Curse of Resthaven not only boasts an impeccably written gothic narrative, but its smart roguelite systems make for a deeply gripping mystery.
If there is anything that 2026 will be remembered for, it is the media where nature fought back. The Odyssey, a timeless tale, showed the tumultuous journey Odysseus and his crew had to endure to get back home. In Widow’s Bay, an island is alive and claims human sacrifice in order to provide riches, or else its inhabitants will suffer the consequences. And now, Curse of Resthaven delivers a captivating gothic narrative where a man must save his niece from an eldritch catastrophe. In every case, the underlying force being the gods’ wrath because humanity simply would not stop its abuse is fitting. I cannot think of a more timely message in today’s day and age.
Curse of Resthaven feels like a video game capturing the zeitgeist. It has increasingly ubiquitous roguelite elements. It shows impeccably written fiction. Where Hilltop Studios could have aimed for a perfectly serviceable point-and-click adventure, it introduces smart gameplay systems that are easy to grasp but hard to put down. Knowing what works from every influence it is inspired by, the blend of said elements works perfectly.
What Lies Underneath
First, the compelling hook. As the newly minted mayor of Resthaven, Ambrose has only one goal in mind: find his missing 19-year-old niece. Because the island is in severe decline—with the last mayor taking his life—bureaucratic appointments must take precedence. Like every small town in the history of existence, waters run deep in this town.
Trying to learn the ropes is one thing, but uncovering conspiracies the longer you snoop around is another. There is a painfully human condition tainted through the narrative: gossip, zealotry, greed, violence. Each character you meet in Curse of Resthaven is as flawed as the last.
Even before arriving, Ambrose gets a taste of the island’s curse. Falling off the ship after seemingly hearing her niece’s voice, he witnesses something in the water before passing out. He is saved by a sailor named Sweeney MacGregor (who sounds as you might expect) before being greeted by his refined butler Garet. The voice acting and soundtrack do wonders to elevate the source material. A profoundly dreary feeling permeates throughout. And that is just the beginning.
A Mayor’s Work Is Never Done
Over the course of the first few days, you exercise your power as mayor. Almost all businesses in town are closed, so collecting the few resources you have to engage in commerce with ships from other provinces is a daily must. Then, it turns out nature has been reclaiming the island outside the city walls. Retaking outposts by going on expeditions is also required. Then there’s the matter of Ambrose’s niece, Amalia. With so many hours in the day to embark on plenty of busywork, questioning the townsfolk is an endeavor of his own. And without much fanfare, the sixth day arrives.
Constrained by a clock that marks your every action on the upper left corner, each day is, of course, divided into morning, afternoon, and evening. Some business and people are only available at certain times, so taking these details into account is primordial to becoming a successful mayor. But then, at the end of each day, an incredibly ominous title screen detailing the next day appears.
“Day 3,” Curse of Resthaven says. It makes you wonder what the goal is of keeping track of the days until it happens. On the sixth day, gargantuan monsters wake from the sea floor, destroying everything in its path. Fortunately, the island’s goddess, in her waning power, is able to bring you back to day one. Time to get back to work.
Venture Into The Unknown
As mentioned, each of the game’s three main pillars is rich. For example, improving a store’s status will yield better resources. In turn, you will be able to sell them at higher prices to the incoming ships. As your relationship with them grows, so do you learn about trade secrets to haggle for better prices. Once you reach Rank 5 on all stores, it becomes a satisfying pastime instead of a balancing act to focus entirely on that aspect on a specific loop. Doing simply one thing is possible, but juggling all three systems successfully is more gratifying.
Expeditions in Curse of Resthaven are endlessly fascinating. From a horror fan’s standpoint, that is. Featuring a straightforward card game where you bring a mix of resources and workers for hire, each expedition is a contained gothic short story.
You may find a group of bandits who have lost their mind, and you better pray you brought a brute to defend you. Or a bog witch who merely wants a sack of potatoes for her children. There are 28 different stories to find, and each of them is so unsettlingly great that they warrant a playthrough alone. Although, let’s not forget the pièce de résistance.
Vox Populi
Ambrose’s niece arrived months before him to investigate Resthaven’s mysterious nature. As you gain people’s favor, everyone has a unique perspective on her. Finding out about their position, to ultimately nudge towards what actually happened to her, is a powerful motivator in the background.
Never getting lost in the weeds, improving the town is an enjoyable activity that eventually reminds you why you are here. Ambitious to no end, Curse of Resthaven can be finished in about 10 hours, with a catch. Its endless replayability that lets you skip events you have seen before easily inspires you to play the game’s other endings.
Each system within Curse of Resthaven works in tandem to envelop you in its dark atmosphere. Once the time loop system is revealed within its first few hours, so is its clear goal. Follow the leads to discover what the townspeople are hiding, increase the town’s finances, find your niece. For those wondering if anything is lost as the town is reset, yes, your hard-earned gold is lost. But every store upgrade, lead progression, and expedition information is maintained. It feels like a solid compromise, striking a difficult balance where most other roguelites would make you too overpowered by a certain point.
Verdict: Curse of Resthaven
Capturing a moment in time is not what a developer sets out to do when creating something new. Yet, Hilltop Studios did just that. Not only does Curse of Resthaven imbue the best of what the gothic genre has to offer, but it does so effortlessly. Every story told within alludes to an unnerving godlike power but also to a much darker side of humanity. To envelop it in forward-thinking systems that make each day as a busy mayor deeply satisfying is genius. Now it is a matter of time until its horror-loving audience unravels its every mystery.
Reviewed on PlayStation 5 Pro. Also available on Xbox Series and PC via Steam. A Nintendo Switch version is in the works.
A key was provided for this review.
Developer: Hilltop Studios
Publisher: Digital Bandidos
Release Date: October 29, 2026
Pros
- Stellar prose
- Haunting art style
- Several mindblowing endings
- Gripping and satisfying mystery
- Every town member holds a secret
- Soundtrack keeps an unsettling tone
- Smart time loop mechanics avoid repetition
- Commerce and expedition minigames are engaging
Cons
- Minor technical issues on PS5
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Amazing
