Alex and Judie are vacationers whose trip takes a dark turn when their path leads them to a long forgotten, decaying hotel. What outwardly appeared charming and quaint soon unravels into horror. Zombies and other malevolent creatures roam its halls, cryptic puzzles block escape, and every discovery reveals the hotel to be more sinister than it first seemed. As Alex and Judie explore its dozens of rooms, uncover hidden secrets, and confront terrifying threats, they must decide how much they are willing to sacrifice and whether they can outsmart their pursuers to survive.
The Hotel was both developed and published by IL PALA, a small Italian studio, and released in November 2022. It is built as a throwback to classic survival horror, borrowing mechanics like fixed camera angles, limited ammunition, and character route variations. The game is available on PC, and was designed with controller compatibility in mind, including Xbox, PlayStation, and other popular controllers. The experience is framed around exploration, puzzle solving, and survival rather than fast paced action.
Gameplay
Players navigate a sprawling hotel environment with nearly ninety rooms to explore. At first you play as Alex, and after completing his path you unlock Judie’s version of the story, which runs parallel but has differences. Progress through the game depends heavily on solving puzzles some straightforward, others tougher and scavenging for weapons and ammo, which are scarce. Encounters with zombies and creatures force players to use caution, plan their routes, manage resources, and decide when confrontation is unavoidable. The game also includes collectible costumes depending on choices made during each run.
Visuals & Style
The design leans into nostalgia, with visual and control elements that call to mind classic horror games from earlier console generations. Fixed camera angles, dim lighting, shadowed hallways, atmospheric decay, and ambient sound combine to build tension rather than rely on flashy graphics. The architecture of the hotel feels labyrinthine, with many rooms possessing hidden doors or paths, encouraging players to carefully observe their surroundings. The style is gritty, moody, at times grotesque, especially when enemies appear after long periods of quiet and exploration.
Importance in Survival Horror History
The Hotel is part of a recent wave of indie games attempting to recapture the mood of survival horror’s early golden age. By investing in limited resources, environmental storytelling, atmospheric tension, and puzzle driven progression, it reaffirms how much the genre’s classic formula still resonates. It also reinforces that small studios, even solo developers, can effectively recreate and even expand on genre traditions, keeping survival horror from becoming only about jump scares or action.
Reception vs Historical Value
Critic and player responses have generally been positive, especially among fans of old school horror. The game is often praised for its atmosphere, faithful homage to earlier survival horror mechanics, and the way exploration feels meaningful. Occasional frustration in locating puzzle items, and the limitations of resource scarcity which some players find too punishing. If you’re a fan of the genre this is a must try!
Availability & Collectibility
The game is available digitally for PC and supports multiple controller types. No physical version has been announced. For collectors of indie horror and retro survival horror, The Hotel offers appeal: its tribute to classic design, its alternate story paths, costumes, and secrets make it more than just a single playthrough. Over time it may become one of those indie gems people revisit when discussing how horror games can balance nostalgia with modern sensibilities.
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