Devil’s Purge is the Ultimate AR Exorcism Experience
Few games push the boundaries of augmented reality (AR) and religion as boldly as Devil’s Purge. Developed by Nuno Folhadela and his team at ONTOP, this roguelike first-person shooter (FPS) redefines mobile gaming by blending the intensity of DOOM with the real-world exploration of Pokémon GO. Players physically dodge, hunt, and battle demons, transforming their iPhones into powerful exorcism machines in a spiritual and action-packed fight against evil.
According to the official press release, “Devil’s Purge is a celebration of resilience, where overcoming challenges aims to build real-life confidence.” Folhadela and his team wanted a game that was a modern ode to ’90s hardcore gaming infused with a heavy metal attitude, blending augmented reality with Catholicism, and leveraging your iPhone as a key mechanic of the experience, and that’s exactly what you get!
Step Into the Role of a Demon Slayer
In Devil’s Purge, this is no mere game, it’s a battle for the soul of humanity. You are not just a player, you are a chosen warrior, called to stand against the darkness and protect the mortal world from an unholy invasion.
Armed with the sacred blessings of divine champions like Saint Michael, the archangel of battle, Gabriel, the heavenly messenger, and Raphael, the angelic healer, you wield the power of heaven itself to drive back the devil’s relentless hordes. Every clash is a testament to God’s will, and every victory brings hope to a world on the brink of despair. The eternal struggle between good and evil has come to your hands and the question is, will you answer the call?
A Bold Blend of Faith and Action
The inspiration behind Devil’s Purge is a fascinating blend of gaming classics, cultural heritage, and deeply personal questions about faith and morality. Folhadela traces its mechanical roots back to Killer7, a cult classic by Suda51 and Shinji Mikami.
During an interview with XR Update, Folhadela said, “Killer7 is one of my favorite games of all time,” adding “but as time progressed, and being aware that AR gaming is still new to the majority of players, we wanted a concept that was easy to grasp. The battle between good and evil, aka the Devil, started to take shape.”
As mentioned earlier in this article, when it came to gameplay, Folhadela and his team looked to the adrenaline-pumping intensity of DOOM Eternal. With prototype demons roaming their studio, they leaned heavily into first-person shooter mechanics to create a thrilling yet accessible experience. “DOOM Eternal quickly became the main reference for gameplay,” he explains. This fusion of AR technology and FPS mechanics allowed the team to craft an immersive world where players must physically dodge, crouch, and maneuver to survive.
When asked to describe Devil’s Purge as a combination of three elements, Folhadela’s response is as bold and unconventional as the game itself: DOOM, Christianity, and startup life.
“DOOM, because it’s all about wild action and blasting demons in style,” he explains. The influence of the iconic FPS game is evident in the intense, fast-paced battles that define Devil’s Purge.
Christianity plays an equally significant role, not just in the game’s narrative but in its deeper message. “Christianity, with all its good and bad aspects, has a core message that is clear, you are loved,” Folhadela shares. This perspective imbues the game with a sense of spiritual purpose, weaving themes of faith and resilience into the action-packed gameplay.
And then there’s startup life, a surprising but fitting comparison. “It’s quite close to the old hardcore arcade games,” adding, “where resilience, perseverance, and focus are needed to succeed.” Just as players must overcome relentless waves of demons in Devil’s Purge, Folhadela sees parallels to the challenges and grit required to navigate the highs and lows of building something groundbreaking in the competitive gaming industry.
Let’s Get Heavy
The aesthetic and story of Devil’s Purge draw deeply from Folhadela’s Portuguese roots and the Baroque style, which he describes as “highly prevalent in Portugal due to the relevance of the Catholic Church.” With over 80% of Portuguese identifying as Roman Catholic, the Baroque’s dramatic art and rich mythology provided a fitting backdrop for the game’s narrative.
But Folhadela didn’t stop at surface-level inspiration, he used Devil’s Purge as a way to explore profound, often uncomfortable questions rooted in his own childhood experiences with religion. Heads up, it’s about to get pretty heavy.
“Why is the image of Christ in suffering perpetuated?” Folhadela asks. “Or, on a more personal level, why were me and other children not protected by God from a rough childhood?” These themes, woven into the game’s story, add depth and complexity, making Devil’s Purge much more than a simple battle between good and evil. Instead, it becomes a deeply personal exploration of faith, resilience, and the power of questioning longstanding beliefs.
We asked Folhadela, with biblical characters offering blessings to players, how do you ensure that the game stays respectful and engaging while still maintaining that high-action gameplay?
Respectful to whom said Folhadela, “It’s art, and my interpretation regarding the contact I had with Christianity, I’m baptized and went to Catechism. My goal is to have a game that honors the values of Christ, regarding good vs. evil, and most importantly, that you and I are loved.”, Folhedala passionately adds, “Not out of concern for how others might feel that can be seen as disrespectful, but for what I want to share.”
For Folhadela, he wanted the title to show the game’s objective, and it reflects directly what the player does in the game, purging the devil from the world.
The use of high-action gameplay, where you’re an Exorcist fighting evil, the game metaphor just makes sense, and with Saint Michael at your side, the leader of heavenly armies you will surely kick some demon ass.
Defeating the Devil
“Active movement is key to this unique gaming experience,” said Folhadela. Players use their iPhone cameras to reveal demons and their flashlights to exorcise them with light. The mechanics are exhilarating, combining AR technology with fast-paced, strategic gameplay.
But the action isn’t just about reflexes, it’s also about strategy. “You’ll physically dodge and aim at macabre creatures’ hearts to make them explode in bursts of light.” said Folhadela during our conversation. With the iPhone camera, players reveal monstrous beings that must be exorcised using the device’s flashlight, requiring physical agility to evade attacks and sharp accuracy to strike at demons. Players can craft powerful builds with dozens of blessings like Vanquish, Constrict, and Smite, culminating in an epic showdown with the Devil himself.
Put On Your Workout Clothes When Battling the Devil
What truly sets Devil’s Purge apart is its emphasis on physical movement, and not just movement where you’re walking around looking around bushes to catch a critter. Battling the Devil and demons isn’t that simple and yes, battling the Devil will also burn a lot of calories!
Translating the action-packed gameplay of Devil’s Purge into a mobile AR experience was both a challenge and a triumph. Nuno Folhadela shares how the game’s physicality naturally evolved into a core mechanic. “Once players realize they can move, dodging, crouching, or circling behind a demon to exploit its weakness, it clicks,” he explains. Watching players embrace this level of immersion has been a rewarding experience for the team, who still cheer whenever someone uses their surroundings creatively in battle.
The physicality of the game adds a new layer of immersion, making every encounter feel like a real-world battle against evil. These mechanics not only deliver an intense gaming experience but also showcase AR’s potential for fitness and exploration.
As for the ultimate showdown with the Devil? Folhadela teases multiple phases and a few surprises for the most dedicated players.“Throughout the game, you’ll feel the characters rooting for you,” he says.“Only the Devil stands against you, but in the end… who knows? Maybe someone will change their mind.” It’s a fittingly dramatic finale for a game built on resilience, strategy, and the eternal battle between good and evil.
AR gaming gained mainstream attention with the release of Pokémon GO in 2016, which encouraged millions to explore their surroundings while interacting with digital content. Building on this legacy, Devil’s Purge takes AR to new heights by infusing it with adrenaline-pumping FPS action and a deeply immersive narrative. The game’s 60 procedurally generated levels and quick five-to-ten-minute runs ensure that it’s as accessible as it is engaging, while geolocation mechanics lead players to sacred places for extra powers.
Features That Set Devil’s Purge Apart from Others
Get ready to face hellish challenges in Devil’s Purge, where every moment counts and every run feels fresh:
- Quick Battles, Big Stakes: Dive into 5 to 10-minute runs that pack the intensity of a full-blown exorcism into bite-sized sessions, perfect for saving the world on your lunch break.
- Infinite Possibilities: With 60 procedurally generated levels, no two battles with demonic hordes are ever the same.
- Holy Power Combos: Build your arsenal with 50 blessings from celestial beings, crafting devastating combos to crush evil in style.
- Sacred Power-Ups: Venture to real-world sacred sites via the game’s geolocation map to unlock extra abilities that will tip the scales in your favor.
- A Feast for the Senses: Experience a Renaissance-inspired art style fused with the heavy metal energy of bands like Men Eater and Zero Massive.
This active gameplay not only makes Devil’s Purge an exhilarating experience but also hints at the future of fitness gaming.“Humans evolved to move and explore, not to be sedentary,” says Folhadela. “The AR medium brings experiences that make us interact with our surroundings, using our bodies and minds for a healthier and happier lifestyle.”
Devil’s Purge Showdown
In my last question to Folhadela, I asked him, what one demon from any pop culture universe would he love to face in a Devil’s Purge showdown, and how would he take them down?
“Hard to beat the Devil itself, right?” Folhadela muses. “But the first foe that comes to mind is Sephiroth from Final Fantasy VII, one of my all-time favorite games.”
In Folhadela’s imagined battle, the legendary villain wouldn’t make things easy. “I’d add a time clock mechanic, with Sephiroth moving from real-world location to location, forcing me to chase him down for a final confrontation,” he explains. “When we finally face off, I’d need to flash him before each attack, blinding him momentarily, then drain his life force and trap him in my phone forever.”
It’s a fittingly dramatic and inventive scenario, blending Devil’s Purge’s signature AR mechanics with a nod to one of gaming’s most iconic antagonists.
Unleash Heaven’s Wrath: Face the Devil, Deliver Judgment
In Devil’s Purge, the eternal war between heaven and hell spills into your world, and the stakes couldn’t be higher. Armed with divine blessings and wielding the piercing light of your mighty iPhone, you are humanity’s last hope against the Devil’s relentless horde. Each battle is a test of faith and fury, a clash of holy might against the unholy abyss. So step into the fire, exorcist, let the angels guide your aim, let your light burn through the shadows, and show the Devil that even the damned cannot escape judgment.
Devil’s Purge is available now on the Apple App store.
