Stepping into the Shoes of a Paranormal Practitioner
The word ‘occult’ derives from Latin, meaning ‘secret or hidden’. It encapsulates beliefs that lean towards the world of magic and the supernatural. Some people believe it is a science, and there are countless books and studies covering the many different strands and subsections of occult practices.
Naturally, this provides great narrative fodder for game developers. In fact, the occult has featured heavily in the video game world since its early days, but now there is a game that puts you directly in the shoes of a practitioner. Think David Blaine mixed with Sherlock Holmes, and you will get a good idea of what to expect from The Occultist.
Uncovering a Father’s Disappearance
In this first-person adventure game, you play as Alan Rebels (great name), a paranormal investigator. He travels to a fictional place in Britain called Godstone to try and uncover what happened to his father following his sudden disappearance. Back in the 1950s, Godstone was the site of various occult rituals, leaving the place abandoned and in ruins today. All Alan knows is that his dad was born there, which serves as a good starting point.
Soon enough, Alan is uncovering mystery after mystery alongside a whole host of supernatural beings; some helpful, and some very dangerous.
The Occultist drips with great atmosphere, and its locations – ranging from old hospitals to an abandoned circus – do a fantastic job of visual storytelling. The main narrative is good, even if it feels like well-trodden ground at times. Alan Rebels is a rather grim protagonist, which can occasionally feel a bit one-note. However, there are plenty of other interesting characters to meet who, despite being a bit dead, are still full of paranormal life. Overall, I enjoyed my time in this world, even if it didn’t completely hook me in.
Eyeglasses and Echoes of the Past
The first-person gameplay allows you to do the usual running, crouching, and general investigating by picking up objects and storing them in your inventory. However, Alan is not a fighter, so do not expect any Silent Hill-style whacking or shooting. Instead, the game introduces some very interesting mechanics along the way. The first is an eyeglass that allows you to see into the spirit world; looking through it reveals hidden clues, concealed doorways, and secret items.
You also have a magic pendulum at your disposal, which gains different skills as the game progresses. Initially, it allows you to view echoes of the past, giving you glimpses of hidden areas or clues to help solve puzzles. Then, you gain the ability to wind back time by a few moments, for example, making a broken object whole again, or restoring a corpse to the moment before its decay. Later on, you unlock a spectral bird to fetch far-off items, and finally, much like in A Plague Tale, you gain the ability to control a swarm of rats. All these extra mechanics are brilliant and genuinely fun to use during your investigations.
Rewarding Riddles vs. Tedious Stealth
There are puzzles to solve, which can be a little complicated at times but are highly rewarding to figure out. For instance, near the beginning, you have to work out the name of the lady of the house to unlock the basement, which requires gathering clues and investigating the rest of the property.
Of course, things will try to kill you, and this is arguably the least successful part of the game, as it relies heavily on running and hiding. I could have done without this element entirely, and the two boss battles you experience felt quite tedious to me. That said, players who prefer a bit more action to their exploration might enjoy these encounters more than I did.
In terms of the visuals, The Occultist is impressive, boasting some amazing environmental design, and it uses visual mechanics like time travel in an exceptional way. It is a wonderful world to explore, and I found the level of detail to be brilliant in certain places.
The audio is strong as well, featuring a great musical score and some chilling effects that elevate the jump scares. The voice work is solid too, and even though Alan comes across as a bit one-note, that is far from the actor’s fault.
A Clever Investigative Trip into the Secret and Hidden
Running at around five hours in length, you should enjoy The Occultist. There are some incredibly clever ideas here in terms of game mechanics and environmental design. The story is a bit hit-and-miss though, and there were times when I got lost, left unsure of what I was meant to be doing. I really didn’t get on with the stealth and evasion sections either, and I could have easily done without the boss battles.
However, the puzzles are fun, and exploring this eerie world is where the true heart of the game lies.
Important Links
The Occultist Brings Slow-Burn Horror And Dark Secrets To Xbox, PlayStation And PC – https://www.thexboxhub.com/the-occultist-brings-slow-burn-horror-and-dark-secrets-to-xbox-playstation-and-pc/
Daedalic Entertainment Announce a Brand New Horror Game for 2025 Release – https://www.thexboxhub.com/daedalic-entertainment-announce-a-brand-new-horror-game-for-2025-release/
Best New Xbox And Game Pass Games For April 2026 – https://www.thexboxhub.com/best-new-xbox-and-game-pass-games-for-april-2026/
Buy from the Xbox Store – https://www.xbox.com/en-gb/games/store/the-occultist/9n5z615f5f86
There’s a Deluxe Edition too – https://www.xbox.com/en-GB/games/store/the-occultist-deluxe-edition/9PLTGL7GTXJG/0017
