Putrefaction places players in the role of an elite-force member investigating a disease that causes horrifying bodily transformations. The mission begins at an abandoned mountain base, where the operative must locate an underground facility and uncover the truth behind the outbreak. That investigation gives the shooter a horror premise to frame its combat.
The game takes inspiration from old-school shooters and emphasizes fast-paced action, varied enemies with different behaviours, and an arsenal spanning pistols, rifles, and exotic, mystical weapons. Boss battles add large-scale encounters. Health does not regenerate, so players search for med packs, a design choice that makes health management part of the action rather than an automatic recovery system.
Putrefaction has two modes, campaign and survival, and is listed as single-player. Together, horror imagery, brisk combat, enemy variety, and med-pack searching give the game its distinctive old-school shooter character.
