Holstin is an Old-School Survival Horror Experience That Toys With Perception [Hands-On Preview]Sonka Studios’ Holstin is an Old-School Survival Horror Experience That Toys With Perception [Hands-On Preview]

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Regarding independent survival horror games, Holstin stands out for blending two distinct periods. Initially, Holstin appears as a chilling and intricately designed survival horror game with beautiful pixel art reminiscent of the genre’s early days, similar to recent hits like Signalis or Crow Country. However, when players transition from exploration and puzzle-solving into combat, Holstin adopts a behind-the-shoulder camera perspective, much like Resident Evil 4. This blend of early and contemporary Resident Evil influences, showcased through clever camera angles in Holstin, is perhaps its most noticeable trait, but it also boasts numerous other exciting elements that make it one of the most intriguing upcoming games within the genre.

In 2023, Holstin made its first appearance and received significant acclaim following a robust public demo on Steam. However, developer Sonka has been rather subdued since then. As it transpires, the team had been working diligently to apply feedback from the initial demo to refine and enhance Holstin’s design, aiming to bring the game closer to the standard of contemporary survival horror masterpieces. Prior to its release in 2025, Game Rant had the opportunity to test a new version of Holstin, which highlighted numerous gameplay adjustments and advancements. Collectively, these improvements place the game in a category that any die-hard survival horror enthusiast should not overlook.

Where Holstin Fits Into the Pantheon of Old-School-Inspired Survival Horror Games

Over the past few years, we’ve witnessed a continuous flow of indie survival horror games reminiscent of the past, ranging from innovative sci-fi horror titles like Signalis to the latest cyberpunk-Silent Hill fusion game Hollowbody. Holstin is one among several notable games adhering to this design trend, alongside upcoming releases such as Phase Zero, Scarlet Lake, Void Martyrs, and others. What sets Holstin apart, however, is its unique ability to blend modern elements into the gameplay experience, rather than solely relying on a traditional approach.

As a fan, I’ve been eagerly anticipating the full release of Holstin, especially after witnessing its initial demo. What was missing then was a compelling narrative, and boy, does it deliver! The storyline is a thrilling blend of Disco Elysium’s intricate plotlines and Resident Evil’s suspenseful atmosphere.

In this game, I find myself stepping into the shoes of protagonist Tomasz, who embarks on a personal quest to locate his vanished friend Bartok. Bartok, you see, is an investigative journalist by trade, and his latest investigation into corruption and labor violations at a nearby meat-packing plant has seemingly put him in the crosshairs of some unsavory characters.

Set in Poland, Holstin starts off strong with a tale that echoes Upton Sinclair’s The Jungle and Władysław Reymont’s The Peasants. However, things only get more intriguing as the story unfolds.

Shortly following his arrival at the last-recorded spot of Bartok, Tomasz notices something amiss when a monstrous, ooze-like substance, growing tendrils, overtakes the train station and causes the locals to act irrationally. Soon, we discover that this substance, named “Plasmodium”, is a quasi-sentient creation born from human intervention that has spiraled out of control. Tomasz learns this directly from one of the scientists involved in the project. Initially, Tomasz’s visit was intended for fact-finding and a possible rescue of Bartok; however, as the story unfolds, it transforms into a cautionary tale of science gone terribly awry, blending elements from popular horror series like Resident Evil with its deeper explorations of corruption, labor rights, and social inequality.

In the initial demonstration of Holstin, we were captivated by a tantalizing glimpse of the game’s distinctive visual flair and innovative perspective-changing mechanics. However, the recent playable slice has added an engaging narrative that significantly enhances the overall experience. This narrative is bolstered by well-crafted characters, a vividly realized setting, and a captivating plotline – qualities that are surprisingly scarce in the survival horror genre.

All the classic features of an old-school survival horror game are evident in Holstin – grid-based inventory, exploration for items and clues, making strategic decisions during encounters, gathering notes to solve puzzles. Yet, this latest demonstration underscores that its compelling story is the game’s hidden strength, setting it apart from other contemporary titles in the genre.

Perspective-Shifting Gameplay and Manipulating Player Perception are the Heart of Holstin

In a survival horror game, a captivating narrative is always appreciated, but what truly draws players to the genre is its unique gameplay. Holstin excels in this regard, particularly with its innovative use of the camera as a tool to enhance immersion within the terrifying on-screen environment. While navigating through Tomasz’s surroundings, players must adjust the camera angle left and right, allowing them to examine their surroundings from various perspectives. This rotational movement is reminiscent of the 2008 indie puzzle game Fez, where players often discover new clues or items by simply entering a room and exploring every possible perspective offered by the rotating camera. By doing so, they learn an essential lesson about Holstin: nothing is ever as it appears at first glance.

In the style of Arkane’s game “Prey”, certain ordinary items may unexpectedly become active, and when a player is unsure about where to proceed or what action to take, re-exploring a previously visited location from a fresh perspective often leads to progress. The townspeople who remain uninfected by the Plasmodium exhibit strange and suspicious behaviors, which aligns with the gameplay of “Holstin”. This gameplay reinforces a growing feeling of discomfort and suspicion, encouraging players to question their environment continually. Frequent changes in camera angles between full first-person view and overhead third-person perspective create several genuinely eerie moments in the latest demo of “Holstin”, intentionally disrupting any sense of familiarity or comfort for seasoned survival horror enthusiasts.

Exploring every nook and cranny leads to numerous useful finds, reminiscent of traditional survival horror games, where these picks-ups can be combined to create healing items or ammunition. It’s worth mentioning that we found ourselves with an abundant supply of healing and ammo when playing Holstin on the suggested difficulty level. The inclusion of melee weapons that deteriorate over use introduces a resource management aspect that might not have been as apparent otherwise. Melee fights can feel a bit floaty, but they’re potent enough to dispatch any enemies still struggling towards Tomasz. However, it’s the ranged combat in Holstin that truly shines as one of its key attractions.

The constraints of the PlayStation console necessitated the “Tank” controls in the original Resident Evil trilogy, enhancing its targeting and shooting mechanics. This shift to a more fluid aiming system in Resident Evil 4 was significant. Holstin stands out because it blends gameplay and story elements from the early PS1 Resident Evil games with the refined shooting mechanics of Resident Evil 4. The demo’s weapons offer accurate and precise aiming, and enemies have distinctive glowing Plasmodium pustules for easy targeting. Each encounter in Holstin feels akin to battling Regenerators from Resident Evil 4, requiring you to dodge lunges, psychic attacks, and spike sprouts while focusing on vulnerable spots. A successful hit disables the enemy, causing an explosion that eliminates the affected body part.

What’s Changed From the Initial Public Demo

The significant enhancements seen in Holstin‘s latest version compared to its initial demo include a refined combat and exploration experience, as well as a more intricate narrative. The gameplay, whether using a controller or mouse and keyboard, offers seamless controls. The initially confusing transition from isometric to behind-the-shoulder camera angles becomes intuitive after just a few interactions. The new demo’s puzzles are standard for survival horror games, but attentive exploration of each room reveals their solutions promptly. As seasoned survivors horror game enthusiasts know, the process involves searching for items and clues, deciphering those clues, and then using the found items to progress, usually a key or another essential object.

Although Holstin appears familiar to veteran survival horror enthusiasts, it skillfully subverts these expectations as you delve deeper into its mysteries. The initial demo captivated many players with its innovative combat system that revolves around camera shifts, but the latest build truly reveals what sets Holstin apart. In essence, the latest demo of Holstin leaves you craving for more, not just to explore further its refreshing approach to old-school survival horror mechanics, but also to uncover answers to its intriguing storyline, making the anticipation for the final release all the more intense.

As a gaming enthusiast, I’ve got my hands on an early bird’s peek at Holstin, which is being meticulously crafted for PC, PlayStation 4/5, Xbox One/Series X/S, and Nintendo Switch/Switch 2. Game Rant was kind enough to hand me a PC access code for this sneak preview.

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2025-06-03 18:06