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Shellbound playtest
by Fake Lobster
Shellbound is a 2D metroidvania set on a gigantic snail. You’re a parasite exploring a living world, battling and controlling enemies that will cause the ecosystem to evolve around you. Platform through diverse biomes, solve puzzles, and unravel your role in the giant creature’s life cycle.
Anyone with a Steam account can join, and it's free.
- Access
- Instant
- On playtest since
- Aug 19, 2025
- Planned release
- 2028
- Developer
- Fake Lobster
- Platforms
- Windows
- Players
- Single-player
- Languages
- English, French, German, Japanese and 4 more
How to join the Shellbound playtest
- Open the game's Steam page with the Join playtest button. Sign in to Steam if it asks.
- Use the Shellbound playtest signup there. You're in straight away, with nothing to pay.
- The playtest shows up in your Steam library, ready to install and play.
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About Shellbound
Discover a literally living world
Shellbound is set in a barren world where life can only emerge from the fertile mucus of a gigantic snail. You are a parasite, born from the almost dried-up mucus trail it leaves behind and plunged into the bottom of the food chain.
Follow the trail towards the colossal creature and enter a vibrant, dangerous ecosystem. Explore dense forests, cities of copper, mucus mines and many more regions on the snail's body and inside of its winding shell.
Soon, you learn that the creature has started moving again after a millennia-long slumber – but nobody knows why and where it is heading. Uncovering this mystery will reveal not only the bizarre life cycle of the creature but also your natural role in this world.
Explore a Superorganism
Explore the ancient snail, a gigantic living organism whose bodily functions massively impact its inhabitants, the world and the gameplay.
Control your Enemies
Control enemies with your parasite skill to get a strategic advantage in combat, overcome obstacles, enter secret areas, solve puzzles and much more
Evolution on Steroids
Fight the ecosystem – but it fights back! Killing too many enemies of one species will let them evolve into a stronger version with new abilities that you can use.
Find new Friends
Befriend NPCs with an interactive friendbook and discover their secrets and quests.
From the game's Steam page.
