Inspired by '80s horror films, Hotel Barcelona promises over-the-top action and copious amounts of blood. Having spent a little bit of time with the first area, it's also a whole lot of fun.

You play as Justine, a federal marshal who also has the spirit of a serial killer imprisoned inside her. How, or why, this happened wasn't explained in the demo, but it does mean that violent, bloody attacks charge up your super. Eat your heart out, Dexter.

The Diamond Lake Campsite area is inspired by the "Friday the 13th" franchise, but it's clear that this is an homage, not a direct lift. Plenty of slasher horror tropes are referenced, including a cursed location and virgins who don't want to die, but everything is remixed in a way that feels original — with the references being more of a wink and a nod to those in the know. If you've never heard of "Friday the 13th," you wouldn't feel like you were missing anything, but for those who grew up on the movies, Hotel Barcelona's first level feels as though it were curated by a fan.

Before starting each level, you have the opportunity to customize your weapons and gear. I opted for a flamethrower and spinning buzzsaw blades because why not? Hotel Barcelona celebrates the absurdity of '80s horror, and that extends to your weapons. It's a great way to customize your play style, and I'm looking forward to seeing how the different weapons affect level and boss strategies.

Challenge-wise, Hotel Barcelona felt difficult, but fair. I quickly died on my first attempt, but I did better on every try. It evokes the feeling of classic games where practice makes perfect, so you are encouraged to replay levels multiple times. I can easily see Hotel Barcelona becoming a favorite among streamers and speed runners, especially because dying provides an assist in the form of your ghost.

Similar to a racing game, the ghost of your last attempt can be seen when you decide to give it another go. Unlike a racing game, your ghost can affect the world. It can cause damage and act as a decoy for enemies. You can't directly control your ghost — it just follows the path of your last life — but your ghost's weapons are still deadly. Creative players could plan out a specific path and then intentionally die to ensure the subsequent run goes perfect.

How you progress through a level appears to be up to you, as the map provides multiple paths from the start to the boss. Different areas can provide different challenges, so taking a specific route may be just as important as choosing the most appropriate weapons. One thing you can't plan for is the weather.

Every time you attempt a level, the time of day, weather, and player size can change. I didn't play enough to really tell what difference the time of day makes, but weather and player size were obvious during my demo runs. When blood is key to powering up your super attack, water is your enemy. Destroying a water tank rinses the blood off of you, and rain does the same. The rain is just a bit slower.

As for player size, I had levels where I was both normal and tiny, and tiny is just what it sounds like. When I was tiny, Justine was smaller than normal, which provided an advantage as I was a smaller target. It's possible that size could also change which paths are accessible, but I didn't see anything in the demo to confirm that one way or the other.

Collecting body parts (like teeth and ears) after eliminating enemies allows you to unlock new skills once you're back at the hotel. More skills equal more options, so the levels should get easier as you progress. Weapons can be upgraded at the casino by a character who idolizes Tim Curry and his iconic role as Dr. Frank-N-Furter in "The Rocky Horror Picture" show. Weapon upgrading was the only part that concerned me, as it appears to be based on luck. In a game like this, strategy should probably have a higher priority than praying to the RNG gods.

We're nearing the middle of 2025, and no other game has captured my attention quite like Hotel Barcelona. While I'm looking forward to playing a number of titles, if I had to choose one, Hotel Barcelona is easily my most anticipated game of the year. If Hotel Barcelona is not yet on your wish list, it should be.