Hell Is Us: 2025’s Dark Horse Blockbuster?

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In terms of video game releases, when one considers September, several notable titles immediately come to mind. One of them is “Borderlands 4,” as Randy Pitchford has temporarily halted his self-sabotage efforts for the game. Another is “Dying Light: The Beast,” which Techland aims to make the best in the series. The newest mainline title in Konami’s horror franchise, “Silent Hill,” could also become the most peculiar if writer Ryukishi07 gets his way. And this list doesn’t even include “Ghost of Yōtei,” which launches on the last day of September, or “Battlefield 6,” which will be available from October 10th.

Despite the busy end-of-year schedule and holiday rush, there are often a few unexpected and less popular titles that capture our interest. This year, that’s happening more than anticipated. For instance, take Rogue Factor’s “Hell is Us“. You might recall them from their 2015 release, “Mordheim: City of the Damned”, which they produced while still part of Cyanide. When they announced “Hell is Us” in April 2022, our initial reaction was a blend of “Death Stranding” and Souls-like games. Originally scheduled for release in 2023, it briefly vanished and reappeared during Sony’s State of Play, still looking as captivatingly eerie as before.

Following the announcement of its release date at the latest State of Play event, we’ve gotten a better look at the game “Hell is Us” and even had an opportunity to play it during a short-term free demo. Although there’s still some time before its launch, it already appears to be one of the less recognized games of the year, particularly with its attractive $49.99 price point.

In a vaguely specified future, a story unfolds titled “Hell is Us“. After an unexplained catastrophe, strange beings called Hollow Walkers have appeared. Unlike other narratives that focus on restoring the world or battling the disaster, you control Rémi, a peacekeeper who decides to desert his duty. His mission is personal – to find his parents in the fictional land of Hadea, a task made challenging due to the scarce resources and the destructive civil war still raging. Equipped with various weapons such as swords, axes, and a faithful drone, Rémi must defend against the Hollow Walkers while navigating the devastated landscape in search of his loved ones.

In the search for his parents, Rémi has to depend on his observations, listening skills, and logical thinking. Unlike many games, Hell is Us doesn’t provide a compass, map, or quest markers, leaving you just as clueless as Rémi during your journey through diverse regions. You don’t know where to begin or who to trust, but by conversing with various NPCs and collecting clues, you can piece together information that might lead you to Rémi’s parents.

In another scenario, you might stumble upon a deserted village named Jova and converse with a survivor who lost his family. This encounter uncovers enigmatic monuments from an ancient civilization. Alternatively, guided by wind chimes at Atticus Caddell’s request (lamenting the loss of his kin), you find a military unit that was attacked not long ago. Helping one of the survivors will provide information on nearby ruins where the rest have gone for unclear reasons. Exploring these ruins reveals they are far more than just catacombs.

Initially, everything around seems disjointed and random (and they might indeed be in a larger cosmic sense). But remember, even the tiniest hints can lead to power-ups, equipment, and helpful trinkets for your adventure, making it easier to push boundaries and tackle the enigmas that decorate this world (Rogue Factor boasts as “endless”). So, what’s that strange anomaly in the distance? Why are specific Hollow Walkers, the Hazes, marked by human emotions? Your task, whether you choose to accept it or not, is to uncover the answers.

In essence, the real-life exploration remains self-directed and unaccompanied. You’ll need to strike out independently, dealing with potential threats from other Hollow Walkers (who can escalate in power and merge into more formidable adversaries). Utilizing any available data, you’ll navigate through various locations, some of which may appear ordinary but harbor hidden secrets. Your HUD is streamlined, often leaving you to rely on your intuition (and a touch of serendipity) for direction. You’ll explore every nook and cranny, scrutinize sites that might seem inconspicuous yet hold depth, and so forth.

The game can feel a bit aggravating, especially considering its survival aspects. However, there’s a stamina gauge that recharges during battles, but any damage to your health decreases the maximum stamina level. When your stamina depletes, your attacks lose strength. Despite some similarities to Souls-like games, particularly in parrying and hack-and-slash combat, Hell is Us doesn’t strive for the same level of challenge as those games.

This doesn’t imply that you won’t stumble upon perilous battles, leading us straight into the realm of the dungeons. Dungeons are arguably the most intriguing aspect of this game. Each one is custom-made and sports a distinctive theme connected to emotions. Despite being entirely foreign to the current scenario, they aren’t your run-of-the-mill fantasy designs. Instead, they incorporate puzzles and tough battles, with some dungeons favoring more of one over the other. In these dungeons, you won’t receive any help in solving the puzzles; instead, you must think creatively and try different strategies to succeed (and ultimately confront the final foe at the end). It’s also worth noting that these dungeons are linked to the present state of the world, which could possibly provide hints about the Calamity.

In contrast to many action-adventure games, “Hell is Us” deviates from conventional patterns. Instead of typical boss battles, the game emphasizes significant fights that align with key story points, as stated by Creative and Art Director Jonathan Jacques-Belletête in an interview with PlayStation Blog. Additionally, it draws inspiration from Jeff VanderMeer’s “Southern Reach Trilogy,” including the widely praised novel “Annihilation.

If you’re looking to increase or decrease the game difficulty, there are three combat settings: Lenient (easy), Balanced (medium), and Mercyless (hard). You can adjust enemy health, damage, and other factors to suit your preference. Additionally, a Death Penalty feature is included, which means that any XP earned and enemies defeated after death will revert back to your previous save point.

Underneath its bold visual style, Hell is Us seems to strive for grand objectives in terms of gameplay mechanics and core mysteries. Given the extensive development time and high PC specifications, it might appear that Rogue Factor has taken on more than they can handle. However, Jacques-Belletête has been involved with Deus Ex: Human Revolution and Mankind Divided, suggesting this could be much more than a typical action-adventure game, even one that concludes its story properly.

The game, “Hell is Us,” might face some challenges in sales due to the crowded market of big-name titles. However, its unique and quirky nature could potentially stand out, offering an unconventional immersive experience that many are seeking. It’s possible it will exceed expectations – a recurring trend with several games this year. “Hell is Us” is scheduled to launch on September 4th for Xbox Series X/S, PS5, and PC, having been certified gold, so we won’t have to wait long to see the results.

Please take note: The opinions presented in this piece are those of the writer, and may not align with or be endorsed by GamingBolt as a whole.

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2025-08-07 18:29