The 9th Charnel Review

Video GamesReviews

Feb 24

The 9th Charnel is an undercooked horror game that’s best skipped.

*The 9th Charnel*. Credit: Saikat Deb / SOEDESCO

The 9th Charnel is a first-person survival horror game from solo developer Saikat Deb, published by SOEDESCO. You play as Michael Jones, a scientist who, after a car crash, finds himself stranded in a remote valley, without his colleagues who were riding with him. Naturally, the place has a grim backstory involving cults and rituals. It’s a familiar setup, and unfortunately, the game doesn’t do much to elevate it. The cutscenes drag, the writing leans hard on clichés, and the voice acting struggles to sell the material.

Gameplay mixes stealth, light combat, and the usual survival horror scavenger loop. In practice, that mostly means wandering around in search of keys and random items to open the next locked door. Progression turns into trial-and-error exploration through blandly designed levels, thanks to poorly communicated objectives. For example, an early door tells you it requires a key, and as it turns out, it’s not a key at all, but rather a missing wheel handle.

Controls feel stiff, and movement is clunky, which makes gameplay more irritating than suspenseful. You’ll eventually get access to weapons, but combat never feels satisfying. Enemy AI is dumb, sluggish, and predictable, so encounters lack tension.

The graphics are a mixed bag. Some environments have decent lighting and a moody, isolated feel. But rough character models, awkward animations, and inconsistent presentation undercut any mood the game manages to build. In horror in particular, this is a fatal flaw.

There’s the outline of a better game here. With a tighter design and more polish, it could have been a passable horror experience. As it stands, The 9th Charnel feels underdeveloped and frustrating. I can’t recommend this one.

The 9th Charnel is available now on Steam, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S.