Hellraiser: Revival Review - Pinhead Returns in Glorious, Gory Form

Ever wondered what it'd be like to swing a plank of wood at a leather-clad giant who calls you "vanilla"? That's just one of the many messed-up moments in Clive Barker's Hellraiser: Revival, and honestly, it sets the tone perfectly.

You play as Aiden Lynch, a guy whose girlfriend Sunny gets yanked through a gateway mid-coitus (yeah, really), thanks to that creepy puzzle box. What follows is a blood-soaked adventure that's part survival horror, part action game, and all Hellraiser. The combat? It's pretty basic at first—enemies soak up hits until they drop, and early guns feel like peashooters. But once you get the Genesis Configuration back, things start clicking into place. You'll unlock flaming projectiles, saw blades you can fling like a Gravity Gun, and even hook-chains straight out of the movies. It's not perfect—fights could use more oomph, and finishers are limited—but there are moments that'll make you wince in the best way.

What really sells Revival is how faithful it is to Clive Barker's original vision. Pinhead is back, voiced by Doug Bradley himself, and the Cenobites aren't just slasher villains here. They're enigmatic, complex, and genuinely unsettling. The game explores themes of consent, objectification, and human arrogance without demonizing fetishes—a balancing act the original Hellbound Heart novella nailed. It's a true love letter to the source material, and a welcome return to form after those direct-to-video sequels that turned Pinhead into a generic boogeyman.

And yes, it's gory. Like, one of the most explicit games you'll ever play. We're talking flaying, body-ripping, and flesh statues that'll make you queasy. There's a nightclub setting that flips between consent-forward posters and cult propaganda, showing how predators hide behind safe spaces. It's uncomfortable, but it's supposed to be. The game doesn't shy away from the darker implications of its themes, and that's what makes it stand out.

But it's not all doom and gloom. There are surprising moments of sweetness—like Aiden discussing consent boundaries with a club patron, or Pinhead reminding him that Sunny entered the Labyrinth willingly and can leave if she wants. It's these touches that elevate Revival beyond just another horror shooter. It's a game that respects its audience and its source material.

So, will you be picking up Hellraiser: Revival when it launches on September 24, 2026, for PC, PS5, Xbox Series X, and Nintendo Switch 2? Let us know in the comments!