I always try to $\text{keep an open mind}$ when playing unfinished games or titles that are slow to start. Even when a game isn't clicking, I look for ways it could improve or how it might appeal to someone else. Then I played Metamorphosis, and it hit me with how shockingly excellent and unique it is. The demo is available now on Steam, and you should wishlist it immediately.

From the very beginning, this game is profoundly my style. The reveal trailer for Metamorphosis first caught my attention with its gruesome pixel art, which feels like a dark cross between Signalis, Blasphemous, and the unreleased Radio the Universe. I am still holding a candle for that last one after a decade of development; its demo is still on my Steam Deck like a wedding ring a divorcee just can't take off.

A Masterclass in Body Horror and Sound Design

While the trailer is an unrelenting cavalcade of body horror, the Metamorphosis demo is far more reserved. The sound design is superb, utilizing synthy drones in action-heavy areas while allowing oppressive silence to reign supreme in the abandoned cathedral.

The audio work creates a truly unsettling experience. One moment you are listening to the glitchy rasps of insectoid monsters, and the next, a piece of diegetic noise has you convinced someone is actually knocking at your real-world door. It is absolutely horrible, and I love it.

Precision Platforming Meets Survival Horror

The developers strenuously avoid describing this as a metroidvania, which stands out because it lacks the frustrating "where do I go now?" aspect of power-gated backtracking. Instead, the game provides a highly capable moveset right from the start. Our protagonist—a nun in a dead world of demon cockroaches—is incredibly mobile.

The gameplay emphasizes positioning and timing rather than relying on safety nets. You can utilize several advanced movement techs immediately:

  • Double jump
  • Wall jump
  • Dash
  • Pogo attacks

There are no i-frames to rely on, making the combat feel deliciously unforgiving. It feels as though the game was made by an action game devotee, rewarding players who can pull off Devil May Cry style combos even when the atmosphere is at its most suffocating.

Encountering the Unspeakable

The game excels at building tension through environmental storytelling. You might interact with a bookcase to find a ghoulish face in the shadows, only to realize it is just your little homunculus—an MS-DOS style interface used for your inventory.

The horror peaks during encounters like the confessional booth, where a giant, feminine-faced abomination addresses you from behind a mesh grate. The creature spits out chilling, fragmented messages:

  • "WE WERE MANY. MANY HANDS. MANY MOUTHS. MANY."
  • "HE FOUND YOU FIRST, HALF DROWNED IN THE DEAD SEAS."
  • "BUT MEN… DISGUSTING AS MEN..."

I want the full version of this game right now. The Steam page currently lists the release date as To be announced, but I am more than ready to make a Faustian bargain to play it.