Video Game Review: Devil Inside Us: Roots of Evil

Developer: Mr Skull Games

Publisher: QUByte Interactive

Genre: Horror

Reviewed For: Nintendo Switch

Also Available On PlayStation, Xbox, PC

In Devil Inside Us: Roots of Evil, players take on the role of a Catholic priest sent to confront a dark, evil that haunts an old house. Combining classic haunted house and exorcist horror tropes gives the game plenty of scares. Still, the genre is overflowing with low-budget, jump-scare-heavy titles. Does Devil Inside Us separate itself from its peers or fall into the pit of forgettable indie horror games destined to be played by streamers one time? 

The story of Devil Inside Us: Roots of Evil centers around Aughust, a Catholic priest investigating a haunted house plagued by demonic forces. The narrative begins in 1984 when Aughust faces off against an entity that drives a father to murder his baby.  After a run-in with the entity, Aughust returns 30 years later to confront the evil again. The story is told through a series of flashbacks and documents that reveal the house’s sinister history, giving a blend of active and passive storytelling.

The game relies heavily on exploration and puzzle-solving, with the occasional combat encounter. Players must navigate the haunted house, finding items like rosaries to refill faith for their crucifix, which is used to ward off demons. While the crucifix combat adds a unique touch, the scarcity of resources and occasional glitches can hinder progress. It feels like a shooter where players just point the crucifix at enemies until they die. Puzzles are simple, often requiring you to find specific keys or objects, but the game’s dark environments and hidden items slow down the pace, sometimes making exploration feel more like a chore than a thrill. Players quickly feel that they are playing as an old man, and the limitations make sense, but they aren’t necessarily fun.

Visually, Devil Inside Us: Roots of Evil isn’t impressive. The environments, primarily set within the confines of a dark, eerie house, do a good job of creating a haunting atmosphere, but there isn’t much detail or memorable spaces. On the audio side, the sound design is fine, with directional cues and ambient noises adding tension throughout. Still, sometimes it’s a cacophony of noise that is nothing short of irritating when things are at the most intense. The voice acting is okay, but some of the screams of the characters just don’t sound convincing.

Devil Inside Us: Roots of Evil struggles to rise above its indie horror peers. The game’s dark atmosphere and tense sound design create moments of genuine fear, but clunky mechanics, repetitive gameplay, and technical issues hold it back from being a standout. While it has flashes of potential, Devil Inside Us ultimately feels like a short, forgettable experience that doesn’t quite live up to its ambitions. For hardcore horror fans, it may still be worth a playthrough though.