The 9th Charnel is the latest “first-person psychological survival horror game,” and its perceived influences, Resident Evil and Bloodborne, already marinate it in a sumptuous atmosphere. While there’s also a pinch of Outlast’s psychological horror in there, the story may lean most heavily into that of Resident Evil 4 or Resident Evil Village.
The 9th Charnel’s announcement trailer dropped in August 2025, with an official gameplay trailer released last month. Now, according to its Steam store page, The 9th Charnel is in the eleventh hour, and players don’t have long to wait before it launches. But for anyone who can’t wait less than two weeks, they luckily don’t have to.
Any gamers who adore Bloodborne are sure to instantly think of Bloodborne’s Hemwick Charnel Lane when they see The 9th Charnel’s title. Of course, Bloodborne doesn’t have any exclusivity over the noun/adjective, and it is certainly evocative of a grim tone evident in both games. It is even more significant in The 9th Charnel, where players “learn about the mysterious organization known as The Charnels.”
Most notably, though, are the seemingly supernatural or fantastical elements in the wildlife sanctuary valley where the characters find...
