Cult of Blood

Independent Greek studio Dusty Box has announced Cult of Blood, their debut survival horror title launching next year on PC, PlayStation, and Xbox. This cinematic adventure combines classic fixed camera angles and tank controls with modern aiming refinements as players investigate a hidden village ruled by a blood cult seeking to transform their priestess into a goddess through ritual sacrifice.

Inspired by True Events

The narrative follows a police officer investigating unsettling reports who discovers a village seemingly frozen in time and isolated from the outside world. What begins as routine investigation evolves into supernatural horror as the cult’s influence becomes apparent through villagers stripped of their souls and enslaved to the priestess’s will.

Co-founder Angelo Axiotis explains their approach: “We wanted to revive the suffocating tension of classic survival horror, where every corner hides danger and every decision could be your last. This isn’t just a fight for survival, it’s a descent into a nightmare where you’re the key to a cult’s dark ascension.”

The story draws inspiration from true events whilst incorporating supernatural elements that explore themes of light versus darkness and the choice between destroying the cult or succumbing to its ritual.

Classic Mechanics with Modern Refinements

Cult of Blood employs fixed camera angles and tank controls reminiscent of classic Resident Evil whilst introducing modern improvements for aiming and dodging. This balance attempts to preserve deliberate, tense movement that defined survival horror’s golden age without the frustrations that accompanied those control schemes.

Combat emphasises resource scarcity with limited ammunition and rare healing items, forcing players to weigh melee risks against precious bullet expenditure. Enemy swarms transform encounters into desperate struggles where survival isn’t guaranteed.

Blood Soul Progression System

Players collect blood souls from defeated enemies to upgrade weapons or acquire new gear, creating progression mechanics within the survival framework. This system provides tangible rewards for successful combat whilst maintaining resource tension through careful upgrade choices.

The grotesque enemy variety culminates in a multi-phase final battle against the cult’s queen, suggesting boss encounters that test accumulated skills and resource management across extended confrontations.

Atmospheric Environmental Design

The announcement trailer showcases fog-drenched streets, candlelit chambers, and swampy ruins that establish the village’s oppressive atmosphere. Cinematic cutscenes blend with gameplay to create film-like presentation that emphasises narrative delivery alongside mechanical tension.

The environmental variety suggests distinct zones within the hidden village, each potentially offering unique aesthetic challenges and enemy types appropriate to different cult locations.

Cult of Blood represents Dusty Box’s attempt to capture classic survival horror’s essence whilst acknowledging contemporary quality-of-life expectations when it launches next year.