Cellular Combat Evolved
Inside the Human Body – June 4, 2026: Developer Aberrant Labs and Publisher Slug Disco are pleased to announce that Pathogenic, a roguelike twin-stick shooter of deadly pathogens, will be launching July 16, 2026, on Steam, with a new gameplay trailer revealed.
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.
Loot, graft, and assemble your parasite from over 120 unique organelles and mutations. Rain down hellfire with a storm of bullets, summon waves of minions to do your bidding, wield the power of lightning (mitochondria truly are the powerhouse of the cell), or get up close and personal with sweeping melee attacks. Unlock permanent upgrades, chain organelle effects, and discover powerful synergies to build the ultimate pathogen.
Fight your way through the colourful, organic landscape of the human body amid waves of diverse enemies. From the winding labyrinth of the intestine to the shifting currents of the heart, each organ offers a unique challenge with its thematic inhabitants and hazards. Defeat immune cells like macrophages and T-cells, or compete against rival parasites such as helminths and protozoa. Only the deadliest pathogen can survive in this microscopic war.
Over 100,000 players have tried our demo, which features 3 pathogens (bacteria, helminth and spore) and the first 4 levels (skin, intestine, stomach and liver). A new pathogen, the Amoeba, will be coming to the demo in the upcoming Steam Next Fest update. Players can evolve and shape the layout of this pathogen as they progress, creating a truly unique parasite in every run.
Key Features
- Evolve your pathogen: Loot, graft, and assemble unique parasites from over 120 unique organelles and mutations.
- Cellular combat: fight through waves of immune cells and parasites as a lone pathogen
- Metaprogression: collect plasmid fragments for permanent upgrades and unlock more pathogens
- Microscopic world: travel through procedurally generated biomes and immerse in our handcrafted designs and adrenaline-inducing soundtracks
- Organic action: powered by soft-body physics simulation, each cell and project interacts with a uniquely satisfying organic feel
Key Info
Full game launch date: 16 Jul 2026
Languages: English, Simplified Chinese, Czech, Portuguese (Brazil), French, German, Italian, Spanish, Russian, Finnish, Japanese, Korean
Steam page: https://store.steampowered.com/app/3808690/Pathogenic/
Press kit (logo, key art, trailer): https://drive.slugdisco.com/s/boDSgDgj9RrDkZA
Developer: Aberrant Labs
Publisher: Slug Disco