The Callisto Protocol

About

In this narrative-driven, third-person survival horror game set 300 years in the future, the player will take on the role of Jacob Lee – a victim of fate thrown into Black Iron Prison, a maximum-security penitentiary located on Jupiter's moon, Callisto. When inmates begin to transform into monstrous creatures, the prison is thrown into chaos.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

65%

Audience ScoreBased on 18,424 reviews

story2.8k positive mentions

optimization3.4k negative mentions

story
8,269 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
34%
58%
9%
The story of "The Callisto Protocol" has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it engaging yet predictable, often drawing comparisons to "Dead Space." While some appreciate its atmospheric setting and character development, others criticize it for being shallow and cliché, with a lack of depth and originality. Additionally, the requirement to purchase DLC for a complete narrative experience has frustrated many, leading to a perception of the story as incomplete or unsatisfying. Overall, the game is seen as visually stunning but hampered by a mediocre story and repetitive gameplay.
- “The story is captivating and compelling, easy recommend for any space survival horror fan.”
- “The story unfolds at a steady pace, with plenty of twists and turns to keep you invested.”
- “The story was interesting enough to keep pushing past my anxiety, but i felt a bit thrown off on some story points within the last 30 minutes.”
- “The story is generic 'corporation bad' sci-fi nonsense we've seen a hundred times before.”
- “The story is disappointingly cliche and predictable, offering little in the way of surprises or meaningful twists.”
- “The story is either predictable or sterile, just like the scattered jump scares they added in to remind you this is supposed to be a scary game.”
optimization
6,783 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
9%
41%
51%
The optimization of "The Callisto Protocol" has been a contentious topic among players, particularly due to its rocky launch characterized by severe stuttering and performance issues. While many users reported significant improvements following patches, including a day-one update that addressed the most critical stuttering problems, some still experience inconsistent frame rates and occasional stutters, especially in graphically demanding scenes. Overall, while the game has made strides in optimization, it remains a mixed bag, with performance heavily dependent on individual hardware configurations and settings adjustments.
- “The graphics are great, and performance is also great—constant 60 fps on high with my 3060 laptop.”
- “The optimization is superb—I didn't encounter any bugs or crashes.”
- “After the day 1 patch, performance was solid.”
- “Great game but very badly optimized.”
- “It's a beautiful game to look at but the terrible performance ruins the experience.”
- “The performance is terrible, even on high-end components, the gameplay is dull and the enemies are repetitive.”
gameplay
5,266 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
23%
62%
15%
The gameplay of "The Callisto Protocol" has received mixed reviews, with many players noting its heavy reliance on melee combat and a simplistic dodge mechanic that can feel repetitive and unengaging. While some appreciate the visceral nature of the combat and the atmospheric visuals, others criticize the lack of enemy variety, clunky mechanics, and a linear gameplay loop that detracts from the overall experience. Despite its flaws, the game has moments of enjoyment, particularly for fans of the survival horror genre, but many recommend waiting for patches or sales before purchasing.
- “Combat is brutal and melee-focused, with a unique dodge mechanic and the GRP device adding strategic depth.”
- “I felt very engaged as I played; the animations are smooth and fit the environment and the situation. The weapons are interesting, and the mechanics make the game an experience for anyone as they're not overly complicated.”
- “The gameplay mechanics in 'The Callisto Protocol' are both innovative and familiar, striking a perfect balance for fans of survival horror.”
- “As an army of others have already stated, the game has terrible combat mechanics.”
- “The dodge mechanic is so poorly explained and implemented that half the time you’re just eating hits because the game doesn’t communicate what you’re supposed to do.”
- “The gameplay is dull and repetitive, and the story is bland and played out.”
graphics
5,065 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
56%
42%
2%
The graphics of "The Callisto Protocol" have received widespread acclaim for their stunning detail and atmospheric design, often described as some of the best seen in recent gaming. Players have praised the game's ability to create an immersive experience through high-quality character models, lighting effects, and grotesque visuals, although many have noted performance issues such as stuttering and frame rate drops, particularly on lower-end systems. Overall, while the graphics are a standout feature, they are sometimes overshadowed by gameplay and optimization concerns.
- “With its oppressive atmosphere, incredible graphics, and grotesque enemy designs, it excels at immersing players in its world.”
- “The graphics are stunning, the setting, acting and audio design are all pretty great.”
- “The graphics are absolutely gorgeous, and I only have a GTX 1660 so nothing considered 'high end'.”
- “The graphics are the only redeeming quality of this game, but the optimization is bad.”
- “The game is visually stunning, but the performance issues make it unplayable even on low settings.”
- “This game is a graphical marvel, but it feels like the developers sacrificed gameplay depth to focus on graphics.”
atmosphere
2,254 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
59%
38%
2%
The atmosphere in "The Callisto Protocol" is widely praised for its oppressive and immersive qualities, drawing strong comparisons to the iconic "Dead Space" series. Reviewers highlight the game's stunning graphics, detailed environments, and exceptional sound design, which collectively create a tense and eerie ambiance that keeps players on edge. However, some critiques point out that while the atmosphere is compelling, the gameplay mechanics and enemy design can detract from the overall horror experience, leading to a mixed reception regarding its effectiveness as a survival horror title.
- “With its oppressive atmosphere, incredible graphics, and grotesque enemy designs, it excels at immersing players in its world.”
- “The atmosphere is incredibly engrossing, the graphics are top-notch, and the sound design is - excuse my French - f***ing spectacular.”
- “The atmosphere, sound design, and graphics seem so good, creating a dark and tense environment that keeps you on edge.”
- “But atmosphere isn’t enough when everything else feels half-baked.”
- “Questionable environments (and there are a ton in the game) like these really affect the authenticity of the game's setting, which in a horror title can immediately destroy the atmosphere.”
- “The atmosphere is deliciously bleak and oppressive, but often lacks originality.”
stability
596 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
13%
1%
86%
The stability of the game has been widely criticized, with many players reporting persistent bugs, glitches, and performance issues such as freezing, stuttering, and frame drops. Despite some patches aimed at improving performance, numerous users still experience significant problems, particularly with save files and loading screens. While a few players have reported smooth experiences, the overall consensus is that the game remains a buggy mess, making it frustrating and often unplayable for many.
- “The game runs great now after a few updates.”
- “After the patch, it runs great and looks great (on a laptop, using Ryzen 9 5000 series; RTX 3070 on a mix of high/medium settings).”
- “The graphics are amazing, and the game runs great; I encountered no glitches which is a plus considering what games are like these days.”
- “Long-standing bugs and glitches have not been fixed by developers.”
- “Stuttering, frame drops, and weird glitches plague the experience.”
- “The next time I wanted to play, I tried to load the save, and the game freezes on a blank black loading screen and nothing happens.... and I can only close the game by logging out and back in to Windows, because I can't reach the file manager to close it, as the black screen freezes above all other programs so I can't see anything.”
music
429 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
41%
56%
2%
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some players praising its ability to create tension and enhance the atmosphere, while others criticize it for being repetitive or forgettable. Many noted that the soundtrack effectively complements the horror elements, although some felt it relied too heavily on typical horror tropes, leading to predictability. Overall, while the music contributes positively to the game's immersive experience, it lacks the memorability and depth that could elevate it further.
- “The music, lighting, story, characters, and atmosphere are all top notch.”
- “The soundtrack is fantastic.”
- “The music and sound design is absolutely flawless, and the graphics are beyond any doubt absolutely insane, 10/10 and easily the best graphics I have seen in my life until now.”
- “The music is dull, repetitive, and annoying.”
- “The soundtrack sounds like something that was created by an AI with the prompt 'make the most generic sci-fi sounds in history'.”
- “The music and sound effects set the atmosphere, but the music is forgettable and fails to build up tension and anticipation.”
grinding
337 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
1%
9%
90%
The grinding aspect of the game has been widely criticized for its tedious and repetitive gameplay, with many players expressing frustration over the monotonous combat mechanics and lack of enemy variety. Players often find themselves stuck in long, drawn-out battles that feel more like chores than engaging encounters, compounded by frequent backtracking and slow traversal sections. Overall, the gameplay loop is described as a grind that detracts from the overall experience, making it feel more like a tedious slog rather than an enjoyable survival horror adventure.
- “The action is fun and not too tedious.”
- “Weapon/general utility upgrade system is simple, but not tedious.”
- “A bit grindy sometimes.”
- “Together with long walk and talk sections, this makes the game simply tedious to play.”
- “The boss fights are generic and boring, as there is only one boss type creature, which the game will throw at you again and again, making the fights very tedious.”
- “Overall a terrible game where every gameplay aspect is tedious and clunky, boring repetitive combat which doesn't evolve for the entirety of the game, crawling simulator.”
replayability
237 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
13%
57%
30%
Overall, the game has been criticized for its lack of replayability, with many reviewers noting that it offers little incentive to play through again due to its linear structure, short playtime (approximately 8-12 hours), and absence of meaningful unlockables or alternative routes. While some players mention the potential for replay through different difficulty modes or a newly added New Game+ feature, the consensus remains that the game currently lacks substantial replay value, making it less appealing for those seeking a game to revisit.
- “The setting is amazing, the story, while cliché, kept me interested. The characters are really cool, and the combat was a lot of fun. There are a few extra modes that add replayability, and I had a blast.”
- “I absolutely enjoyed the gameplay, visuals are top-notch, the story was good (wish we get more of it in the future), and it has good replayability. Highly recommend for anyone who's a fan of survival horror games like Dead Space.”
- “Besides the regular single-player, it offers various difficulty types for single-player which can bring some replayability if you're into achievements and such. You could also get some extra hours if you manage to get the riot bundle, which unlocks the riot mode, essentially a round/wave-based survival mode where you kill enemies and upgrade your weapons.”
- “It's a 60€ game for less than 15 hours of story mode and no real replayability.”
- “The only major problem I have with the game is the price, since the story is not that long and even though there is new game+, I don't really see any replay value.”
- “Overall, very little replay value.”
humor
143 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
99%
2%
The humor in the game is often described as unintentional, stemming from its numerous glitches, absurd mechanics, and a storyline that veers into campiness. Players find the jump scares more amusing than frightening, and the combat mechanics can lead to hilariously chaotic situations, such as enemies ignoring loud stealth kills. Overall, while the game aims for a serious horror experience, many reviewers note that its shortcomings and bizarre design choices result in a comedic experience rather than a terrifying one.
- “The game isn't scary at all and the jump scares are more funny than surprising.”
- “The funny part is that both the player character and the enemy combatant make a lot of noise in the animation.”
- “It's funny because that was the original pitch for Dead Space, but Dead Space took things in a wildly different direction.”
- “This game tries to be funny, but the jokes fall flat.”
- “The humor in this game feels forced and unoriginal.”
- “I expected a lot of laughs, but instead, I just cringed.”
emotional
114 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
83%
17%
The emotional aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players finding the characters flat and the story predictable, leading to a lack of emotional investment. While some moments and voice acting were praised for their emotional depth, overall, the narrative failed to create meaningful connections, leaving players feeling disconnected and frustrated. Despite a few impactful scenes, the game's emotional journey often felt unearned or diluted, resulting in a disappointing experience for many.
- “The Calisto Protocol is not just a horror game; it's a visceral and emotional journey that will leave a lasting impact on players long after the credits roll.”
- “I cried when the main character and the end said 'it's time to initiate the Callisto Protocol'.”
- “It's an absolute emotional roller coaster, from anger, fear, through frustration and desperation - to shiny moments of hope.”
- “Boring story, terrible and flat characters, non-demanding combat system (dodge left, dodge right, attack, repeat).”
- “Boring story, didn't give a damn about any of the characters.”
- “Just an absolute mess, with a mediocre and boring story.”
character development
110 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
22%
58%
20%
Character development in the game has received mixed reviews, with many players noting a lack of depth and engagement in the characters' arcs. While some appreciated the visual design and voice acting, they felt that the narrative often fell flat, leading to predictable outcomes and shallow character interactions. Overall, the consensus suggests that enhancing character development could significantly improve player investment in the story.
- “What truly sets 'The Callisto Protocol' apart is its narrative and character development.”
- “The story and plot keep you interested the entire time; there's just the right amount of character development to make you feel connected to them and look forward to finding out what happens to them next.”
- “The character development as they learned more about each other and their situation kept me guessing and engaged.”
- “The story is really lacking for me as I felt it had no real depth or meaningful character development.”
- “This lack of depth in character development undermines any investment in the narrative, leaving players feeling disconnected from the events unfolding on screen.”
- “There is no character development and/or memorable characters that warrants even a sequel.”
monetization
70 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
4%
21%
74%
The monetization aspect of the game has been heavily criticized, with many players labeling it a "cash grab" due to the prevalence of microtransactions and the aggressive promotion of DLC before the game's release. Reviewers express frustration over misleading advertising, the lack of substantial content for the price, and the feeling that essential game elements were intentionally withheld to be sold later. Overall, the monetization strategy has detracted from the game's perceived value and quality.
- “The only way to change the suit's appearance (not stats or anything good) is the preorder bonus, a Twitch drop, or microtransactions/the season pass.”
- “Lastly, the displayed monetization, in the form of cut content being sold separately, serves as an example of why video games keep devolving.”
- “Not sure what they can do about the gameplay though, especially after hearing about the monetization (death animations as DLC... really? for a $60 game...).”
- “Krafton spent more on advertising than on developing the game, only for it to end up free on Epic.”
- “I won't bother with the DLC because it feels like a cash grab and they locked away the 'real' ending.”
- “The advertising budget should have been a giveaway as to how bad it was going to be.”