The Devilry Reservation 2 demo was a hilarious delight to play. GentFish has introduced a sequel to their original The Devilry Reservation. This is a pixel-graphic game where, through the lens of dark fantasy with undertones of Slavic folklore, you find and contain anomalies. This demo included the first episode titled “The Whisper of the Last Question”. 

The Prisoner’s Plight

The demo drops you directly into the world, picking up right where the first game left off. As you go on a drive with a woman of unknown origins, you start to get a little bit of a feel for the dialogue-based storytelling. After being chased by a terrifying monster, you are transitioned to a prison for misbehaving creatures. You play as Igor, an ex-detective for the PSB, who originally came to the “Reservation” for work, but stayed on as a ward. He is a faceless “paranormal” with astral projection abilities. This comes in handy, as it allows you to detect the anomalies that need capturing.

In the first episode, there are three anomalies to crack. To capture them you must speak to the people in the prison for clues, teams, and information necessary to move the story along. You even get to switch to play as one of your cellmates!

Character Designs and Their Meanings

Talking to characters in The Devilry Reservation 2 is key. Props to GentFish, because these characters made the game. I feel like without their input, funny quips, and stylized appearances, the game would not have even remotely the same effect. The designs are all so different, and they all have punny (and some flat-out hilarious) names that match their characters perfectly. There are over a handful of characters you get to interact with, from your own cellmates Marimukh, Borzyk, and Max, as well as your enemies; this is a prison, after all. Each of their dialogues feel fluid and authentic, with enough variation to distinguish different speakers. Though the game is pixelated, the characters are all beautifully distinct and unique. 

Some of the characters, at least the ones I can recognize, are reminiscent of Slavic mythical creatures. An example would be Mug, who looks like a sort of Chernabog creature, and is a deity in Slavic myth (Disney also took inspiration to make their villain by the same name). The character Broom is also likely based on The Bannik, which is a bathhouse spirit in Slavic mythology, though he’s missing the long beard. Marimukh and Borzyk could also be referencing the overarching positive relationship and draw to fungi within Slavic history. 

Cackling like a Madman

Along with the designs, these characters also have phenomenal lines. I give this game props for its humor. Making jokes is one thing I think many games try to do, but The Devilry Reservation 2 is a top-tier comedy show. Around every corner is at least one joke waiting to happen, and they blend seamlessly line-to-line. Igor himself interacts with the characters so well that he aids in making these jokes land, which just points to the quality of character development.

Hey, Wait a Minute…Who ARE You?

*Spoilers*

The game is set in mystery and is very task driven. However, there was a nagging question in the back of my mind whilst I was playing: Who am I? Igor is referred to as a “paranormal” by the Warden, a calling that seems unique to him. From the first game, we get some sense of what he is, as a non-human PBS agent. We also learn that he is some form of experiment; however, that’s about it. He is the only character of his kind, and he is the only one capable of astral projection. At the end of the demo, you walk through a white mist, stopping along the way to witness distinct scenes from someone, seemingly Igor’s, life. The whole sequence left me baffled, and it raises the question: Who is Igor, and where did he come from? I hope the rest of the game dives more into his character.

The Pitfalls

As a writer, I cannot help but point out the flaw of translation. Though much more prevalent in the previous game, there are still points where the dialogue is clunky or repetitive here. I found myself having to reread some lines to make sure I fully understood. A run-through from an English speaker would elevated it that much more. That being said, the gameplay and the pros vastly outweigh this con, and the puns still land as they should.

The one other piece that didn’t work so well was the one and only actual puzzle. Most of this game was story and dialogue-driven, except for a singular point. To catch an anomaly, you have to solve a puzzle involving recreating the shape of a key. I felt like that was the only part of this episode that felt out of place, as there wasn’t any other time you have to do any hands-on puzzles. If it was incorporated more throughout the episode, or if it is a major game-play component later, then it may make more sense. However, as it stands now it is slightly confusing and threw me for a loop. 

The Prison Sentence

The Devilry Reservation 2 in and of itself could have been a mini game given how in-depth it was. There was not a singular moment in this demo where I found myself bored or wanted it to end. In fact, I would love to play this full game and see where Igor’s story goes, meet new wacky characters, and read goofy dialogue. Will they escape the prison? Is there more to the world? We will find out when it comes out sometime this year.

The Devilry Reservation 2 was part of Steam Next Fest February 2026. The demo is still available as of publication. The full game’s release date is TBA.

Read all of our demos coverage in our Steam Next Fest February 2026 page.