Inside CRISOL: THEATER OF IDOLS, Blumhouse's Latest Entry Into Horror Gaming
- creepykingdom
- 22 hours ago
- 3 min read
Updated: 1 hour ago
If you had told me that one day I'd be sitting at the desk of Jason Blum, the founder of Blumhouse, I would have told you that you were bonkers. And yet, there I was on a weekday afternoon, seated at the desk of the man who helped reinvent modern horror, playing a demo of Blumhouse Games' newest release, CRISOL: THEATER OF IDOLS.
I should preface this by saying: I am not a gamer in the traditional sense. Unless we're talking cozy games like Animal Crossing or Cult of the Lamb. Stepping into a first-person horror/action game was very much foreign territory for me. But I was willing to give it a proper try, for research purposes, of course... and because I was hoping to get at least a little scared.
Though I'm an amateur when it comes to first-person shooters, there's something undeniably powerful about how these games create fear while playing.
CRISOL: THEATER OF IDOLS, inspired by Spanish folklore, is described as a first-person horror action/adventure set in the haunting world of Hispania - a nightmarish reimagining of Spain. You play as Gabriel, a soldier who can weaponize his own blood, embarking on a divine mission bestowed by the Sun God. The game is visually rich and immediately immersive, pulling you into its decaying, terror-filled world.
Adjusting to playing as Gabriel took some time, mainly because I had to reacquaint myself with an Xbox controller. But once I found my rhythm, I could see how satisfying the mechanics could become. That is... until I encountered the wooden mannequins and proceeded to die over and over again. If you think one shot is enough to take them down, think again.
During the demo, I battled grotesque wooden mannequins, explored the surrounding areas of Hispania searching for blood vials to restore health, and died more times than I'd like to admit. Survival was not easy to come by, and each time I had to start over, I found myself even more determined to win.
CRISOL keeps players on edge, constantly questioning what might be lurking around the next corner. When those moments land, they don't just scare you, they create genuine, breathless tension.
What makes this game so effective is the immersion. When you're watching a horror film, there's a layer of separation. You can detach. But in a game like this, you are the character. You control their fate. Every misstep is yours. Every encounter raises your pulse because you're responsible for what happens next. For horror gamers, this is a game that comfortably sits alongside titles like Resident Evil and Silent Hill.
CRISOL feels intentional and uncompromising. The visual design, the incorporation of authentic folklore, the use of Spanish for signs and inscriptions, and the unique blood-based mechanics all point to a team that clearly poured passion into their creation. By the time I finished the demo, I felt like I had spent time in a fully realized environment.
With CRISOL: THEATER OF IDOLS marking the latest from Blumhouse Games, it's clear they're carving out their presence confidently in the horror gaming space. If the demo is any indication of what's to come, horror gamers and horror fans curious about stepping into gaming will want to keep this one firmly on their radar.
CRISOL: THEATER OF IDOLS is available now for $17.99 on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. (Steam players can enjoy a 10% launch discount).
