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Vermis
Vermis III - Old Curses & Buried Horrors
Vermis III is the third of an artbook series by the artist Plastiboo.
A pure act of world-building inspired by old dungeon crawler games.
It could be considered an official guide of a game that doesn't exist, since it's not a game at all!
What will be left of you at the end of your journeys?
A pure act of world-building inspired by old dungeon crawler games.
It could be considered an official guide of a game that doesn't exist, since it's not a game at all!
What will be left of you at the end of your journeys?
192 pages, Paperback
Published December 1, 2025
22 people are currently reading
91 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
April 13, 2026
I think this is my favorite Vermis yet
March 13, 2026
Que le den a Plastiboo un juego para guionizar ya.
April 17, 2026
Vermis fue un experimento rompedor y muy gratificante de leer, que a menudo se define como la guía de un videojuego inventado. Si así fuera, hablaríamos de un juego de 8 o 16 bit: sólido pero básico, satisfactorio pero limitado. Establece los pilares del mundo con la promesa de algo más grande y mejor.
En Vermis II el autor se olvidaba de esta fórmula para dar rienda suelta a su imaginación, lo que generaba un problema de cansancio, de repetición. Al no haber una línea clara detrás, resultaba artificial, como un artbook torpemente remendado en forma de novela gráfica.
Y aquí es donde llega Vermis III. El tercer y último tomo se consagra como el libro definitivo de Plastiboo hasta la fecha, recuperando el lore original de Vermis I y lo mejor del flojo Vermis II (su evolución artística) para entregarle al lector una auténtica maravilla de fantasía oscura. Los diferentes escenarios y criaturas son una locura, con el gran acierto de introducir personajes inofensivos y ambientes más cotidianos como una casa familiar o una posada. La historia respira de manera natural y, al estar construida sobre un universo ya cimentado, se siente sólida.
Una obra de nicho, pero fundamental.
En Vermis II el autor se olvidaba de esta fórmula para dar rienda suelta a su imaginación, lo que generaba un problema de cansancio, de repetición. Al no haber una línea clara detrás, resultaba artificial, como un artbook torpemente remendado en forma de novela gráfica.
Y aquí es donde llega Vermis III. El tercer y último tomo se consagra como el libro definitivo de Plastiboo hasta la fecha, recuperando el lore original de Vermis I y lo mejor del flojo Vermis II (su evolución artística) para entregarle al lector una auténtica maravilla de fantasía oscura. Los diferentes escenarios y criaturas son una locura, con el gran acierto de introducir personajes inofensivos y ambientes más cotidianos como una casa familiar o una posada. La historia respira de manera natural y, al estar construida sobre un universo ya cimentado, se siente sólida.
Una obra de nicho, pero fundamental.
February 28, 2026
WE ARE SO FRIGGIN BACK.
I wrote a pretty scathing review of vermis II as I felt it broke too much of the solid design and structure of vermis I (character classes at end of book vs beginning). All of my complaints have been addressed at the same time as the entire experience has been expanded upon. A truly wonderful book.
I wrote a pretty scathing review of vermis II as I felt it broke too much of the solid design and structure of vermis I (character classes at end of book vs beginning). All of my complaints have been addressed at the same time as the entire experience has been expanded upon. A truly wonderful book.
March 9, 2026
Vermis I > Vermis III > Vermis II (which is still awesome piece of a graphic novel)
Reading third Vermis gave me the feeling being closest to actually playing a video game out of whole trilogy. It’s not the best one, but it stands out because of this game-simulation quality, with many different „levels” and presenting outcomes of choices we can „make”. Art is superb and it also gave me the strongest urge to run Vermis-like ttrpg game. Coolest stuff
Reading third Vermis gave me the feeling being closest to actually playing a video game out of whole trilogy. It’s not the best one, but it stands out because of this game-simulation quality, with many different „levels” and presenting outcomes of choices we can „make”. Art is superb and it also gave me the strongest urge to run Vermis-like ttrpg game. Coolest stuff
May 8, 2026
I think this one is my least favourite Vermis, which is to say, it's still amazing. I know I'm in minority here, but I think I do like the Vermis II style of graphic novel more than the pastiche of a game manual of Vermis I and III.
I also think that the third one has less interesting and inspiring ideas and locations than the previous ones. There's much more straight morbid, gorey and full on body horror elements than the mysterious, very dark and scary, but still amazingly wonderful beasts, dungeons, locations and artifacts of previous installments.
Artwork quality is just as great as the previous entries, if not even a little bit better. Overall another fantastic book, which unfortunately didn't captivate me as much as the previous ones.
8.5/10
Listened to official Vermis soundtrack while reading
I also think that the third one has less interesting and inspiring ideas and locations than the previous ones. There's much more straight morbid, gorey and full on body horror elements than the mysterious, very dark and scary, but still amazingly wonderful beasts, dungeons, locations and artifacts of previous installments.
Artwork quality is just as great as the previous entries, if not even a little bit better. Overall another fantastic book, which unfortunately didn't captivate me as much as the previous ones.
8.5/10
Listened to official Vermis soundtrack while reading
April 27, 2026
Another bizarre trip into Vermis - the whole package is just perfect.
May 9, 2026
reading the latter half of this during a thunderstorm felt thematically apt
i will gladly and enthusiastically read however many of these books plastiboo is willing to make. the art and world building remains incredible
i will gladly and enthusiastically read however many of these books plastiboo is willing to make. the art and world building remains incredible
March 3, 2026
Third time’s the charm for artist Plastiboo’s Vermis series. Not that the first two volumes were bad, but Vermis III: Old Curses and Buried Horrors is certainly the best rendition yet of the “guide to a video game that never existed” concept. Two things elevate this one above its predecessors, the first being that it contains the best art yet. It’s striking when you compare the artwork in this book to the first Vermis volume, as Plastiboo’s skills have markedly improved. This third work also has more varied art than its two predecessors. Did I love every single piece? No, but Vermis III contains literally hundreds of pieces of artwork, so this is to be expected. On average the art is quite impressive.
Secondly, Vermis III is a much more substantial work than the prior two books. It’s the longest by page count, but more importantly the standard page of Vermis III is more information dense (than Vermis II in particular, which was rather thin). While it is still nowhere near as packed with content as real game guides were, this third volume is a closer simulacrum, and embraces the idea of being a game guide more so than the first two books. I was initially concerned that there would be no map artwork in this third installment, but there are a few such pieces in the book’s back half. I would have preferred even more, but I expect they are a particularly difficult thing for Plastiboo to make, so I understand the dearth of them.
While Vermis III is the best yet in the series, its story is still quite flawed. That’s actually not too bad of a weakness for a work like this to have, since so much of Vermis is about atmosphere and letting you imagine its world, with the plot therefore being comparatively unimportant. Regardless, there is still a narrative in Vermis III, and it’s underwhelming. While the interstitial scenes with the omens were intriguing, in the end they did not seem to matter, meaning that Vermis III’s overarching story ends up largely consisting of the work’s opening few pages and its final few pages. Since Plastiboo the book’s ending point feels entirely arbitrary. Maybe there’s more to decipher that I just didn’t catch, but I doubt it.
Again, though, a weak narrative does not hamstring a work like Vermis III like it would many other books. The flaw is more than counterbalanced by the art, and the atmospheric world that art creates. Vermis is a fun location to return to, especially because this visit was the most substantive one yet. While there are connections to Vermis I and II, all the ones I noticed were minor, so if a guide to a nonexistent video game sounds intriguing to you, then this third entry is probably the best volume to try. As the strongest work in the series so far I rate this one 3.5/5 and round up.
Secondly, Vermis III is a much more substantial work than the prior two books. It’s the longest by page count, but more importantly the standard page of Vermis III is more information dense (than Vermis II in particular, which was rather thin). While it is still nowhere near as packed with content as real game guides were, this third volume is a closer simulacrum, and embraces the idea of being a game guide more so than the first two books. I was initially concerned that there would be no map artwork in this third installment, but there are a few such pieces in the book’s back half. I would have preferred even more, but I expect they are a particularly difficult thing for Plastiboo to make, so I understand the dearth of them.
While Vermis III is the best yet in the series, its story is still quite flawed. That’s actually not too bad of a weakness for a work like this to have, since so much of Vermis is about atmosphere and letting you imagine its world, with the plot therefore being comparatively unimportant. Regardless, there is still a narrative in Vermis III, and it’s underwhelming. While the interstitial scenes with the omens were intriguing, in the end they did not seem to matter, meaning that Vermis III’s overarching story ends up largely consisting of the work’s opening few pages and its final few pages. Since Plastiboo the book’s ending point feels entirely arbitrary. Maybe there’s more to decipher that I just didn’t catch, but I doubt it.
Again, though, a weak narrative does not hamstring a work like Vermis III like it would many other books. The flaw is more than counterbalanced by the art, and the atmospheric world that art creates. Vermis is a fun location to return to, especially because this visit was the most substantive one yet. While there are connections to Vermis I and II, all the ones I noticed were minor, so if a guide to a nonexistent video game sounds intriguing to you, then this third entry is probably the best volume to try. As the strongest work in the series so far I rate this one 3.5/5 and round up.
March 3, 2026
Plastiboo si riconferma un eccezionale creatore di mondi e atmosfere, che grazie alla sua arte assumono una qualità tattile. Dalle pagine di Vermis 3 senti le esalazioni di paludi e catacombe oscure, il peso di ossa porose e la viscosità di liquami innominabili. Rispetto ai due precedenti inoltre crea l'immagine di un mondo più ampio, l'impressione di varie terre d'incubo che risultano fisica durante la lettura, ma non perdono mai la loro ineffabilità da sogno che stiamo dimenticando dopo esserci svegliati.
March 7, 2026
Maybe this just feels old hat by now, as I've already read Godhusk, Vermis I, and Vermis II, but I didn't like this one nearly as much. I think Godhusk has been Plastiboo's standout work. Finally, I think with Vermis III, I will call myself content with his work, and purchase/read no more, enjoying his artwork from Instagram posts only. I did not read the majority of the words in this one, as the art is the most interesting part of these works, the text is more or less akin to From Software Souls flavour text, but more bland.
March 3, 2026
Third installment in the series of "guide books for dark fantasy videogames that never existed." While the novelty of the concept has a little bit worn off, the quality is not only high, the artwork and structure of the book have been improved from the previous entries. The charm and effect of the first Vermis will probably remain unmatched (despite the aforementioned developments), but this third book proves that Plastiboo still has it.
April 12, 2026
I loved all the Vermis releases (including Godhusk), but this is my favorite by a wide margin. 2 and Godhusk had moved a bit away from 1's game guide for a video game that never existed format which caused me to like them a bit less, but 3 returns to form and with an added emphasis on horror and bestiary sections which makes it the king of the series (so far). The art book to beat for the year.
May 8, 2026
Plastiboo sforna un nuovo capolavoro della serie di Vermis, buttando il lettore in un oppressivo videogioco fantasy mai esistito.
A livello di artwork continua a rimanere incredibile, per quanto riguarda le idee devo dire che l'ho trovato un pelo meno ispirato dei volumi precedenti, ma rimane comunque un prodotto di altissima qualità.
A livello di artwork continua a rimanere incredibile, per quanto riguarda le idee devo dire che l'ho trovato un pelo meno ispirato dei volumi precedenti, ma rimane comunque un prodotto di altissima qualità.
March 20, 2026
I completely love it to pieces, but I'm afraid I'm giving it three stars but I was barely able to read it because of the main font used and the small size... 5 stars for the art and ideas, 3 for the edition...
May 8, 2026
Another fantastic trove of languishing tales and forgotten horrors. As with the previous volumes, an immense amount to pour over and discover within these pages.
“What will be left of you at the end of your journeys?”
“What will be left of you at the end of your journeys?”
February 28, 2026
so much fun. plastiboo make 20 more of these pleez
March 8, 2026
weakest of the three, but the art is stellar as always.
March 16, 2026
This was so good it put me off eating meat for 48 hours.
April 19, 2026
There’s nothing like Vermis. It’s like wandering through a dark, oddly cozy, distantly nostalgic dream. It never gets old, but was also never new.
April 30, 2026
Maybe the best one yet. Surreal, atmospheric, ceaselessly creative... an incredible achievement.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews