Software:Crisol: Theater of Idols
| Crisol: Theater of Idols | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Developer(s) | Vermila Studios |
| Publisher(s) | Blumhouse Games |
| Director(s) | David Tornero[1] |
| Producer(s) | Iulen Muñoz Murillo Cristina Sánchez Jiménez |
| Designer(s) | David Tornero |
| Programmer(s) | Javier Larraz Nsue |
| Artist(s) | Helena Sánchez García |
| Writer(s) | David Tornero Alby Ojeda Cruz |
| Composer(s) | Xavi Qués Bravo |
| Engine | Unreal Engine 5 |
| Platform(s) |
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| Release | 10 February 2026 |
| Genre(s) | Survival horror |
| Mode(s) | Single-player |
Crisol: Theater of Idols is a first-person survival horror video game developed by Vermila Studios and published by Blumhouse Games for PlayStation 5, Windows and Xbox Series X/S.[2]
Gameplay
The game follows Gabriel Escudero, an assassin sent from the Sun God, as he ventures through the island of Tormentosa, Hispania, a twisted version of Spain crawling with living puppet-like statues. Using weapons merged with the holy Sun God, players can kill them at any part of the puppet statues body. However, each weapon costs some blood from the player’s health bar. Unlike most FPS that have guns with ammo, the weapons Gabriel carry aren’t bullets but from his blood. Finding corpses of animals and people will not only regain their health, but also help reload your weapons if you run out of blood. Players can upgrade their weapons by spending Sliver Bull coins to the witch, La Plañidera, and unlock skills with the Essence collected from the defeated status and Crow Relics scattered across the island. Finding crows caged up will help discount the price you need to upgrade.[3]
Plot
During the early days when primitive humans were dwelled in darkness, the Sun God came and brought salvations by teaching them how to make fire to light up their existence and eventually came with it: art, literature, science and civilizations. Impressed by humanity, the Sun God then took a human form and formed the first human civilization on Earth on the island of Tormentosa.
Overtime thousands of worshipers came to the island to bring tributes to him to gain his blessings in many forms of gifts ranging from treasure, poetries or any forms of work of arts. However, one devotee captured his heart in the form of priestess Dolores. Eventually, the Sun God fell in love with her and she became the Queen of Tormentosa. The Sun God then impregnated her with his progeny. Eventually, their demi-god son Ulisses was born who exhibited the power to enact miracles like curing all kinds of illness or giving wisdom to people.
Paranoid at his own son's power, the Sun God ruthlessly ripped Ulisses out of Dolores's hands and drowned him. Devastated, Dolores cursed the Sun God for his actions before she died. Eventually, the Sun God disappeared later on. At the same time, Ulissess's divine power kicked in and he gained control over the ocean, becoming the God of the Sea.
With his father absence, Ulissess wrecked havoc on the mortal world to get revenge for his murder and the death of his mother until four greatest disciples of the Sun Gods: Arroyo; Espina; Hierro and Castilla sealed him with their own blood. Eventually, the descendants of these four disciples ruled over Tormentosa for over a centuries to come with the Hierro's family became the most powerful one due to their access to the silver mine in the island.
Within the confine of his imprisonment, Ulissess planned his revenge and after centuries later, he managed to corrupt the latest descendant of the Arroyo's family, leading him to create the religious order called the Church of the Sea and the cult eventually took over the island. The other three families were forced to work for Arroyo under the pain of death. With total control of Tormentosa, Arroyo managed to unseal Ulissess, enabling him to massacre the island inhabitants with his army of living statues called Hastiados. At the same time, he also resurrected his mother in the form of a powerful and towering Hastiados to serve as his chief enforcer to slaughter everyone in the island, leaving on the Solari, which is a small cult for his still worshiping the Sun to fend for themselves.
Eventually, the Hispania government dispatches Gabriel Escudero, captain of the elite Tercio De El Sol special force to Tormentosa to dismantle the Church of the Sea. Gabriel is killed by a Hastiados during the first encounter until he is resurrected by the Sun God himself and gained the ability to imbued weapons with his blood to effectively dispatch the Hastiados. Overtime, he finds out that in order to reseal Ulissess, he needs the blood of the descendants of the four disciples of the Sun God to form 4 blood blades that act as locks to seal Ulissess. Eventually, Gabriel learns the truth of what truly happened to Ulissess.
After Gabriel Escudero managed to acquire all the blood blades contain the blood of the descendants of the four disciples who sealed him initially in order to seal him again, he confronts Ulissess. The Sea God chastises Gabriel for not brave enough to face his own sins, much to his confusion. As Gabriel expresses sympathy for his plight, Dolores stormed in the cathedral and made Gabriel remembered his past. It is turned out that Gabriel is the Sun God himself who suppresses his own memories and identities out of shame and guilt for drowning his own son. leading to the death of his wife. Eventually, Dolores merged with Ulissess to destroy Gabriel but Gabriel defeated them.
The remorseful Gabriel profusely apologizes to both his son and wife for his past actions and swears to dedicate his mortal life to atone for his sins. He then reseals his son back to his prison and promised that he would eventually come back to him to finally ask Ulisses for his true forgiveness and free him when he is ready to accept it. Gabriel then embarks on the pilgrim to seek redemption as he leaves Tormentosa.
Development
Developer Vermila Studios is based in Madrid, Spain.[4] Blumhouse Games showcased Crisol during the Summer Game Fest in 7 June 2024.[5] The game takes inspiration from horror games such as Resident Evil and BioShock.[6][1]
Reception
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Crisol: Theater of Idols received "mixed or average" reviews for the Windows and PlayStation 5 versions while the Xbox Series X/S version received "generally favorable" reviews, according to review aggregator website Metacritic.[7][8][9] 68% of critics recommended Crisol: Theater of Idols on OpenCritic.[10]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 https://deadline.com/2026/02/crisol-theater-of-idols-game-interview-blumhouse-games-1236738849/
- ↑ Wilson, Mike (23 January 2026). "Blumhouse Games’ ‘Crisol: Theater of Idols’ Launches February 10 [Trailer"]. https://bloody-disgusting.com/video-games/3930531/blumhouse-games-crisol-theater-of-idols-launches-february-10-trailer/.
- ↑ Maas, Jennifer (2026-02-10). "Blumhouse Games’ ‘Crisol: Theater of Idols’ Horror Developer on Players’ ‘One Big Mistake’ in New Game: ‘Always Keep Blood in Mind’" (in en-US). https://variety.com/2026/gaming/news/crisol-theater-of-idols-game-release-blood-tips-explained-1236658755/.
- ↑ "Privacy Policy" (in en). https://vermila.com/privacy-policy/.
- ↑ Jackson, Destiny (2024-06-07). "Blumhouse Games Conjures Upcoming Indie Horror Games Slate At Summer Game Fest" (in en-US). https://deadline.com/2024/06/blumhouse-games-summer-games-fest-1235961966/.
- ↑ Taveras, Moises (2026-02-12). "Crisol Is A Spanish Horror Shooter Full Of Top-Tier Performances" (in en-US). https://kotaku.com/crisol-theater-idols-review-steam-horror-shooter-spanish-2000667876.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 "Crisol: Theater of Idols for PC Reviews". https://www.metacritic.com/game/crisol-theater-of-idols/critic-reviews/?platform=pc. Retrieved 10 February 2026.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 "Crisol: Theater of Idols for PlayStation 5 Reviews". https://www.metacritic.com/game/crisol-theater-of-idols/critic-reviews/?platform=playstation-5. Retrieved 10 February 2026.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 "Crisol: Theater of Idols for Xbox Series X/S Reviews". https://www.metacritic.com/game/crisol-theater-of-idols/critic-reviews/?platform=xbox-series-x. Retrieved 10 February 2026.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 "Crisol: Theater of Idols Reviews". https://opencritic.com/game/20031/crisol-theater-of-idols. Retrieved 10 February 2026.
- ↑ Kenneth, Marcus (14 February 2026). "Crisol: Theater of Idols (PS5) Review". https://www.cgmagonline.com/review/game/crisol-theater-of-idols-ps5-review/. Retrieved 14 February 2026.
- ↑ Duwe, Scott (10 February 2026). "Crisol: Theater of Idols review – A bloody solid horror FPS with familiar DNA throughout". https://www.destructoid.com/reviews/crisol-theater-of-idols-review/. Retrieved 10 February 2026.
- ↑ Ramée, Jordan (18 February 2026). "Crisol: Theater of Idols Review - Drained Dry". https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/crisol-theater-of-idols-review-drained-dry/1900-6418462/. Retrieved 18 February 2026.
- ↑ Kemp, Luke (10 February 2026). "Crisol: Theater of Idols review: "This blood-powered shooter intrigues me, but never manages to live up to its dark folklore promises"". https://www.gamesradar.com/games/fps/crisol-theater-of-idols-review/. Retrieved 10 February 2026.
- ↑ Mejia, Ozzie (26 February 2026). "Crisol: Theater of Idols review: Raining blood". https://www.shacknews.com/article/148058/crisol-theater-of-idols-review-score. Retrieved 26 February 2026.
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