Parasite

About

Parasite is a single player open world role playing game with a horror theme. It was developed by Max Kowarski and was released on March 25, 2022. It received positive reviews from players.

"Parasite" is a roguelike survival horror game focused on possession, set in a modern-day city. Players must navigate a single scenario, starting with no memories in a hostile human world. Crucial to survival is the possession mechanics, allowing access to hosts' skills, knowledge, and inventory. The game features habitat building and improving, as well as multiple difficulty settings for various game aspects.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

90%

Audience ScoreBased on 60 reviews

gameplay4 positive mentions

story3 negative mentions

The game has a unique and interesting concept that keeps players engaged.
Once players get used to the mechanics, the game becomes rewarding and fun.
There is a lot of potential for future updates and expansions, making it an exciting title to follow.

The game is currently too difficult, with a steep learning curve and vague objectives.
There is no save feature, which can make progress feel frustrating and lead to repeated failures.
Content feels light and repetitive at the moment, lacking variety in gameplay and host interactions.

story
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
17%
58%
25%
The story revolves around a unique premise where players control a parasite attached to an alien, attempting to uncover their origin while racing against a time limit that hampers exploration. While the main storyline is described as having a compelling script, the gameplay mechanics, particularly the time constraints and sparse environments, detract from the overall experience, leaving some players feeling frustrated and disengaged.
- “So you set about reading some notes to uncover the story when suddenly, out of nowhere, you get the message 'your habitat has been destroyed, this loss leaves a mark' or words to that effect.”
- “- The main storyline has a nice script and is worth exploring.”
- “Currently, it's more or less just a proof-of-concept experience about jumping between hosts trying to uncover your origin story, which isn't at all what I'd hoped for based on the Steam page.”
- “It's basically a race against time to uncover the whole story before you become so weak as to be incapable of continuing.”
- “There's a neat little plot to uncover about you being a parasite attached to an alien that crash-landed and something about finding your spaceship, but I never got that far because I ran out of energy and, given my utter lack of interest in playing against a soft-timer, I didn't feel the need to try again.”
gameplay
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
42%
25%
The gameplay is engaging and satisfying, with a rewarding loop that encourages players to strategize for survival and evolution, despite its initial difficulty. Players appreciate the emotional depth and the learning curve, which can lead to a fulfilling experience as they uncover hidden mechanics. While the game is still in early access and will see updates to its GUI and balance, the core mechanics are already compelling and accessible.
- “The gameplay loop is already satisfying, and the emoji graphics are easy to follow.”
- “I went through an emotional roller coaster, figuring out strategies to survive and evolve, learning about humanity and myself until I finally began seeing through the mechanics and ridding myself of the fantastic fear of survival that was so bittersweet while learning the game.”
- “The early gameplay is certainly difficult but hit the right level for the scenario.”
- “In total, it took me about 9 hours to figure out most (don't think all) of the game, get lucky and reach an ending. However, I had tried to play the prototype years ago, so I already knew basic host takeover mechanics somewhat.”
- “Hidden game mechanics can kill instantly.”
- “The early gameplay is certainly difficult but hit the right level (I played with settings on normal as prompted) for the scenario.”
graphics
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The graphics are minimalistic, featuring emoji and vector-style visuals that are easy to follow, allowing players' imaginations to enhance the experience. While the game is in early access and the GUI is expected to improve, the current graphics combined with excellent music create a satisfying and immersive atmosphere.
- “Minimal graphics allow my mind to fill in the gaps, and the fantastic music sets a perfect atmosphere for that immersion.”
- “Can you immerse yourself through sound, text, and vector style graphics?”
- “The emoji graphics are easy to follow and contribute to a satisfying gameplay loop.”
- “The graphics are minimal, which makes it hard to fully engage with the game.”
- “The vector style graphics leave much to be desired and detract from the overall experience.”
- “It's difficult to immerse yourself in the game when the visuals are so lacking.”
emotional
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players report experiencing a profound emotional journey while navigating the game's themes of survival and self-discovery, often feeling a bittersweet connection to the mechanics and narrative. The exploration of supernatural elements and the potential for unique abilities in captured creatures adds depth to the emotional experience, enhancing the player's engagement with both the story and their own humanity.
- “I went through an emotional roller coaster, figuring out strategies to survive and evolve, learning about humanity and myself until I finally began seeing through the mechanics and ridding myself of the fantastic fear of survival that was so bittersweet while learning the game.”
atmosphere
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's minimal graphics encourage players to use their imagination, while the exceptional music enhances the immersive atmosphere, creating a captivating experience.
- “Minimal graphics allow my mind to fill in the gaps, and the fantastic music sets a perfect atmosphere for that immersion.”
music
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The music in the game is highly praised for creating an immersive atmosphere that complements the minimal graphics, allowing players to engage their imagination.
- “Minimal graphics allow my mind to fill in the gaps, and the fantastic music sets a perfect atmosphere for that immersion.”
character development
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
150%
The game offers extensive options for character development and incorporates role-playing elements, which is particularly impressive given that it was created by a single developer. Players appreciate the depth and variety available in shaping their characters.
- “The game offers a wealth of options for character development, allowing players to truly shape their characters in unique ways.”
- “I was pleasantly surprised by the depth of character development available, especially considering it was created by a single developer.”
- “The inclusion of role-play elements alongside character development adds an unexpected layer of immersion to the gameplay.”