurd, and often grotesque comedic elements, with players finding joy in the over-the-top violence and absurdity of controlling a monstrous character. Many reviews highlight the hilarious ragdoll physics, amusing sound effects, and the satisfaction of engaging in chaotic, comedic mayhem, making it a fun and entertaining experience despite its gory content. Overall, the game successfully blends humor with gameplay, providing a unique and enjoyable experience that keeps players laughing throughout.
- “Oh, the glorious, gratuitous, hilarious, pixel-art gore, and the hilariously over-the-top ultra-violence.”
- “The ragdoll physics are wildly fun and hilarious at times.”
- “There's something hilarious and satisfying about controlling a big blob of teeth and tentacles, bursting into a room of screaming humans and pulling them one by one into your horrifying maw with a noodly appendage, growing larger and stronger for each next encounter.”
emotional
44 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is a blend of humor, horror, and heartwarming moments, with players expressing feelings of nostalgia, joy, and even guilt as they navigate the narrative. While some found the emotional connection to the creatures lacking, many appreciated the game's ability to evoke strong feelings, from laughter to introspection about their actions as a monstrous entity. Overall, the game successfully creates a unique emotional experience that resonates with players, making them feel both powerful and vulnerable.
- “Falling short in only a couple of minor areas, Carrion succeeds at creating an incredibly entertaining experience that takes you to the other side of a facility breach but also delivers an emotional journey as you witness the struggle to survive on both sides and the longing to be free.”
- “Carrion made me feel like a kid; every little detail, the storytelling, art, and the game itself were just beautiful!”
- “The emotional high I got from this game was phenomenal, and I was the monster that brings those feelings.”
optimization
29 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
52%
10%
Overall, the game's optimization is highly praised, with players reporting smooth performance even on low-end systems and during intense on-screen action. There are minimal to no performance issues, such as stuttering or crashes, and it runs well on various platforms, including the Steam Deck. While some users noted potential challenges with very low-end PCs, the general consensus is that the game is well-optimized and delivers a satisfying experience.
- “The graphics are peak for its type/genre, performance was never hindered.”
- “It worked great, and plays well, and is optimized for Steam Deck.”
- “But for 20 bucks, you get an absolutely fresh idea of a game with fantastic combat/puzzle solving, all neatly wrapped in a very well-optimized package with no real problems to be found.”
- “I didn't run into any issues at all running the game and getting the most out of its performance, but I can see some of the amassing particle effects, ragdolls, or animations causing problems with very low-end PCs or laptops.”
- “Also, there seemed to be some brief stuttering on the game moving between rooms at times.”
- “The game is short; I had no idea what I was doing and beat it under 6 hours. You could run through it in less than 4 if you knew what to do and where to go, maybe even 2 hours if you optimized your run.”
stability
24 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
4%
67%
Overall, the game demonstrates strong stability, with many users reporting a bug-free experience across various platforms, including older hardware and Linux. While some minor visual and audio glitches were noted, they were not game-breaking and did not significantly detract from the overall enjoyment. The game is praised for its polished performance, especially in contrast to many AAA titles.
- “Runs great on Steam Deck!”
- “No glitches, no hitches in game design.”
- “No bugs, no glitches, works in Linux, good level design, nice puzzles, intuitive gameplay, simple story, great sound and particle effects.”
- “And this challenge isn't the fun kind like Dark Souls or other difficult games; the challenge is more like Cyberpunk 2077 in how it's so buggy that you can't properly get into the game and enjoy it. Instead of bugs, you have to deal with the nasty controls.”
- “As it is right now, it's short, buggy, and confusing at times since there is no map.”
- “Whether or not you want to spend $20 on a four-hour game is up to you, but I'd rather pay for four hours of genuine quality than for forty hours of bugs, glitches, and disappointment.”
monetization
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
14%
14%
71%
The monetization aspect of the game has received mixed feedback, with some users appreciating the absence of traditional microtransactions and praising the game's unique approach, while others feel that the marketing misrepresents the gameplay experience. Overall, players are glad to see a studio that prioritizes creativity over the typical AAA model filled with cliches and monetization tactics.
- “Microtransactions for a good cause.”
- “It honestly feels the reviews that I've mentioned above are based on advertising and trailers, not actual gameplay.”
- “It's not an action game, like how the trailers and advertising claim.”
- “I'm really happy that studios like this exist in the era of AAA nonsense, clichés, and microtransactions.”
character development
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
29%
43%
Character development in the game is minimal, relying heavily on implied storytelling rather than direct narrative or dialogue, which can diminish the impact of player actions. While some players appreciated the character design and found a few enjoyable story moments, the overall development feels light and often leaves players to interpret the character's motivations themselves. Despite these limitations, a few reviewers noted unexpected depth in character development, suggesting it exceeded their initial expectations.
- “More games like this should be made; short length, good mechanics, some character development aspects, and overall good design.”
- “I won't spoil anything, but I am pleased that there was more character development than I expected.”
- “The developers used 'implied story' techniques to drive the narrative, rather than character development or direct story elements.”
- “Since there isn't any dialogue or NPC character development, there is little weight to your actions - you just kind of fly through this underground facility eating everyone and everything.”
- “The story is a light but welcome presence, and there were a few story beats that I really did enjoy, but it leaves enough up to the player that your mind can really run wild, and at some points, give Carrion something approaching character development, but closer to a loose justification as to its actions.”