Haunted Lands is out now on PC

Haunted Lands, a retro-style action platformer from solo developer Alevgor, launched today on PC. Publisher Alawar released the game across Steam, GOG, and the Epic Games Store for $5.99.

The game previously had a playable demo during February's Steam Next Fest. The full release expands on that foundation with more environments, bosses, and a steep difficulty curve. The developer made several adjustments based on playtest feedback. The final version includes a reworked progression system, adjusted rules for unlocking characters, and changes to how artifacts are discovered.

You play as a monster hunter tasked with clearing out forsaken burial grounds. These areas have been overrun by demons, slimes, and corrupted cultists. The mansion and crypts are designed to be unforgiving.

Six ways to die

The roster includes six playable classes divided into three categories. You can choose between two Gunners (Veteran and Ranger), two Beasts (Werewolf and Salamander), or two Mages (Sorceress and Warlock). Each class has distinct attack patterns and base movement capabilities. The Gunners excel at keeping enemies at a distance. The Beasts are built for close-quarters brawling. The Mages provide a mix of area denial and burst damage.

You can modify these base traits by finding artifacts scattered throughout the tombs. These items do more than just bump your stats. Some artifacts completely overhaul a character's skill set. Others add new mobility options like a double jump. The developer notes that combining the right items can break traditional class roles. You can equip a Mage with specific artifacts like the Ruby Prism to make them highly effective in melee combat.

The enemy design leans heavily into classic horror tropes. The basic grunts are cultists who have lost their minds to dark rituals. The larger threats are Hellspawn demons pulled from another dimension. The enemies include standard zombie fodder and massive multi-armed golden demons.

A bad day for cultists

The combat is fast and requires careful positioning during the screen-filling boss encounters. The launch trailer shows off several of these massive fights. One scene shows a battle on top of a moving train bathed in a harsh red color palette. Another reveals a close-up of a giant purple beast with multiple eyes and razor-sharp teeth.

Alevgor (Oleksii Horiachev) built the entire project alone. He handled all the systems, pixel art, and encounter design. Horiachev previously worked as a freelance artist and animator before shifting to solo game development in 2019. The visual style uses a muted, dark color palette that makes the bright weapon effects and enemy projectiles stand out. The levels are designed to be replayed. The game encourages players to hunt down every secret room and complete secondary objectives for extra rewards.

Hardware requirements

The game includes full controller support and works on the Steam Deck. Alawar is currently running a 20 percent launch discount for the first two weeks across the PC storefronts.

At six bucks, the barrier to entry is low. The real cost will be the time spent trying to memorize boss attack patterns and figure out which artifact combinations actually keep you alive. The burial grounds are open, and the slimes look hungry.