It wasn’t that far after an announcement that we would get not one, but TWO Halloween themed video games that RetroRealms was announced. RetroRealms itself acts more like a hub where you can join either the Halloween game or the Ash VS. Evil Dead game or look around at trophies, achievements, high scores, and a museum of art and other goodies. If other titles are added, you can access them from this hub. As for the actual gameplay, both games are lovingly crafted 16-bit-style platformers that take you through Halloween and the events of Ash VS. Evil Dead.

We’ll start off with Halloween. The most basic of basic premise is that Michael Myers is in prison and an ancient demon, The Overlord, has offered him the chance to get out and the tombstone of Judith Myers in return for him absolutely massacring people. So what does Michael do? He goes out and massacres people. The game plays out like Splatterhouse or other similar 16-bit-era games. It does lovingly craft that feeling while you’re playing it. One of my only gripes would be that you can add scanlines or simulate a 4:3 TV while playing the game. It’s a slight touch that would go a long way for these classic-inspired games.

The premise for the Ash VS. Evil Dead game is somewhat similar. Ash Williams is awoken by The Overlord asking to have the Necronomicon, so he can take over this Realm. Ash plays dumb, but the Overlord finds it and disappears, leaving an eye that can control jumping between the nightmare realm and the normal world. This gameplay mechanic is one of the pillars of these two games.

RetroRealms: Halloween

The Nightmare Realm is a higher risk vs. reward area. The enemies are tougher, they’re more abundant, but you get bigger rewards for battling there than in the normal realm. It is necessary at points to progress to enter the Nightmare Realm, but it’s not always a must. You can only be in the realm for a limited amount of time, so use it wisely. As you play, you can upgrade your character to have more time.

As you go through the game, you can buy upgrades for either character that make them stronger and for moves. Both of the characters feel functionally different enough. Michael is slower, and Ash is more nimble. There are DLC characters like Laurie Strode and Kelly from Ash VS. Evil Dead as well. Playing the games with different characters sees different narratives across them, so there’s replay value from going through with the various characters again. There’s also a special surprise for finishing the games with different characters.

RetroRealms: Ash VS. Evil Dead

Both games play out pretty similarly in gameplay. The twists and turns of the story are vastly different, though. If you haven’t played a game like this in a while, it might be a shock. Both the Halloween and Ash VS. Evil Dead games are not easy. They’re not as punishingly difficult as the platformers of yesteryear, but they’re not holding your hand throughout. If you get lazy or lackadaisical, you’ll get punished.

The look of not just the characters, but the backgrounds of the game are beautiful. There are little details like deadites pulling someone apart or demons battling in the back that add a layer that can be missed while playing. Combining that with the soundtrack and it makes for a hell of a nostalgic experience.

Overall, these are two of the games that we would have loved to have in the 80s or 90s on the Super Nintendo or SEGA Genesis. We never got them, but now we have them here with RetroRealms. They might not be the deepest play experience, but if you’re in for some platforming, world-hopping, and swinging a knife/chainsaw at enemies, there’s plenty of fun to be had.

RetroRealms is available on October 18th for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and Steam (including Steam Deck). The two games are sold separately for $24.99 or as a bundle for $49.99.

For more on Halloween, make sure to check out Fright-A-Thon.

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