As the air gets cooler and the nights grow longer, every gamer’s attention turns to one thing: horror. It’s the season of spooks, and if you’re a PlayStation Plus subscriber, Sony has just delivered an early Halloween treat of the highest, most blood-curdling order.
They’ve added what is, with zero exaggeration, my favorite horror game of this decade so far to the monthly lineup. It’s time to face the terror of The Callisto Protocol.
A Halloween Headliner for PS Plus
As part of the October PlayStation Plus Monthly Games lineup, The Callisto Protocol is available for all subscribers, from the Essential tier right up to Premium. It’s the perfect headliner for the Halloween season, a triple-A horror experience that will stick with you long after you put the controller down. While it faced some mixed reviews at launch, I’m here to tell you that this game is a must-play, especially at the grand price of “free” with your subscription.
More Than Just a Dead Space Successor
Let’s be honest. When The Callisto Protocol was first released, the comparisons to Dead Space were immediate and intense. This is fair, given it was helmed by Glen Schofield, the original creator of that legendary series. Some found its brutal combat system a little too punishing and dismissed it.
But as someone who has sunk countless terrifying hours into it, I can tell you those initial reactions missed the forest for the blood-soaked trees. The Callisto Protocol isn’t a carbon copy; it’s a tense, gorgeous, and terrifying journey into sci-fi horror that stands proudly on its own two feet.
A Masterclass in Sci-Fi Horror Atmosphere
For me, great horror is all about atmosphere, and this game has it in spades. You are Jacob Lee, a cargo pilot wrongfully imprisoned in the Black Iron Prison on Jupiter’s dead moon, Callisto. Things go horribly wrong when an outbreak turns inmates and guards into grotesque creatures called Biophages, and the sterile corridors become a charnel house.
The game’s greatest strength is its oppressive, claustrophobic world. The sound design is a masterclass in tension—every distant scream, wet squelch, and groan of metal is designed to put you on edge. The graphics remain absolutely breathtaking, with light glistening off viscera-smeared walls and horrific detail on every mutating enemy. This isn’t just a game; it’s a full-sensory assault.
A Brutal, Satisfying Dance of Death
And the combat? I loved it. It’s not about running and gunning. It’s a desperate, up-close-and-personal dance of death. The system forces you to master dodging and weaving before striking with a brutal stun baton to create an opening for a clean shot.
Every encounter feels like a life-or-death struggle. This weighty, deliberate combat, when combined with the GRP (a gravity weapon used to hurl enemies into spinning fans or spike-covered walls), results in a ballet of gore that is both strategic and immensely satisfying.
If you skipped it at launch, now is your chance. Dim the lights, put on your best headphones, and prepare for a trip to Black Iron Prison. You might not escape with your sanity intact, but I promise you, it’s a hell of a ride.
