I’m a sucker for a good paranormal investigation. From the Harry D’Amour stories to Hellboy and even The X-Files, applying procedural detective work to the supernatural almost always makes for compelling storytelling. Of course, it’s even more entertaining when you’re the one doing the investigating, and that’s why videogames are such a perfect medium for these kinds of stories.
The added immersion provided by actually being able to explore haunted houses and abandoned asylums makes detective work an incredibly underrated mechanic in horror games, though it takes a skilled developer to make these titles feel like more than mere walking simulators with a spooky coat of paint. That’s why I was so interested in Daedalic’s first-person experiment The Occultist, a brand-new gothic horror title where the protagonist’s mediumistic gifts are used to solve a multi-generational mystery.
In the game, players take on the role of paranormal investigator and spiritual medium Alan Rebels (played by Doug Cockle, better known as the definitive voice of Geralt of Rivia) as he visits Godstone Island in order to search for his missing father. With the help of his trusty mystical pendulum, Alan soon discovers that the island was once home to a secretive cult that conducted horrific experiments which led to the sudden death of the settlement’s entire population. Now, Alan must unravel the mystery behind his father’s connection to the cult, all the while interacting with the ghostly specters that still wander these abandoned streets.
Memorable ghosts, level designs, and mechanics keep The Occultist engaging
In gameplay terms, this means rummaging through dilapidated farmhouses and orphanages as you collect items, solve puzzles and use your pendulum to activate mystical powers. At first, you’ll only be able use the pendulum to see clues from beyond this plane of existence, but the strange little trinket eventually allows you to turn back time, take control of rats and even summon a spectral raven in order to help you navigate the secrets of Godstone. Along the way, players will also encounter a series of (mostly) undefeatable enemies that you have to hide from while exploring certain locations.
In general, this makes for an entertaining gameplay loop as you move from area to area, convincing ghosts to help you out and receiving new nuggets of information about the island’s sordid history. It may not be quite as action-packed as something like Silent Hill F or even Resident Evil: Requiem, but the more methodical pace helps Daedelic’s latest release to firmly establish mood and atmosphere – two of the game’s greatest assets.
From the impeccable lighting effects to the memorable monster and level designs, The Occultist excels at immersing players in an appropriately gothic tone that’s just as visually impressive as it is scary. Pepe Herrero’s cinematic soundtrack also does a lot of the heavy lifting when it comes to ambience, especially when combined with Doug Cockle’s sultry narration.
Thankfully, there’s a lot more to the title than its charming presentation, as the developers went to great efforts in order to keep exploration from ever getting too repetitive. From cinematic moments where Alan has to chase down spirits using his powers to unexpected boss fights where you have to use the environment against your overpowered enemies, The Occultist does a great job of varying gameplay just enough so that it never feels like this story would have been better told as a book or film.
However, it’s clear that the developers could have used a bit more time to iron out some of the mechanical kinks here. Despite generally looking like a AAA experience, The Occultist occasionally stumbles due to frustrating technical issues like janky traversal, unpredictable collision detection as well as unfair puzzles that can only be solved if you interact with items from a pixel-perfect angle.
For instance, I could never get the hang of the balancing mini-game that you use to get across narrow platforms (though the developers have assured me that this feature will soon be patched), and some of the drawing/painting puzzles are particularly annoying about detecting whether or not you’ve doodled the correct pattern.
The Occultist punches above its graphics weight
There are occasional graphical hiccups as well, though I suspect that most of these surface-level issues will be patched out by the time the game is released, and none of the programming mishaps were enough to kept me from successfully completing the game. In fact, I’m still thoroughly impressed by how expensive the title feels despite its indie origins.
Of course, it’s ultimately the unexpectedly emotional story that makes The Occultist worth playing, as I was thoroughly invested in Alan’s exploration of his father’s past and how the island’s inhabitants justified their cruelty to children. It also helps that the whole thing feels a lot like an alternate universe Witcher yarn, especially once you get in the groove of banishing phantoms and learning about their unfinished business.
The Occultist may not reinvent the Survival Horror wheel, but it’s still one hell of a spooky and entertaining ride through all of our favorite gothic horror tropes. From haunted dolls to disturbing freakshow attractions, there’s something here for every kind of horror fan, and that’s why I recommend this surprisingly poignant tale of intergenerational trauma and learning to let go of the past.
That being said, I’d also love to see a sequel where Alan takes on another supernatural case, now armed with a fully upgraded Pendulum from the very beginning…
The Occultist will be available on Steam, PS5 and XBox Series X on April 8, 2026.
