DaRmaZat Having just launched, Haunted Lands is a brutal throwback that feels like it crawled straight out of a 1992 MS-DOS folder. Originally cutting its teeth on Itch.io, this solo-developed project from Alevgor has now clawed its way onto Steam. It is a fast-paced, dark, retro-inspired action platformer that feels remarkably reminiscent of MS-DOS classics like Dangerous Dave.
Haunted Lands captures that specific era of PC gaming so effectively that you’d swear Apogee Software could have developed it during their shareware heyday. Set in a world of grim cultists and infernal minions, you are tasked with defending sacred, forsaken burial grounds from waves of nightmarish creatures in an experience that prioritizes skill, secrets, and high-octane violence.
A Bloody Roster of Unique Heroes
You begin your journey in Haunted Lands with access to the Veteran, the Werewolf, or the Sorceress. As you progress, you can unlock three additional characters to round out the six distinct classes: the Ranger, the Salamander, and the Warlock. I naturally gravitated toward the Werewolf first. This beastly class comes equipped with a dash and a double-pierce attack, along with a powerful Charge attack that doubles as a tool for reaching far-off or high platforms. By building up your Wrath meter, you can unleash a devastating Wrath attack or use the special “Retribution” ability once three bars are filled. The Sorceress offers a completely different vibe with ranged magic attacks and a short hover, making her a great alternative.
On the other hand, I found the Veteran to be the least enjoyable starting character gameplay-wise. He suffers from a constant cooldown between his double-barrel shotgun blasts. This somewhat creates the illusion that you can pick off enemies from a safe distance, only for them to overwhelm you once they get too close during those awkward reloading gaps.
Before you set out, you can equip special items via “The Vault”. Once you’re fully geared up, you hop into your red jeep, ready to hunt. A map opens, allowing you to choose from unlocked destinations. Initially, your only option is the Old Mansion, where you can discover both silver coins and powerful artifacts. The catch is that you must bring these treasures back to your hub in one piece—either by completing the mission or by retreating, which can only be done from the starting entrance of the stage. Each major location is further divided into several sub-sections, so you’ll definitely have your hands full for a while.
MS-DOS Aesthetics, Gore, and Brutal Difficulty
Haunted Lands‘ pixelated, colorful environments perfectly evoke the MS-DOS and NES eras, though the old-school logic can occasionally be confusing. In a nod to how games used to be designed, you can sometimes jump onto crates and stand on them, while simultaneously being able to walk “through” them along the floor level. Meanwhile, blood splatters everywhere; you can dispatch your enemies in all sorts of gruesome ways, often resulting in them exploding into bits. Make no mistake: this game is gore-heavy.
The difficulty level is absolutely brutal as well; you lose a significant chunk of health the moment an enemy lands a hit. Perfection is required here, and just like in the old days, that perfection only comes through practice. While you have upgrades, the ability to switch characters after death, and save games to help you progress, the game unfortunately doesn’t save very often. The lack of manual saves creates a punishing level of tension, as the fear of losing all your progress can become a tiresome weight on the experience.
Clunky Controls, Killer Beats
The controls in Haunted Lands can also feel a bit stubborn at times. Occasionally, your character reacts too sensitively in a certain direction, leading to fatal mistakes. It is worth noting that the game features full controller and Steam Deck support, which makes the experience more portable, even if the “stiffness” of the movement remains. Fortunately, especially for speedrunners, you can walk through most enemies without taking collision damage—it’s their actual attacks that hurt you. Furthermore, getting used to the cooldown-based dash takes some time. Ranged combat also requires precision because you can only aim straight ahead or at a 45-degree angle. To survive, you constantly need to reposition yourself based on the enemies’ movements.
As a sort of mitigation, the music is phenomenally good. It features a mix of uptempo metal with impressive guitar riffs and lightning-fast drumming, alongside catchy synth melodies that linger in your head. It perfectly complements the frantic pace of the gameplay loop.
Final Thoughts
Haunted Lands is a true throwback to a bygone era of glory—a time when you had to practice a game for weeks until you became one with the mechanics just to see the ending. The game is incredibly difficult, but it has that addictive quality where you learn something new with every death, convinced that “this time, I’ll make it!” Isn’t that what gaming is all about? Transforming setbacks into something positive and eventually reaping the rewards? It’s not for the faint of heart or those who get aggressive when they lose, but for everyone else, this is a beautifully crafted retro gem.
Additional Information
Release Date: Mar 10, 2026
Reviewed On: PC. Download code provided by the publisher and PR agency.
Developer: Alevgor
Publisher: Alawar
Relevant links: Available on STEAM
