Pathogenic is a fast-paced roguelite twin-stick shooter that puts players in the role of a virus invading a human body. The reviewer finds it unusually compelling in a crowded genre, praising its demanding combat and highly flexible upgrade system, which has helped the indie game quickly gain more than 100,000 sales and an “overwhelmingly positive” Steam rating.

Players begin in the host’s skin before progressing through organs including the intestines, liver, stomach, lungs and heart, with each area ending in a boss battle; a secret brain boss offers an additional challenge. Its procedurally generated levels combine enemy-filled rooms with safer areas for collecting or buying upgrades, while modular nodes can alter weapons, add elemental effects and create powerful combinations reminiscent of The Binding of Isaac and Spore.