Parasite Mutant — Everything we know about the spiritual sequel to Parasite Eve

This article contains officially confirmed information combined with expert industry speculation, rumors, and analysis. We will update this page with the latest news as soon as it’s available.

The development story of Parasite Eve is a well-documented tale and is essential in understanding the existence of Parasite Mutant. With Parasite Eve, Square Enix made a beloved cult classic that left fans wanting more. However, it didn’t sell enough for Square Enix to license the Parasite Eve IP from its source, a book of the same name written by Japanese author Hideaki Sena. Despite the demand, this beloved game never received a sequel.

Enter Chinese indie developer IceSitruuna, which has taken on the mantle of reviving the on-ice classic. Parasite Mutant is the developer’s third game, and, from what we’ve seen so far of this spiritual successor, there’s plenty to be excited about. Here’s everything we know about the game and why, as a long-time fan, you should be excited.

✓ VideoGamer summary

• Parasite Mutant is a spiritual follow-up to Parasite Eve, created by indie studio IceSitruuna after Square Enix abandoned the original IP due to licensing issues.
• No official release date has been confirmed, but a PS5 and PC launch between 2026 and 2027 is likely, based on current development progress.
• Set in a flooded, abandoned city, players control psionic agent Nova using an “Active Time Chain” combat system inspired by Parasite Eve, combining real-time movement with tactical action.
• The game features a semi-realistic anime art style, retro filters, and monstrous enemies.

Expected Parasite Mutant release window

At this time, there is no confirmed Parasite Mutant release date or release window. It’s difficult to predict precisely when a release can be expected, especially when it comes to indie game development. 

However, what we’ve seen so far is promising, and IceSitruuna’s progress suggests development is at an advanced stage. Based on this, we can speculate that a 2026 release window is a realistic expectation. However, game development is unpredictable; 2027 and even possibly later are equally viable release windows. 

Parasite Mutant gameplay and trailer analysis 

The Parasite Mutant trailer opens in a foggy and flooded city, and appears to be the backdrop for most of the game. We meet our main character, Psionic agent Nova. Her professionalism is paired with an understated but striking beauty, both of which are elevated by a distinctive and compelling art style. This semi-realistic anime style feels like a more nuanced version of the likes of Code Vein, helping to sell the characters, world, and, especially, the horrors showcased in the trailer.

The trailer showcases several of the monsters we can expect in Parasite Mutant, including isopods, more humanoid creatures, and a multitude of other horrific creatures inhabiting this abandoned city. The most interesting, however, is the only other human in the trailer, a mysterious woman who overlooks the city and engages in a dramatic showdown with Nova, suggesting she’s likely a critical antagonist, although her exact role is currently unknown. 

The Parasite Mutant trailer does show us a good deal of combat. The system is based on an ‘Active Time Chain’ (ATC) system inspired by Square Enix’s Active Time Battle system, and involves command actions triggered by saving up enough ATC. Simpler commands, such as Melee and Shoot, likely only require one full ATC gauge to use, while more flashy attacks, like the glowing sword hand attack seen at the end of the trailer, require balancing risk with reward to save up for a more costly action.

Similar to Parasite Eve, players can move while charging ATC, dodging enemy attacks while waiting for a chance to strike. The 3-Segment chain system is more speculative, but from what’s shown, it is safe to assume this refers to locking onto enemies. Similar to Parasite Eve, a polygonal grid spreads out from Nova when attacking, which will likely determine the area of effect for moves and lock-ons.

Parasite Mutant price predictions 

There is currently no official price, but a few reasonable predictions can be made. The last IceSitruuna game launched at $25 (£20). That said, the scale and ambition of Parasite Mutant are more likely to determine the price than the studio’s previous release. It is possible it could launch at a similar price to Clair Obscur Expedition 33 at $50 (£42); however, this remains purely speculative until we receive official confirmation.

Parasite Mutant platforms

At this time, Parasite Mutant is confirmed for PS5 and PC. This double slate is only at release, so depending on sales and demand, we could conceivably see IceSitruuna port the game over to Nintendo’s Switch consoles and Microsoft’s family of Xbox machines.

How will Parasite Mutant compare to Parasite Eve? 

The Parasite Eve game is a cult classic for good reason. It takes the atmosphere, grit, and story of a survival horror game while challenging gameplay norms in a truly unforgettable way. The moment-to-moment action on offer in Parasite Mutant builds on this legacy, blending RPG mechanics with survival horror, real-time combat, exploration, and character customization. 

The main character has also drawn heavy comparisons to the main character of Parasite Eve, though how similar they will be remains to be seen. All the signs suggest Parasite Mutant is lining up to deliver on the hope of many fans for a spiritual successor. 

Although a CRT filter is a novel way to tap into fan nostalgia, for Parasite Mutant to be a faithful Parasite Eve revival, it needs to capture the atmosphere and horror accurately. The monsters shown are intriguing, but how it will feel to face them and what broader conspiracy they are tied to is equally important. 

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