Time and time again, I cover a game that looks good, amazing even, but when it comes time to play it, it’s trash. I’m glad to say that this is NOT one of those times! Actually, this is a first for me. I covered a game that I didn’t have expectations for, but after getting a chance to play it, I’m happy to say that I was caught off guard by the quality of it! This is DALOAR and Daedalic Entertainment’s The Occultist.
In The Occultist, you take on the role of Alan, voiced by Doug Cockle. An occultist who arrived on the island of Godstone in search of his father, who has gone missing there. After arriving, it becomes clear that Alan is the only living person on the island, and it’s up to him to bring peace to the spirits that now wander this island.
Now, onto the game itself! When it comes to the controls for The Occultist, being a first-person game, some familiar control prompts are familiar, except for one or two buttons; other than that, no big deal and easy to learn.
The biggest selling point for this game is the art and graphics. I was shocked from the very start (at the main menu!) at how amazing the graphics are, the light engine is amazing, and it helps make the feel of the game quite eerie. The seamless change in the game’s world, viewed through Alan’s pendulum, which can reveal hidden things. For some reason, these kinds of game mechanics break games, but somehow DALOAR got it to work for them.
The sound design and soundtrack are amazing, and the voice acting is led by Doug Cockle’s performance.
Gameplay-wise, the game blends exploration, puzzle solving, and stealth survival. Alan’s pendulum plays a big role in exploring and surviving the world. The pendulum has different abilities that can be unlocked as you progress. You encounter dangerous spirits, and your weapon is…nothing, you have to outrun them and hide, which is surprisingly not as annoying as it is in some games.
Overall, I had a lot of fun playing The Occultist. I just wish this game came out in October or closer to Halloween, it has the perfect vibe for that season! This game is the perfect example of Indie devs saving the gaming industry, especially when it comes to horror games. There are some audio sync issues, but other than that, I didn’t find anything truly wrong with the game and think it’s worth it, especially if you’re in the mood for something atmospheric.
The Occultist is out now for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC.
