Endoparasitic

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Endoparasitic is a single-player Horror Shooter game set in a lab, where you must survive as a partially devoured subject, preventing a parasite from consuming your body. The game features a fantastic story, gameplay, visuals, and soundtrack, with plenty of humor and grinding, despite some bugs. The atmosphere is dense, and it was made for Ludum Dare 48, with the objective of escaping the lab while infected.

Genres & Tags

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Play Modes

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

Reviews

94%

Audience ScoreBased on 1,499 reviews

gameplay179 positive mentions

grinding18 negative mentions

Unique gameplay mechanics that create tension and immersion.
Satisfying gunplay and reloading system that enhances the survival horror experience.
Engaging atmosphere and sound design that contribute to the overall horror feel.

Final boss fight is frustrating and feels unbalanced compared to the rest of the game.
Achievements are currently bugged and do not register properly.
Some enemy designs, particularly the rats and the teleporting hunter, can lead to frustrating gameplay experiences.

gameplay
384 mentions
47 % positive mentions
51 % neutral mentions
3 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Endoparasitic" is characterized by its unique one-handed mechanics, requiring players to navigate, shoot, and reload using only the mouse, which creates a tense and immersive experience. While many players appreciate the innovative design and engaging combat mechanics, some express frustration with certain enemy encounters and the final boss, which detracts from an otherwise solid gameplay loop. Overall, the game is praised for its creativity and challenge, making it a standout title in the survival horror genre.
- “Overall, the gameplay loop is really solid, and thrives on putting the player under pressure to create tension and a sense of danger.”
- “The main mechanic of dragging yourself around and managing your weapons and inventory with one arm is very engaging; the gameplay loop is simple but demands some dexterity and skill.”
- “Endoparasitic is a unique survival horror game with excellent gameplay and story integration and surprisingly interesting writing for a game that's really all about dragging yourself around and shooting monsters!”
- “The final part of the game was terrible, gameplay-wise.”
- “The novelty of the gameplay quickly wore off.”
- “This got pretty old about 10 minutes in and the game never really used its mechanics for anything new all the way to the end.”
story
197 mentions
44 % positive mentions
52 % neutral mentions
4 % negative mentions
The game's story is generally described as intriguing and immersive, with a unique cosmic horror theme that captivates players despite its brevity, typically lasting around three to four hours. While some reviews highlight the effective use of environmental storytelling through logs and terminals, others note that the narrative can feel simplistic or underdeveloped, often ending on cliffhangers that leave players wanting more. Overall, the story is appreciated for its potential and engaging elements, but many players express a desire for deeper exploration and resolution in future installments.
- “A very unique concept on its own, complemented by an intriguing and immersive plot regarding cosmic horror; I thoroughly enjoyed the game.”
- “Endoparasitic is definitely one of my favorite all-time survival horror indie games. It goes to show that even if something is short and simple, it doesn't mean it can't be absolutely amazing and leave a lasting impression on you. If you're looking to get claustrophobic in small rooms you have to navigate through, get anxiety while struggling to reload to save yourself from near death, and overcome new challenges as you experience a short story of researcher Cynthe in his facility, I couldn't recommend Endoparasitic more.”
- “The story is also quite engaging, with you finding different bits and pieces of it on monitors or notes that have been left around the station, giving more insight into the situation that is happening and the origin of these parasites.”
- “The worst part of the game is the 'story' and writing.”
- “Not to mention the story isn't even complete, nor is it very interesting in the first place.”
- “Overall, not worth $10, a waste of a few hours for a story that could've been told a better way.”
music
65 mentions
35 % positive mentions
58 % neutral mentions
6 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally praised for its quality and ability to enhance the atmosphere, with standout tracks that evoke a sense of suspense and excitement. However, many players express disappointment over the sparse use of music throughout the gameplay, often noting that it only plays during specific moments, leading to long stretches of silence that detract from the overall experience. While some appreciate the minimalist approach, others feel that more ambient music could significantly improve immersion and tension.
- “The soundtrack for this game is phenomenal, only issue is that we don't get to hear it more than like four times.”
- “The music is really well made despite having just a few tracks.”
- “The music is appropriately fitting and well made.”
- “While environmental sound effects designed to indicate enemy positions do add a layer of realism and immersion, they also result in almost no background music throughout the game, with music suddenly starting at some levels, creating a stark and eerie contrast.”
- “A vast majority of this game is completely silent, and the few times they do use music it's rather short and doesn't loop, so you just get back to silence again.”
- “In terms of the bad, it's mainly just the atmosphere, and more specifically, the music, or rather lack thereof.”
atmosphere
56 mentions
61 % positive mentions
34 % neutral mentions
5 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its ability to create a tense and immersive experience, characterized by minimalist art, effective sound design, and a sense of dread. While many players appreciate the spooky ambiance and engaging mechanics, some note that the lack of ambient music can detract from the overall experience. Overall, the game successfully combines its atmospheric elements with gameplay to deliver a unique survival horror experience.
- “The atmosphere is gripping for the player, and there is always something to learn, whether it be intricate lore or new ways to defeat the eldritch spawns of the lab.”
- “The gameplay and atmosphere alone easily make this one of the most inventive horror games in recent memory.”
- “The tension is unreal; reloading the gun manually, the little rats that jump out testing your reflexes, and slowly dragging yourself across the floor all add to the unnerving atmosphere.”
- “What goes from being a really unique survival/horror title completely loses all of the atmosphere and experience once you have to reload twenty times to beat a small section because your accuracy for one of the thirty enemies wasn't exactly pixel-perfect.”
- “In terms of the bad, it's mainly just the atmosphere, and more specifically, the music, or rather lack thereof.”
- “The soundtrack by queenjazz isn't mind-blowing and in many cases actually felt a little too upbeat for an atmosphere aiming to be ominous, but overall acts as a nice background to cynte's journey through the station as a one-armed army.”
graphics
54 mentions
39 % positive mentions
56 % neutral mentions
6 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are characterized by a minimalist art style that, while simple, effectively contributes to the overall atmosphere and gameplay experience. Many reviewers appreciate the clean and polished pixel art, noting that it enhances the horror elements despite some monotony and basic visuals. Overall, the graphics are deemed serviceable and fitting for the game's mechanics, with a balance of aesthetic appeal and functional design.
- “The art style is great in its simplicity and was visually appealing all the way through.”
- “Endoparasitic is an awesome game with spooky atmosphere, great sound design/music/voice acting, epic graphics, and interesting mechanics that interconnect in interesting ways.”
- “Overall the graphics are great, I love the style, the atmosphere, and the limited weapons.”
- “I'd recommend this game if you can get over the basic graphics and are looking for a well-made survival horror experience.”
- “For most indie games, graphics are never the main selling point, but it's undeniable that the scenery in 'endoparasitic' is rather monotonous and far from detailed.”
- “The art style is the same generic indie-title pixel art style that's been used in plenty of other indie titles, which, to me, looks like a lack of effort in every detail, especially character design.”
grinding
19 mentions
5 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
95 % negative mentions
Reviews highlight that the grinding aspect of the game can be both tedious and enjoyable, with players experiencing a mix of frustration and fun. While some mechanics, like manual reloading and navigating levels, initially feel cumbersome, they often become more engaging as players adapt. However, many agree that the game tends to drag towards the end, leading to a frustrating gameplay loop that detracts from the overall experience.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “One of the most tedious games I've ever played.”
- “It started off nice and interesting but by the end it just peters out into a frustrating and tedious gameplay loop.”
- “The gimmick of the controls wears off very quickly and enemies become tedious and frustrating to deal with.”
replayability
11 mentions
27 % positive mentions
45 % neutral mentions
27 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's replayability is mixed; while some players appreciate the creativity and engaging gameplay, many note that it lacks substantial replay value due to its short length and limited modes. Although there are options like endemic mode and hard mode, most players feel that once the game is completed, there isn't much incentive to return. However, the enjoyable experience may still draw some players back for a second playthrough.
- “It's a very short game but fully worth it for its creativity and replay value.”
- “There's replayability with endemic mode, a very well-crafted story, fun gameplay that makes you actually think about when to reload instead of just pressing one button, and the main character is voiced by Gianni Matragrano.”
- “I'm always super excited to dive back into Endoparasitic even after dropping it; it doesn't really have any replayability, but it's tense and I always find myself wanting to beat it faster than my last playthrough.”
- “It's fun, but it's pretty easy and not very replayable.”
- “Survival mode isn't replayable, so nothing much there after you get every upgrade and gun.”
- “As for replay value, there is a hard mode, but other than that, it doesn't really offer much incentive to replay it.”
stability
11 mentions
27 % positive mentions
-18 % neutral mentions
91 % negative mentions
The game's stability is a mixed bag; while some players report smooth performance with minimal glitches, others experience frequent bugs and inconsistencies, particularly in later levels. Issues such as text errors, unresponsive achievements, and occasional micro-freezes detract from the overall experience, though many still find the game enjoyable despite these problems. Overall, it appears that stability varies significantly depending on individual playthroughs and system specifications.
- “As far as issues go, the game ran fine for me, with no glitches, bugs, or slowdowns.”
- “The game maintained a steady frame rate throughout my playthrough, which made for a smooth experience.”
- “I experienced no crashes or major technical problems, allowing me to fully enjoy the gameplay.”
- “Just barely yes, the excitement of dodging monsters and quick-drawing rats is barely enough to make you forget how buggy this game is.”
- “I'm not leaving a negative review because I don't like the game; it's more of a sign of protest about how buggy this game is. Some of the later stages feel like they weren't even playtested or are just there to mess with you.”
- “The only nitpicks I have are that running this at a high framerate is a very inconsistent experience, with practically only the mouse cursor actually at your native refresh rate. Achievements don't save and apply on Steam, and I experienced micro-freezes while playing in the later levels.”
humor
10 mentions
90 % positive mentions
-20 % neutral mentions
30 % negative mentions
The game's humor is characterized by its quirky protagonist, a one-armed character voiced by a comedic actor, which adds a layer of irony to the survival horror experience. Players appreciate the blend of fun mechanics and humorous elements, though some found the difficulty frustrating enough to temporarily halt their progress. Overall, the humor effectively enhances the game's unique take on the genre, making it both entertaining and memorable.
- “It expresses the funny irony that is inherent to all survival horror games, the heightened giddy nervousness of the person who is willfully subjecting themselves to something that they might come to regret.”
- “Very funny game.”
- “Funny meme voice man is here.”
- “Was it supposed to be funny?”
- “The jokes fell flat and felt forced.”
- “I didn't find any of the humor relatable or clever.”
optimization
4 mentions
75 % positive mentions
25 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The game is well-optimized, running smoothly without any noticeable glitches or bugs, which enhances the overall experience. Players appreciate the unique gunplay and satisfying sound design, contributing to a positive performance rating.
- “When it comes to performance, it ran really smooth and I didn't run into any glitches or bugs throughout my playtime.”
- “I got the game and everything runs smoothly; I find the gunplay unique and satisfying, the sound is nice, and overall it's about an 8/10.”
emotional
3 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The game is praised for its touching narrative that highlights the capabilities of differently abled individuals, creating an emotional connection with players. The pacing of emotional encounters is noted as effective, particularly towards the end, though some players wished for more moments that evoke genuine struggle. Overall, the experience resonates deeply, making players feel like they are part of the main character's journey.
- “Truly a touching story about how the differently abled in society are just as capable as the rest of us, if not more in some cases.”
- “Its of course best this type of encounter didn't last the entire game, but paced into the final few levels feels perfect, and I wish there were more segments in the endoparasitic that actually made me feel like I was genuinely struggling.”
character development
1 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
Reviewers criticize the character development for relying on a generic pixel art style commonly seen in indie games, suggesting a lack of creativity and effort in character design.
- “The art style is the same generic indie-title pixel art style that's been used in plenty of other indie titles, which, to me, looks like a lack of effort in every detail, especially character design.”