[Analysis] Haunted Lands: A retro platformer with gore and relentless difficulty

Haunted Lands immediately reminded me of those old platforms that did not forgive a single mistake, like the famousAgainst, but with monsters and gore. Developed by Alevgor (a solo project) and published by Alawar, the game was released on March 10, 2026 on Steam and offers an experience that combines fast action, level exploration and a touch of over-the-top gore with retro aesthetics. The concept is simple: you enter the haunted lands, descend into enemy-infested tombs and crypts, and search for powerful artifacts while trying to survive waves of creatures and bosses.

The premise and style: A descent into the abyss with a classic flavor

The story is basic but functional: you enter a cursed land full of cultists, demons and abominations to face horrors that lurk in ancient ruins. There is no deep narrative with extensive dialogue; The focus is on the action and advancing level after level while discovering secrets and improvements. The pixelated art with a striking color palette and abundant blood effects gives it a gory and fun air, reminiscent of the 8 and 16-bit classics but with more visual violence.

The game allows you to choose between six characters with different play styles: some focus on ranged combat, others on melee or more aggressive skills. Each one has its own mechanics and you can find artifacts that radically change how you play with them. This variety is one of the most valued points, because it allows you to try different approaches without all the games feeling the same.

The gameplay: Platforms and action that punish failures

The core is a side-action platformer with fluid movement and direct combat. You jump, shoot or punch your way through levels that combine platforms, enemies in waves and bosses that require learning patterns. The control is responsive and the levels are full of secrets and optional objectives that reward exploration.

However, the difficulty is high from early on. Checkpoints are sparse in some sections, enemies are positioned so they can hit without giving you much room, and failures cost lives or progress. This creates that “one wrong step and you go back” feeling that many players associate with retro classics, but it also causes frustration when enemy placement seems unfair or when weapons don't respond as quickly as you'd expect in a shoot 'em up. Gore and death animations help make combat feel impactful, although repetition of certain enemy patterns can make some levels feel longer than they need to be.

Graphics and atmosphere: Retro with blood and personality

The visual style is one of the highlights. The pixel art with a palette inspired a bit by old computer games has its own charm and the blood and dismemberment effects are quite successful for a game of this type. The scenarios pass through ruins, crypts and infernal areas that transmit a dark and threatening atmosphere without the need for hyper-realistic graphics.

The atmosphere is sustained by the fast pace and constant gore, although sometimes the backgrounds and someassetsThey blend together too much (something typical of this "flat" graphic style, which is noticeable even in the trailer), which can complicate visibility during the most chaotic moments. Overall, the game looks and feels like a conscious homage to a bygone era, with enough personality to stand out among other retro titles.

Sound and music: An accompaniment that enhances the action

The soundtrack has a heavy rock style that fits well with the intensity of the levels and helps keep the energy up during waves of enemies. The sound effects (gunshots, hits, cries of creatures) are clear and contribute to the feeling of impact in combat. It is not a revolutionary section, but it fulfills its function and accompanies without distracting.

Personal opinion: A tough retro platformer that is not for everyone

Haunted Lands has clear ideas and a style that appeals to those who enjoy classic challenges with gore and fast action. The variety of characters and skill-modifying artifacts provide replayability, and its affordable price makes it easy to try out. Even so, the high difficulty combined withcheckpointsSparse and sometimes unfair enemy placement can lead to frustration rather than satisfaction. The combat and platforming work, but they don't always feel as polished or fluid as you might expect.

It's a game that respects the heritage of hard-core classics and offers solid content for its price, but its limitations in balance and visibility mean it's not a great experience for everyone. If you like retro challenges ("retro challenges", it's a little difficult for me to pronounce it correctly even when reading it) and you don't mind dying several times while learning the patterns, it can give you several hours of fun. If you prefer something more accessible or with a better flow, it may be harder for you to get hooked.

Conclusion: A descent into retro hell with an ancient challenge flavor

Haunted Lands is available on Steam and is an interesting option for fans of classic action platforms with high difficulty and pixelated gore. It doesn't revolutionize the genre, but it delivers what it promises with a good dose of nostalgia and violence. Tell me in the comments if you managed to master a character or if a boss made you restart more times than you wanted!