Clive Barker’s Hellraiser has spent decades exploring the uncomfortable relationship between pleasure and pain, but translating that twisted philosophy into a video game was never going to be an easy task. Thankfully, Hellraiser: Revival embraces the franchise’s most disturbing qualities without losing sight of what makes it so compelling. The result is a brutally effective horror experience that combines grotesque imagery, supernatural combat and a genuinely unsettling atmosphere to deliver one of the more memorable horror games of 2026. If you thought developer Sabre Interactive were going to hold back, I can assure you that they have not. At all.
Playing as Aiden Lynch, a former biker attempting to leave his violent past behind, you embark on a desperate mission to rescue your girlfriend, Sunny, after she becomes the latest victim of the Cenobites. The catalyst is the Genesis Configuration, a mysterious puzzle box that opens the door to a world where human suffering takes on an entirely different meaning. With Clive Barker involved in shaping the story, Revival feels closely connected to the spirit of the original films, while offering a self-contained adventure that newcomers can appreciate.
The narrative also explores darker themes of obsession, addiction and desire, giving the carnage a little more substance than simply stringing together increasingly gruesome encounters. Doug Bradley’s return as Pinhead, or the Hell Priest as he is also known, is a welcome touch, lending an unmistakable authenticity to one of horror’s most recognisable villains.
Revival adopts a first-person perspective, placing you directly in the middle of its nightmare. Rather than relying entirely on hiding from unstoppable monsters, Aiden is capable of fighting back, and combat forms a substantial part of the experience. You can wield an assortment of firearms and melee weapons, although the latter are prone to breaking, encouraging you to scavenge for replacements rather than rely on a single favourite. I go back and forth on my thoughts about degradable weapons. It can be a unique mechanic, but often times it ends up becoming annoying. Here, I felt the balance was right most of the time, however there was the odd occasion I was left cursing it.
Gunplay provides a useful alternative when things become overwhelming, but the real star of the show is the Genesis Configuration. This supernatural device gives combat a distinctly Hellraiser flavour, allowing you to unleash special abilities and manipulate objects. Picking up a circular saw blade and using it to slice an enemy in two never gets old. There’s also vicious finishing moves you can perform against weakened enemies. These executions are particularly satisfying, combining practical benefits with the sort of stomach-churning spectacle that fans will expect.
Revival does offer more than simply tearing through cultists, however. Exploration, environmental puzzles, stealth sequences and encounters with Cenobites provide welcome variety. I’m someone who gets easily frustrated with stealth sections, but found it an effective and sometimes favourable method of progression here. The Labyrinth is especially cool, with its disorientating architecture and lethal traps creating some genuinely tense moments. Being pursued through these twisted spaces can be absolutely nerve-racking.
Not everything lands flawlessly though. Certain instant-death sequences can feel unnecessarily punishing, with the awkward pushing down and clicking the left stick to perform a 180° turn being my undoing more than once. Some boss encounters also drag on, while crowded fights occasionally become frustrating when ammunition runs low. Nevertheless, the mixture of combat, puzzles and pursuit sequences keeps the adventure moving at a satisfying pace.
Where Hellraiser: Revival truly excels is in its willingness to embrace the franchise’s extreme visual identity. This is not horror that politely leaves the worst details to your imagination. Bloodshed, mutilation and disturbing body transformations are central to the experience, with graphic set pieces that will test even seasoned fans of the genre. I honestly don’t think I’ve ever seen this much nudity and gore in a game, but I’m so glad Sabre went this far. It might not be for everyone, but it stands out and is completely unique.
The violence feels particularly appropriate because it reflects the series’ fascination with the human body as something that can be transformed, exploited and pushed beyond its limits. Flesh, metal and machinery combine in nightmarish ways, creating images that make you wince, yet are difficult to look away from. This is a game for adults, and unapologetically so. I wish more developers were willing to go this far.
Presentation is excellent throughout. It does a great job of bringing these horrors to life. Ordinary locations have a convincing sense of place, while the Labyrinth feels like a genuinely alien dimension governed by its own grotesque logic. The contrast between recognisable surroundings and the Cenobites’ otherworldly domain helps sustain the atmosphere, and the creature designs awesome.
Sound deserves similar praise. Unsettling environmental noises, gruesome combat effects and an oppressive musical backdrop make exploration uncomfortable in all the right ways. Bradley’s performance really sells the authenticity abd the wider cast helps ground Aiden’s increasingly nightmarish journey.
Clive Barker’s Hellraiser: Revival is a triumph of atmosphere and commitment to its source material. While its combat systems and stealth mechanics aren’t particularly revolutionary, the combination of supernatural abilities, disturbing enemies and varied encounters come together to make a unique and eye catching experience. More importantly, it understands that Hellraiser should be as fascinating as it is horrifying.
There are occasional frustrations, and its relentless adult content certainly won’t be to everyone’s taste, but not every game has to cater to everyone. For horror fans seeking something genuinely grotesque and unapologetically mature, Revival is an easy recommendation. It may not reinvent the survival horror genre, but it delivers a wonderfully twisted journey that does justice to Barker’s nightmarish creation.
-Lee
