The Exorcist

The Exorcist, developed and published by Necto, is a first-person horror experience that centers on ritual, tension, and exploration inside a haunted religious setting. Rather than presenting the player as a typical horror protagonist trying to escape monsters or survive relentless attacks, the game places the player in the role of a young priest assigned to perform a dangerous exorcism. This premise immediately distinguishes the game from many survival horror titles, as the central goal is not simply to survive but to carry out a sacred ritual intended to banish a powerful supernatural entity. The story follows a newly ordained priest who is sent to an isolated church to confront a disturbing situation. A witch has died, but her corpse is believed to be possessed by a malevolent spirit that refuses to leave the body. According to ancient texts, a proper exorcism must be performed before the spirit grows stronger and escapes its confinement. The protagonist arrives at the church to complete the ritual, only to discover that the place itself seems corrupted by the presence of the dark entity. What begins as a formal religious duty slowly turns into a psychological battle against a force that manipulates the environment and threatens the player’s sanity. The entire game takes place within the confines of the church and its surrounding interior spaces. This limited setting works effectively to create a claustrophobic atmosphere where every corridor and room feels dangerous. The church is presented as an abandoned structure filled with creaking wooden floors, dusty halls, and dimly lit chambers illuminated by candles or flickering lights. Exploring this environment becomes one of the core aspects of the gameplay, as players must search for clues and objects necessary to complete the exorcism ritual. Gameplay revolves around solving puzzles and gathering items that are needed to perform different parts of the ritual. Throughout the church, players find sacred texts that describe various steps required to banish the spirit. These texts act as guides, explaining what items are needed and how they should be used. Players must interpret these instructions, locate the required objects, and place them correctly in the ritual area. Because these puzzles are tied directly to the theme of exorcism, they feel integrated into the narrative rather than being arbitrary challenges. As the player progresses, supernatural disturbances begin to intensify. Strange sounds echo through the church, doors close on their own, and shadowy figures appear briefly before disappearing into darkness. These events create a constant sense of unease that keeps the player on edge during exploration. The game relies more on psychological tension than constant action, often allowing long stretches of quiet investigation before suddenly introducing unsettling moments that break the calm. The design of the environment plays a crucial role in building suspense. The church is structured with multiple rooms and hallways that connect in ways that gradually become familiar to the player. However, the supernatural presence occasionally disrupts this sense of familiarity. Certain rooms may appear altered, lights may flicker unexpectedly, and strange occurrences can make the player question whether the building itself is reacting to the exorcism attempt. Visually, the game uses a realistic first-person perspective to immerse the player in the haunted environment. The lighting design is especially important, with dark shadows and candlelit areas creating dramatic contrasts that enhance the feeling of isolation. The interior of the church is filled with religious objects such as crosses, prayer books, and ritual tools that reinforce the theme of spiritual conflict. Although the graphical fidelity is not particularly advanced, the environmental design effectively establishes a haunting atmosphere. Sound design contributes significantly to the tension of the experience. The quiet creaks of the building, distant whispers, and sudden noises create a sense that something is always present just beyond the player’s vision. Moments of silence are used strategically, making the occasional loud sound or supernatural event more startling. The subtle ambient audio keeps the player alert even when nothing visible is happening. Despite its strong atmosphere, The Exorcist remains a relatively small-scale project. The overall length of the game is fairly short, and the gameplay mechanics remain largely consistent throughout the experience. Once players understand how the puzzle system and exploration loop work, the remaining sections of the game may feel somewhat predictable. The limited number of environments and puzzle types can also reduce the sense of variety during longer play sessions. However, the focused design also works in the game’s favor. By concentrating on a single location and a specific objective, the game maintains a clear sense of purpose. The process of completing the exorcism becomes the central narrative thread, guiding players through the haunted church as the supernatural presence grows increasingly hostile. Ultimately, The Exorcist delivers a compact horror experience built around atmosphere and ritual-based gameplay. While it may lack the scale and complexity of larger horror titles, its unique premise and eerie setting provide a memorable adventure for players who enjoy psychological horror. The game succeeds in capturing the unsettling feeling of confronting a supernatural force in isolation, offering a tense journey through a haunted church where every step brings the player closer to either salvation or disaster. Rating: 7/10

This is literally a film adaptation of Viy.

This game is scary! It stretches the atmosphere, and while you're busy thinking about the ritual, all sorts of horrors happen behind your back. The final level is something else, suitable for creating a separate game!

If you like the creepy atmosphere of churches, then you'll love this game. The gloomy atmosphere, unusual gameplay and stylish graphics will delight horror connoisseurs.

Unusual inventory management, but cool immersiveness. It's been until 11 p.m., but it's too dark to play this alone in a room. I'll leave it for tomorrow. I spent about 15 hours playing this game. What could you possibly do with that much time if there's only about 5 hours of gameplay? It's simple: for me, this game was incredibly beautiful and engaging. I adore the architecture represented in this church. And then there's the atmosphere: to fully immerse myself, I tried to play in the evening/night with the lights off and headphones on. Next, I reduced the brightness so that the candlelight would work realistically. I'll tell you this: if you're holding a candle in your hand, the flame will cause your pupils to constrict, and you won't get the same illumination as from lamps. Before performing the First Night ritual, I walked around the church for about an hour without actually starting the exorcism. I was terrified to begin.

game is hard to see even on max brightness