Hellraiser: Revivalhas just been announced, marking the first time that the iconic horror franchise has received its own standalone game adaptation. Of course, this isn’t the first time thatHellraiserhas been part of a video game. The franchise’s crossover withDead by Daylightwas one of the game’s most popular, but after the latter removed itsHellraisercontent back in April, the gaming world has been void of Pinhead. Thankfully,Hellraiser: Revivalis looking to change that.
The announcement ofHellraiser: Revivalmakes its sudden departure fromDead by Daylightmake a lot more sense. Developed by Saber Interactive and Boss Team Games,Hellraiser: Revivalfollows protagonist Aidan who is on a desperate search for his girlfriend through the pits of hell after opening the Genesis Configuration puzzle box. Based on the short trailer, the visuals ofHellraiser: Revivalare already promising a gruesome, hardcore time, but what’s even more exciting is that the game is going to be a first-person survival horror title.
Hellraiser: Revival is Breaking Free of Horror Adaptations' Asymmetrical Shackles
Dead by Daylighthas been going strong for nearly a decade now. As the king of the asymmetrical horror genre, many other titles have tried, and failed, to capture the same attention. Of course,Hellraiserwas once part of that ecosystem, but there have been other adaptations of iconic horror franchises that have attempted to stake a claim in the asymmetrical landscape, only to have support discontinued or even shut down.
Some of these games listed above are definitely still playable, but they aren’t exactly thriving, especially when comparing the lineup toDead by Daylight. Unfortunately, the asymmetrical horror genre is just really hard to break into, especially after the initial trend has died down sinceDead by Daylight’s 2016 launch. It’s like when battle royale games try to compete withFortnite. There’s always going to be one title that sticks out far above the rest of the crowd, making it difficult for the others to compete long-term.Dead by Daylighthas the benefit of being an original brand, so it can thrive on both original content and crossovers, giving it a significant amount of extra longevity.
Hellraiser: Revivalwill launch for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S.
An asymmetrical horror game based around one IP makes it static. There isn’t much room for major crossovers, and keeping everything confined to one franchise universe means that the well of content will eventually dry up, and sometimes it dries up incredibly fast.Beloved horror moviesdon’t always translate into a strong game, butHellraisercould definitely thrive as a story-focused survival horror experience.
Doug Bradley will be reprising the role of Pinhead for the first time in almost 20 years.
Asymmetrical Horror Franchise Adaptations Overshadow What Makes Them So Special
When it comes to iconic horror series likeHalloween,Friday the 13th,Evil Dead, andThe Texas Chains Saw Massacre, one reason these franchises have become so beloved is for their stories and lore. This definitely applies toHellraiser. Since the first movie premiered in 1987, the franchise has lived on through a long list of sequels and a recent reboot.Pinhead is a spine-chilling villain, andHellraiser: Revivalmaking way for a new chapter is compelling.
The asymmetrical formula can take the spark out of these established franchises. While it works forDead by Daylight, it just doesn’t bring the intensity that adaptations such as these need for full-blown licensed games.Clive Barker’s unrelenting universemakesHellraisera truly unique IP, and a first-person survival approach may be the key to giving horror franchise adaptations a second chance.
