Godstone Island Awaits: My Review of The Occultist on Xbox

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If you’ve ever found yourself wishing that Geralt of Rivia would hang up his silver sword and take up a career as a paranormal detective, then The Occultist is going to feel like a very strange, very specific dream come true.

I just spent the last few nights huddled in the dark with my Xbox controller, exploring the fog-drenched streets of Godstone Island, and I have some thoughts. Developed by DALOAR and published by Daedalic Entertainment, The Occultist is a first-person narrative horror that swaps out jump scares for deep-seated dread and “action” for methodical investigation.

The Man, The Myth, The Voice

Let’s get the elephant in the room out of the way: you play as Alan Rebels, and he is voiced by none other than Doug Cockle. Yes, the voice of Geralt himself. It is initially a bit jarring to hear that iconic, gravelly tone coming out of a modern-day paranormal investigator, but once you settle into the story, it actually works. Alan isn’t a superhero; he’s a guy looking for his missing father on an island that was abandoned in the 50s following some truly horrific cult rituals.

Not Your Typical Survival Horror

If you go into The Occultist expecting Resident Evil or Silent Hill-style combat, you’re going to be disappointed. Alan is not a fighter. When things go bump in the night, your options are basically “hide” or “run.”

Instead of a shotgun, your primary tool is the Mystic Pendulum. This isn’t just a quest item; it’s the core of the gameplay. You use it to tap into the “other side,” which allows for some really clever mechanics:

  • Spirit Vision: Revealing clues and memories hidden in the environment.
  • Time Manipulation: Rewinding certain objects to see how they looked before the island went to hell.
  • Animal Possession: At various points, you can control rats or even a spectral raven to reach areas Alan can’t.

These mechanics make the puzzles feel like actual “detective work” rather than just “find the blue key for the blue door.”

The Vibe of Godstone Island

The atmosphere is where this game really shines. Godstone Island feels heavy. Built on Unreal Engine 5, the lighting and environmental detail are fantastic. Walking through an abandoned orphanage or a decayed manor feels genuinely oppressive.

That said, it’s not perfect. While the environments are AAA-quality, some of the enemy designs feel a bit “indie”—they can look a bit more cartoonish than scary, which can break immersion during stealth sequences. On my Xbox Series X, the performance was mostly smooth, though I did hit a few frame drops in the more open, foggy areas.

Is It Worth the Trip?

The Occultist is a “slow burn” game. It’s for the players who like to read every note, soak in the lore, and solve environmental puzzles. If you enjoy games like Amnesia or The Vanishing of Ethan Carter, you’ll likely love the “investigative horror” vibe here.

The Good:

  • Incredible atmosphere and world-building.
  • The Mystic Pendulum is a unique and rewarding mechanic.
  • Doug Cockle brings a lot of weight to the protagonist.

The Not-So-Good:

  • Stealth can feel a bit clunky at times.
  • Enemy AI is a hit-or-miss.
  • Lack of combat might feel too passive for some horror fans.

Final Verdict: It’s a haunting, methodical mystery that proves you don’t need a chainsaw to tell a compelling horror story. Just a pendulum, a lot of patience, and a very recognizable voice.

Have you played The Occultist yet? Did the “Geralt” voice throw you off, or did it help you sink into the mystery? Let me know in the comments!

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