Night At the Gates of Hell

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In "Night at the Gates of Hell," play as David, a grieving man who faces a zombie outbreak in his seaside city. Inspired by Italian zombie flicks and early Resident Evil games, this first-person survival horror features challenging headshot-based combat against slow, menacing undead, creating a tense and deliberate experience.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

Reviews

89%

Audience ScoreBased on 522 reviews

humor88 positive mentions

stability5 negative mentions

The game successfully captures the atmosphere of classic Italian horror films, providing a nostalgic experience for fans of the genre.
Gameplay is engaging with satisfying gun mechanics, requiring players to aim for headshots to defeat zombies, which adds to the tension.
The humor and quirky characters, including memorable lines and absurd situations, enhance the overall enjoyment of the game.

The reliance on loud jump scares can be jarring and detracts from the overall horror experience, making it feel less immersive.
Some players experienced bugs and glitches, such as issues with hit detection and inventory management, which can disrupt gameplay.
The lack of a save system and the need to complete levels in one sitting can be frustrating, especially in longer chapters.

humor
88 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is a standout feature, blending absurdity and dark comedy with horror elements, reminiscent of classic B-movie aesthetics. Players appreciate the hilarious voice acting, quirky character dialogues, and unexpected comedic moments, though some find the humor hit-or-miss or occasionally crude. Overall, the game successfully balances scares and laughs, making for an entertaining experience that keeps players engaged.
- “The story is cheesy, outlandish, very funny, and incredible.”
- “Not only is this game hilarious and scary at times, but the gameplay was honestly surprisingly enjoyable.”
- “Whilst the game captures the elements of suspense and horror very well, it also excels in making the player laugh, mostly through hilarious dialogue with the weirdo cast of characters you meet on your journey.”
story
87 mentions
34 % positive mentions
59 % neutral mentions
7 % negative mentions
The story in "Night at the Gates of Hell" is a campy homage to classic Italian zombie films, featuring a mix of humor and horror that keeps players engaged. While some reviews note its simplicity and predictability, many appreciate the entertaining characters, solid pacing, and effective jump scares, making it a fun experience overall. The inclusion of bonus missions adds depth, with one standout extra being particularly praised for its humor and creativity.
- “Rather than making a video game that has a very video gamey zombie story, Night at the Gates of Hell is a Lucio Fulci-esque masterclass in zombie storytelling, with great gameplay to boot.”
- “The story is cheesy, outlandish, very funny, and incredible.”
- “Night at the Gates of Hell is filled with jump scares, gun fights, all fueled by an unsettling story told and played out by some epic characters.”
- “The story is nonexistent; things happen without explanation, and you sort of learn to accept this early on. But if you're not engaging the player with fun combat, a good story, effective scares, or engaging characters, why play a game?”
- “The story itself is very basic; you play as a survivor of the apocalypse making his way from his home to the monster-filled streets of his city and beyond.”
- “The story is a neat idea, but wow, it's truly terribly done.”
atmosphere
68 mentions
47 % positive mentions
47 % neutral mentions
6 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is frequently praised for its tension, retro horror style, and homage to classic Italian zombie films, creating a genuinely creepy and immersive experience. However, this atmosphere is often disrupted by inconsistent humor, jarring sound effects, and rushed dialogue, which can detract from the overall immersion. Despite these interruptions, many players find the atmosphere to be a standout feature, with some levels effectively maintaining a strong sense of dread and unease.
- “The atmosphere is great at times, tense, foggy, isolated... the red sky, the polygons of dreamy scenes.”
- “Perfectly capturing the atmosphere and mood of 70's Italian horror movies with some blatant homages to the works of Lucio Fulci, the game engrosses you with its journey and horrific visuals & sound design.”
- “The atmosphere throughout the game is consistently creepy.”
- “Sadly, these bits of atmosphere are interrupted all the time by the next stupid sound effect that shakes the immersion off.”
- “Zero tension, zero atmosphere—just nothing.”
- “The italian zombie film theme could have made for a really creepy and special atmosphere, but the dev made every character a caricature and added stupid jokes that don't fit the theme.”
graphics
65 mentions
23 % positive mentions
65 % neutral mentions
12 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game evoke a strong retro aesthetic reminiscent of PS1-era horror titles, which some players appreciate for its nostalgic charm, while others criticize it for lacking detail and consistency. Many reviews highlight the low-poly visuals as fitting for the horror theme, creating an atmosphere that can be both appealing and off-putting. Overall, the reception is mixed, with some praising the artistic choices and others viewing them as a cover for poor design and execution.
- “The blood red skies and neon green chapels were always a sight to behold, if you appreciate PS1-era graphics and worlds.”
- “Great chunky PSX style visuals, and landing that panicked headshot while backed into a corner is consistently satisfying.”
- “Perfectly capturing the atmosphere and mood of 70's Italian horror movies with some blatant homages to the works of Lucio Fulci, the game engrosses you with its journey and horrific visuals & sound design.”
- “The retro aesthetics are used as an excuse to make some extremely blocky and basic levels, and the retro screen filters that are enabled by default are basically needed by the dev to hide just how ugly the game really looks in many places.”
- “Level design and detail are very lacking, which combined with a snail-pace walking animation and inconsistent visuals, turn the experience into crawling with a migraine.”
- “But.....this game's miserable aesthetics feel like a crappy parody of PS1 era games rather than an actual effort to make something good.”
gameplay
56 mentions
36 % positive mentions
59 % neutral mentions
5 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Night at the Gates of Hell" is a mixed bag, with many players appreciating its simple yet engaging mechanics that evoke classic survival horror elements, such as exploration and puzzle-solving. While some praise the intuitive controls and rewarding combat, others criticize the repetitive nature and handling mechanics, which can detract from the overall experience. Overall, the game successfully captures a nostalgic horror atmosphere, though it may not fully satisfy all players due to its inconsistencies and reliance on jump scares.
- “Rather than making a video game that has a very video gamey zombie story, Night at the Gates of Hell is a Lucio Fulci-esque masterclass in zombie storytelling, with great gameplay to boot.”
- “The gameplay consists of shooting zombies and cultists while exploring to find key items to unlock other areas, reminiscent of Resident Evil 1's progression style.”
- “It's refreshing to play a game where your choices and skill in gameplay actually matter again.”
- “I think where this game largely falls apart is in content, gameplay, parts of the writing, as well as just a general feeling of being rushed.”
- “Gameplay struggles in a lot of areas.”
- “Despite its awful writing, awful voice acting, and rather plain gameplay, it provides, in the end, an identical level of quality to the most pedestrian examples from its source material, never living up to the best of them, but never falling among the worst of them either.”
music
17 mentions
41 % positive mentions
41 % neutral mentions
18 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its excellent soundtrack, which effectively enhances the atmosphere and complements the gameplay. Reviewers note its ability to evoke a nostalgic vibe reminiscent of 70s Italian horror films, with some comparing it to the work of Goblin. While some players wished for more musical variety, the overall consensus is that the music significantly contributes to the game's charm and immersive experience.
- “Excellent soundtrack, perfectly minimal gameplay, effective scares, sexy polygons, and just an all-around lovely experience which certainly leaves me wanting more.”
- “The music and aesthetics really sell the vibe, the characters are campy and memorable.”
- “It really does capture the old 70s Italian zombie vibe, amazing soundtrack, cheesy story about hell coming to earth in some way, weird random moments, it's all there and it all works.”
- “Without a doubt turned me around for more than a dozen instances… musically, not only was it equally loud and crippling, it also cheered you on for good measure, and your guns are accompanying instruments of chaos~”
- “It's too easy and I expected more music (similar to the movies), but it's still a very good game, I recommend it.”
- “Love the theme of the game and the music but it is way too buggy to recommend.”
stability
5 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
The game's stability is heavily criticized, with users reporting numerous glitches that significantly detract from the experience, particularly in gameplay modes like horde mode. While some players appreciate the game's theme and music, the pervasive bugs make it difficult to recommend, especially given the price point.
- “I'll probably try to work through the glitches on another playthrough another day, but I shouldn't have to keep doing this when I paid over $50 to support this and your other titles.”
- “Too bad it's a completely broken, buggy mess.”
- “Love the theme of the game and the music, but it is way too buggy to recommend.”
monetization
3 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
The monetization aspect of the game is criticized for feeling like a cash grab, with users pointing to poor design choices and technical issues, such as a malfunctioning rebinding menu and ad bugs, which detract from the overall experience. Despite some solid gameplay mechanics, the presence of intrusive ads and a lack of polish raises concerns about the game's value for players.
- “Bad AI, bad level design, bad graphics without any artistic purpose behind them, and poor audio quality aside, the other criticism I have that has me convinced this game was a quickly slapped together cash grab is that the rebinding menu simply doesn't work.”
- “The only thing that needs fixing is the ads bug and the hit boxes.”
- “The shooting is solid but demanding; you can't aim down sights while moving, and hip firing is a dice roll.”
replayability
3 mentions
33 % positive mentions
33 % neutral mentions
33 % negative mentions
The game offers notable replayability, particularly for a single-player horror experience, as it effectively incorporates meaningful consequences for player actions, enhancing the overall engagement. However, some players feel that the impact of dying could be more significant to further boost replay value.
- “It's rare for a single-player horror game (or in this case a whole bundle) to have high replay value, but this one nails it.”
- “This game would be a lot better and have replay value if dying meant something.”
grinding
3 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be a mixed experience; while the availability of resources encourages weapon use, some sections become tedious, particularly in the later stages. Instances of frustrating respawns during boss fights can detract from the overall enjoyment, leading some to abandon the game due to these repetitive challenges.
- “Not everything has to be Resident Evil levels of zombie survival tedious. Having more bullets and second chance items actually encourages you to use your weapons; however, at one point, I died to an enemy that bypassed the second chance items and then respawned in the middle of the fight, safe and snug with the boss still at however much health was left, and continued on like nothing happened.”
- “I found them funny but tedious, and after they locked back up on an update, I decided not to bother.”
- “Perhaps the only issue I had with the game was some of the more tedious sections in the later half of the game.”
optimization
2 mentions
50 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
50 % negative mentions
The game's optimization has been criticized for performance issues and hitbox inaccuracies in combat, alongside a lack of proper Steam Deck support, which the developers have acknowledged and are working to improve. Players feel that there is little incentive for high performance and minimal consequences for failure, impacting overall gameplay experience.
- “My only hangups so far are a handful of performance issues, some weird hitbox issues with the combat, and the lack of proper Steam Deck support (which the devs have already said is coming as of this writing).”