Hell is Us

About

Hell is Us is a single player role playing game with horror, fantasy, warfare and science fiction themes. It was developed by Rogue Factor and was released on September 4, 2025. It received positive reviews from players.

If war is the closest we get to hell on earth, it's because Earth harbours the worst of demons: humankind. In an isolated country ravaged by infighting, discover the secrets of your past and deal with the repercussions of a mysterious calamity.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

+11

Skip User Reviews

88%

Audience ScoreBased on 2,295 reviews

story557 positive mentions

grinding74 negative mentions

Engaging worldbuilding and deep lore that immerses players in the story.
Unique gameplay mechanics that emphasize exploration and puzzle-solving without hand-holding.
Stunning graphics and atmosphere that enhance the overall experience.

Combat feels repetitive and lacks depth, with limited enemy variety.
The game can become tedious due to excessive backtracking and the absence of a map.
The ending feels rushed and leaves many plot threads unresolved.

story
1,566 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
36%
60%
4%
The story of "Hell is Us" is a complex and immersive narrative set against a backdrop of civil war, exploring themes of human conflict, loss, and the supernatural. While the main plot can feel straightforward and at times lacks depth, the rich world-building, environmental storytelling, and character interactions create a compelling experience that encourages exploration and engagement with the lore. However, some players find the pacing uneven, particularly towards the end, and the absence of quest markers can lead to frustration in tracking story progression. Overall, the game is praised for its atmospheric storytelling and emotional weight, making it a worthwhile experience for those who appreciate narrative-driven gameplay.
- “The game is really good for its incredible worldbuilding and storytelling, with satisfying fighting mechanics and interesting riddles scattered all across the beautifully crafted maps.”
- “The story is captivating, and the way it’s delivered—through cutscenes, investigation, and lore scattered across surfaces, books, and other items—feels rewarding to piece together.”
- “The story and worldbuilding is done in a great way.”
- “The main story beats feel kind of weak and off-tempo compared to side-stories and found lore.”
- “While the plot itself was not that deep, and the main character was a bit of a cliché, the lore was very immersive.”
- “The story is ultimately forgettable and fairly obvious, with no shocking revelations.”
gameplay
465 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
28%
65%
7%
The gameplay of "Hell is Us" is a mixed bag, featuring a blend of exploration, puzzle-solving, and combat mechanics that draw inspiration from souls-like games. While the world-building and atmosphere are praised, many players find the combat repetitive and lacking in enemy variety, with some mechanics feeling clunky or underdeveloped. Overall, the game is engaging for those who appreciate its narrative depth and exploration elements, but it may not satisfy players seeking a robust combat experience.
- “The gameplay is fun, even though it may become a tad repetitive in some aspects in the long run, but the variety of weapons, skill sets, and approaches prevent the reiterated elements from becoming annoying.”
- “Encounters often emphasize reading enemy behavior and choosing moments to strike, and certain mechanics reward sustained offense by allowing players to regain health through successful attacks.”
- “The core strengths of the game undoubtedly lie in its exploration and puzzle mechanics, which serve as its primary allure.”
- “The only thing that lets this game down is the combat mechanics.”
- “This game is completely unplayable with mouse + keyboard controls because the main character lunges across the battlefield in an unpredictable manner with every attack unless you lock on to a specific enemy before attacking.”
- “The gameplay gets boring too quickly, with repetitive enemies and little variety.”
atmosphere
426 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
61%
38%
1%
The atmosphere of "Hell is Us" is widely praised for its immersive and haunting qualities, characterized by a dark, mysterious setting that enhances exploration and storytelling. Reviewers highlight the game's exceptional sound design, evocative soundtrack, and detailed world-building, which collectively create a rich, atmospheric experience reminiscent of classic adventure games. While some critiques focus on the combat and pacing, the overall consensus is that the game's atmosphere is its standout feature, drawing players into a compelling narrative filled with intrigue and emotional depth.
- “The game’s atmosphere is one of its strongest achievements, supported by restrained visuals, deliberate pacing, and an evocative soundscape.”
- “The atmosphere is incredible — wandering through the misty Vysaa hills, the flower fields around Cynon Lake, or the dark, ancient temples that feel like echoes of forgotten ancestors.”
- “Hell is us captivates with its atmosphere and mystery, keeping players engaged with its nuanced and compelling approach to the open zone exploration formula.”
- “The first few hours were great, I was impressed with the mystery and atmosphere, but around halfway, everything became a boring slog.”
- “In the end, it’s a mediocre game carried by strong exploration and atmosphere, worth appreciating for its ideas, even if the execution doesn’t fully deliver.”
- “What began as a promising experience has slowly turned into a repetitive grind, and I find myself wishing the game leaned harder into its strengths like exploration, story, and atmosphere, rather than forcing shallow combat and recycled encounters.”
graphics
310 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
63%
35%
2%
The graphics of the game have received widespread acclaim for their stunning visuals, detailed environments, and smooth performance, often described as breathtaking and immersive. While some users noted minor graphical glitches and performance issues on lower settings, the overall art direction and atmospheric design significantly enhance the gaming experience. Many reviewers highlighted the combination of excellent graphics with sound design and storytelling, making it a standout feature of the game.
- “The graphics and environments are better than AAA games.”
- “The graphics are stunning and the optimization is outstanding – on an RTX 5070 Ti the game runs at 120 fps on max settings and holds a stable 60 fps in native resolution without DLSS.”
- “The visuals are outstanding and the exploring almost feels like an investigation sort of style, so if you like exploring and puzzle solving, you will like this game.”
- “Graphically, it is a very detailed world, though most of the detail is window dressing since you can't interact with the vast majority of the objects you encounter.”
- “Visually it looks horrific on any settings except for 'all ultra'; any lower graphic settings result in glitches and jittering pixels all over your screen, horrible utilization of Unreal Engine.”
- “I am finding it very difficult to praise the game other than the graphics, but even they are kind of Watch Dogs level from 2015 when the game had the original trailer, not the actual downgraded release.”
music
254 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
57%
42%
1%
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with many praising its atmospheric qualities and ability to enhance immersion, particularly in creating a haunting and eerie ambiance. While some players found the soundtrack to be exceptional and fitting for the game's themes, others noted that certain tracks became repetitive or forgettable over time. Overall, the sound design and music are highlighted as strong points, contributing significantly to the game's rich atmosphere and storytelling.
- “The care for the details is not only on the graphical level, with well-crafted, believable and rich in details levels, but also the sound design and the soundtrack add dramatically to the atmosphere, along with remarkable voice acting for all characters as a cherry on top.”
- “The music is phenomenal and really sets the tone from the first steps in the game.”
- “The soundtrack is incredible and perfectly complements the atmosphere.”
- “The music during the tutorial was so insufferable that I set the volume to zero.”
- “In contrast to some games where individual tracks linger in your playlist long after, 'Hell is Us' felt more like incidental background music: okay in the moment, forgettable later.”
- “In moments of stuckness, the music's lack of distinctiveness could even become mildly grating.”
optimization
170 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
44%
45%
11%
Overall, the game's optimization has received mixed reviews, with many players praising its smooth performance and stability, especially for a title built on Unreal Engine 5. While some users reported minor frame drops and stuttering in specific areas, the majority experienced solid performance with minimal bugs or crashes. However, a few players noted significant performance issues, particularly on lower-end systems, indicating that while the game is generally well-optimized, there is still room for improvement.
- “In terms of optimization, it performs better than many other Unreal Engine 5 titles.”
- “The game optimization is honestly completely amazing.”
- “The graphics are stunning and the optimization is outstanding – on an RTX 5070 Ti the game runs at 120 fps on max settings and holds a stable 60 fps in native resolution without DLSS.”
- “Unfortunately, my overall experience was dragged down by performance issues and the lack of enemy variety.”
- “Easily the worst aspect of the game is the optimization.”
- “Performance is abysmal, unfortunately.”
grinding
78 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
3%
2%
95%
Overall, players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and repetitive, with many expressing frustration over backtracking, limited enemy variety, and a lack of engaging combat. The exploration and puzzle-solving elements, while initially appealing, often devolve into monotonous tasks that detract from the overall experience. Many reviewers suggest that the game could benefit from quality-of-life improvements, such as better fast travel options and clearer quest markers, to alleviate the grind.
- “I find myself fully clearing enemies off of a map, so it's not tedious. A slower, more methodical, and impactful combat system would be better.”
- “There is more to it, like weapon leveling (but not grindy or extensive), upgrade materials, etc.”
- “However, despite all this, the puzzles range from good to outright tedious, such is the common mistake a lot of developers make.”
- “I was expecting a lot more combat, it starts off strong but the more you play, the more of a slog it gets, doing nothing but solving stupid puzzles, spending an insane amount of time going back and forth between zones to do so, that I died from boredom; it's tedious and boring.”
- “The only real selling point is 'no hand-holding,' and once that novelty wears off, you’re left with a tedious, repetitive, shallow experience.”
emotional
48 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of "Hell is Us" is characterized by its profound atmosphere and narrative depth, focusing on themes of war, loss, and human struggle without resorting to gratuitousness. Players appreciate the game's ability to evoke strong feelings through environmental storytelling and subtle character development, despite some inconsistencies in character portrayal. Overall, the game is lauded for its emotional resonance, engaging story, and the unique way it invites players to uncover meaning through exploration and observation.
- “From the outset, it is clear that Hell is Us is less interested in power fantasies or constant gratification and more focused on atmosphere, emotional weight, and the quiet tension of navigating a world that refuses to explain itself.”
- “Hell is Us does not shy away from the horrors of war and genocide; it also does not get overly explicit or gratuitous, giving you the emotional gut-punch without cheapening the experience.”
- “The story is deep and emotional, mixing war, mystery, and supernatural horror in a way that feels unique.”
stability
28 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
46%
4%
50%
Overall, the game's stability is generally praised, with many players reporting smooth performance, zero crashes, and minimal frame drops. However, some users noted occasional graphical glitches, particularly with textures and character animations, and a few experienced crashes during specific scenarios. While the game runs well on high settings, lower settings may lead to more noticeable issues, indicating a need for further optimization.
- “No glitches or stutters or any issues at all, come to think of it.”
- “I haven't finished the game yet, but I'm giving it a thumbs up already for the excellent work in optimization; it runs great for a game made in UE5.”
- “It runs great on my ROG Ally X (720p medium settings with TSR/XESS/FSR) and my PC with RTX 5080; the devs have put in the work.”
- “It's mostly ambient, but it is crafted spectacularly, a synth-riddled soundtrack that glitches and hitches, and crawls in the bass ranges to unsettle you and make you feel like things just aren't right no matter where you are.”
- “Visually it looks horrific on any settings except for 'all ultra'; any lower graphic settings result in glitches and jittering pixels all over your screen, horrible utilization of Unreal Engine.”
- “Every 10 seconds the game freezes no matter what location I go to.”
replayability
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
31%
50%
19%
Overall, the game's replayability is generally considered low, with most players noting that once the story is completed, there is little incentive to return, aside from achievement hunting or experimenting with different builds. While some aspects, like side content and multiple endings, offer slight variations, the main draw remains the narrative, leading many to view it as a one-time experience. A few players mention potential for speedrunning or future DLC as possible reasons to revisit, but these are not seen as strong motivators.
- “Replayability – side content, multiple endings, NG+ options.”
- “Seems to be replayable if you want to try a different build.”
- “Fun, grim, and replayable.”
- “There's no real replay value except for achievement hunting, or outside of a cult favorite.”
- “There is no real replayability, since the story and mysteries are the main draw.”
- “There really isn't any replayability once you have completed it; it's done.”
humor
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is a mixed bag, with some players finding the protagonist's antics and quirky design, particularly his hair, genuinely amusing. While the game features moments that elicit laughter, such as absurd gameplay mechanics and the protagonist's nonchalant attitude, others feel that the overall humor is overshadowed by gameplay frustrations. Overall, the comedic elements contribute to a lighthearted experience, though they may not be consistent throughout.
- “My opinion didn't change; in fact, the game's ending left me laughing.”
- “The main character is kind of funny to watch because he also doesn't give a single care the entire time.”
- “On a final note, the protagonist's hair is absolutely hilarious and cracks me up every time he's shown without the cap.”
character development
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
71%
15%
14%
Character development in the game is noted for its potential, with some players feeling it could benefit from further refinement in writing and depth. While the character design and animations during dialogue are appreciated, there are mixed feelings about the overall character aesthetics and limitations. Despite these critiques, many players find the character development, alongside world-building and lore, to be a significant draw of the game.
- “I especially enjoyed the character design and the animations during dialogue choices.”
- “Combat is barely the main focus of this game and if you kind of just ignore it, you're in for some of the most amazing and beautiful level design, music, world building, character development, puzzles, lore, and mysteries.”
- “While the enemy variety is definitely its main weakness, the exploration, the lore building, character development, and best of all level design are what hooks me the most.”
- “I also dislike the character design, the limitations when it comes to clothing, and especially the idiotic hairstyles on some characters, like the protagonist.”
monetization
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization aspect of the game has been criticized for its misleading advertising, which emphasizes a challenging experience without clear guidance, potentially alienating both casual and hardcore players. While some players appreciate the game's adherence to its advertised features, others feel that the lack of navigational aids and simplistic combat detracts from the overall experience, suggesting that the marketing strategy may need reevaluation to better align with player expectations.
- “The devs complained about Silksong taking a bite out of their prospective audience, but realistically, their advertising that they made a game that 'doesn't hold your hand' and 'requires you to pay attention' didn't help, nor did the frankly fairly simple combat system that doesn't really appeal to either the fast-paced button masher ARPG fans or the slower, more methodical combat that punishes mistakes ARPG fans.”
- “The quests may not have markers, but you pick up an item for a quest and get notified 'quest xx discovered...' - not what I expected considering the focus of all the advertising.”
- “Maybe advertising it differently would help.”