Necrophosis

About

Necrophosis is a single player action adventure game. It was developed by Dragonis Ares and was released on April 25, 2025. It received very positive reviews from players.

Necrophosis is a single-player action game set in a haunting, Lovecraftian world where decay reigns supreme. Featuring stunning visuals, a dense atmosphere, and an interesting plot conveyed through narrative poems, players navigate a surreal, nightmarish landscape filled with unsettling shapes. The experience combines gripping puzzle elements with immersive music and challenging grind gameplay.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

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90%

Audience ScoreBased on 449 reviews

graphics94 positive mentions

grinding11 negative mentions

Stunning visuals and art design, heavily inspired by the works of Zdzisław Beksinski and H.R. Giger.
Deeply unsettling atmosphere that effectively captures Lovecraftian themes of decay and cosmic horror.
Engaging and thought-provoking narrative that encourages exploration and introspection.

Gameplay is simplistic and often consists of straightforward fetch quests with minimal challenge.
Short playtime of around 2-3 hours may leave some players feeling unsatisfied for the price.
Some voice acting and dialogue can feel overly verbose and detract from the immersive experience.

graphics
199 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
47%
51%
2%
The graphics of "Necrophosis" are widely praised for their stunning, surreal, and macabre art style, heavily inspired by artists like Zdzisław Beksiński and H.R. Giger. Many reviewers describe the visuals as breathtaking and immersive, creating an otherworldly atmosphere that enhances the overall experience, despite some criticism regarding the gameplay's depth and mechanics. Overall, the game's aesthetic is considered its strongest aspect, making it a worthwhile experience for fans of visually-driven narratives.
- “The visuals are jaw-droppingly gorgeous, dripping with detail and sadness, and the haunting soundscape wraps you in a cocoon of beauty and dread.”
- “With visuals that’ll haunt your dreams and a narrative dripping with existential dread, Necrophosis is a masterpiece of macabre.”
- “The visuals in 'Necrophosis' are gorgeously striking, with a mix of surreal and macabre art style, inspired by Zdzislaw Beksinski, that enhance the overall experience.”
- “Sadly, the gameplay does not live up to the visuals.”
- “The art style is extremely derivative and the gameplay amounts to 'what if Scorn had a lower visual effects budget, but more intuitive puzzles.'”
- “I appreciate the art style and the artwork they based the game on, but the acting was awful, disjointed, and unwanted; the interface and graphics are very outdated for when this was released.”
story
130 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
68%
3%
The story of "Necrophosis" is a surreal and atmospheric exploration of existential themes, heavily influenced by the works of H.P. Lovecraft and artists like H.R. Giger and Zdzisław Beksiński. While some players find the narrative compelling and rich in lore, others criticize it for being convoluted or lacking coherence, often requiring players to piece together the story through environmental storytelling and collectibles. Overall, the game is praised for its artistic visuals and immersive atmosphere, though opinions vary on the depth and clarity of its plot.
- “The story was so well written - poetic and wonderfully dark, macabre and philosophical.”
- “The story is both engaging and thought-provoking, leaving players to contemplate the deeper meanings behind the haunting events they witness.”
- “Caught in a nightmarish world, this game offers atmospheric exploration, simple yet rewarding interactions, and unforgettable encounters, all wrapped in a dark quest to escape an endless cycle of immortality.”
- “I feel as if they lose meaning over time when used often, creating a sort of repetitive storyline.”
- “The story is basic and there isn't much to it at heart.”
- “The game is constantly musing about the themes of existence and suffering, yet it doesn't quite click due to the shallow and surface-level writing and storytelling.”
atmosphere
109 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
49%
48%
3%
The atmosphere of "Necrophosis" is widely praised for its deeply unsettling, Lovecraftian qualities, combining stunning visuals, immersive sound design, and surreal landscapes that evoke a sense of dread and existential reflection. Players appreciate the game's focus on exploration and artistic expression over complex gameplay mechanics, creating an experience that feels more like an interactive art gallery than a traditional game. Overall, the atmosphere is described as haunting, unique, and captivating, making it a standout for fans of atmospheric horror and surreal storytelling.
- “The atmosphere, the visuals, the sound design all *chef's kiss*.”
- “The sound design also deserves major praise, the effects really amplified the grotesque atmosphere and deepened the immersion into the world and story.”
- “Feel the atmosphere of decay and perdition, where everything seems to have lost its meaning, where souls are abandoned, stuck in a state of perpetual waiting.”
- “From the moment the game begins, you’re pulled into a haunting world filled with grotesque imagery, oppressive atmosphere, and a creeping sense of dread that only intensifies as you progress.”
- “The ambient noises, unsettling whispers, and guttural roars all work together to create a thick, suffocating atmosphere.”
gameplay
107 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
11%
78%
11%
The gameplay of *Necrophosis* is primarily a walking simulator with simplistic mechanics, focusing on exploration and light puzzle-solving rather than combat or complex interactions. While the visuals and atmosphere are highly praised, many reviewers note that the gameplay can feel tedious and repetitive, often reducing to basic item collection and placement. Overall, the game appeals more to those who appreciate its artistic direction and lore than to players seeking engaging gameplay.
- “Necrophosis is the project of a solo developer who has put an incredible amount of work into the world design, story, and gameplay.”
- “The gameplay is simple even by walking simulator standards, but not buggy or annoyingly tedious.”
- “Gameplay-wise, necrophosis strikes a great balance between exploration and puzzle-solving.”
- “There is no real gameplay, just pick up an item and put the item somewhere else.”
- “Sadly, the gameplay does not live up to the visuals.”
- “The gameplay is so tedious that it's hard to call it a game.”
music
35 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
43%
48%
9%
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim for its ability to enhance the atmosphere, with many reviewers praising its haunting and immersive qualities. The soundtrack, featuring unique elements like throat singing and ambient sounds, effectively complements the visuals and overall mood, instilling feelings of dread and hopelessness. While some noted a lack of variety in sound, the overall consensus is that the music significantly elevates the gaming experience.
- “The music and sound only helped to elevate that atmosphere.”
- “The soundtrack usually fits the mood very well and adds to the immersion.”
- “The music captivated me and it's one of the biggest factors that help me like a game more.”
- “The music is ominous and reminds me of the game 'Scorn'.”
- “The music is fine for this game and creepy at the same time.”
- “There is little to no music.”
grinding
11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Reviews indicate that while the game offers a unique and visually stunning experience, the grinding aspect can be marred by tedious puzzles and fetch quests that detract from the overall enjoyment. Some players find the gameplay simplistic and occasionally frustrating, with certain elements feeling more like a chore than engaging gameplay. However, those who appreciate the narrative and atmosphere may overlook these tedious moments in favor of the game's artistic merits.
- “You can choose to skip over the narrative and have an impression of the game being a tedious fetch-questing experience in a gothic Lovecraftian world, or follow the story and scrunch your eyebrows while you feel the forcefulness of the narrative while trying to do the fetch quests all the same.”
- “The gameplay is so tedious that it's hard to call it a game.”
- “Yeah, there's all kinds of tedious, pretentious, and sometimes nearly indecipherable lore text to be found that's supposed to not only explain things, but create an atmosphere of dread as well.”
emotional
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of Necrophosis is highlighted by its grotesque yet beautiful environments and impactful sound design, which create a deeply immersive experience. While the game explores intense emotional themes and offers a hauntingly alive world, some players feel that the lack of meaningful choices and repetitive mechanics detract from its emotional climax. Overall, it is recommended for those seeking unique and emotionally resonant experiences, despite some shortcomings in execution.
- “The environments are grotesque yet beautiful, and the ambient sound design carries much of the emotional weight.”
- “I genuinely hope the developer is doing okay, because this game dives into intense emotional territory.”
- “Deeply emotional and terribly beautiful, I found myself constantly entranced and horrified.”
optimization
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
71%
29%
Overall, the game's optimization is generally well-received, with many players reporting smooth performance and a variety of settings to customize. While some users experienced frame drops in certain areas, the performance is considered satisfactory, especially on higher-end devices. However, there are mixed feelings about animations, which could be improved.
- “Game performance is very good (at least on my device), no complaints there.”
- “+performance was great, lots of options to tweak.”
- “So pretty good optimization.”
- “Performance is pretty okay but can be better.”
- “Performance-wise, while I was running most of the time at around 30 fps, my rig is old and tired, so don't necessarily take that as any kind of realistic metric for your own fancy setup.”
character development
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
40%
Reviewers praise the character development for its striking designs and rich lore, highlighting the unique biomechanical aesthetic that enhances the game's world. The characters are described as fresh and distinctive, contributing to an immersive experience that feels alive and beautifully crafted. Overall, the character designs are a standout feature, elevating the game's visual appeal.
- “It perfectly captures the essence of the biomechanical aesthetic, especially through its estranged character designs, which felt fresh and distinctive.”
- “I love the character designs and the background landscape is not just assets but they have a life of their own at times.”
- “Absolutely beautiful game, amazing character design, and runs amazing.”
replayability
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
20%
60%
Replayability in Necrophosis is minimal, as there are no significant choices or alternate endings. However, players can revisit each chapter from the main menu to uncover missed details or explore different interpretations of the story, offering a degree of exploration and reinterpretation.
- “Infinitely replayable.”
- “The replay value is quite minimal in Necrophosis.”
- “Replayability isn’t in the traditional sense—no big choices or alternate endings (as far as I can tell)—but you can easily revisit it just to reinterpret the story or explore areas differently.”
- “Every chapter is fully replayable from the main menu, giving you a chance to revisit and uncover what you might have missed.”
stability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Overall, the game's stability is commendable, with most users reporting minimal bugs or glitches, especially considering it was developed by a single individual. While some minor issues were noted, they did not significantly detract from the gameplay experience.
- “I did notice some glitches, but it was nothing to worry about.”
- “The gameplay is simple even by walking simulator standards, but not buggy or annoyingly tedious.”
humor
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is derived from the poor quality of animations, which some players find amusing, though it detracts from the overall experience and immersion.