From the minds behind the *Shadowrun* trilogy and *BattleTech* comes something far darker. Graft is a post-cyberpunk survival horror RPG where survival doesn’t just mean scavenging supplies—it means grafting enemy body parts onto your own body to stay alive. Every new limb, eye, or neural plug brings power, but also memories and instincts that aren’t yours. In this twisted world, the more you adapt, the less human you become.
The grafting system turns upgrades into terrifying choices
At the center of Graft lies its most disturbing idea: becoming stronger by taking parts from enemies. After defeating a foe, players can choose to rip out their limbs or organs and attach them directly to their own bodies. These grafts offer new powers—maybe a clawed hand that slices through metal or an optical implant that sees hidden paths—but they come at a cost.
Each body part holds more than function. It carries leftover memories and desires from whoever it belonged to. Players might suddenly crave raw meat or feel flashes of fear when approaching certain places—not because of anything they did, but because of what that graft remembers. Over time, as more parts are added and original ones replaced, it becomes harder to tell where the player ends and the monster begins.
This creates a slow-burning identity crisis. The “Ship of Theseus” problem—if every piece of something is replaced, is it still the same thing? In Graft, it’s not just a thought experiment; it’s gameplay. The character’s form affects how survivors react to them. A friendly face may turn hostile after seeing the grotesque mix of limbs stitched together with wire and bone.
There’s no reset button here. Every upgrade changes more than stats—it alters who the character is becoming in both appearance and story. Some NPCs might refuse help; others might be drawn to what they see as strength or madness.
A brutal mix of survival horror combat and tactical RPG depth
Combat in Graft isn’t about fast reflexes—it’s about smart decisions under pressure. Battles unfold in a top-down isometric view that rewards planning and careful movement. Ammunition is scarce, weapons degrade quickly, and enemies are deadly up close. Picking fights wisely becomes just as important as winning them.
The grafts change how battles play out. One fight might require a heavy arm for smashing through armor; another might need stealth tools fused into your legs for quiet movement through vents. But swapping in new parts means giving up old ones—and possibly losing abilities already earned.
Exploration is just as dangerous as combat. The Arc—a broken space station large enough to hold entire cities—is filled with hazards both physical and mental. There are chasms where gravity shifts without warning, tunnels that change shape behind you, and techno-catacombs filled with blinking relics from forgotten times.
Finding safe paths takes effort. Some routes open only to those who’ve grafted specific tools into their bodies—like magnetized feet for walking on ceilings or sonar implants for detecting false walls. But again, these upgrades come at a cost: maybe paranoia sets in after adding a predator’s ear—or maybe trust vanishes between your party members once you start looking like the things they fear.
Your story depends on who—and what—you become
Graft goes beyond basic RPG leveling systems by tying progression directly to personal transformation. Relationships are fragile here, shaped not only by dialogue choices but by how monstrous or human players choose to remain.
Builds aren’t just about stats—they’re reflections of identity. A character who leans into speed-based claws might alienate survivors who view them as beasts. One who takes utility-focused implants might find allies respecting their control over machinery but fearing their detachment from emotion.
Every decision matters: whether to help someone escape or leave them behind; whether to share supplies or hoard them; whether to remove a painful graft before it takes over—or keep it because its power outweighs its danger.
During one moment shown in early footage, a survivor pleads with the player not to use “those arms”—the same ones that once belonged to her dead brother. She recognizes his tattoos on the skin now attached to someone else’s frame, sparking horror and grief all at once.
The Arc is falling apart—and it wants you with it
The setting of Graft is more than just spooky window dressing—it drives every part of gameplay and narrative forward. The Arc was once home to biomechanically enhanced citizens living under complex AI control systems meant to maintain peace through precision engineering and social order.
Now it’s chaos incarnate: giant machines churn endlessly in forgotten chambers; failed experiments roam freely; abominations built from flesh and steel crawl through service tunnels whispering broken code like prayers gone wrong.
This post-cyberpunk nightmare blends high-tech decay with pure dread. It isn’t clean chrome surfaces—it’s rusted walls pulsing with nervous systems once human now long lost to madness.
The Arc feels alive in all the worst ways possible—watchful, shifting, hungry for memories it can’t process anymore.
A game built for fans who want more than fear—they want meaning
Graft isn’t content with cheap scares or flashy set pieces—it digs deep into what makes survival horror tick: tension that never lets up; choices that hurt long after they’re made; characters caught between hope and mutation.
It delivers psychological unease not through monsters jumping out from corners but through questions players ask themselves after each victory: Is this really worth it? Am I still me?
This game speaks directly to fans of *Pathologic*, *Darkest Dungeon*, or *Disco Elysium*—games where character development means living with consequences rather than grinding numbers upward until nothing threatens you anymore.
The team at Harebrained knows how to build worlds where every corner tells a story and every encounter leaves scars both visible and hidden beneath pixels thick with atmosphere.
When does Graft come out?
As of late 2024, no official release date has been announced for Graft. The game is confirmed for PC via Steam and Epic Games Store and can already be wishlisted on both platforms.
A haunting story trailer was revealed during the Horror Game Awards 2025, showing off glimpses of its decaying world and twisted characters—but no launch window came alongside it yet.
A legacy studio returns with something truly unsettling
Harebrained may be changing names but not direction—they continue pushing boundaries in RPG design by adding layers most studios shy away from exploring altogether. With *Shadowrun*, they showed how strong storytelling can reshape cyberpunk tropes; with *BattleTech*, they brought tactical depth front-and-center without losing emotional stakes.
*Graft* builds on everything they’ve learned—but turns down any remaining safety net until what’s left feels like raw exposure wrapped in horror-laced ambition.
If survival means becoming unrecognizable—physically or emotionally—how far would anyone go?
F.A.Q.
What type of game is Graft?
Graft is a post-cyberpunk survival horror RPG developed by Harebrained. It combines elements of survival horror and tactical RPGs, where players must navigate a decaying space station and graft enemy body parts onto their own bodies to survive.
When does Graft come out?
As of late 2024, no official release date has been announced for Graft. The game is confirmed for PC via Steam and Epic Games Store, and it can be wishlisted on both platforms.
What platforms is Graft available on?
Graft is confirmed to be available on PC, with distribution through Steam and the Epic Games Store.
Does Graft have multiplayer features?
There is no mention of multiplayer features in the available information about Graft. The game is focused on a single-player experience involving survival, exploration, and tactical decision-making.
What is the unique grafting system in Graft?
The grafting system in Graft allows players to rip body parts from defeated enemies and attach them to their own bodies. This not only provides new abilities and powers but also brings psychological consequences, such as inherited memories and instincts from the previous owners, affecting the player’s identity over time.
Is Graft worth it for fans of survival horror games?
Graft is likely worth it for fans of survival horror games who enjoy psychological depth and strategic gameplay. With its unique grafting system, atmospheric setting, and emphasis on identity and transformation, it promises a compelling experience for those interested in the genre.
Does Graft have a strong story element?
Yes, Graft features a strong story element that explores themes of identity and transformation. The narrative is woven into gameplay decisions, with the player’s choices and the grafting of enemy parts influencing personal metamorphosis and relationships with NPCs.
