Host Matter
A downloadable game for Windows
Host Matter is a short, atmospheric first-person horror game about an unsettling encounter with alien life.
Features
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Average playtime: ~15 minutes
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Retro-inspired sci-fi visuals
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Perform eerie scientific experiments on unknown organism
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Immersive, chilling atmosphere and haunting sound design
About
You’re a lab worker called in on urgent assignment. Upon arriving at a remote research facility, you're instructed to carry out a series of experiments on a classified specimen — but something feels off.
Game, 3D models and music by lapkami.
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Development log
- In-game PC breakdown91 days ago
- Small updates after first feedbackAug 17, 2025
Comments
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Awesome little game with great atmosphere and a very creepy looking monster. Loved it! Great work.
SPOILERS!!
The gameplay was pretty much spot on. The tests were involved enough to occupy you without taking up too much brainpower, and the environment was great. The distant light was super cool, but i feel the subsequent scares just weren't nearly as impactful. I have a special gripe with the jumpscare in the closet, as i felt that if the creature had already gotten into the room, the fact it hadnt killed me yet took away the dread. I think more scares based outside of the room (a figure in the hallway just obscured enough to make you wonder if it is a figure or not or something hidden outside far off in the woods or peaking out behind a shipping container, just some more subtle scares) wouldve helped sell the idea of a threat slowly encroaching towards your "protective" room. Still, great concept and very good execution! Just felt there was a lot of untapped potential.
Thank you for playing and for the thorough review! Actually, there’s an event somewhere around the second task, when the creature is peeking out from inside the container, you might have heard scratching noises, but didn’t look out the window when it happened. And yeah, I had a vision for those kinds of scares, especially the one with the creature in the woods, but at the time I hadn’t figured out a way to make it impactful enough. And about the jumpscare, yeah, I know, I know, I just had to put one in :)
epic. i love getting 'employed' by the job you made or us. these shady jobs are my favorite!
Host Matter was 1st video in my 2 scary games
Fantastic concept, with pacing controlled through the "tests", looking and sounding great. Only complaint I might have is that it could have used a bit more, story-wise. Perhaps more e-mails with backstory, maybe a couple more tasks so that we can have exposition, something like that. Still, a great horror short, definitely worth its time. Keep up the good work! Cheers!
This was really cool. Nice creepy atmosphere with some interesting tasks to do.
Hi I played your game and the atmosphere was on point a most of the time, the one thing though is I noticed a bunch of similarities with your game to another I've played called Carbon Steel by Mike Klubnika, same aesthetic, eerily similar gameplay mechanics with small twists but very different setting, did you take inspiration from the aforementioned game?
Man, we need more Sci-Fi themed horror games like this, awesome job on this one dev! Thanks so much :)
thank you for playing! glad you enjoyed it. i agree there should be more horror in this genre
An absolute banger of a game. I was feeling tense the entire time. I can't wait to see more from you!
thank you!
thank you!
The atmosphere in this game is SO good. I found myself distracted just by how pretty and well made the environment is. The alien is really unnerving and everything is insanely well-made!!!!
thank you so much! im happy you enjoyed it
thank you for sticking with it, i appreciate your determination haha
I got so into mixing things that when the horror happened I panicked. good game 5/5
thank you for playing!
nice game
thanks!
thank you ;3
what a spoooky game :3
thank you!
A very enjoyable game. I love retro atmospheric games, adds an extra dimension to the horror aspect. I think I would have enjoyed a bit more formula brewing, other than that, great! Looking forward to your next project. Please see gameplay below and consider subscribing if new:)
thank you for playing
Wow I absolutely loved this game! The surreal post-apocalyptic like atmosphere fits really perfectly - like being the only human left in the world, doing everything you can to survive. I really hope you will continue developing this game and add more to it, expanding the story in a way; it's all your decision in the end, I'd absolutely love to see it. 🤗
Wishing you all the best! ❤️
thank you for playing and for the review, glad you enjoyed it!
Nice game overall with some decent puzzles. Kinda wish you scared us a bit more with the alien. but overall nice job.
Here's my channel for other games I have played. https://www.youtube.com/@Levont
Thank you for playing, i tried my best to scare you all 🫡
Greaaat Short Alien Horror Game
Thank you for playing!
I'm horror games fans and recommended this game! Great job Lapkami devs!
Thank you for playing and making a video, glad you enjoyed it
Anytime! can't wait for your next game projects, good luck Lapkami devs 👍🏻
Hi there, I loved this experience. The premise, the mechanics, the graphics, but I didn’t understand how to advance. I didn’t know you had to ADD the bases and elements together to get the mixing time. It would be good if you could clarify this for future players. Honestly, I got stuck, but I didn’t give up and figured everything out until I reached the end (including the fact that I got stuck and didn’t take the sample, so I had to restart the game, lol). But since I loved everything mentioned above, I stayed until the end, and it was worth it. Congratulations! A very underrated game, one of my favorites! Maybe I’ll upload a walkthrough to help future players.
Best regards, Kyra Egon
Thanks a lot for your effort and kind words, it really means a lot to me. This is my first game, so I’m still figuring things out. I’ll think about how I can make it easier to understand for the player
FYI, I uploaded a new version with a slightly improved in-game PC UI and added a hint in the room.
Hi! I tried playing Host Matter, but I’m a bit confused and not sure what I’m supposed to do in the game. Could you explain the main goal or what actions I should take? I really like the atmosphere, but I want to understand how to play it better. Thanks!
Thanks for checking out the game and taking the time to figure it out! Have you tried looking at the in-game PC? It contains both an instructions list and a to-do list to guide you. In short, here’s how to solve the puzzle:
Extract the correct sample from the machine in the middle of the room (check the to-do list for the current sample).
Insert the sample into the mixer (the machine to the left of the in-game PC).
Determine the suitable base for the current sample (see the base reference guide on the PC) and add it into the mixer.
Calculate the correct mixing time. The timings are listed on the PC - you’ll just need to do a bit of simple math. :)
Store the mixed result in the second room. If everything is correct, the next task will unlock.
Spoiler for solution:
If someone reading this is still stuck, mixing times in order are: 3, 7, 5, 9
Thanks for the tips! I’ll give it another try and see how it goes.