After playing Lunacid I was looking for more retro horror dungeon crawlers, but I couldn't find anything that really went all in on it. But now Labyrinth of the Demon King is out and HOLY SHIT does it hit the mark.

It's described as Silent Hill x Kings Field and I feel it fits well. You have to accept the retro wrapping of it but god damn the horror is on point, the environments and sounds conjure so much atmospheric pressure, it remixes so many great elements from classical survival horrors and more modern ones (including more modern FromSoft games). I love also how it keeps both sides of the SH DNA, between moments of serene eerie fogged exteriors and the dark claustrophobic unending nightmare of the interiors. Some parts feel very Lost in Vivo if you've played it which I also loved. I don't have 300 screenshots cause I'm too caught in :D

I think the trailer that sold me on it last year still gives the most accurate vibe to the gritty dark disgusting nightmares the game crushes you with. Only shows a bit of the gameplay but it plays like a mix of of an RPG survival horror and Condemned, but it’s not a pure RPG with incredible depth it’s more tools of survival. It’s not perfect but for a game that just came out I feel it could have some staying power in the niche and the dev seems motivated to update it so far!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xEoqMp2Nrss

Anyway go play it!