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Play as a parasite in a top-down roguelike shooter, building an organelle-loaded cell to battle the human immune system.
Released 16 Jul 2026
Build a Pathogen
Rewire Organelle Chains
Harvest Enemy Cells
You are a disease. Infect the human body as a lone pathogen in this cellular roguelike shooter. Collect organelles to evolve your parasite in a microscopic arms race against your host's immune system. Conquer a beautiful, procedurally generated world of tiny proportions.
Developed by Aberrant Labs · Published by Slug Disco
You play as a pathogen invading a human body, fighting immune cells and other threats as you move through its organs. The goal is to survive the host's defenses and push deeper into the body.
In each run, you shoot enemies, collect DNA and organelles, and fit parts onto your cell. Organelles can provide weapons, movement, or other effects; their placement and connections shape how they work together. Mutations can change your cell's form and available slots.
The body is divided into procedurally generated regions with distinct enemies and bosses. Between runs, you can unlock organisms and spend plasmid fragments on persistent upgrades; the game also includes challenges, daily runs, endless play, and local co-op.
Players often praise the hands-on build crafting, especially arranging and combining organelles to create different combat styles, alongside the unusual microscopic setting and its biology-inspired details. Reviews also frequently enjoy the shooting feel, visuals, and music, and describe replaying runs to experiment with new builds or organisms. Opinions are more divided on balance: some players find item drops too random and difficulty spikes frustrating, while others enjoy the challenge and the possibility of powerful builds.
In Pathogenic, you are the disease. Experience a visceral 2D roguelike twin-stick shooter where you play as a lone parasite fighting a desperate war against the immune system. Your goal is simple: infect and conquer your human host.
To survive, you must adapt. Hunt down enemy cells, rip out their organelles, and graft them onto your own body. Evolve from a simple cell into a complex engine of destruction. Create powerful, game-breaking builds and become the ultimate pathogen.
Loot, graft, and assemble your parasite from dozens of unique organelles. Combine flagella for movement, mitochondria for power, secretors for ranged attacks, and spikes for melee combat. Chain organelle effects and discover powerful synergies to build an unstoppable disease vector.
Battle a diverse roster of enemies, from basic immune cells like macrophages and T cells to rival parasites such as tapeworms or protozoa. Formidable bosses are lurking deep within the host's organs.
Collect plasmid fragments to permanently upgrade your parasite's plasmid tree between runs. Each parasite will have it's own upgrade tree allowing for a range of builds to suit your preferred playstyle.
Navigate the procedurally generated organic landscape of the human body. Travel through distinct biomes like the branching pathways of the lungs, the pulsating chambers of the heart, and the complex neural network of the brain.
Our detailed, colorful world is powered by a soft-body physics simulation, giving every cell, enemy, and projectile a uniquely satisfying organic feel. The combination of hand-crafted design and procedural generation ensures endless variety - each run offers a fresh and challenging gameplay experience.
| Platforms | Windows, macOS, Linux |
|---|---|
| Achievements | 41 |
| Age ratings |
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| Controller support | PlayStation, Xbox |
| Controller required | No |
| Demo | View demo on Steam |
| DLC / extras | 1 listed on Steam |
| Website | Official website |
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