I always try to keep an open mind when playing unfinished games and ones that are slow to start: even when it's just not clicking for me, I'm looking for how it could improve or what about it might be more to someone else's tastes. Then I'll play something like Metamorphosis, whose demo is available now on Steam, and it just smacks me in the mouth with how bracingly, shockingly excellent and unique it is. You should play this demo for yourself right now, or at least wishlist it. From the second it starts, this is so profoundly my shit I'm willing to blaspheme to get that statement on the record. Still here? Well I'm flattered. Metamorphosis' reveal trailer is what first got my attention: It looks incredible, with gruesome pixel art that feels like a cross between Signalis, Blasphemous, and the yet-unreleased Radio the Universe. That last one is a game I'm still holding a candle for despite a decade-plus development. Its demo is still on my Steam Deck like I'm a divorcee who just can't bring himself to take off the wedding ring. I love games that are impenetrable, crusty, and make me feel really bad. Mostly this means CRPGs like Pathfinder: Kingmaker, but I will always make time for a freaky-looking indie that cribs off King's Field or a Japanese action game I've never heard of. Metamorphosis' trailer is an unrelenting cavalcade of body horror, but the demo is far more reserved⁠⁠. The sound design is superb, with more actiony areas boasting a synthy drone, while oppressive silence reigns supreme in the abandoned cathedral you start out in. That silence will be broken by the glitchy rasps of Metamorphosis' insectoid monsters, or even just great deployments of diegetic noise⁠. My favorite touch was the periodic sound of someone knocking at a door⁠—with headphones on, I thought someone was knocking at my door. Just horrible. I love it. Metamorphosis does a superb job of building up to its first real scare, one that had me hooting with laughter after the shock wore