Middle Evil: The Priest, developed by diedemor studio and published by Ratalaika Games, is a charmingly quirky 2D action-horror title that recently made its way to PS5 (alongside other consoles). It blends medieval dark fantasy with arcade-style gameplay, top-down shooting, and light survival elements in a compact, atmospheric package.
In a remote medieval village, a righteous young priest arrives to find the local church overrun by evil forces. What begins as a holy cleansing mission quickly turns into a desperate seven-night stand against waves of supernatural horrors. Players must protect the church, aid villagers, and push back the darkness through a mix of combat, prayer, and resource management. The story stays focused and straightforward, emphasizing themes of faith, perseverance, and the battle between good and evil in a grim, oppressive setting.
The unnamed young priest serves as a capable and sympathetic protagonist. Armed with faith and holy relics, he evolves from a newcomer to a battle-hardened exorcist. His arsenal and abilities grow through clever mechanics, making him feel progressively more powerful against escalating threats. The supporting villagers add flavor, offering items and brief moments of humanity amid the chaos.
Key features include dynamic combat mixing melee and ranged options, a unique “miracles from words” system where players compose holy phrases for powerful effects, an underworld hub for death-based upgrades, and a focused seven-night structure that builds tension night after night. The game also incorporates light adventure and shopping elements with villagers for potions and gear.
The Gameplay ...
Gameplay revolves around top-down action with strong arcade roots. Nights involve defending the church or village areas from hordes of skeletons, ghosts, vampires, and demonic spawns using a sword for close combat, a cross for ranged attacks, a censer for area effects, and the holy book for word-based miracles. Balancing aggression, positioning, and resource use (health, stamina, holy items) is key, especially as enemy waves intensify. Death sends you to the underworld for permanent upgrades, reducing frustration and encouraging experimentation. Objectives center on surviving each night, completing prayers or rituals, and ultimately cleansing the church.
The Presentation ...
The presentation shines with colorful 2D cartoon graphics and smooth animation that contrast the dark medieval horror theme, creating a distinctive, almost storybook-like aesthetic that still feels eerie and atmospheric. The village offers cozy daytime exploration, while nights and the underworld deliver gloomier, more oppressive vibes. The soundtrack effectively captures the mood with haunting, thematic medieval-inspired tracks that heighten tension during combat and provide a somber tone during quieter moments.
The Verdict ...
Middle Evil: The Priest is a solid, bite-sized indie experience that delivers fun, accessible action-horror with creative mechanics and a strong sense of progression. It may not revolutionize the genre, but its focused scope, charming art style, and engaging loop make it a worthwhile download, especially at its modest price point. Minor repetition in later nights keeps it from true greatness, but the overall package is polished and entertaining.
I recommend Middle Evil: The Priest to fans of retro-inspired 2D action games, light survival horror, and indie titles with unique twists (like the word-miracle system). It’s particularly well-suited for players looking for a shorter, replayable campaign that can be enjoyed in bursts, and is perfect for PS5 owners who enjoy quick sessions of horde-fighting and upgrade chasing without a massive time commitment. If you’re in the mood for a faith-fueled beatdown of demons in a cartoon medieval world, this one’s worth blessing your library with.
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