PlayStation 5 Critic Reviews

An unexpected gem in almost every way. I don't think many were crying out for a Hellraiser game, but everyone will be demanding a sequel to Revival, as Saber's horror show delivers a compelling, rich journey through pain and pleasure.

Clive Barker’s Hellraiser: Revival is a fantastic game that’ll satisfy both franchise and horror survival fans. Depending on whether or not you can stomach it, of course. It really doesn’t hold back, as it shouldn’t. Between the intense cinematics and the gut-wrenching narrative, this game pulls on every string. The Cenobites of Clive Barker’s world are known for two things: pain and pleasure. And this game showcases it all. There were many times when, while adventuring through the cultists’ underground lair, the world at large, or through the sex club, I had to scrape my jaw off the floor. It is a spectacle, and if you can handle a metric ton of body horror, this game should be on your radar.

Hellraiser: Revival is a faithful adaptation of the universe created by Clive Barker, combining an oppressive atmosphere, grotesque visuals, and genuinely tense moments with a structure heavily inspired by games of the genre, most notably Resident Evil 4 Remake. Although the puzzles are simple and the difficulty decreases considerably as the player masters its mechanics and abilities, the campaign manages to hold its own thanks to the excellent setting, intense chases, and creative use of the Lament Configuration. It's not revolutionary, but it's an interesting and authentic survival horror game for fans of the genre and, especially, of Hellraiser.

Those unfamiliar with Barker’s work who are looking for a strong title in this genre will find one that offers plenty of variety and a striking visual identity. It may not reinvent the wheel, but it knows how to combine its gameplay elements in a highly effective and engaging way.

Hellraiser: Revival is at its best when its horror gamification takes a back seat, providing a world that is equal parts depraved and disturbing, scary and thrilling.

Clive Barker's Hellraiser: Revival is not for those with weak stomachs. It's also got a lot of painful imagery. If you can power through that, there's a solid survival horror experience underneath.

I am pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed Hellraiser: Revival. Its respect for its source material is apparent throughout, with the Labyrinth, the Cenobites, and the Genesis Configuration being standout pieces of the puzzle. The rest of the game isn't reinventing the wheel for first-person horror, but the "don't fix what isn't broken" approach works just fine here. The squeamish need not apply, as there are moments made to make your skin crawl, but even the most horror-averse people can have a great time in this Labyrinth. Saber Interactive has such sights to show you, and thankfully, there's more pleasure than pain.

Clive Barker’s Hellraiser: Revival delivers an excellent adaptation by expanding the franchise's mythology and book lore, bringing back the classic voice of Pinhead alongside a bold Unreal Engine 5 art direction. Although it stumbles confusedly between deliberate survival horror and action FPS, the title establishes itself as a worthy adaptation of the series' cultural impact.

Clive Barker’s Hellraiser: Revival succeeds above all where it matters most: atmosphere, visual identity, and fidelity to the franchise’s aesthetic. The Genesis Configuration adds personality to a fairly traditional survival horror framework, though issues with balancing, AI, and protagonist writing hold back its potential. A successful adaptation, even if not without its rough edges.

It has some issues than can annoy, such as difficulty spikes and a couple of troublesome forced stealth sections, but these don't stop Clive Barker's Hellraiser: Revival from being a thrilling rollercoaster of a survival horror experience. Sexy, gory and grotesque are perhaps the best words to sum it up.