Last Updated on May 27, 2026 @ 16:07:12 PM.
I have recently had the pleasure and misfortune of playing Necrophosis: Full Consciousness before its release on consoles, as I tried out both the base game and its accompanying DLC, which is what led to both the pleasure and misfortune, as I was able to enjoy the game while also feeling incredibly uncomfortable by many of its scenarios as I played through the game.
During this review, I will be talking about both the base game of Necrophosis: Full Consciousness as well as its DLC, as I was able to play both during my time with the game.
| EDITOR’S NOTE |
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| Please be warned: Necrophosis: Full Consciousness does touch on body horror and has numerous uncomfortable details that readers may find disturbing; please read at your own risk. |
Necrophosis: Full Consciousness Does a Fantastic Job of Causing Unease
When it comes to Necrophosis: Full Consciousness, it is made very clear right from the jump that the game world is not for the weak-stomached, as the entire world is full of graphical imagery that most people would find incredibly uncomfortable. However, during my time with the game, I was able to contain myself long enough to proceed through the game’s story and its grotesque world.
Whether it be the various skinless creatures roaming around the world or curled up in the fetal position, or the entities that rip their own brains out of their skulls, or the towering figures that are watching you throughout the game, there are numerous situations that will cause players to feel a sense of unease during Necrophosis: Full Consciousness.
Although these are only the tip of the iceberg of what will make players uncomfortable within the game, for me, during my time with the game, I found that what made this game interesting wasn’t just that it was trying to make the player feel uncomfortable; it was how it was playing with my mind as well as my eyes.
In terms of being squeamish, I am quite lucky that I do not get affected easily by grotesque scenes or situations, so for me, playing through Necrophosis: Full Consciousness wasn’t an overly disturbing situation; it was more intriguing than anything else, but that isn’t to say that it didn’t have an effect on me that I could feel deep in my core.
As I played through the game, there were quite a few moments in which, as the player, I would have to partake in rather obscene situations, such as pulling apart a person’s ribs, crushing bodies with rocks, watching a creature pull something out of its mouth as it pushed its whole hand down its throat, and even pulling insects out of a victim’s back that is covered in holes.
Each of these situations was something that I found very disgusting, but not in a bad way, but more in the sense that it was creating an unsettling aura, making me ask the question of whether this is what I will do in the early stages of the game, what on earth is waiting for me towards the end, and even in the game’s DLC?
To which I was not disappointed, as the game did not stop there in making me feel a sense of dread and discomfort, as I was constantly being pushed to the limit and seeing even more disturbing acts that would cause most people to turn away.
This was even further escalated in the game’s DLC, as even though it is a rather short DLC, it was able to draw on more situations that players will likely find disturbing without going too far, while also keeping the overall tone of the game the same.
Necrophosis: Full Consciousness’s Gameplay is Simple, But Enjoyable
As I played through Necrophosis: Full Consciousness, one of the main things I noticed regarding its gameplay was how it wasn’t overly complicated and didn’t require a lot of thinking in order to complete the game, as it plays as a walking sim with puzzles that you need to solve in order to progress to the next section of the game.
In terms of difficulty, the puzzles aren’t overly hard or require a lot of thinking, as they are quite obvious as you play through the game, as items that you can pick up are highlighted, which was very helpful to me, as when you are searching for a skull in a pile of skulls, it is helpful to see which one you need rather than having to play eeny meeny miny moe to see which one is the one you want.
Along with this, the locations in which you need to place said items that you find along your path are also highlighted, which is a fantastic addition to the game, as the hints provided to you within the game are rather vague and can easily be misinterpreted by the game, especially when you are holding 4 different kinds of skulls, each looking the same but with minor differences that completely change their meaning and uses.
However, once you find the items and are able to discern what the item is, there are even shaded outlines in a sense to help indicate what you need and where you need to place them, which again is just a helpful addition from the devs to allow players to move on without having to spam through their inventory just to find the right item they are holding.
In terms of gameplay, this is pretty much the entire gameplay loop, as the player walks around talking to some NPCs and solving puzzles, which overall isn’t that bad, as the gameplay is interesting enough to keep your attention with the puzzles you have to solve and the overall game world, and this form of gameplay continues on within the DLC, providing more puzzles and content to explore.
Necrophosis: Full Consciousness’s Story is as Bizarre as its World
Now it is safe to say that when you enter the world of Necrophosis: Full Consciousness and you attempt to explore its game world to ascertain its story and to get a grip on what is going on, it would be a challenge in and of itself because the story is very obscure to the point that it took me a good while to come to grips with what had happened.
Although there are lore pieces dotted around the game world for the player to read, and yes, these lore pieces are just as grotesque as the rest of the game with them being carved into a set of ribs or onto an elongated tongue, the information that these lore pieces provide is incredibly detailed for such a short game and provides a good amount of information as to what is going on.
Now, with the game being so short and not a whole lot of story to speak of, I won’t talk about the game’s story in terms of how it ends or what it means, but I will talk about the atmosphere this story provides, as to me, it was very ominous walking around this world and having the fate of existence being placed on your shoulders.
To me this was a very fun and interesting story concept, and how it plays out fits perfectly with the tone of the game, as the game world is just as confusing and nonsensical as the game’s story which to me suits it perfectly, but by the end of the base game and its subsequent DLC you feel as though you have done something that matters to a degree; whether what you have done is good, bad, or makes no difference is up for debate.
However, the way you feel after playing the game and seeing what it ends up as is a very interesting feeling that cannot easily be explained, but instead, you just feel relief in the sense that you no longer have to experience these horrors, unless you play for a second time, and that in the game world, you have made a difference.
Necrophosis: Full Consciousness
Summary
During my time with Necrophosis: Full Consciousness, I had a fun time exploring the game world, as it kept me intrigued, even with the pit in my stomach, as the general tone of the game was oozing uncomfortable vibes.
In terms of the gameplay loop, it is quite basic as it allows the player to walk around, solve various puzzles, and talk to different characters in an attempt to move forward within the game.
When it comes to the game’s story, it is safe to say that it is a rather confusing and complicated story, both with the dialogue and the overall tone; however, it does stay with you after the game ends.
Along with the base game, the DLC is a lot of fun and continues with the same gameplay and overwhelming atmosphere that makes players feel uncomfortable in many ways.
HOURS PLAYED: 3
PLAYED ON: PS5
- The game world may look disturbing but it is also very interesting.
- The puzzles are very simple and the highlighted objectives help a lot.
- The story is interesting as it sticks with you for a long time.
- The DLC continues with the great gameplay and is fun to explore.
- Gameplay gets slightly repetetive.
- Sadly a very short experience even with the DLC.
For more Thumb Wars Gaming coverage, check out our hands-on preview for the upcoming game Outward 2, or check out our review of Thick as Thieves.
Liam is a Senior Editor, Writer, and Critic for Thumb Wars and has been working with the team since day one. Liam is a big fan of all things gaming, as you will catch him playing all of the new releases from every genre you can imagine. Whether you find Liam gaming just for fun or spending his free time streaming, you will always find a smile on his face when it comes to all things gaming.
