Survival horror Sci-fi and space horror Body horror

The Callisto Protocol

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Escape a prison on Jupiter's dead moon as its inmates turn into monsters.

Platforms: PC, PlayStation, Xbox
Stores: Steam, Epic
Price: Paid
Rated: Mixed on Steam (65% of 43,825 reviews); Metacritic 69 on PlayStation 5; 4.05 of 5 from 23,048 ratings on the PlayStation Store
Length: about 9 hours
Players: 1
Controls: Gamepad or mouse and keyboard; dodge and block with the movement keys, melee with a baton, aim to shoot, a gravity tool to grab and throw enemies.
Made by: Striking Distance Studios
Released: 2022

On PlayStation: one of the PlayStation horror games.

No. 28 of the tentacle horror games · No. 19 of the moon horror games

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What frightens Jacob Lee, a cargo pilot thrown into a prison on Jupiter's moon Callisto, wakes as inmates and guards turn into screaming, tentacled creatures that split and mutate if you do not finish them; you fight them in close, dark corridors with a baton and little ammunition, and many deaths are shown in gruesome detail.
Content: gore, extreme violence, graphic death scenes, body horror, strong language, jumpscares.

The Callisto Protocol is a 2022 sci-fi survival horror game from Striking Distance Studios, led by Dead Space co-creator Glen Schofield. As inmate Jacob Lee you fight your way out of Black Iron Prison on Callisto as an outbreak turns people into mutated creatures, relying on close-quarters combat, scarce ammunition and a gravity weapon.

About The Callisto Protocol

The Callisto Protocol was made by Striking Distance Studios and published by Krafton on 1 December 2022 for PC, PlayStation 4 and 5, and Xbox One and Series X|S. Its studio was led by Glen Schofield, who co-created Dead Space, and the game's look and violence follow that series closely.

In the year 2320, cargo pilot Jacob Lee crashes on Callisto, one of Jupiter's moons, and is locked up in Black Iron Prison. Soon after, an outbreak turns inmates and guards into monsters, and Jacob has to break out of the prison and find out what its owners were hiding beneath it.

It is built around close combat. You dodge and block with the movement controls, hit hard with a stun baton, and finish staggered enemies with a quick shot. A gravity tool lets you grab enemies and throw them into fans and spikes. Some creatures grow tentacles that will turn them into something worse if you do not shoot them in time. Ammunition is scarce, and you stomp bodies for credits and parts to upgrade at Reforge stations.

Its look and sound were widely praised, and its death scenes are very graphic. Critics praised its atmosphere and found its later fights frustrating, and players are mixed on it. It suits fans of Dead Space who want a heavier, more physical fight.

The Season Pass adds more. The Contagion Bundle brings a harder mode with stronger enemies, limited resources and no manual saves, where a death resets the chapter, plus 14 new death animations. The Riot Bundle adds Riot Mode, which sends waves of Biophage at you. Final Transmission is a story add-on that continues Jacob's story on Callisto.

How to play The Callisto Protocol

Move through the prison, stomping on crates and bodies for ammunition, health and credits.
When a creature attacks, hold left or right to dodge and back to block, then hit back with the baton.
Follow up a melee combo with a quick shot when the aim prompt appears.
Use the gravity tool to throw enemies into hazards and save ammunition.
Spend credits at Reforge stations to upgrade the baton, guns and gravity tool.

Screenshots

The Callisto Protocol screenshot: a mutated, rotting creature grabs Jacob's head in a red-lit cell block

The Callisto Protocol screenshot: two figures in armoured suits cross Callisto's snowy surface under a huge Jupiter

The Callisto Protocol screenshot: close-up of a pale mutated creature with rows of teeth across its face and chest

The Callisto Protocol screenshot: Jacob in an orange prison suit faces a dark tunnel where 'shoot the tentacles' is written in blood

The Callisto Protocol screenshot: a tendril-covered creature lunges at a man in a helmet

The Callisto Protocol screenshot: Jacob in armour talks with a woman in armour in front of a transit map of Black Iron Prison and Arcas Colony

Tips

Shoot the tentacles that sprout from a creature before it mutates into something tougher.
Hazards like fans and spikes kill instantly when you throw enemies into them.
Upgrade the baton and gravity tool early; they save most of your ammunition.

Questions

Is The Callisto Protocol like Dead Space?

Yes, in setting and look: it comes from Dead Space co-creator Glen Schofield. It is built more around melee combat than Dead Space's dismemberment shooting.

Is The Callisto Protocol scary?

It is tense and very gory, with dark corridors, sudden attacks and graphic death scenes.

What platforms is it on?

PC on Steam and the Epic Games Store, PlayStation 4 and 5, and Xbox One and Series X|S. PlayStation Plus Premium members can play a 1-hour trial.

Is there more after the story?

A story add-on, Final Transmission, is sold separately and continues Jacob's story.

How long is The Callisto Protocol?

The main story takes about 9 hours 20 minutes according to HowLongToBeat figures, and about 11 and a half hours with extras.

Is it single-player only?

Yes. It is a single-player game with no co-op or online mode.