Genotype

69%
Game Brain Score Based on 20 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • graphics
Genotype Game Cover
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"Genotype" is a single-player VR Metroidvania shooter game set in an abandoned lab in Antarctica, where you print living creatures as weapons and survival tools to navigate an alien ecosystem. With a fully voice-acted story, players uncover the truth behind the research station's downfall while upgrading and customizing their creatures' abilities. The game offers a huge combat patch with new weaponized creatures, upgrade systems, and improved combat spaces for an enhanced adrenaline-flowing experience.

  • PC
  • Virtual Reality
  • Windows
  • Oculus Quest
  • Oculus Rift
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

69%
Audience ScoreBased on 20 reviews
story9 positive mentions
music3 negative mentions
  • The game features a captivating story and immersive world-building, reminiscent of classics like System Shock and Half-Life, which keeps players engaged throughout their exploration.
  • Unique gameplay mechanics, such as the use of living creature weapons and a well-designed inventory system, enhance the overall experience and make combat enjoyable.
  • The visuals and performance are impressive for a Quest port, with detailed environments and a polished feel that contribute to the game's atmosphere.
  • The default controller bindings, particularly for Index users, can be problematic, requiring players to find fixes to improve the gameplay experience.
  • Some players have noted issues with enemy respawning and a lack of clear direction, which can lead to frustration during exploration and backtracking.
  • The game could benefit from more ambient music and sound effects to enhance immersion, as certain areas can feel too quiet and lacking in atmosphere.
  • story24 mentions

    The story is conveyed through various mediums such as radio broadcasts, text logs, and audio logs, creating an engaging narrative filled with personal reflections and atmospheric details reminiscent of classic sci-fi. While some reviewers noted that the storytelling doesn't quite reach the heights of top-tier titles, it is generally praised for its immersive atmosphere, strong voice acting, and well-developed lore, making it a compelling experience for fans of story-driven games. Overall, the narrative is considered a significant strength of the game, contributing to its status as a hidden gem in the VR genre.

    • “The story is delivered by your friend on the radio, text logs, and audio logs that feature everything from daily annoyances, their suspicions, who they do and don't like, the food, and loneliness.”
    • “Criminally underrated game, Genotype is no doubt one of the best VR games I have played these past years: great story, diverse enemies, and a well-narrated and exciting campaign with some of the most unique game mechanics I have ever seen in a VR game. I 100% recommend this game to anyone who likes action story-rich shooters.”
    • “Immediately you'll fall in love with all the obvious things this game offers: top-notch voice acting, humorous dialogue, immersive atmosphere, dynamic soundscape, and additional lore scattered throughout the station in the form of workers' notes that tells the story of the station through their perspectives.”
    • “The story/narration isn't on the same level as Alyx, but that's understandable coming from a smaller studio.”
    • “Story: 7 - I've written (unproduced) plays and short stories, so I feel compelled to say they aimed for greatness and just missed the mark.”
    • “You could easily browse for new story-driven games and never even know this game exists.”
  • gameplay8 mentions

    The gameplay is highly praised for its engaging mechanics, including currency injection, exploration, puzzles, and combat that improves with experience. Players appreciate the smooth controls, diverse environments, and the game's performance on lower-spec hardware, despite some criticism regarding respawning enemies. Overall, it is considered a hidden gem in the VR genre, offering a unique and enjoyable experience.

    • “I'm glad to say I was quite wrong about it; it turned out to be an excellent game with great VR mechanics, great controls, fun exploration and puzzles, and good combat that gets better the more you play it.”
    • “Good art style, weapon upgrades, and a gameplay loop with simple tasks to do between shooting, along with great performance even on lower-spec hardware (zero stutters, fast loading times, and instant fast travel).”
    • “This game has extremely good potential with a great core gameplay loop, really good environments, and immersion. I do recommend it despite my issues.”
    • “Gameplay: 8 - you don't clear most rooms - the monsters respawn, a big no-no in my gaming universe.”
    • “As far as the gameplay, it's a mix of exploration, puzzles, and combat.”
    • “Acting: 8 - excellent voice work by the actors, but the director's vision didn't match the gameplay.”
  • graphics8 mentions

    The graphics are generally well-received, showcasing a polished and optimized art style that, while basic due to its Quest origins, still delivers convincing visuals and great performance even on lower-spec hardware. Users note that the game effectively balances impressive graphics with a playable frame rate, though the Steam version offers a noticeable upgrade in quality compared to the Quest version. Overall, the graphics evoke a nostalgic feel reminiscent of titles like "Alien: Isolation," enhancing the immersive experience.

    • “The visuals and performance are great.”
    • “It is a very polished game, very well optimized, and despite being a Quest port, it looked nice enough and the visuals were quite convincing.”
    • “Graphics: 9 - amazingly well balanced between great graphics and a playable frame rate.”
    • “The graphics really push the hardware in the headset, but even with exceptional graphics in the Quest-installed game, the Steam version is so much nicer.”
    • “The art style, while somewhat basic (likely due to it being on the Quest first), is far from bad.”
    • “Exploring really felt like I was playing Alien: Isolation again, with the kind of retro aesthetic to some things.”
  • music3 mentions

    The music in the game is praised for its quality, particularly during key moments, but players express a desire for more ambient tracks and overall musical presence throughout the gameplay.

    • “The music is perfect, but I wish it featured more variety beyond the scripted stings.”
    • “When the music swelled, it felt incredible; I believe more music would enhance the experience.”
    • “The game needs more ambient music or noise!”
    • “The soundtrack feels repetitive and lacks variety.”
    • “The music doesn't match the game's atmosphere, making it feel disjointed.”
  • atmosphere3 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is highly praised for its immersive qualities, enhanced by top-notch voice acting, humorous dialogue, and a dynamic soundscape. Players appreciate the rich storytelling conveyed through scattered lore, which deepens the overall experience. Some users suggest that adding shadows could further enhance the atmosphere without significant changes to the game's design.

    • “Good story and atmosphere.”
    • “Immediately you'll fall in love with all the obvious things this game offers: top-notch voice acting, humorous dialogue, immersive atmosphere, dynamic soundscape, and additional lore scattered throughout the station in the form of workers' notes that tell the story of the station through their perspectives.”
    • “Some shadows would really add to the atmosphere without having to remodel anything.”
    • “The overall ambiance feels flat and uninspired, lacking the depth needed to immerse players.”
    • “The game fails to create a compelling atmosphere, making it hard to feel engaged with the environment.”
  • optimization2 mentions

    The game is praised for its excellent optimization, featuring impressive visuals and performance even on lower-spec hardware, with no stutters, quick loading times, and seamless fast travel. The art style and gameplay loop are also highlighted as strong points, enhancing the overall experience.

    • “The visuals and performance are great.”
    • “Good art style, weapon upgrades, and a gameplay loop with simple tasks to do between shooting, all while maintaining great performance even on lower-spec hardware (zero stutters, fast loading times, and instant fast travel).”
  • humor1 mentions

    The game's humor is highlighted by its top-notch voice acting and witty dialogue, creating an immersive atmosphere that enhances the overall experience. Players appreciate the clever integration of lore through workers' notes, which adds depth and comedic elements to the storytelling.

    • “Immediately you'll fall in love with all the obvious things this game offers: top-notch voice acting, humorous dialogue, immersive atmosphere, dynamic soundscape, and additional lore scattered throughout the station in the form of workers' notes that tell the story of the station through their perspectives.”
    • “The humor in this game is brilliantly woven into the narrative, making even the most mundane tasks feel entertaining and engaging.”
    • “I found myself laughing out loud at the clever puns and witty banter between characters, which added a delightful layer to the gameplay experience.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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