Salt Entertainment Announces New Hellraiser Tabletop Game Line for 40th Anniversary of Iconic Horror Franchise
A new slate of Hellraiser board games and tabletop roleplaying games will bring Clive Barker’s legendary horror world to the tabletop beginning Halloween 2027
NEW YORK, Oct. 29, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Salt Entertainment today announced an agreement with Clive Barker and Park Ave Ent. LLC to develop and publish a new line of officially licensed Hellraiser tabletop games, including board games, tabletop roleplaying games and original games for the retail market. The agreement was brokered by Surge Licensing on behalf of Clive Barker and Park Ave Ent. LLC.
The first Hellraiser games are planned for release beginning Halloween 2027, marking the 40th anniversary of Clive Barker’s original 1987 horror film.
“Hellraiser has been my favorite film since I saw it at a way-too-young age, so the opportunity to work with Clive Barker, one of the great creative visionaries of our time, is genuinely a dream come true,” said Geoff Skinner, President of Salt Games. “It’s an extraordinary world with four decades of mythology to explore, and one that lends itself beautifully to tabletop gaming. The Lament Configuration is literally a puzzle that opens a door you probably shouldn’t open. How do you not want to play with that?”
Salt is developing the property as a broad tabletop program rather than a single release, with games designed for both long-time Hellraiser fans and players discovering the franchise for the first time.
The initial slate includes three accessible retail games: a fast-playing dice game built around temptation, risk and how far players are willing to push their luck; an escape-room-style tabletop game inspired by the mysteries of the Lament Configuration; and a social deduction game in which hidden desires, shifting loyalties and questionable choices make it increasingly difficult to know whom - or what - to trust.
Veteran game designer Michael Shinall will design a major new Hellraiser board game for Salt Entertainment. Shinall’s credits include Bloodborne: The Board Game, Marvel Zombies and A Song of Ice & Fire: Tabletop Miniatures Game.
“Horror has always fascinated me, particularly the way it gives us a space to explore unease, tension and dread,” said Shinall. “Many franchises focus on threats from outside, but Hellraiser understands that the deepest horrors come from within the human psyche. Bringing those themes to the tabletop has been a personal ambition of mine for years, and now I’ve been given the perfect vessel. In short, I have such sights to show you.”
Acclaimed designer Francesco Nepitello, co-designer of The One Ring Roleplaying Game and the award-winning War of the Ring board game, will design a new Hellraiser tabletop roleplaying game (RPG), opening the franchise’s world to original stories built around temptation, desire, consequence and the terrifying unknown beyond the human world.
“I wanted to design a horror roleplaying game for years,” said Nepitello. “Getting to do it with Hellraiser is incredibly exciting. Its blend of dread, desire and forbidden knowledge offers so much to explore at the gaming table. I can’t wait to open the box with the players.”
Clive Barker, the legendary author, filmmaker, and creator of Hellraiser welcomed the opportunity to bring his iconic horror universe to a new generation of players.
“There’s something wonderfully intimate about gathering around a table to frighten one another,” said Barker. “Everyone brings an imagination, a few secret fears, and perhaps a little too much confidence. I’m delighted that these Hellraiser games invite players into unexplored corners of the mythology. Curiosity is both the invitation and the trouble. I suspect they’ll know certain doors ought to remain closed. I’m counting on them being unable to resist.”
Additional titles, artwork, release dates and product details will be announced as development continues.
ABOUT SALT ENTERTAINMENT
Salt Entertainment is an independent entertainment studio that develops and builds distinctive intellectual property across games, publishing and consumer products. Working with original creators, and established entertainment franchises, Salt brings together world-class creative talent to build properties designed to engage audiences across multiple forms of entertainment.
Salt Games, the company’s tabletop publishing division, develops board games, card games, tabletop roleplaying games and other interactive experiences for retail, hobby and crowdfunding audiences. For more information, visit www.Salt-Ent.com.
ABOUT SURGE LICENSING
Founded in 1986 by Mark Freedman, Surge Licensing is a leading entertainment licensing and brand development agency specializing in transforming intellectual properties into global entertainment and consumer products franchises. Best known for its pivotal role in launching and building Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles into a worldwide phenomenon, Surge has spent four decades working with creators, studios and rights holders to develop successful licensing programs across entertainment, merchandise and media. For more information, visit www.surgelicensing.com.
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Hellraiser board game line coming from Salt Games
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