Different kind of extraction – why this game tops the Steam charts

Extraction games don't have to be first-person shooters. Quasimorph is proving exactly that, currently holding the #1 spot in Steam's Popular New Releases chart at the time of writing. Developed by Russian indie studio Magnum Scriptum, the game officially left Early Access on July 31 after nearly three years and is now available in version 1.0.

At the strategic level, players take command of a private military company operating in space. They accept shady contracts from powerful corporations and deploy cloned mercenaries to space stations, research facilities, and derelict ships. During missions, players control a single mercenary whose objective is simple: fight, loot, and extract before it's too late. While it may not look like one at first glance, Quasimorph is a true extraction game. Escape alive and you keep everything you've collected. Die, and you lose it all. Successful missions reward players with new weapons, armor, and resources that can be used to recruit and upgrade additional mercenaries.

That’s why Quasimorph is so popular right now

Several factors appear to be driving the game's success. Quasimorph delivers the same high-stakes tension that defines extraction shooters. Unlike genre heavyweights such as Escape from Tarkov, however, it swaps the first-person perspective for an isometric, roguelike-style top-down view and features turn-based combat. One of its most distinctive mechanics is the titular Quasimorphosis. The longer a mission lasts, the more demonic entities begin to invade reality. As a result, even though combat is turn-based, players are constantly under time pressure. Spend too long hunting for loot, and you risk losing the entire mission. It's a fresh take on the extraction formula, and players seem to be responding well to it.

On Steam, Quasimorph has accumulated more than 6,400 reviews, with 83% of them being positive. Most of those reviews were posted during the game's Early Access period. According to players, the extraction roguelike offers a deep tactical combat system that feels highly rewarding, while the loot progression loop is also frequently praised. The biggest criticism is its steep difficulty curve and demanding learning process. Players who want to try it themselves can pick up Quasimorph for $16.74 instead of $24.99 thanks to a 33% launch discount running until August 14. With its Steam Deck Verified status, the game is also well suited for portable play.