View source for Labyrinth of the Demon King


{{Use New Zealand English|date=July 2025}}

{{Infobox video game
| title = Labyrinth of the Demon King
| image = Labyrinth of the Demon King.jpg
| caption = 
| developer = J. R. Hudepohl
| publisher = Top Hat Studios
| platforms = [[Windows]], [[PlayStation 4]], [[PlayStation 5]], [[Xbox One]], [[Xbox Series]], [[Nintendo Switch]]
| genre = [[Action video game|Action]], [[survival horror]]
| released = 13 May 2025<ref name=RPG/>
| modes = [[Single-player video game|Single-player]]
}}

'''''Labyrinth of the Demon King''''' is a 2025 [[video game]] developed by J. R. Hudepohl and published by Top Hat Studios. Upon release, the game received average reviews, with critics praising the game's atmospheric horror and visual similarity to [[PlayStation (console)|PlayStation]] [[survival horror]] titles, whilst critiquing its design limitations.

== Gameplay ==
{{empty section|date=July 2025}} 
[[File:Labyrinth of the Demon King_Gameplay.jpg|thumb|left|Gameplay screenshot]]

== Plot ==

War and disease have ravaged [[Feudal Japan]], and demons roam the earth. The player is an [[Ashigaru]] of [[Takeda clan|Takeda Nobumitsu]], attempting to rid the world of the demons. The player is the sole survivor of the [[Takeda clan|Takeda]] clan and its army, after the Demon King leads them into a trap. The player enters the titular Labyrinth to avenge their fallen Lord and destroy the Demon King.<ref name=Vice>{{Cite web |url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/labyrinth-of-the-demon-king-doesnt-care-if-you-live-or-die-only-that-you-suffer-review/ |title='Labyrinth of the Demon King' Doesn't Care if You Live or Die, Only That You Suffer (Review) |last=Vatankhah |first=Matt |date=13 May 2025 |website=Vice |access-date=5 July 2025}}</ref>

== Development and release ==

''Labyrinth of the Demon King'' was created by [[New Zealand]] independent developer J. R. Hudepohl. Hudepohl stated that the inspiration for the game's Japanese setting came from a visit to [[Kasaoka Islands|Kitagi Island]] in [[Japan]], with the game's narrative influenced by [[Japanese mythology]] including the slaying of [[Shuten-dōji]]. The design was strongly shaped by Hudepohl's interest in [[survival horror]] titles, including both ''[[Resident Evil]]'' and ''[[Silent Hill]]'' for the atmosphere, ''[[Fatal Frame 2]]'' and ''[[Onimusha]]'' for the Japanese environments, as well as ''[[Condemned: Criminal Origins]]'' for gameplay.<ref name=DXP>{{Cite web |url=https://www.dreadxp.com/interview/labyrinth-of-the-demon-king-j-r-hudepohl-breaks-the-seal-on-the-cursed-castle-to-tell-us-whats-inside/ |title=Labyrinth of the Demon King: J.R. Hudepohl Breaks the Seal on the Cursed Castle to Tell us What's Inside |last=Marvin |first=Ian |date=16 November 2022 |website=DreadXP |access-date=5 July 2025}}</ref> The game was announced with the launch of a trailer in June 2024.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.ign.com/videos/labyrinth-of-the-demon-king-official-trailer-publisher-spotlight-2024-top-hat-studios |title=Labyrinth Of The Demon King - Official Trailer |date=7 June 2024 |website=IGN |access-date=5 July 2025}}</ref> A [[game demo|demo]] of the game was published for [[Steam (service)|Steam Next Fest]] in February 2025,<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/10-steam-next-fest-february-2025-demos-to-play-right-now |title=10 Steam Next Fest Demos to Play Right Now |last=IGN Staff |date=28 February 2025 |website=IGN |access-date=5 July 2025}}</ref> with a final trailer and release date announced in April.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.ign.com/videos/labyrinth-of-the-demon-king-official-release-date-trailer |title=Labyrinth of the Demon King - Official Release Date Trailer |date=23 April 2025 |website=IGN |access-date=5 July 2025}}</ref> The game was released on 13 May 2025 for PC and console.<ref name=RPG>{{Cite web |url=https://rpgamer.com/2025/05/dungeon-crawler-labyrinth-of-the-demon-king-released-on-pc-consoles/ |title=Dungeon-Crawler Labyrinth of the Demon King Released on PC, Consoles |last=Fuller |first=Alex |date=13 May 2025 |website=RPGamer |access-date=5 July 2025}}</ref>

== Reception ==

{{video game reviews
| MC = 71/100<ref name=MC>{{Cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/labyrinth-of-the-demon-king/ |title=Labyrinth Of The Demon King |website=Metacritic |access-date=5 July 2025}}</ref>
| NLife = 8/10<ref name=NL>{{Cite web |url=https://www.nintendolife.com/reviews/switch-eshop/labyrinth-of-the-demon-king |title=Labyrinth Of The Demon King Review (Switch eShop) |last=Vogel |first=Mitch |date=13 May 2025 |website=Nintendo Life |access-date=5 July 2025}}</ref>
| PCGUS = 81%<ref name=PCG>{{Cite web |url=https://www.pcgamer.com/games/horror/labyrinth-of-the-demon-king-review/ |title=Labyrinth of the Demon King review |last=Prescott |first=Shaun |date=13 May 2025 |website=PC Gamer |access-date=5 July 2025}}</ref>
| rev1 = ''[[Bloody Disgusting]]''
| rev1Score = 4.5/5<ref name=BD>{{Cite web |url=https://bloody-disgusting.com/video-games/3869361/labyrinth-of-the-demon-king-is-an-authentic-love-letter-to-psx-horror-review/ |title='Labyrinth of the Demon King' Is an Authentic Love Letter to PSX Horror [Review] |last=H. C. |first=Luiz |date=21 May 2025 |website=Bloody Disgusting |access-date=5 July 2025}}</ref>
| rev2 = ''[[Siliconera]]''
| rev2Score = 7/10<ref name=SE>{{Cite web |url=https://www.siliconera.com/i-appreciate-labyrinth-of-the-demon-kings-aesthetic/ |title=Review: I Appreciate Labyrinth of the Demon King's Aesthetic |last=Lada |first=Jenni |date=13 May 2025 |website=Siliconera |access-date=5 July 2025}}</ref>
}}

According to [[review aggregator]] [[Metacritic]], ''Labyrinth of the Demon King'' received "mixed or average" reviews.<ref name=MC/> Several critics compared the game favorably to [[PlayStation (console)|PlayStation]] titles, including ''[[Silent Hill]]'' and ''[[King's Field]]''.<ref name=RPS/><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/labyrinth-of-the-demon-king-is-feudal-japanese-horror-meets-kings-field-and-im-all-aboard-this-nightmare-train/ |title='Labyrinth of the Demon King' Is Feudal Japanese Horror Meets 'King's Field,' and I'm All Aboard This Nightmare Train |last=Vatankhah |first=Matt |date=23 April 2025 |website=Vice |access-date=5 July 2025}}</ref>

Edwin Evans-Thirlwell of ''[[Rock Paper Shotgun]]'' praised the game's aesthetics, describing them as a "convincing encapsulation of the ambience of  ''[[Silent Hill]]'' [games]" although noting its "appallingly sluggish movement".<ref name=RPS>{{Cite web |url=https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/labyrinth-of-the-demon-king-might-be-the-perfect-ps1-style-horror-rpg |title=Labyrinth Of The Demon King might be the perfect PS1-style horror RPG |last=Evans-Thirlwell |first=Edwin |date=16 May 2025 |website=Rock Paper Shotgun |access-date=5 July 2025}}</ref> Describing the game as one of the best horror titles of the year,<ref name=BD2>{{Cite web |url=https://bloody-disgusting.com/video-games/3885819/the-10-best-horror-games-in-the-first-half-of-2025/ |title=The 10 Best Horror Video Games in the First Half of 2025 |date=3 July 2025 |website=Bloody Disgusting |access-date=5 July 2025}}</ref> ''[[Bloody Disgusting]]'' commended its "cohesive vision" and "period-accurate aesthetics" as "one of the most masterfully crafted horror games in recent memory", although considered the player's increasing power over time reduced the game's horror and difficulty.<ref name=BD/> Matt Vatankhah of ''[[Vice (magazine)|Vice]]'' recommended the game for its "terrifying" visuals and "chilling" soundtrack, considering it to balance its "cumbersome" design inspired by older survival horror titles with a "tinge of modernity".<ref name=Vice/>

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
*{{MobyGames|241991}}

[[Category:Indie games]]
[[Category:2025 video games]]
[[Category:Windows games]]
[[Category:Nintendo Switch games]]
[[Category:PlayStation 4 games]]
[[Category:PlayStation 5 games]]
[[Category:Xbox One games]]
[[Category:Xbox Series X and Series S games]]
[[Category:Action games]]
[[Category:Single-player video games]]
[[Category:Survival horror video games]]
[[Category:Video games developed in New Zealand]]
[[Category:Video games with low poly graphics]]
[[Category:Top Hat Studios games]]

{{Wikipedia attribution|original_title=Labyrinth of the Demon King|access_date=2026-03-04}}