The premise, as Saber tells it
The story is told from the perspective of Aidan Lynch. He first encounters the Cenobites after his girlfriend, Sunny, activates the Genesis Configuration, described by game director Emil Esov as "a mysterious puzzle box with unknown power and purpose". The Cenobites appear and, in the director's own words, unceremoniously tear Sunny in half.
At first this reads to Aidan as a fever dream. He then learns that Sunny's soul can still be saved, and that the Cenobites are integral to making that happen. That inversion, of the monsters being the route to the rescue rather than the obstacle, is the spine of the story and is why the game is called Revival.
Three groups stand in his way
The dev diary names three:
- The Cenobites from another realm, godlike explorers of experience who treat extreme pain and pleasure as a discipline. The director likens them to monks rather than demons, quoting the original film's line that they are "explorers in the further regions of experience. Demons to some, angels to others."
- The Scarlet Church, a real-world cult led by a charismatic figure named Marlowe, which wants the Genesis Configuration to build what the diary calls a debauched paradise.
- The Unworthy, people who once sought greater experiences and were denied by Leviathan, the creator of the Cenobites and ruler of the Labyrinth. Hell's rejects, drawn to the Configuration as a possible path to redemption, who will instinctively seek out Aidan.
Each of these has a dedicated breakdown on Characters and Enemies.
Where the Labyrinth fits
The Labyrinth is the otherworldly realm ruled by Leviathan, and the store copy describes Aidan trying to help Sunny escape from its hellscape. The Genesis Configuration is the tool that makes that possible, and it is also the thing that makes him a target. The box itself is covered on Genesis Configuration.
New canon, not a retelling
The franchise context matters here: this is billed as a new chapter in the Hellraiser canon rather than a remake of the 1987 film or a retelling of any existing story. Saber says the team has spent over four years building it. The franchise history and Clive Barker's involvement are on Series Background.
⚠️ Unconfirmed. Clive Barker's collaboration on the story is reported by media previews rather than by a first-party page we can read. It is not disputed, but it stays labelled partial here.
FAQ
Who is the main character?
Aidan Lynch, spelled Aidan on the official PlayStation Blog. Demo subtitles spell it Aiden; this wiki uses the first-party spelling.
Is Sunny dead?
She is torn in half at the start, and the story is about saving her soul afterwards. The dev diary confirms both halves of that sentence.
Is Pinhead in the game?
Yes. The store copy says Aidan must survive his bargain with Pinhead, and the dev diary identifies Pinhead as the Hell Priest. See The Hell Priest.