Three New Hellraiser Tabletop Games Announced
Pinhead and the rest of the Hellraiser crew are seeing quite the resurgence right now, and that looks to continue into next year. Announced today, Salt Entertainment has revealed that they have entered an agreement with Clive Barker and Park Ave Ent. LLC to release not one, not two, but three official Hellraiser tabletop games with the first of these planned for release Halloween 2027. Perfectly timed to coincide with the 40th anniversary of the original film.
Hellraiser: Puzzle of Flesh
Salt Entertainment's upcoming titles include Hellraiser: Puzzle of Flesh, designed by Travis Chance. This dice-based, push-your-luck game is themed around the franchise's iconic Lament Configuration box, with a custom box that also functions as the game's dice tumbler. Salt describes it as an escape-room style social deduction game where hidden desires and shifting loyalties make trust difficult. It is planned for release next Halloween.
A Story-Driven Tabletop RPG
For those seeking a more story-driven experience, a full Hellraiser tabletop RPG is also in development. Francesco Nepitello, known for co-designing The One Ring RPG and War of the Ring, is leading this project. The RPG aims to allow fans to explore and create their own narratives within the Hellraiser universe, delving into themes of temptation, desire, and otherworldly horrors.
Francesco Nepitello stated, “I wanted to design a horror roleplaying game for years. Getting to do it with Hellraiser is incredibly exciting. Its blend of dread, desire and forbidden knowledge offers so much to explore at the gaming table. I can’t wait to open the box with the players.”
A Major New Board Game
The final game in this initial announcement is a major new Hellraiser board game, led by designer Michael Shinall. Shinall's previous works include Marvel Zombies, A Song of Ice & Fire: Tabletop Miniatures Game, and Bloodborne: The Board Game. Shinall commented on the property, stating, "Hellraiser is unique among the horror world as, outside brilliant monster and world design, it delves into the reaches of the human psyche in ways that many others have tried to emulate, but often failed to reach. It accepts that the truest horrors are never external, but the inner depths of the darkest parts of the soul... And I look forward to bringing that to a new medium."
Clive Barker's Involvement
Geoff Skinner, President of Salt Entertainment, confirmed Clive Barker's direct involvement, stating, “Yes, Clive Barker is approving everything and guiding our creative, so we are all on our A-game. We’re using not only the films as a basis, but also the original novella, Hellbound Heart. It’s always a treat to work with the original creator of any brand, but to be working with someone who shaped the culture so heavily is an absolute honor. He’s on such a hot streak with the Hellraiser video game and two hugely successful Kickstarter campaigns (comics and books), and we are thrilled to be a part of the Barkerverse.”
Further details for Hellraiser: Puzzle of Flesh, the tabletop RPG, and Michael Shinall's board game project are expected to be revealed in the coming months, with all titles planned for retail release.
