Stalker-like threats that can’t be killed remain a strong premise in the survival horror genre, but what if faced with multiple of them? That’s one of the premises of Alkimya: House of Wisdom, developed by Iksyr. Coming to PS5 and PC, players control an alchemist, Yusuf, as he ventures into the titular house to search for a cure for his daughter.
But unlike other horror games which throw monstrosities at you, Alkimya is set in Baghdad during the Mongol invasion of 1258. As a result, soldiers assail you at every turn and can’t be killed. Only by mixing alchemical solutions can Yusuf stand a chance of avoiding them, either by blinding or burning. It also seems you can turn the environment against them, which is probably where the ability to dissolve things comes into play.
The other obstacle is the House of Wisdom itself. Touted as an interconnected space, it requires solving puzzles to progress further, where it’s stated that something “otherworldly” awaits below. Perhaps that’s where the “cosmic horror” aspect comes in?
While running away is emphasized more than actual combat, there are boss fights to be had. Developed on Unreal Engine 5, Alkimya: House of Wisdom lacks a release date, so stay tuned for more updates.
