The scores
| Source | Score | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Metacritic | 69, “Mixed or Average” | 33 critic reviews |
| OpenCritic | 75 Top Critic Average; 65% recommend | 37 critic reviews |
| Steam users | 96% positive, “Overwhelmingly Positive” | 1,192 reviews (1,144 positive) |
Highest and lowest critic scores
Scores run from strongly positive to harsh. OpenCritic listed ZTGD 8.5/10, Giant Bomb 4/5, PlayStation Universe, DualShockers, TechRaptor and The Games Machine at 7/10, GameMAG 6/10 and COGconnected 63/100. Game Rant gave 7/10. Game Informer’s 4.5/10 on PS5 was the lowest widely cited score.
What critics agree on
- Praised: atmosphere, art direction and sound, Doug Bradley’s Pinhead, and how faithful it is to the early films.
- Criticised: bugs and texture pop-in, simple enemy AI, boss fights, and explorable sections that some felt pad the game.
Does it depend on the platform?
Screen Rant’s launch roundup found PS5 reviews lowest and PC and Xbox reviews higher, with Switch 2 scores not yet counted. Game Informer’s PS5 review focused on technical problems. If performance matters, also read requirements & performance.
Why are players happier than critics?
Steam reviews are written mostly by people who chose to buy a mature Hellraiser game, and many praise its faithfulness and gore. Critics weighted bugs and design more heavily. Both are useful: read a few negative Steam reviews for the problems that matter to you.
What did demo players think?
Saber’s 21 September demo patch notes said demo reviews had reached Overwhelmingly Positive on Steam. Demo feedback raised field of view and head movement, covered in FOV & controls.
Did IGN review it?
Yes. IGN published its review on 8 October 2026; its post called the combat derivative but solid and the not-safe-for-work puzzles memorable, if not difficult. See IGN for its score.
When did reviews go live?
Most reviews appeared on the morning of launch day, 8 October 2026, and most Metacritic entries carry that date. We found no official embargo announcement.
Sources & review scope
Checked on 9 October 2026. Official announcements and store listings establish the facts identified above; third-party guides and player reports are named where they are the only source. This article is not a hands-on test by this site.