The notoriously troubled history of Hellraiser video games has been a long, painful slog, with cancelled projects and busted promises stretching back nearly four decades. But Saber Interactive’s Hellraiser: Revival might just be the game to finally break the curse, and I’m not just saying that because I’ve been numbed to disappointment by years of subpar licensed games. Having spent a half hour with the game at Summer Game Fest, I’m cautiously optimistic that this one might actually deliver on its twisted promises.
Forty years of false starts and cancelled games have shown that adapting Hellraiser into a video game is no easy task. The franchise’s unique blend of obsession, desire, and gore doesn’t lend itself easily to the usual horror game formulas, and it’s clear that many developers have been intimidated by the challenge. But Saber Interactive seems to be taking a different approach, embracing the darker, more unsettling aspects of the franchise and running with them.
A Glimmer of Hope
The gameplay demo I played dropped me into a twisted, BDSM-flavored cultist enclave, complete with leather, latex, and more than a few nods to the franchise’s iconic style. Mechanically, the game leans hard into Resident Evil Village, with a focus on resource scarcity and careful exploration. It’s a wise decision, as Village is one of the sharper action horror games of recent years, and Revival’s take on the formula shows a lot of promise. The Genesis Configuration, Revival’s version of the Lament Configuration puzzle box, is a highlight, offering a range of abilities that can be used for combat, traversal, and puzzle-solving.
The Sound of Suffering
One of the standout features of the demo was the sound design, which perfectly captures the eerie, unsettling atmosphere of the franchise. The voice acting, particularly Doug Bradley’s iconic take on Pinhead, is superb, and the ambient noises and sound effects all contribute to a deeply unnerving experience. It’s clear that Saber Interactive is committed to creating a game that’s as uncomfortable as it is compelling, and I applaud them for it.
A New Layer of Fear
The Cenobites themselves are, of course, a major part of the game’s appeal, and Revival handles them in a way that’s both faithful to the franchise and cleverly subversive. By making them almost unkillable, the game creates a sense of tension and fear that’s hard to shake, and the player is forced to think creatively about how to evade or outsmart them. It’s a bold move, and one that pays off in a big way.
As I played through the demo, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of excitement and trepidation. There’s still a lot that could go wrong, of course – the full game needs to live up to the promise of the demo, and the Configuration’s abilities need to continue to evolve and surprise. But for the first time in a long time, I’m feeling hopeful about a Hellraiser game. Maybe, just maybe, Saber Interactive has finally cracked the code and created a game that’s worthy of the franchise.
And if they have, it’ll be a hell of a thing to behold. Clive Barker’s Hellraiser: Revival releases October 8 on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S, and I’ll be waiting with bated breath to see if it can deliver on its twisted promises. Bring on the pain.
Pixel P. Snarkbyte, widely regarded as the “Shakespeare of Sh*tposts,” is a video game expert with a unique knack for turning pixels into punchlines.
Born in the small town of Respawn, Pennsylvania, Pixel grew up mashing buttons on an ancient NES controller, firmly believing that “blowing into the cartridge” was a sacred ritual passed down through generations.
Pixel P. Snarkbyte: proving that life, much like a buggy open-world game, is better with a little lag-induced chaos.
