HOTEL BARCELONA Arrives on PlayStation This September

I’m sitting here, caffeine in hand, trying to unravel the madness that is HOTEL BARCELONA. Seriously, it’s a wild ride from SWERY and SUDA51, and hitting the PlayStation 5 this September? Mind blown. Why this month? I kid you not, no idea.

First thing: there’s this hotel, right? Out in the sticks between Pennsylvania and West Virginia. Quaint, but with a twist. It’s basically a vacation hotspot for… serial killers. Yeah, let that sink in.

You play as Justine. She’s not just a federal marshal — she’s got a hitchhiker in her brain. Dr. Carnival, a psycho with a love for chaos, shares headspace with her. Together, you’re on a mission to wipe out all the bad guys. Or, well, become one? No clue how they keep track of this stuff.

The game’s got this funky 2.5D action thing going. Not your usual side-scroll business. It’s like a dance of death with every move you make. Picture 1980s horror flicks, complete with synths and shadows.

Oh, and dying isn’t just a ‘Game Over.’ Nah. You leave behind echoes called Slasher Phantoms. They do exactly what you did before you bit the dust. Use ’em as buddies or maybe as an accidental distraction. Could be both. Who’s judging?

And the blood! As in, it’s everywhere — apparently, it makes you stronger. Fill up something called the Skull Gauge. (Sounds gnarly, I know.) Once maxed, you get this Carnival Awakening attack. No idea who names these things. But it’s meant to be powerful.

Seven zones to conquer. Each one styled after some horror theme. Like, haunted houses to bizarre labs. Bosses are lurking, ready to test your nerves and button-mashing skills.

If that wasn’t enough, the game’s brought to you by SUDA51 and SWERY, first-time collaborators. Their work is all kinds of unforgettable and surreal. You might walk away feeling like you’ve been part of something completely bizarre. And maybe a little badass.

Pretty cool, huh? Or maybe it’s just me caught in the thrill of pixels and prompts. Go figure.