Skip to content
Tech News
← Back to articles

Pathogenic review: Damn, it feels good to be a virus

read original more articles
Why This Matters

Pathogenic offers a unique twist on the roguelite genre by immersing players as a virus navigating through the human body, combining engaging gameplay with educational elements. Its popularity highlights a growing interest in innovative, story-driven indie games that blend entertainment with scientific themes, appealing to both gamers and curious consumers. This game exemplifies how creative storytelling and gameplay mechanics can stand out in a crowded market, influencing future indie development trends.

Key Takeaways

Over the past couple of weeks, my immune system has been struggling to fight off a cold. It’s been unpleasant, as all colds are. But over the same period—in defiance of my plight—I’ve been waging my own war against immune systems, thanks to Pathogenic, a new roguelite twin-stick shooter from developer Aberrant Labs.

As I’ve downed endless shots of ineffective cough syrup, I’ve done little else with my free time than repeatedly take on the role of a bodily invader. And let me tell you: Being on the enemy’s side is much more fun. Really fun, as it turns out.

Action roguelites are a dime a dozen these days, and it takes something special to stand out. So as quiet Internet whispers turned into widespread cacophonous praise—the little indie game quickly racked up 100,000 sales and an “overwhelmingly positive” review score on Steam—I set aside my default skepticism and gave it a shot.

I’m glad I did.

Details Developer: Aberrant Labs

Publisher: Slug Disco

Platform: PC (Steam)

Release Date: July 16, 2026

Price: $10

Links: Steam | Official website

... continue reading