Hotel Barcelona Review: A Grindhouse Roguelite That Thrives on Chaos

XPN Network
Nov 7
4 min read

When two of gaming’s most eccentric auteurs - Goichi Suda (better known as Suda51) and Hidetaka “Swery” Suehiro announce a collaboration, expectations are bound to be high. Both are known for creating cult classics that revel in the strange, the surreal, and the downright bizarre. With Hotel Barcelona, their long-awaited joint project, the pair deliver exactly what fans might expect: a roguelite drenched in grindhouse horror aesthetics, brimming with dark humour, and unapologetically weird from start to finish. But while the game’s style and atmosphere are undeniable, its execution leaves room for debate, making it a title that will likely divide players as sharply as the slashers who stalk its haunted halls.

The premise is as wild as it sounds. You step into the shoes of Justine, a rookie U.S. Marshal who becomes possessed by the spirit of Dr. Carnival, a notorious serial killer. Together, this unlikely duo must survive the twisted labyrinth of Hotel Barcelona, a nightmarish structure crawling with killers inspired by classic horror villains. Each run through the hotel is procedurally generated, ensuring no two attempts are the same, and permadeath keeps the stakes high. The game’s 2.5D side-scrolling perspective adds a retro flair, while the neon-soaked visuals and pulsing soundtrack make every corridor feel like a scene ripped from a cult VHS horror tape.

The core of the experience is built around its roguelite structure. Each time you enter the hotel, the layout shifts, enemies are shuffled, and hazards are rearranged, ensuring that no two runs feel identical. This unpredictability is part of the tension: you’re never quite sure what’s waiting behind the next door. The game uses a 2.5D side-scrolling perspective, which gives it a retro arcade feel while still allowing for modern visual flair people have come to expect.

Combat is central, but it’s also one of the more divisive aspects. You control Justine, who has access to a mix of melee and ranged attacks, dodges, and special abilities. The twist comes from her possession by Dr. Carnival, which occasionally influences her abilities and adds a layer of unpredictability to encounters. Boss fights are the highlight here as each slasher villain has a distinct personality and attack pattern, forcing you to learn their rhythms and adapt your strategy. These encounters often feel like set pieces, breaking up the more randomized exploration with moments of spectacle.

Progression follows the familiar roguelite loop: you collect resources during each run that can be spent on permanent upgrades, new weapons, or abilities. This creates a sense of long-term growth even when you die, which you will do often. The hotel itself acts as both a setting and a character, with its shifting corridors, traps, and grotesque inhabitants constantly testing your reflexes and patience.

That said, the gameplay isn’t without its frustrations. The controls can feel sluggish, especially in high-pressure fights where precision is key. Some players may find the difficulty spikes jarring, as certain enemies or bosses can wipe out a run in seconds. Combined with the sometimes clunky combat, this can make progress feel less like a test of skill and more like a battle against the game’s rough edges.

Still, when everything clicks, Hotel Barcelona delivers a tense, stylish, and chaotic experience. The thrill of narrowly surviving a boss fight, unlocking a new upgrade, or discovering a bizarre new room in the hotel captures the addictive loop that makes roguelites so compelling. It’s messy, but it’s also memorable, very much in line with the reputations of its creators.

Where Hotel Barcelona shines brightest is in its creativity. The bosses are grotesque, imaginative, and memorable, each with their own unique attack patterns that force you to adapt on the fly. The interplay between Justine and Dr. Carnival adds a twisted narrative hook, blending revenge, possession, and dark comedy into something that feels distinct within the roguelite genre. For players who thrive on replayability, the randomized layouts and unlockable upgrades provide plenty of incentive to keep returning to the hotel’s blood-soaked halls.

Unfortunately, the game’s ambition sometimes outpaces its polish. Combat, while more than serviceable, often feels clunky and unresponsive, which can be especially frustrating in a genre that demands precision. The writing, though quirky, occasionally leans too heavily on clichés, and the humour doesn’t always land. Difficulty spikes can also feel unfair, with certain bosses punishing players in ways that feel more cheap than challenging. At times, it feels as though the game is more invested in its eccentric presentation than in refining its core mechanics, which may leave some players cold.

Still, there’s something undeniably captivating about Hotel Barcelona. It’s not a game that plays it safe, and in an industry often dominated by formulaic blockbusters, its willingness to be messy, stylish, and strange is refreshing. On Xbox, the game runs smoothly and looks fantastic, allowing its bold visual design to shine. For fans of Suda51 and Swery, this is a dream collaboration that delivers exactly the kind of offbeat, unpredictable experience they’re known for. For others, it may feel like an acquired taste, one that rewards patience but tests it in equal measure.

Pros

Distinctive grindhouse horror style and atmosphere
Creative and memorable boss encounters
Unique narrative hook with Justine and Dr. Carnival
High replay value thanks to roguelite structure
Smooth performance and striking visuals on Xbox

Cons

Combat can feel sluggish and unresponsive
Uneven writing and humour that doesn’t always land
Sudden difficulty spikes that frustrate more than challenge
Style often prioritized over substance in gameplay

In the end, Hotel Barcelona is best understood as a cult horror film in video game form. It’s not polished, it’s not perfect, and it’s certainly not for everyone. But for those willing to embrace its eccentricities, it offers a ride unlike anything else on the market. Whether you’ll love it or loathe it depends entirely on your tolerance for chaos, clunkiness, and creative madness.

XPN Rating: 4 out of 5 (GOLD)