Following a period of carrying a “Mixed” score on Steam, acclaimed director Hidetaka “SWERY” Suehiro expressed his delight as White Owls’s action roguelike title, Hotel Barcelona, secured a “Mostly Positive” rating on June 8. SWERY credited the improved player reception to several key elements, including the substantial “Under New Management” update released in March, along with the valuable support, feedback, and reviews provided by the gaming community.
Upon its initial launch last September, Hotel Barcelona garnered praise for its immersive world-building, polished presentation, and the innovative Slasher Phantom system, which allows players to battle alongside past iterations of their own characters. However, the game faced criticism for balance issues, optimization challenges, and controversy over AI-generated content, resulting in a divided player base and a “Mixed” Steam rating.
Determined to enhance the game’s standing, White Owls dedicated the initial post-launch phase to actively listening to player feedback and rolling out updates to tackle pressing concerns (the development team also ensured all AI-generated assets were removed from the game). These efforts reached a peak with the March Under New Management patch, which significantly revamped movement mechanics, combat dynamics, and enemy/level balancing.
The development team remains committed to Hotel Barcelona’s ongoing improvement. They launched the game’s inaugural DLC, Late Check-Out: From Dusk Valley to Grandall Estate, on April 24, and continue to deliver regular updates featuring new content and bug fixes. If this momentum continues, Hotel Barcelona could soon achieve the coveted “Very Positive” status on Steam.
Hotel Barcelona is available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and Windows (Steam).