October 4th 2025.
Hotel Barcelona – A Disappointing Collaboration Between Suda51 and SWERY
A collaboration between two renowned game creators, Suda51 and SWERY, sounds like a match made in heaven. However, their game, Hotel Barcelona, does not live up to the expectations set by their prestigious names.
From the moment I booted up Hotel Barcelona, I could tell it was a Suda51 game. His signature style and tropes are evident throughout, making fans of his work feel right at home. The game also incorporates elements from SWERY's Deadly Premonition, resulting in a chaotic and trope-heavy experience.
The game throws you into the deep end, introducing you to Justine, a new federal marshal who is also possessed by a serial killer, Dr. Carnival. The dynamic between the timid Justine and the carefree Dr. Carnival makes for interesting interactions, especially since they share a body.
The game's cover art caught my attention, with its similarities to Lollipop Chainsaw and fairground aesthetics. I expected a flashy side-scroller with violence and gore, and that's exactly what I got. However, there were some areas that fell flat. The character designs and backgrounds lacked detail, making it difficult to keep track of my character, especially in combat.
The gameplay loop of killing, dying, upgrading, and repeating was enjoyable, but the movement and combat felt sluggish and clunky. Even on the easiest difficulty, the game was challenging and the upgrades didn't feel significant. The boss fights were particularly frustrating due to the poor optimization and slow inputs.
The skill tree and buffs offered by different hotel rooms were not as beneficial as I had hoped, and it was unclear to me how many buffs I had acquired. The game's roguelike feature, where upgrade materials are lost upon starting a new run, added a punishing element that pushed me to do better.
Overall, my experience with Hotel Barcelona was disappointing. While I enjoyed the theatrical aspects and tropes, the game's fundamental issues hindered my progress and enjoyment. Hopefully, with some patches and tweaks, Hotel Barcelona could reach its potential as a brilliant game. For now, it will have to go back on the shelf.
Score: 7/10
By Amy Eastland
Formats: PC, Xbox Series X/S, and PlayStation 5
Price: £24.99
Publisher: CULT Games
Developer: White Owls Inc.
Release Date: 26th September 2025
Age Rating: 18
Despite its flaws, Hotel Barcelona is a game worth trying for fans of Suda51 and SWERY. However, its difficulty and lack of fluidity may not appeal to everyone.
[This article has been trending online recently and has been generated with AI. Your feed is customized.]
[Generative AI is experimental.]
