Blumhouse Games Tells Crisol Reviewer To Play The Game More

Why It Matters

Early influencer opinions can sway consumer perception and sales, so publishers are increasingly defending titles against premature judgments. The incident underscores the growing tension between content creators and game studios over review depth and timing.

Key Takeaways

• DSPGaming reviewed Crisol after only 3.5 hours
• Blumhouse urged reviewer to play further before judging
• Game introduces more variety after early hours
• Influencer backlash highlights review credibility issues
• Early criticism may affect launch momentum

Pulse Analysis

Blumhouse Games entered the video‑game publishing arena leveraging its horror‑film pedigree, quickly building a catalog that includes Sleep Awake and Fear the Spotlight. Its latest release, Crisol: Theater of Idols, launched on February 10, 2026 across PlayStation, Xbox and PC, offering a first‑person survival‑horror experience where a soldier fuels weapons with his own blood. Early critical response has been largely positive, praising atmospheric design and innovative combat, yet the title’s niche mechanics have also invited scrutiny from skeptical players.

The controversy erupted when DSPGaming posted a three‑hour playthrough, labeling the game a “bait and switch” due to perceived scarcity of enemies and weapons. Blumhouse’s public reply—suggesting the reviewer continue beyond the opening segment—highlights a broader industry challenge: influencers often shape launch narratives before a game’s full content is experienced. This dynamic forces publishers to balance authentic engagement with protecting their brand, especially in a market where streaming impressions can translate directly into sales spikes or drops.

For developers, the episode serves as a cautionary tale about the timing and depth of influencer outreach. While early coverage can generate buzz, insufficient exposure may lead to mischaracterizations that dampen momentum. Blumhouse’s proactive stance aims to steer the conversation toward the game’s later, richer sections, hoping to preserve its launch trajectory. As horror games continue to carve out a lucrative niche, studios will likely invest more in guided influencer experiences to ensure reviews reflect the complete player journey, safeguarding both critical reception and commercial performance.

Blumhouse Games Tells Crisol Reviewer To Play The Game More

By George Foster · Published Feb 12, 2026, 12:15 PM EST

George is the Lead News Editor for The Gamer, and has been working in the industry since 2021 after graduating from the University of South Wales with a bachelor's degree in Journalism. He has also previously written for RPG Site, WhatCulture, and PlayStation Lifestyle.

---

Crisol: Theater of Idols publisher Blumhouse Games responded to YouTuber DSPGaming's negative review by suggesting he “play a bit further at least”.

A few years ago, beloved horror‑movie icon Blumhouse Productions announced that it was creating its own video‑game publishing studio, Blumhouse Games. Since then, the publisher has built a solid lineup of releases, including Sleep Awake, Fear the Spotlight, and Eyes of Hellfire, with more already in development.

The most recent title that Blumhouse Games has published is Crisol: Theater of Idols, a first‑person survival‑horror game developed by Vermila Studios that stars a soldier who can use his own blood to fuel weapons. It has been receiving rave reviews since its launch, but not everybody is a fan, and Blumhouse Games has taken notice.

Blumhouse Reacts To DSPGaming’s Review Of Crisol

“Perhaps they should be at the beginning so the game is actually fun to play?” – DSPGaming (via Twitter)

As pointed out by Twitter user R3bsi, controversial YouTuber DSPGaming recently shared a video review of Crisol: Theater of Idols that was based on playing the game for just three and a half hours. DSP called it a “bait and switch” and, despite finding the introduction intriguing, didn’t seem too impressed with the game overall and complained about the lack of enemies and weapons.

Of course, this review was just based on playing Crisol for just over three hours, which isn’t enough to leave a definitive statement on it. That’s exactly what Blumhouse Games thinks as well; the publisher left a comment on DSPGaming’s review, noting that he should “play a bit further at least” since the later hours introduce more variety.

In response to Blumhouse’s fair comment considering such an early critique, DSPGaming said, “Perhaps they should be at the beginning so the game is actually fun to play??”. As of the time of writing, the review has been ratio’d and hit with a ton of backlash, with many commenters pointing out that three hours isn’t enough to judge the game and that it is actually much better than he says.

This probably doesn’t come as much of a surprise to anyone who has heard of DSPGaming, since he’s not exactly known for having the best reputation. It seems like DSPGaming isn’t reacting well to those comments, however, as he claimed that the short review is because the game didn’t hold his interest for “more than a SINGLE STREAM”, which he thinks says something about Crisol.

---

Crisol: Theater of Idols – Game Details

• Release date: February 10, 2026

• ESRB: Mature 17+ (Blood and Gore, Suggestive Themes, Strong Language, Intense Violence)

• Developer: Vermila Studios

• Publisher: Blumhouse Games

• Number of players: Single‑player

• Platforms: PlayStation, Xbox, PC (Steam)

---