Plague Alchemist
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About Plague Alchemist
Plague Alchemist is an adventure RPG built around alchemy and environmental decay. Developed by Hardcoded and released on PC in 2026, it tasks you with exploring a world where magic and corruption bleed into everyday life. You play as an alchemist gathering resources, experimenting with mixtures, and uncovering why the environment is crumbling. The game blends resource management with narrative-driven exploration, offering a single-player experience focused on slow-burn mystery. It’s for players who enjoy tinkering with systems and piecing together fragmented lore through environmental storytelling.
Gameplay
The core loop revolves around harvesting ingredients, crafting potions, and testing them on decaying ecosystems. You spend hours cataloging flora, combining reagents in a grid-based alchemy interface, and observing how your creations interact with the world. Controls are straightforward, with mouse-driven inventory management and context-sensitive exploration. Each session feels like a puzzle, figuring out which rare compound stabilizes a rotting forest or repels a sentient mold. Side quests involve trading with NPCs for better materials, but the real hook is the incremental progress of unlocking deeper alchemical formulas. Combat is minimal, replaced by environmental hazards that force quick thinking.
What Players Think
Plague Alchemist holds a 71% positive rating on Steam with an average playtime of 14 hours. Completion rates hover around 65%, suggesting its slow pace turns off some players. Community moods lean toward “creepy” and “addictive,” with 42% noting the atmosphere lingers long after playing. One review calls it “an obsessive alchemy sandbox with a haunting world,” while another criticizes “too much waiting for progression.” Achievements (100 total) focus on recipe mastery and exploration milestones. Price at launch was $29.99, placing it in the mid-tier indie range.
PlayPile's Take
This game is a niche win for alchemy enthusiasts and slow-burn mystery fans. The $30 price tag feels fair given the depth of its systems, though the lack of action or multiplayer may deter others. With 100 achievements and a completion rate under 70%, it’s clear the grind isn’t for everyone. If you enjoy methodical experimentation and don’t mind a deliberately paced story, Plague Alchemist rewards persistence. Otherwise, its appeal fades quickly.
Game Modes
Single player
Achievements
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