In Hell is Us, you must rely on your senses, as the ARPG dispenses with maps, quest markers, and compass. Your only help is a small drone. In a new trailer, the developers showcase gameplay from their upcoming game on Steam, PlayStation, and Xbox.
What kind of game is this? Hell is Us is an upcoming action RPG from Nacon and Rogue Factor, set to release in 2025 for Steam, PS5, and Xbox. The setting of the single-player title is the ravaged land of Hadea in 1993, where you, as a player, unveil secrets and explore a dark environment.
The ARPG is meant to be a kind of “return” to games from the 1990s, as the development team has “a lot of love” for how games were made and experienced during that time. Therefore, Hell is Us does not guide players, explains Jonathan Jacques-Belletete, the Creative Director and Art Director at Rogue Factor in a YouTube video.
In the video, the developers present over 15 minutes of gameplay from Hell is Us:
Hell is Us puts you “in the driver’s seat of your exploration”
What does Hell is Us do without? The upcoming action RPG omits maps, a compass, and quest markers. In the YouTube video, Jonathan Jacques-Belletete explains that some games of the 90s were characterized by not taking the player by the hand.
He states:
You had to figure things out for yourself in some way. You really had control over your exploration and your own discoveries. And that’s exactly what we are trying to achieve in Hell is Us, of course with a modern flair and a kind of knowledge about game design and so on. But it puts you back in the driver’s seat of your experience and your exploration, and then the outcome and the joy of your discoveries.
These are the core elements of Hell is Us:
- You play and fight in third-person perspective.
- The single-player game consists of 50% exploration and 50% combat, according to the developers.
- There is no map, no quest markers, and no compass. You rely entirely on your instincts and your companion drone.
- KAPI, your drone, has numerous abilities that you can upgrade. It assists you in battles and puzzles.
- It is important to listen carefully to what the NPCs report and to pay attention to the environment.
- There are various weapons – including swords, spears, and axes.
- You encounter different enemies with various strengths and powers.
In Hell is Us, it is therefore essential that you explore your environment attentively and engage in conversations with the NPCs in the world. Your drone is capable of translating the languages and writings in the land and assisting you with puzzles. Aside from that, you are completely on your own – and your discoveries belong solely to you.
Fights take place in third-person perspective and are an integral part of Hell is Us. Jonathan Jacques-Belletete emphasizes that it is not a Soulslike; the game is rather positioned in the mid-range. It is not too easy, not overly difficult, and there is a learning curve, explains the developer. “It’s: have fun, jump in, and hack and slash,” he says.
When does Hell is Us release? So far, the developers only mention 2025; a specific date is not known. However, you can already add Hell is Us to your wishlist on various platforms to be informed about an upcoming release.
To bridge the wait until the release of Hell is Us, you can take a look at our top list of the best RPGs on Steam. There you will find 14 different games that we have compiled as recommendations for you – including trailers and pros and cons comparison.
