Necrophosis: Full Consciousness

Behind this ambitious and dark project is the independent development studio Dragonis Games. If that name sounds familiar, it's because we (I) recently reviewed another one of their video games – The Shore. Dragonis Games are known for putting incredible effort into the atmosphere and visual identity of their games, creating surreal worlds connected to Lovecraftian mythology.

DEVELOPMENT STUDIO: Dragonis Games

PUBLISHER: PQUBE LTD

PLATFORMS: PC (Steam), PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S

REVIEWED VERSION: PlayStation 5

RELEASE DATE: May 28, 2026

PRICE: €19.99 (PlayStation Store)

OFFICIAL WEBSITE

The narrative style of Necrophosis is enigmatic and ambient. The game does not use classic dialogues or long cinematic scenes to explain what is happening. Instead, the story is conveyed through environmental storytelling.

We wake up in a world that has experienced some kind of cosmic apocalypse. We are an entity without a clear identity, and our only goal is to discover the purpose of our existence and find a way out of the chaotic labyrinth. Along the way, we encounter the remnants of past civilizations, twisted monuments, and cryptic inscriptions that slowly give us an idea of what this world actually is – is it hell, another planet, or a distant future of civilization? The narration requires us to draw our own conclusions.

Necrophosis is primarily a first-person game. The first-person gameplay further enhances the feeling of claustrophobia and exposure. The gameplay is a complete contrast to, for example, Doom, where we have classic shooting and destroying enemies. Here, the gameplay is slower and more tactical. In this game, interaction with the environment is crucial – to progress, we literally have to push our hands into strange terminals, connect organic "machines," and solve nonsensical puzzles that make sense in this world. There is very little combat, so every bullet and resource matters a lot. The enemies are huge, grotesque monsters, and the best tactic is almost always sneaking and completely avoiding conflict. On the PS5 platform, the game makes maximum use of haptic feedback and adaptive buttons – for example, we feel great resistance when trying to operate some machinery or the heartbeat of our character through the controller when we are in danger.

This game is not a walk in the park, although it could be genre-wise called a sort of walking simulator. It is deliberately designed to be frustrating, and every little mistake costs us dearly. The challenge is not only from tough and insurmountable opponents but also from navigating through the world itself. The game does not hold our hand – there are no maps or flashy markers on the screen. We must observe the environment, listen to sounds, and remember the appearance of the world to progress. The puzzles are complex and often require thinking. Enemies have unpredictable movement patterns and can kill us in just a few moves. Patience is the most important skill in this video game.

Although it is obvious that Necrophosis draws its roots from games like Scorn, or the visual style of the Alien franchise (most notably Alien: Isolation), it still manages to build its own identity. The originality lies in the way it combines philosophical questions about life with pure body horror terrors that we notice from the very beginning of entering the game. Most horror games rely on cheap "jump scare" moments, but Necrophosis builds its horror on existential unease. Bleeding machines and breathing walls are not a new concept, but here they are elevated to a higher level of interaction. The game forces us to become part of that sick eco-system.

Visually, this game is a masterpiece for lovers of dark aesthetics. Every room and every hallway looks like a dark painting that has come to life. We often feel as if we are in some Dali painting. The textures are incredibly sharp, and the attention to detail is evident. The game is dominated by gray, brown, and green tones (unlike The Shore – where blue, white, and gray tones dominated). On PS5, the game runs completely smoothly, which is impressive considering the amount of detail.

The music here is not meant to entertain us, but to destabilize and disorient us. The soundtrack consists of dark ambient compositions, industrial sounds, and eerie melodies. Every sound creates constant tension. We are often unsure whether the sound we hear comes from the music itself or from behind the wall we are passing by. Silence is used just as effectively as sound – moments of complete silence, broken only by the sound of our character's breathing, can be scarier than any music.

Necrophosis is not a AAA game costing 70-80 euros that offers 100 hours of content, and its price reflects that (19.99 euros on the PlayStation Store). The game lasts about 6-10 hours, and for the price you pay, you get a top-notch audio-visual experience and a unique artistic vision. If you value a unique atmosphere and artistic direction over pure playtime, this game is worth every cent. It is worth mentioning that the game also comes in physical form, as a bundle with the previously mentioned game from the same developer – The Shore

A copy of the PlayStation 5 version of the game for review purposes was provided by the publisher PQube