Chionophile
Chionophile
Game
Game2020
Metamorphosis
Developer Ovid Works
Metamorphosis is an adventure video game with platforming elements, inspired by the imagination of Franz Kafka. The game was developed by Ovid Works and published by All in! Games on August 12, 2020. Metamorphosis is available on PC (Steam and GOG), PS4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch. From Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)
255 reactions from 4 sources (Steam reviews, Bluesky, Mastodon, Lemmy) · newest Nov 3, 2026 · last updated Nov 5, 2026 · How this works
Audience score
79
LovedLoved
147 positive · 38 negative
95% range 73–85%
| Source | + | − | = |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steam reviews | 147 | 38 | 0 |
| Bluesky * | 13 | 1 | 52 |
| Mastodon * | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Lemmy * | 0 | 0 | 1 |
* shown, not counted in the score (label accuracy below our 85% bar or not yet audited).
Steam's own rating
Very Positive
284 of 344 reviews positive (all languages, per Valve)
What players are saying
79% recommend · 149 yes, 39 no
Counted from the reviewers’ own thumbs up/down on the 188 English Steam reviews we collected, not by the AI. Valve’s all-language rating: Very Positive (558 of 653 positive).
Players praise the game's surreal atmosphere and artistic style, inspired by Kafka's works. [1][2][3] Some reviewers find the gameplay shallow, with simple puzzles and platforming. [4][5][6] A few players encountered game-breaking bugs that prevented progress. [7][8]
Liked
Representative posts
- [16]
Sights & Sounds Roombavision Though not a graphically impressive game, Metamorphosis does have enough going for it visually to keep your attention The primary highlight is the level design motif. It's no mystery that Gregor Samsa, the protagonist of Franz Kafka's The Metamorphosis does a bit of size changing throughout the course of the novella. As such, you can expect a fair share of Honey, I Shrunk the Kids-style …
- [17]
Metamorphosis is a surreal walking sim as a bug with some parkour and puzzles. Made by Polish indie developers, this short game tried to make a story inspired by Kafka but to debatable success. Despite being called Metamorphosis after Franz Kafka's novel of the same name (my personal Kafka favorite), this game instead combines two of his books into one story. The superficial bug's life simulator is wrongfully …
- [12]
Kafkas metamorphosis is one of my favorite books, and I would do anything for Gregor Samsa... I loved this game and think it captures the vibe of metamorphosis, the trial and the castle perfectly. The game is a good lenght in my opinion - I finished it in ~4,5h after really taking my time to explore, then revisitet to collect achievements (it's an easy game to 100% too). It has light platform elements that weren't …
- [18]
What a weird game. I enjoyed it but I don't know if I can recommend it. It's a walking sim in which you can run, already setting itself at the top of the genre, and I liked the scenarios, but maybe I expected more than another fetch quest simulator for a game carrying such a heavy name on its back.
- [1]
A surrealistic adventure game inspired by Kafka's The Metamorphosis. The protagonist is called Gregor. One morning, he woke up from the bed, not knowing where he was. It took about a few seconds before he finally remembered it. It turned out that they drank too much last night because of their friend’s birthday, and they are now boarding at the house of their good friend Joseph. He felt that he was awake enough to …
Summarised from 34 of the 247 public posts collected about this game; every point cites the posts behind it ([n] opens the post) and the split is counted from the posts’ own ratings. Updated Oct 13, 2026. How summaries are made
RottenBot@rottenbot · automated account
Metamorphosis sits at 79% positive across 185 opinionated reactions from 4 sources. Fresh or rotten — where do you land?
Critics, per Wikipedia
The game had a mixed critical reception. It currently has a score of 69 on Metacritic indicating "mixed or average" reviews. Fellow review aggregator OpenCritic assessed that the game received fair approval, being recommended by 48% of critics. Ewan Wilson of NME described the game's surreal atmosphere and focus on absurd bureaucracy to Terry Gilliam's 1985 film Brazil. Christopher Byrd, in a review for the Washington Post, described the game's humor and writing as a highpoint, but criticized the stiff character animations. Lara Arlotta of Eurogamer praised the game's use of Kafka's work, but criticized its technical flaws and lack of replay value. Alex Santa Maria of Screen Rant awarded…
From the “Reception” section of Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. Critic context only — not part of the audience score.
Reactions
60 of 255 · most liked firstMetamorphosis Key Art commissioned by @luxan.bsky.social, check out their game! 🔗 below!
neutral · AI labelView post →I got to play my first real commander game with Metamorphosis Fanatic today and I miracled him like four times, reanimated him twice, and sawed him in half. This card is the truth.
neutral · AI labelView post →A lot of people are moving to Bluesky, so I will make an account. I'm a gamedev that made these Game Boy games: -The Machine -Unearthed (co-created with Gumpy Function) -Metamorphosis Collection (which includes Opossum Country, Decline, and Specimen 134) Nice to meet you! #gameboy #gamedev
neutral · AI labelView post →play as a forsaken nun seeking absolution for her sins in the super stylish horror game Metamorphosis
neutral · AI labelView post →I'm sad to see reports that James M. Ward died today. I met Jim back was I was in high school and he was helping run TSR's creative wing in the mid-'80s. He was a legendary game designer even then, writer of classics like DEITIES & DEMIGODS, METAMORPHOSIS ALPHA, and GAMMA WORLD.
neutral · AI labelView post →A surrealistic adventure game inspired by Kafka's The Metamorphosis. The protagonist is called Gregor. One morning, he woke up from the bed, not knowing where he was. It took about a few seconds before he finally remembered it. It turned out that they drank too much last night because of their friend’s birthday, and they are now boarding at the house of their good friend Joseph. He felt that he was awake enough to confirm that he could walk normally. He decided to take a look at Joseph's…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →764 - can't wait for this game to release... #BRart #art #METAMORPHOSIS
neutral · AI labelView post →Metamorphosis is a surreal walking sim as a bug with some parkour and puzzles. Made by Polish indie developers, this short game tried to make a story inspired by Kafka but to debatable success. Despite being called Metamorphosis after Franz Kafka's novel of the same name (my personal Kafka favorite), this game instead combines two of his books into one story. The superficial bug's life simulator is wrongfully credited to "Metamorphosis (1915)" but the human story playing out in the background…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Ever wonder what it's like waking up one day and turning into a bug? Well, in this case, this might be the game you've been looking for. The story is more of a fan remake rather than strictly following Kafka's novella so it really doesn't matter if you read the book or not. Think of this game as an alternate interpretation of the events that unfolded in the original work. Gameplay-wise the game was less appealing to me, it's basically a simple platformer where you can talk to different bugs and…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →For those unfamiliar, Limbus Company is a *very* story-heavy gacha game where the core cast are inspired by classic literature. Moby Dick, Wuthering Heights, Demian, The Odyssey, The Metamorphosis, Faust, Don Quixote, etc. Interestingly there's only a small cast. You roll for elseworld variants.
neutral · AI labelView post →Name your favourites from #vtm Clan: Lasombra Sect: Camarilla (I'm here for the drama!) Discipline: Obtenebration Power: Black Metamorphosis City: Anything West Coast (LA, Seattle, Vancouver etc...) Signature Character: Corsino Edition: V20 Game: Oddly, never played them! Other splat: Mage (M20!)
neutral · AI labelView post →My suggestions for Universes Beyond Magic the Gathering sets -Little House on the Prairie -Cheeses -Peggle -The Metamorphosis -The Weimar Republic -Go (board game) -Gone Girl -Council of Trent -Shirley Jackson's The Lottery -Forklift Certification Training Manual
neutral · AI labelView post →This adventure first appeared as a tournament adventure in 1976, and Gygax created it as a bridge of sorts to introduce fantasy RPG players to science fiction roleplaying! Metamorphosis Alpha had been introduced as the first sci-fi RPG ever.
neutral · AI labelView post →Metamorphosis Collection handheld gameplay on Nintendo Game Boy Color with IPS screen mod. Video: youtu.be/czyLEt0pXyE Game by Ben Jelter, published by @incube8games.bsky.social (copy was kindly provided) #gameboy
neutral · AI labelView post →i'm going to make a gacha game based on Kafka's Metamorphosis where the girls are all different kinds of bugs and the player character is a social worker who has to help them find jobs and apply for benefits and shit
neutral · AI labelView post →Side-scrolling psychological horror action game METAMORPHOSIS officially announced. Wishlist here: store.steampowered.com/app/3470140 #indiegames #steam #indiegame
neutral · AI labelView post →Metamorphosis: Becoming Fae by Tally Owl Press This PbtA game centres around fae who have left or have been kicked out of Arcadia and must face what comes afterwards. Themes include change, magic and deals - and GORGEOUS art by @outridercreative.bsky.social 😍 www.kickstarter.com/projects/gui...
neutral · AI labelView post →Sights & Sounds Roombavision Though not a graphically impressive game, Metamorphosis does have enough going for it visually to keep your attention The primary highlight is the level design motif. It's no mystery that Gregor Samsa, the protagonist of Franz Kafka's The Metamorphosis does a bit of size changing throughout the course of the novella. As such, you can expect a fair share of Honey, I Shrunk the Kids-style antics Those who've read that story will note that Gregor isn't unilaterally…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →a little snipit of a tune from METAMORPHOSIS, a game by @luxan.bsky.social
neutral · AI labelView post →Honestly I felt a bit disappointed when it was all said and done. It's a story-driven game for sure, which means you're on rails for most of it. However, you do get quite a few opportunities to explore off the beaten path, albeit mostly pointless but it's appreciated. I thought the world building was pretty neat along with the story and the cool artstyle. However, I felt there was a MAJOR lack of bug diversity: I was expecting to see some slugs, mantis, or beetles, but it seems it's just the…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Couldnt get past the part of printing the certificate at the mechanism. Rotary dial keeps clicking and pressure gauge needle just flicks back and forth but never goes higher than 2. Tried uninstalling and reinstalling, verifying game files, nothing works. I even started a whole new game and got to the same point with the same results. Unfortunate to delete this game after just getting into it.
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I’m a bit conflicted with this game. On one hand, it’s a game that features a story inspired by Franz Kafka’s works with basic platforming mechanics and simple puzzles. I do enjoy these types of games. That’s exactly how the game is advertised and that’s exactly what you get. This is why I’m not giving it a thumbs down. On the other hand though, I expected a different experience than what I got. Before playing this game, I read Franz Kafka’s “Metamorphosis” and know of his other works that…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →www.youtube.com/watch?v=O2aB... Building a game from the ground up is an evolving journey. In this 3-minute update, I’m breaking down the current state of Metamorphosis and sharing what’s coming next on the development roadmap! #MetamorphosisGame #IndieGameDev #Devlog #GameDevelopment #IndieGames
neutral · AI labelView post →TWITCH SCHED FOR DA WEEK!!!! this week i am starting the remastered version of Bad Mojo, an adventure game from '96 that is loosely based on The Metamorphosis. basically you turn into a cockroach & have to navigate this guy's apartment lol. twitch.tv/PhantasmaJones
neutral · AI labelView post →This would be tons better if it integrated the gameplay into the story but both seem to be in separate worlds. The puzzles aren't very challenging and the story isn't fleshed out enough to be anything. The story feels more like an idea than a story and I got bored almost immediately while playing
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I've been working on games nonstop for a while so I haven't done a lot of other important stuff. Just wrapping up another game so I took the time to add Unearthed and Metamorphosis Collection to my website: www.benjelter.com #gamedev
neutral · AI labelView post →Great music and an intriguing start that promises a lot. It fades quickly into a very hand-holdy experience which shoves you forward before you're ready to change scenes. Stunning visuals and the sense of scale you get is amazing. The architecture and level design is among the best I've seen in a long time. It's just sad that the important parts are the most lacking. Having the puzzles spoiled constantly before you even get to attempt them, and the story never comes to a conclusion or even to…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Kafkas metamorphosis is one of my favorite books, and I would do anything for Gregor Samsa... I loved this game and think it captures the vibe of metamorphosis, the trial and the castle perfectly. The game is a good lenght in my opinion - I finished it in ~4,5h after really taking my time to explore, then revisitet to collect achievements (it's an easy game to 100% too). It has light platform elements that weren't hard for me (but something to take note of if you detest anything platformer),…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →In 1978 Runequest blew my mind and changed the way I gamed. I was 14 at the time, started with Metamorphosis Alpha, then OD&D, Boot Hill, EPT (which also blew my mind!) Tekumel was my first real game world, but Glorantha pulled me in and showed me new vistas of imagination.
neutral · AI labelView post →We’re excited to announce the launch of our second game Metamorphosis: Becoming Fae—or, the Art of Change for #zinequest on #kickstarter! Metamorphosis is a #TTRPG about change, magic, and Fae. You finally left Arcadia, the city of awe and terror. Now, what will you become? #zinemonth #zimo25
neutral · AI labelView post →New episode! We examine the portrayal of disability in Fury Road, Avatar, The Metamorphosis, Game of Thrones, and Evil Dead. kittysneezes.com/writing-abou...
neutral · AI labelView post →It’s a fan game technically but if yall wanna see a LGBTQ+ protag in Silent Hill check out Silent Hill: Metamorphosis on itch.io :)
neutral · AI labelView post →No pun intended, but game breaking bug in Lawyer's Desk prevents progress. After reconnecting the cable for the certificate printer, the red dial to power up the pressure gauge just endlessly clicks and resets regardless of how fast or slow you turn the dial. Attempted multiple restarts to no effect. Very disappointing because I was actually enjoying the atmosphere and gameplay. Until fixed, do not recommend.
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I like unique games that presents itself to stand alone as something special thinking outside the box. This game was just that for me. Enjoyed the game play. Games are made to tell a different story that takes you from the everyday life of routine. Immerse yourself as a bug to escape.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →The game is around 2 hours long so the price is pretty high for what you get. The story is good though, so get the game on sale.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Walking simulators can be fun this one is just boring and overpriced. The game looks pretty, but don't let that fool you. And puzzles? What puzzles?
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Sarajevo after the outbreak. Insects. Body-horror. DMC-style combat. First look at Metamorphosis, a 2D action game I'm building solo in Unity, based on my novel. www.youtube.com/shorts/ZAIDM... #gamedev #indiedev #indiegame
neutral · AI labelView post →Tried playing that Metamorphosis video game. Within seconds it establishes that Gregor Samsa and Josef K. are friends. Don’t think I played more than 15 minutes.
negative · AI labelView post →www.youtube.com/watch?v=2h0v... This is my project — Metamorphosis. Unity, 2D, DMC-style insect body-horror action game set in post-outbreak Sarajevo. Solo dev, Unity, devlog series starts here. #devlog #indiedev #gamedev #indiegame
neutral · AI labelView post →the sticky stuff before the ulysses book did not work for me. I looked around for an alternate path and then looked up a walkthru video to see what I should be doing, and sure enough, that sticky stuff behind the drawer was not being triggered so I was not able to crawl up the one wall (managed to jump-jump-jump up it) but was not able to walk along the pipe side in the next part. The sticky stuff the bug uses to climb walls needs to be set to reset every time the bug steps on it so that if…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Started off a bit interesting, but the ending seems rushed and incomplete.
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I recommend this game for the artwork,story,enviroment and it's atomsphere. I do not recommend buying this game expecting great or fun gameplay to be involved because there is hardly any. If you enjoy a great story to play through then it's great. But otherwise you will feel bored playing the game after a couple of hours.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Good, but there is a glitch where if you die (I jumped on the projector tape) when you're supposed to jump into the projector then it sets you back multiple chapters. Since there's no save/loads (it just autosaves) you'll need to go to Chapter Select and redo it up to that point and try again.
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Metamorphosis is a game made purely with the big hearts of its developers and is a proper exposé of middle stage capitalism.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →honestly, not that good. The visuals are nice. story is weak. 'puzzles' are laughable. it feels unfinished, stretched out. shame, i highly anticipated its release. music is great. but the story and gameplay are just not worth the price. nothing about it is reminiscent of kafka, it just lazily merges The Trial and Metamorphosis. i wasn't at all invested in the characters. it sets up strong, then lets down completely. interactions between chacters seem random and chaotic. the only reason why i…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Started playing through Metamorphosis yesterday. This is one wild adventure for sure! Game starts with you as a human, but you shrink and turn in to a beetle! Very interesting world to explore! Barely even begun really, but totally looking forward to what's to come!
positive · AI labelView post →If you get it on a discount, it is worth a few bucks for a few hour long game. I would never imagine someone would make videogame based on Kafka stories. The world of bugs is something fresh and never seen before. Good story about bureaucracy playing as disgusting bug.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Bad Mojo is the game you get when you use a copy of Kafka’s Metamorphosis as blotter paper
neutral · AI labelView post →I really enjoyed this game, its surreal, clever, funny and has a beautiful soundtrack. It takes inspiration from Kafka’s "The Trial" and "Metamorphosis", bringing them to life in a unique light while not losing touch with the Kafkaesque themes of existentialism, absurdism and morality. Leni/10
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →What a weird game. I enjoyed it but I don't know if I can recommend it. It's a walking sim in which you can run, already setting itself at the top of the genre, and I liked the scenarios, but maybe I expected more than another fetch quest simulator for a game carrying such a heavy name on its back.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →very bug focused story with a strong emphasis on bug type game play really making you feel like a bug i give it 4 bugs out of five and the seal of bugpproval
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I just spent some time with @luxan.bsky.social's #METAMORPHOSIS playtest. Not sure what I expected, but whatever it was, it didn't even scratch the surface. If you don't mind the messed up side of horror, and maybe a little blasphemy, go and check this out. We have something special on our hands.
positive · AI labelView post →Short but entertaining first person adventure game, where you turn into a bug and try to get your body back while trying to help a friend. The puzzles are pretty easy as far as adventure games go, so most people wont have problems with them. The game ran pretty good and the graphics hold up since they are stylized and not that photorealistic. If you like chill adventure games or games with a surreal twist you should give it a try!
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Manafinder will be ending this week! Next week, I'll play something a little different -- an indie game titled Metamorphosis, in which you've been turned into a bug. I'll be playing on Nintendo Switch. Here's the game page: www.nintendo.com/us/store/pro... #indiegame #transformation #letsplay
neutral · AI labelView post →I have been fantasizing about being a bug and a philosopher for a long time so glad this game exists
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →How do I make the lyric game version of Kafka’s Metamorphosis but you’re a bird?
neutral · AI labelView post →Game designer James M. Ward (b.1951) died on March 18. Ward designed Metamorphosis Alpha, the first SF RPG. His Gods, Demi-Gods & Heroes was one of the first D&D expansions. He co-authored Deities & Demigods and Gamma World. After leaving TSR, he designed the Dragon Ball Z Collectible Card Game.
neutral · AI labelView post →5/10 about 2.6 hours of gameplay what bugs me is the map and how its not really clear where and what you need to do next meh story filled with tons of filler dialogue that just goes on and on well you try to find out what to do spent ages trying to find out what to do on a piece of paper well an old man rants on, i was on thew wrong piece of paper the entire time. the dialogue just keeps looping 25$ price tag, oof. you can pass on this game not missing anything
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →What a strange little game. I by no means could say I didn't enjoy it - I did - but it was just so weird. First off: the art style and aesthetic are fantastic. This game looks weirdly realistic and painterly at the same time. I consistently felt wowed by how beautiful this game looked. The levels have this wonderful presentation, where you get to explore a cluttered office space as a tiny bug, or enter a gramophone that the bugs use as a bar/club. It's really well-done. However, as another…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →The game has a glitch that makes it impossible for me to complete. I have been playing the same level again and again. At first I thought that I had missed something. In the end I gave up and looked up guides and walkthroughs on the internet. I still can´t finish the Projector mission due to that glitch. It really is a shame as I truly enjoyed the game - Until that glitch got in my way. I guess I will have to watch the ending on Youtube :(
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →
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