I usually skip souslikes not made by FromSoftware, but one Steam demo just won me over. As a self-proclaimed FromSoft fiend, I’ve found it hard to get into most soulslike games outside of the main series. While I can appreciate the charm of titles like Lunacid or Mina the Hollower, games such as Lies of P or Nioh often fall into an uncanny valley for me — they're too close to the Souls experience I love but fail to deliver the same depth or satisfaction.
Enter Prison of Husks, a game whose Steam demo is now live and has managed to win me over despite the inevitable comparisons to the Souls series. It shares the same risk of being judged against the benchmark of Demon's Souls with its camera, controls, and overall vibe, but it manages to be distinct enough to stand on its own. The first thing that grabbed me was its dedication to a retro PS1 rendering style, which feels more like a genuine homage to the past than a trendy indie aesthetic.
This retro flair includes a forced 4:3 aspect ratio, a 640x480 default resolution, and chunky console-style menus. Through this lens, Prison of Husks successfully blends the level design of Demon's Souls with the combat mechanics of Sekiro, while adding its own unique flourishes. I'm a sucker for perfect block parries, and Prison of Husks had me running back to the demo's mini-boss dozens of times until I finally mastered it.
While it's not perfect — sometimes it felt like I didn't have a big enough window to counter after a parry, and the game lacks the clear feedback of Sekiro's stagger meter — the combat still felt satisfying, even better than many lesser Sekiro-inspired titles I've played. The atmosphere is another strong point. The game features grey, towering gothic structures and an eerie, cryptic tone that reminds me of Demon's Souls, with a touch of the same mysterious vibe found in Dark Souls 1.
You play as a life-sized doll automaton possessed by a wayward soul — or perhaps a wayward soul possessing the doll automaton — and the game's narrative hints at a larger story about entropic curses that need to be addressed. The game's approach to mechanics is also worth noting. It leans more toward action and exploration than a traditional RPG, with equippable gear but no complicated stat, class, or leveling system. Instead, the differentiation in builds seems to come from weapon choices and supplemental accessories.
As a bonus, Prison of Husks runs smoothly on the Steam Deck, even with its throwback graphics. This isn't always a guarantee, as some games with retro visuals can be too heavy for the handheld. The Deck’s 16:10 screen also fits the game's 4:3 aspect ratio well, making for an enjoyable experience. Prison of Husks is set to launch sometime this year, and you can wishlist it and check out its demo for yourself on Steam.
