The Occultist review – A supernatural narrative adventure

Like most people, I imagine, Alan Rebels will go to quite some distance when it comes to matters regarding family. And so, upon the disappearance of his father, he quickly gets on a boat and heads off to the mysterious British island of Godstone, hoping to find him. It soon becomes clear that there’s more to the island than meets the eye, however, but with Alan being a paranormal investigator, he’s equipped to deal with it.

At its core, The Occultist feels a lot like a survival horror game. As you make your way across Godstone, you’ll have to explore numerous locations, frequently finding your progress blocked by puzzles and other obstacles that you need to find items to overcome. There’s the occasional hostile entity, too, though there’s no combat here. When you do find yourself in danger, your only option is to run away or keep your distance.

The fact that its protagonist, Alan (voiced by Doug Cockle), is a paranormal investigator is what makes The Occultist feel somewhat unique. It means that throughout the course of his journey he acquires a number of unusual and rather helpful skills. There’s Vera Visio, for example, which allows him to see things otherwise invisible to most people. Tempus Fugit, meanwhile, allows him to manipulate time, while Vermis Mentis gives him the ability to command rats.

You’ll need to effectively make use of all these skills as you explore, with them often being required to solve puzzles or get your hands on important items. And thankfully that’s the highlight of The Occultist – the general feeling of having to investigate each location. The oppressive atmosphere throughout adds to that, making you feel like you’re in peril even when there’s nothing around which can harm you.

There are some issues that bring the experience down a little, though. The Occultist feels a little rough around the edges at times, for example. You might find yourself getting stuck on a bit of scenery if you’re not careful, for example, and playing on PS5 Pro for review, I’ve experienced graphical issues when picking up notes. Additionally, in some areas, the hostile entities that pursue you can feel a little too overbearing, and the story that holds everything together perhaps isn’t quite as engaging as it could be.

Still, The Occultist is an enjoyable supernatural narrative driven adventure on the whole, with plenty of enjoyable puzzles to solve and some effective scares during its eight-or-so hour running time. It’s also got impressive production values considering its somewhat budget price, with its visuals being impressive at times. Ultimately, it’s the type of game that’s unlikely to set anyone’s world on fire, but will be very much appreciated by fans of the genre.