Title: Prison Of Husks (demo)
Developer/Publisher: Glass Head Dolls
Funded By: Wings Interactive
Released: June 7, 2025
Platforms: Steam
Reviewed On: Steam
Price: Free

Souls-likes have become more common as time goes by with countless games having FromSoftware’s influence bleed through them. However, there has only been a few that seem to not only recapture the very same essence that popularized the genre, but build a unique world that isn’t afraid to walk its own path. Prison Of Husks, an example of such a game, is a souls-like with an emphasis on “soul”.

The debut title for the indie studio Glass Head Dolls, Prison of Husks is an ambitious blend of nostalgia and a sense of modernity with familiar souls-like mechanics. All the while, the backdrop drowns the player in an atmosphere that’s bleak and quiet, but in a way an artist might paint those expressions on a canvas.

Synopsis

The demo starts off with your character locked away in a prison cell aged with moss and misplaced bricks. A mysterious character locked away in their own cage can be seen through the prison cell window. Interacting with them gets you the key you need to be set free as well as an objective: “Escape this prison.” With not much to go off of, walking aimlessly around the cold and lonely hallways is your best bet.

After escaping a couple enemies (that I originally had no clue I was supposed to run past), your character comes across their first weapon lodged onto the back of what seems to be a corpse. Further down the path is another caged character that tasks you with freeing them. The demo ends when you collect all the required items to free both the caged prisoner and yourself from the Prison of Husks

Analysis

The biggest feat any souls-like can achieve is the atmosphere in which it masks itself in. More than just the difficulty or the attacks being mapped to the right bumper buttons, the atmosphere and world design is what ties it all together. Prison of Husks absolutely takes that cake with what it provides to its set pieces and intricate level design, where even if you’re lost, you’ll always find yourself exactly where you need to be.

With a 4:3 aspect ratio and enough polygons to run on the PlayStation 2, Prison of Husks finds a specific nostalgic era and paints a world with it. Not only does this title have its obvious influences of FromSoftware’s critically acclaimed titles, but the dimly lit rooms and foggy atmosphere is reminiscent of the earlier Silent Hill games. Another similarity I noticed is how well both games can keep you at the edge of your seat in fear of what may come next. Prison of Husks is unpredictable and with a genre as abundant as souls-likes, that kind of tension sets it apart.

The gameplay and mechanics of Prison of Husks may be familiar to those who have dabbled in similar games of the genre, but the character models and enemy design adds on another surprising layer of difficulty. The old-school style of Prison of Husks can be charming; but with an action game where precision matters, an enemy’s rigid edges and smaller frame can lead to a couple attacks not connecting, or an enemies attack being misread. Getting comfortable with the visual differences this game has when compared to the realistic approach some souls-like’s aim for was a journey of its own. By the end of my playthrough though, I felt confident facing the next boss the game threw at me.

If you’re not familiar with souls-likes, Prison of Husks isn’t a bad place to start. You’re given three flasks to regain health that can be refilled at any checkpoint, with other consumables that can be picked up around an area that can help with enemy encounters. Difficulty with certain areas or boss battles is common as well, but nothing adaptability can’t fix; persevering your way through the struggle is what defines this genre after all.

Final Score

Prison of Husks serves as a reminder that a game’s essence lies not only in its difficulty but also in the atmosphere and the narrative it conveys through its setting. Despite its obvious influences, it never comes off as a copy; rather, it embraces eerie visuals and a slow rhythm to produce something that lingers, almost like a protest against convention. It’s patient and unafraid to be odd and unnerving for a first title. If this demo is any indication of what’s to come, Prison of Husks might just be the next cult classic in the making.

Featured Image: Glass Head Doll