Horripilant PS5 Review - A Strange Descent Into Incremental Horror

Horror games have never been short on haunted houses, abandoned asylums, deranged killers, or creatures lurking in the darkness, but Horripilant takes a decidedly stranger route into the genre. Developed by Alexandre Declos and Pas Game Studio, and published on PS5 by Indie Games Starter Sp. z o.o., Horripilant blends dark fantasy horror with incremental progression, dungeon crawling, resource management, puzzles, and automated combat. It is an unconventional combination, and one that immediately makes the game stand apart from the crowded horror landscape. Rather than attempting to overwhelm players with constant action, Horripilant takes a slower, more methodical approach, building its experience around exploration, progression, and the unsettling mystery of what lies deeper within its dungeon.

The game begins with an old, battered knight awakening in a mysterious dungeon with little understanding of how he got there. With something seemingly calling him from below, the only option is to descend farther into the darkness. What follows is a bizarre journey populated by grotesque creatures, strange characters, cryptic encounters, and increasingly disturbing mysteries. The narrative deliberately keeps much of its story shrouded in uncertainty, allowing the environment and encounters to gradually fill in the blanks. The mysterious presence known as God adds another layer to the unfolding story, giving the player's descent a sense of purpose while simultaneously raising more questions than it answers. This ambiguity works in the game's favor, particularly because the world feels deliberately designed to make players wonder what exactly they've stumbled into.

The Gameplay ...

That sense of discovery carries over into the gameplay, although Horripilant is perhaps most accurately described as an incremental dungeon crawler rather than a conventional action-horror game. The core loop revolves around gathering resources, improving equipment, strengthening the knight, fighting enemies, solving puzzles, and pushing farther into the dungeon. Progression is gradual by design, with the player's growing collection of resources and increasingly powerful equipment allowing them to tackle challenges that previously stood in their way. Combat incorporates automated mechanics, shifting some of the emphasis away from moment-to-moment action and toward preparation and progression. The result is a game where deciding how to develop your character can be just as important as what happens during an individual encounter.

That design philosophy is also what will ultimately determine whether Horripilant clicks with a particular player. There is genuine satisfaction in watching the character become progressively stronger, gathering materials and optimizing equipment until previously difficult obstacles become manageable. The game encourages repetition, adaptation, and gradual improvement, creating a loop that can become surprisingly absorbing for players who enjoy incremental progression. At the same time, that deliberately measured pace means Horripilant doesn't deliver the immediate adrenaline rush associated with more traditional horror games. Players looking for constant hands-on combat, frantic escapes, or elaborate real-time encounters may find the experience too passive. The game is asking you to settle into its rhythm rather than constantly reacting to threats.

The Presentation ...

Fortunately, the game's presentation does a great deal to reinforce that rhythm. Visually, Horripilant embraces a grim, hand-crafted aesthetic that fits its dark-fantasy setting exceptionally well. The dungeon feels appropriately decayed and oppressive, while the grotesque creatures and unsettling imagery give the game a distinctive personality. Rather than pursuing photorealism, the developers lean into a stylized visual identity that makes the world feel more like a twisted illustrated nightmare. That artistic direction is particularly effective because it complements the game's unusual mechanics; even when the gameplay slows down, the strange environments and creatures provide enough visual character to keep the descent interesting.

The audio presentation takes a much more restrained approach. Instead of relying on an elaborate cinematic soundtrack to dictate when players should feel frightened, Horripilant makes relatively sparse use of music and sound effects. The resulting quietness can enhance the game's sense of isolation, reinforcing the impression that the player is wandering through a forgotten place far removed from the outside world. However, the minimal approach also means the audio doesn't make quite the same impression as the game's visual design. 

The Verdict ...

Where Horripilant succeeds most convincingly is in creating a progression system that gives the player a reason to keep going. There is always another upgrade to pursue, another resource to collect, another challenge to overcome, and another section of the dungeon waiting below. This provides the game with replay value, although it is important to understand what kind of replay value is being offered. Horripilant isn't primarily about replaying the story to discover dramatically different outcomes. Instead, its longevity comes from continuing to improve your character, optimizing progression, and seeing how far you can descend. For players who enjoy incremental games, that can provide a compelling reason to return. For players who prefer narrative variety and constantly changing gameplay scenarios, the repetition may eventually become a limitation.

The game's $9.99 price point also works in its favor. Horripilant isn't pretending to be a massive, cinematic AAA horror production, and its budget price makes its experimental design considerably easier to appreciate. At this price, players who are intrigued by the concept can take a chance on the game without making a significant investment. Its value ultimately depends on how much the player enjoys incremental mechanics, however. Someone looking for a traditional survival-horror adventure may find the experience less substantial, while fans of dungeon crawlers, idle games, resource management, and unconventional horror will likely get considerably more mileage from its progression systems.

Ultimately, Horripilant is an ambitious little genre experiment that succeeds because it isn't afraid to do things differently. Its combination of horror atmosphere and incremental dungeon crawling won't appeal to every PS5 player, but the game's distinctive visual identity, mysterious story, and steady progression give it enough personality to stand out. The slower pacing and repetitive nature of the gameplay can occasionally work against it, and the sparse audio presentation leaves some atmospheric potential untapped, but those shortcomings don't completely undermine what the game is attempting to accomplish. At $9.99, Horripilant offers an inexpensive and unusual trip into a dark dungeon that rewards patience more than reflexes.