What would you sacrifice for the greater good? This is a central question in the Spanish-inspired horror game Crisol: Theater of Idols. Developed by Vermila Studios and published by Blumhouse Games, the game follows Gabriel, a sanctified soldier on a haunted island where terrifying statues of deities come to life. Players must survive by using their own blood as ammunition or hiding from the horrors.
In an interview, Vermila Studios CEO David Carrasco discussed the game's origins. The creative director was inspired by Spain's Holy Week processions, imagining what would happen if the statues carried in these marches came alive. A major goal was to represent Spanish culture respectfully while creating a unique horror experience, avoiding mockery or generic tropes.
Carrasco highlighted several development challenges, including maintaining artistic consistency across a large team and keeping morale high during the five-year project. He also addressed the difficulty of securing a publisher, as some requested to erase the Spanish cultural elements. Blumhouse Games ultimately supported their vision without demanding changes.
The interview also covered character design, such as the transformation of the goddess Dolores from a beautiful figure into a monstrous being, and discussed media influences like Resident Evil and Silent Hill. Carrasco teased potential future exploration of the game's world and characters.