Labyrinth of the Demon King

Labyrinth of the Demon King offers familiar first-person retro dungeon crawling, but distinguishes itself with its overpowering-almost unbearable-mood of dread.

Labyrinth of the Demon King does a great job of providing an authentic action-horror, dungeon-crawling experience that feels like it's straight out of 1997 in all the best ways. The eerie, lo-fi visuals, punishing combat, and disorienting dungeon layouts all combine to make for a maze worth solving. We'd give this one a strong recommendation to any fans of Soulslike games who want to try something with similar traits, but that also feels different in some key ways. This is a great experience if you're willing to stick it out and learn its intricacies.

After an hour I really felt this just wouldn't be for me, I was angry, frustrated, and just wanted to push through it all, but as I played, the unique charm and experience shone through, the PS1 feel, the drab, mercilessly depressing world, and the clunky combat - which I feel some people may hate but really made me feel like I was playing a title from 1996 - it all just clicked and it went from hate to love.

Thankfully, independent developers like J. R. Hudepohl or KIRA from Lunacid to fill the void. Labyrinth of the Demon King easily stands shoulder to shoulder with its progenitors whilst having an identity of its own. It’s an amazing accomplishment, and one that you must play for yourself if you’re a fan of first-person RPGs, a masochist or a horror fan.

Labyrinth of the Demon King is a grueling test of patience, skill, and endurance. It's an unforgiving experience, yet rewarding for anyone who dares to dive in. The game honors the origins of classic survival horror, but adds a distinct character that sets it apart from any modern game. From its toxic environment to its brutal combat and disturbing sound design, every element is designed to keep you on your toes.

Labyrinth of the Demon King has its flaws, sure—but it’s got a certain charm that makes it hard to put down. Its combat system is fast and reflex-heavy, but while it’s definitely rewarding if you play it straight, it doesn’t take much to break once you know what you’re doing. Still, with its tight visuals, creepy enemies, and wonderfully distorted audio, it nails the retro horror vibe in all the right ways.

Labyrinth of the Demon King from developer J.R. Hudepohl harkens back to a simpler survival horror time and recreates most of the right elements that reflect that era and genre. While it’s strong in story, atmosphere, and creepiness, it falls short with its mechanics.

As a fan of horror, especially classic examples in the genre, I really loved the attention to detail and world-building in Labyrinth of the Demon King. Unfortunately, the combat in the game is uncompromising and will make life unbearable for the vast majority of gamers. Combined with randomized enemy placement and mind-scratching puzzles, this is a game that will push you to the limit.

With modern elements of roguelike games, Labyrinth of the Demon King seeks to emulate the aesthetics and feel of the classic survival horror games from the days of the first Playstation, but fails by only partially appropriating the best of their characteristics, both in the development of a shallow storyline and in the tedious gameplay that lacks purpose.

Labyrinth of the Demon King nails its creepy PS1-era vibes and dungeon crawling combat initially, but can’t carry this all the way through its short playtime. It’s still a unique experience, but one that could have been so much better.