Plague masks, dark alleys, and the steady drip of medieval medicine—PST Games is digging up a strange but gripping past with Plague Doctor: Life in Pestilence. This upcoming adventure and simulation game puts players in the boots of a plague doctor trying to survive and heal during one of history’s darkest times. With deep moral choices, detailed medical gameplay, and a hauntingly real world, it promises to be both chilling and fascinating.
From unknown quack to trusted healer in a grim medieval world
The setting is as bleak as it gets: a medieval town drowning in disease. Rats scurry through muddy streets. People whisper behind doors. The air smells of rot and burning herbs. Into this mess steps the player—a masked figure with shaky knowledge, a few tools, and one goal: stop the plague or at least survive it.
Players begin their journey as an untrusted outsider, seen by townsfolk as just another desperate charlatan. But by curing patients, crafting remedies, and staying alive through endless nights, they can rise through the ranks to become a respected healer. Or not. The game doesn’t hold your hand or force happy endings. It simply asks: what will you do when everything is falling apart?
The historical atmosphere pulls no punches. The world feels lived-in—rusty tools on wooden tables, stained parchment maps, crying children hiding behind shutters. It’s not glamorous; it’s real. That gritty realism pulls players deeper into its fevered grip.
Scalpels, salves, and survival: how gameplay brings medicine to life
The heart of Plague Doctor beats through its hands-on medical gameplay. Players will gather herbs from forests or markets—assuming they’re not quarantined—and mix them into tonics back at their makeshift clinic. Each remedy must be brewed carefully, using ingredients that might be rare or risky to collect.</
Surgeries bring even more tension. Whether it’s draining infected wounds or removing rotten limbs (yes, really), every procedure is a high-stakes puzzle. And with limited supplies and time ticking away, mistakes can cost lives—or reputations.
Clinic management adds another layer of challenge. The player must expand rooms, upgrade tools, and decide which cases to take on each day. Do too much too fast, and resources run dry. Do too little, and trust fades like fog in the morning.
The game’s survival loop is tight but rewarding. Every night survived earns experience points that unlock new tools or skills—from better bandages to faster brewing techniques. These upgrades slowly turn players from guesswork medics into confident lifesavers… if they make it that far.
Save souls or let the city burn? The game’s moral system pulls no punches
Now here’s the kicker: being good at medicine isn’t enough. Players face choices that dig deep into ethics and morality.
Should you use all your herbs on one important patient or spread them thinly among many? Do you risk your own life entering infected zones for rare ingredients? Or charge high prices to fund better equipment while turning away the poor? These decisions aren’t just flavor text—they change how characters react and how the story unfolds.
The most jarring choice comes down to philosophy itself: do you uphold the Hippocratic Oath and try to save every life? Or give in to despair and let nature take its course? As each death stacks up like firewood in winter, those choices weigh heavier.
This system gives Plague Doctor strong replay value. One playthrough might see a noble healer struggling against impossible odds; another might follow a hardened survivor making cruel calls just to live another day.
Play alone or bring friends—surviving pestilence goes multiplayer
Image: PST Games
For those who prefer company during apocalyptic outbreaks, Plague Doctor supports cooperative play for up to four players. This isn’t just tacked-on multiplayer—it reshapes how strategies unfold.
One player might focus on ingredient gathering while another handles surgeries back at base camp. Teamwork becomes vital when trying to keep clinics stocked and patients alive across different districts of town.
This mode also adds social weight to tough decisions. Imagine debating whether it’s worth saving someone when you only have one dose left—and your teammate disagrees strongly. Suddenly it’s not just survival; it’s negotiation under pressure.
Still prefer solitude? Solo play works just as well for those who want full control over their choices without outside input messing with their plan (or lack thereof). Whether flying solo or riding out the storm with friends, the plague waits for no one.
Smooth camera angles and slower pace make things easier for everyone
PST Games hasn’t forgotten about comfort either—Plague Doctor includes camera options that reduce motion sickness risks for sensitive players. And unlike many simulation games that rely on fast reflexes or timed button presses, this one leans more on planning than panicking.
This means those who struggle with quick-time events can still fully enjoy performing surgeries or crafting remedies without worrying about failing due to split-second inputs.
The open-world setup also allows free navigation between city districts—from crowded markets to rural outskirts—giving players room to explore without feeling boxed in by tight corridors or checkpoints.
The social dynamics bring flavor too; rumors spread depending on your actions; townspeople may avoid—or seek—you out based on past treatment results. One careless misdiagnosis could haunt you later when trust matters most.
When does Plague Doctor: Life in Pestilence come out?
Plague Doctor: Life in Pestilence is planned for Windows, Mac, and Linux platforms—but there’s no confirmed release date yet beyond “Coming soon.” Steam Deck users may want to hold off hope for now since compatibility hasn’t been confirmed either.
A sneak peek into disease-fighting days gone by
This isn’t PST Games’ first dive into dark themes—but Plague Doctor might be its most grounded yet thanks to its historical setting mixed with survival mechanics that actually feel like work instead of busywork.
A few months ago during an early demo event online, someone watched two friends fumble through surgery together—one reading instructions aloud while the other tried (and failed) not to drop tools mid-operation because they forgot how forceps worked under pressure. That clumsy chaos didn’t ruin immersion—it made it all more believable somehow.
If games like Frostpunk left players sweating over survival choices—or if titles like Papers Please scratched an itch for tough moral calls wrapped in unique settings—then this plague-ridden tale might hit all the right nerves… ideally not literally though.
The world may be burning around them—but can today’s players do better than yesterday’s doctors?
F.A.Q.
When does Plague Doctor: Life in Pestilence come out?
The release date for Plague Doctor: Life in Pestilence has not been confirmed yet. It is planned for Windows, Mac, and Linux platforms, but there’s no specific date beyond “Coming soon.”
What platforms is Plague Doctor: Life in Pestilence available on?
Plague Doctor: Life in Pestilence will be available on Windows, Mac, and Linux. However, compatibility with the Steam Deck has not yet been confirmed.
What type of game is Plague Doctor: Life in Pestilence?
Plague Doctor: Life in Pestilence is an adventure and simulation game where players assume the role of a plague doctor during a medieval plague outbreak, focusing on medical gameplay, moral choices, and survival.
Does Plague Doctor: Life in Pestilence have cooperative multiplayer?
Yes, Plague Doctor: Life in Pestilence supports cooperative multiplayer for up to four players, allowing for shared experiences and strategies in managing the plague.
Does Plague Doctor: Life in Pestilence feature crafting mechanics?
Yes, the game includes crafting mechanics where players gather herbs and ingredients to brew remedies. This is a key part of the core gameplay loop, simulating the challenges of medieval medicine.
Is Plague Doctor: Life in Pestilence worth playing?
Plague Doctor: Life in Pestilence offers a compelling blend of simulation and adventure with a focus on ethical decision-making, historical immersion, and cooperative gameplay. Its unique setting and gameplay mechanics make it an interesting choice for fans of historically grounded simulation games.
Does Plague Doctor: Life in Pestilence have a strong moral choice system?
Yes, the game features a strong moral choice system that challenges players to make ethical decisions, such as whether to uphold the Hippocratic Oath or make difficult choices for survival, impacting the story and gameplay.
