You are a tiny protist in a disturbed patch of soil. You're the only one of your kind left, but for you as a microbe, that doesn't have to mean extinction. All you need to do now is eat, divide, and try not to get eaten!
The ecosystem around you has been thrown into chaos, but it's slowly repairing itself. Bacteria are actively rebuilding the soil by gluing tiny particles into larger clusters, creating a more complex habitat that increases biodiversity. You'll have to navigate a continuously changing ecosystem with a variety of predators, hazards, and resources.
As a small flagellate, you're low on the food chain and have limited abilities. Your success will come from observation, knowledge and strategy rather than strength.
Creatures in Cellscape respond to each other and to the habitat. Each species has a niche, and they divide based on how much they eat of their preferred food. That means each run is unique, based on ecology rather than random chance. You might play one round that is full of small flagellates and few predators, and the next could be swarming with seemingly passive, but surprisingly dangerous Colpodas. Sometimes you'll get lucky with helpful biofilms that give huge advantages, and sometimes they're just toxic. The more you come to understand the ecosystem, however, the better you'll be able to thrive no matter what kind of habitat you find yourself in.
Cellscape is designed for single runs with ecological systems, making it highly replayable. Core game mechanics are easy to learn, and take a nonviolent approach to survival in the world of microbes. The gameplay can be almost meditative, despite the ever-present risk of being recycled. Cellscape is about making your way as a tiny creature with a short life near the bottom of the food chain.
There will be various game modes to choose from, with a range of score categories that allow for different play styles. Timed challenges focus on maximizing divisions in the given time, whereas Endless modes let you choose between playing carefully to survive as long as possible or taking risks to maximize your division rate.
More game modes are planned, including a relax mode, aquarium mode and adjustable difficulty levels.
Planned features:
Many more types of bacteria, flagellates, and predators
More unique hazards such as viruses and parasites
Plant roots creating special zones with various environmental effects
Fungi
More game modes
Steam achievements!
Note to Content Creators:
This game uses licensed music that may trigger automated copyright claims on platforms like YouTube/Twitch. You can mute the background music in audio settings to avoid any potential issues. Music is licensed via Uppbeat.
