Hellraiser: Revival Review Roundup: Critics Split, Players Love It

Hellraiser: Revival reviews are in, and critics can't agree. Saber Interactive's first-person survival horror game holds a Metascore of 69 on PS5 (75 on PC) and an OpenCritic Top Critic Average of 73, with scores running from 5/10 to 9/10. Players are far kinder: on Steam it's rated Overwhelmingly Positive, with 95% of more than 2,800 reviews recommending it. It launched on 8 October 2026 for PC, PS5 and Xbox Series X|S.

This is a review roundup: we've gathered the scores and the main praise and complaints from the biggest outlets so you can see where critics agree, where they don't, and why players seem to like it more.

Hellraiser: Revival at a glance

Scores checked on 11 October 2026. Aggregate scores move as more reviews arrive.

What is Hellraiser: Revival about?

Hellraiser: Revival is a new story set in Clive Barker's Hellraiser universe. You play Aidan, who must use a mysterious puzzle box, the Genesis Configuration, to rescue his girlfriend Sunny from the Labyrinth, the Cenobites' otherworldly hell. Along the way you strike a bargain with Pinhead, voiced by Doug Bradley, who played him in the films, and fight a cult called the Scarlet Church, whose leader Marlowe wants the box for himself.

It mixes first-person combat, using the box's hellish powers alongside everyday weapons, with crafting and puzzle-solving. It's an adults-only experience: Saber's own content warning lists strong violence, gore, torture, sexual content and themes including suicide and addiction.

Hellraiser: Revival review scores

Why are Hellraiser: Revival reviews so divided?

Almost every critic agrees on the same things: it looks and feels like Hellraiser, and it's rough around the edges. The split comes from how much each reviewer was willing to forgive. Critics who rated it highly treated the bugs and clunky moments as a fair price for a faithful, uncompromising horror game. Those who scored it low found the frustrations outweighed the atmosphere.

What do critics like about Hellraiser: Revival?

• It captures Hellraiser. TheSixthAxis called it everything it wanted from a game based on Barker's series, and DualShockers said its story and atmosphere do the franchise justice. CGMagazine went further, calling it one of the best licensed horror games ever made despite its issues.
• The Cenobites, the Labyrinth and the box. Giant Bomb singled out the Labyrinth, the Cenobites and the Genesis Configuration as the standout parts, and was surprised by how much it enjoyed the game.
• Pinhead. Even IGN, one of the lower scores, agreed that Pinhead looks the part.
• Pacing. GameRant found it a well-paced survival horror game packed with fan service, and GameSpew called it a thrilling rollercoaster.

Image: Saber Interactive

What do critics dislike about Hellraiser: Revival?

• Bugs and jank. GameRant warned of a lot of bugs, and Push Square (5/10) found that for everything it does well, there are two things that annoy.
• Gameplay and puzzles. GameMAG felt mediocre gameplay, irritating puzzles and outdated mechanics let down its strong design and characters.
• Borrowed ideas. Press Start said it captures Hellraiser but struggles to find its own identity, borrowing heavily from other horror greats.
• Stealth and difficulty. GameSpew, despite its 8/10, flagged difficulty spikes and a couple of troublesome forced stealth sections.
• Padding. PlayStation Universe felt the explorable sections add bloat without much substance, and TechRaptor found the story so relentless that players quickly become desensitised.

Why do players like Hellraiser: Revival more than critics?

The gap is unusually wide. Critics average in the low 70s, but players on Steam rate it Overwhelmingly Positive (95%), and Metacritic users give it 9.1. Reviewers judged it against the best survival horror games around; many players are Hellraiser fans who wanted a faithful, extreme adaptation and say they got one. The $39.99 price, lower than most new releases, also helps, and a free Steam demo released in September let people try it first.

Hellraiser: Revival PC requirements

Watch the Hellraiser: Revival launch trailer

Is Hellraiser: Revival worth it?

If you're a Hellraiser fan who can stomach extreme body horror, the reviews suggest yes: even critics who scored it low agree it nails the look, the Cenobites and the tone, and players overwhelmingly recommend it. If you want a polished survival horror game first and a Hellraiser game second, expect bugs, some frustrating puzzles and stealth sections, and combat that doesn't always land. At $39.99 it's cheaper than most new releases, but try the Steam demo first if you're unsure.

More horror on iGame Magazine

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• Silent Hill hub – all of our Silent Hill coverage
• The Outlast Trials in 2026 – horror with friends
• Resident Evil Requiem gameplay – the other big horror name

Hellraiser: Revival FAQ