CARRION Reviews

CARRION is ranked in the 67th percentile of games scored on OpenCritic.
75 / 100
May 8, 2023

Carrion is an unusual experience that seeks to do the most with just the essentials, which makes it somewhat repetitive after a while, when almost all the cards are already on the table. Even though it looks like a labyrinthine metroidvania, the design tends to guide the player linearly so as not to get lost, keeping the gameplay flowing between puzzles and massacres, without much reason to explore on your own. The game's greatest success is in fulfilling its promise of horror by putting the player under the skin of a tentacular monster to devour, grow and evolve into the perfect predator.

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8.5 / 10.0
Jul 31, 2020

Carrion delivers the 'you're the monster' theme very well. Using new skills not only on combat, but on puzzles is very clever too.

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6 / 10
Aug 14, 2020

Carrion embraces its identity as a "reverse-horror" experience, offering some viscerally violent action that is not for the faint of heart. Presentation here is top-notch: this is a polished title that Phobia Game Studio has taken a lot of care in crafting. Sadly, it stumbles in its core gameplay. The combat is poorly balanced and navigation can be a frustrating chore, but when Carrion does transcend these trappings, it does so with a sadistic glee that makes it unmistakable amongst its peers.

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8 / 10.0
Aug 7, 2020

We do not like backtracking, but we love role of bloodthirsty creature and gameplay.

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7.5 / 10.0
Aug 3, 2020

Carrion is a fun one-and-done game and not much more than that. The concept of playing as the monster in the vents is a cool one, and Carrion executes the fantasy fairly masterfully. Unfortunately, it runs out of tricks before too long and is only saved from tedium by the short game length. It's worth a playthrough if you like the concept, but don't expect anything genre-defining. There's a lot of potential in the concept, and perhaps a Carrion 2 will give us something with more meat on its … amorphous horrifying frame.

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6.5 / 10.0
Aug 1, 2020

Does the the disturbing "reverse horror" of Phobia Games Studio's Carrion live up to the concept, or does it miss the mark?

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GameGrin
Alana Dunitz
Top Critic
9.5 / 10.0
Jul 29, 2020

This a super fun immersive game that is a must play for not only horror fans but anyone looking for a unique gaming experience!

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80 / 100
Jul 27, 2020

Carrion is simply a great time. The metroidvania gameplay loop is addictive, while its sound design and highly detailed pixel-art look makes it a joy to hear and look at. An average story and lack of an in-game map sap some of the enjoyment, but Carrion's ability to have you play as an unstoppable monster is gory grandeur.

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Jul 23, 2020

Not everyone will be able to stomach Carrion's atmosphere and gleeful violence. But those that can will find an experience that is beautiful in being so grotesque.

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80 / 100
Jul 23, 2020

Carrion is undoubtedly a unique take on the survival horror genre. There are a couple of misses, but for the most part it works well for those with a few hours to kill.

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GameSpew
Chris Mc
Top Critic
7 / 10.0
Jul 23, 2020

It’s a real treat for horror fans and one of the most original games I’ve come across. There were so many moments that left me with a grin a mile wide, from pulling a string of victims up into the ceiling to turning a soldier against their former friends. But if you choose to wreak your own brand of horror upon Carrion‘s hapless humans, just be prepared to step away when there’s no-one left to torment.

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8 / 10.0
Jul 23, 2020
Carrion - FULL REVIEW | Science Gone Horribly Right? video thumbnail
8 / 10 stars
Jul 22, 2020

Carrion is a beautifully orchestrated symphony of blood, guts, and dismembered limbs.

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9 / 10.0
Jul 22, 2020

Even after the credits rolled, there were still a lot of optional power-ups to hunt down. Carrion feels familiar in its gameplay but unique in execution. The blood may still be freshly dripping from the wall, but Carrion is certainly one of the highlights in gaming from this year so far.

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Video Chums
Top Critic
5.5 / 10.0
Aug 26, 2020

Carrion is a game that I would love to play through in one night with a group of friends as long as I'm not the one playing it. While it's not the best Metroidvania to navigate, it's a joy to watch. If you love horror, especially old monster movies, this is worth checking out for the atmosphere alone as it makes for a rather spook-tacular night.

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9 / 10.0
Jul 23, 2020

While it’s great to play games or watch movies cheering on the brave heroes who fight and persevere against horrible monstrosities, admit it: Given the chance it would be a ton of fun to spend some time on the other side of the equation...

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Jul 23, 2020

Carrion did what very few horror games have done for me this year: it exceeded my expectations. It ends up being far more than the sum of its fleshy parts thanks to a solid commitment to its sadistic vision of slimy violence.

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8.5 / 10.0
Oct 1, 2021

Carrion is a devilishly enjoyable horror experience where you can swoop up enemies in your tentacles and rip them apart with a smile on your face. It's a short adventure lasting around 6-7 hours, but it's worth it for the gameplay alone. The awesome reverse-horror story is icing on the cake. It's too bad there's no in-game map as that would have eliminated getting lost and made this an even better game. Still, with what's on offer it's an easy recommend for anyone wanting their next juicy horror experience.

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Aug 1, 2020

Carrion is not a particularly long game, but it does a lot with the time you'll spend with it. It's more involved than it initially appears, and its blank slate approach coupled with the confidence to begin and end as abruptly as it does is something others can learn from. A succinct and sometimes challenging diversion from the norm, it's worth the experience to live it up as an amorphous, crafty monster.

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7.5 / 10.0
Jul 24, 2020

A decent reverse horror title with fluid gameplay and immersive atmosphere.

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