Sker Ritual

When Maid of Sker launched in 2020, it offered an atmospheric survival horror based on Welsh legends, focusing on stealth, disturbing sounds and a dense storyline. Now, Sker Ritual takes up that universe again, but with a radical turn towards cooperative action, frantic gameplay that draws directly from Call of Duty zombie modes, rounded up with a layer of folk horror and a personal touch that makes it truly special.

Made by Wales Interactive, this spin-off proposes a completely different approach: survive waves of grotesque enemies in company (or alone), improve your kills, unlock secrets and resist in the midst of a spiral of bloodshed, mysticism and constant tension. So, will it be just another "horde shooter", or does the game manage to maintain its identity in the saturated genre?

Gameplay: Survive with style (and strategy)

In essence, Sker Ritual is a cooperative FPS, where enemies come in waves, with games that can range from 20 minutes to more than an hour, depending on the map, the equipment and the skill of the players. You can face the threat alone or with up to three online companions, and the challenge will escalate appropriately according to the number of participants.

The playable loop is well-known: you start with a basic weapon, kill enemies, get points, upgrade your equipment and unlock new areas of the map. But where other games limit themselves to the basics, Sker Ritual introduces an interesting layer of depth with specific challenges per map, tactical decisions and active and passive upgrades called miracles, which work as unique perks with very varied effects (from incendiary bullets to instant reload when hitting enemies).

The shooting experience is solid, with weapons that feel good, tight recoil and a variety ranging from classic pistols to ritual lightning throwers. The design of enemies also directly influences the gameplay: some run like crazy, others throw projectiles at you, and then there are of course bosses and mini-bosses that require some coordination. Each game can end in a chaos festival where surviving one round becomes a feat.

Map design and progression: Rituals, secrets and tension

Sker Ritual currently has several different maps, all with their own identity, set in places that evoke Celtic folklore, Gothic style and supernatural powers. There are open areas, claustrophobic corridors, ancient crypts and laboratories with steampunk technology. Each scenario is designed to generate tension, with multiple routes, blocked areas, and unique challenges that force the team to separate or take risks to move forward.

One of the best things of the game is that each map has specific rituals: small missions or tasks that must be completed in the middle of the massacre to unlock new zones or access powerful upgrades. This adds a strategic component reminiscent of the best Zombie mode maps in Call of Duty, but with a self-identity more focused on mystery and the arcane.

The character progression also feels rewarding. You can unlock cosmetic items, special weapons and new variants of miracles that completely change the way you play. In addition, the card and bonus system creates space for customized builds, which improve replayability.

Visual section: Grotesque, dark and well-set

Sker Ritual does not aspire to be a graphic prodigy at the technical level, but it compensates for it with a very careful artistic direction. The game knows how to create heavy atmosphere, loaded with fog, blood and ritual elements. Textures and models may not be at the AAA level, but the design of the enemies (inspired by folk creatures, resurrected soldiers and monsters with ritual masks) is chilling and distinctive.

Lighting plays a key role: the flashes of magic, the willows and the rays that illuminate the corridors generate an oppressive atmosphere that never lets you relax. The game knows how to place shadows, how to make you feel uncomfortable and how to combine that with the tension of an ongoing run.

The animations, both of the enemies and the players, are fair, but nothing particularly special. The HUD is functional and clear, something essential when the visual chaos threatens to overload you in the more advanced runs.

Audio: Whispers, squeals and afterlife sounds

One of the highlights of Sker Ritual is its sound design. Far from being limited to generic effects, the game uses audio as an atmospheric tool: enemies not only appear, they are announced with heartbreaking screams, distorted childish laughter or heavy footsteps that make your blood run cold. Even when you don't see them, you hear them, and that's enough to rise your tension.

The music is ambient and disturbing, ideal for the tone the game is looking for. There are no heroic riffs or epic soundtracks — what you hear are ghostly choruses, ritual instruments and low noises that give the horror a form. All this is mixed with the din of weapons and ritual voices, generating a controlled cacophony that contributes to the immersion.

Narrative and setting: Welsh folklore turned into a survival shooter

Although Sker Ritual does not put as much emphasis on the narrative as its predecessor, the game does manage to expand its universe through environmental details, documents and voices that arise during rituals. The backstory is there for anyone who wants to dig, and the context about the island of Sker, its curses and its mystical experiments takes shape as you advance through the game.

The tone remains dark and mystical, with elements of religious horror, pagan symbolism and ritual science. It's a very different approach to the typical zombie apocalypse, and that particular setting is what gives the game its unique touch.

Conclusion: Rituals, shootings and constant tension in a cooperative jewel

Sker Ritual does not intend to reinvent the genre of wave based co-op shooters, but it does offer personality and a more than solid execution. Its folk-horror setting, the variety of maps, the miracle system and fair replayability make it a very addictive experience, especially if you have a good team to play with.

For fans of horror, arcade gunplay, and frantic co-op games, it is a more than recommended title. And for those who enjoyed Maid of Sker, here you will find a new facet of the same universe, much wilder, but just as dark and mysterious.