Become, the upcoming 3D platformer from indie developer Valentin Wirth, is a bildungsroman with a twist. Instead of a story about a young person’s moral journey through adolescence, it’s a game about a sperm cell’s physical journey to beat millions of others in a race for the ultimate prize: the opportunity to fertilize an egg and create life itself. It’s a tale of survival, growth, ingenuity, and self-reflection set inside the human reproductive system. It’s a bildongsroman, folks.
Since its announcement, Become has garnered attention (thanks, Dexerto) for its playful treatment of its subject matter and fun visuals. The game’s trailer opens with text that reads “Deep inside the balls” in a Finding Nemo-coded font, and features sperm cells swimming through lush, undersea-like environs while sporting stylish accessories such as cowboy hats and shark costumes. Become‘s Steam page describes the game as a “short single player, third person adventure” in which you must “learn, adapt, and grow stronger as you explore the fascinating but dangerous microcosm of the human reproductive system.”
Based on the early build showcased in the trailer, that translates to a skill progression system with evocatively (and provocatively) named upgrades like “Busty Bouncer” and “Got Milk.” We’ll leave it up to you to imagine what bonuses those skills might impart on your lil’ guy.
Wirth is a first-time solo developer with credits in the cinematic and art departments for games like Mafia III and Crime Boss: Rockay City. Become is set to arrive on PC sometime in 2026, “If I don’t f*ck it up,” Wirth added in the trailer. Hopefully, both the game and the sperm stay on track for release.