LV1 Gaming had the opportunity to go to Summer Game Fest and take part in the interactive Play Days. The three-day event that took place separately from the showcase housed playable demos of much-anticipated upcoming titles. And I love to point out which game stood out among all the upcoming titles there. For 2026, it was easily Clive Barker’s Hellraiser: Revival (Hellraiser). Before getting hands-on with Hellraiser, I thought this game was going to be a horror walking simulator filled with insane puzzles to solve. Boy, was I all types of wrong!
Developed and published by Saber Interactive, who also created an immersive red-colored space at SGF Play Days that included bodies on the wall to play Hellraiser. This game was not what I expected. If I had to give an elevator pitch to describe what I experienced, it would be Dying Light 2‘s horizontal movement and combat all taking place in a Resident Evil setting. The combat is fast-paced with gruesome melee and extremely satisfying gunplay. The enemies actively seek you out and try to corner you. These are far from simple mobs; they have varied levels of armor. If they have metal armor, your low-caliber guns will not damage the protected parts. Blunt and bladed weapons have different levels of damage depending on the enemy’s gear.
But the moment that Hellraiser became my game of the show was the moment I was shot by a guy in a gimp suit with a shotgun. Now I have been playing first-person shooting games for a very long time. Never have I been knocked to the ground because of a shotgun blasting me square in the chest. It was not a cinematic moment, cutscene, on-rails, or anything of the sort. I was moving from cover thinking I could kill them before they shot me, and I was knocked on my back. Pausing the game and talking to the developers that were in the room with us, I let them know that was an insane mechanic. Being knocked to the floor didn’t break the fun of combat, but it took the immersion to the next level.
Hellraiser: Revival Key Features
- A New Nightmare in the Hellraiser Universe: Discover a chilling new story in the iconic horror franchise as you unwittingly kickstart Pinhead’s (voiced by Doug Bradley) ritual to unleash the ultimate torment on the world. We assure you: the pain will be exquisite.
- Wield the Might of Hell: Harness the unique powers of the Genesis Configuration, including pyrokinesis, telekinesis, and the iconic Hell Chains, to inflict bone-breaking, flesh-searing pain (or pleasure?) upon your enemies. The Genesis Configuration is also instrumental in solving puzzles and transforming parts of the winding Labyrinth.
- Battle for Survival Against Hell’s Armies: Take on Hell’s wretches, deviants, cultists, and its most infernal priests in an unholy war for your immortal soul, all while trying to thwart the sinister plans of the Cenobites.
Gory, violent setting; top-notch horror; and fun as hell combat—sign me up ASAP! Saber Interactive has a hit on its hands, and you will be able to venture into the Labyrinth October 8, 2026. Clive Barker’s Hellraiser: Revival is available to preorder now on Steam, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S.
