Hell is Us is a dark adventure with no map, demanding combat, and an unusual approach to storytelling. But who should consider buying it?
In Hell is Us, you explore a nation torn apart by civil war, where supernatural creatures suddenly manifest out of nowhere. The game completely skips maps and traditional quest markers, which has already sparked plenty of discussion ahead of release. We break down who will enjoy Hell is Us and who might be better off choosing a different open world.
A World Without a Map – Does It Work?
There is no real-time map in Hell is Us. You also won’t find a minimap, waypoints, or fast travel. Instead, navigation relies solely on visual cues like smoke on the horizon, distinct architecture, conversations with NPCs, or environmental sounds. You can, however, turn on a compass that shows at least the cardinal directions.
The world itself is not one seamless open world. Instead, you travel between open zones and tackle large, demanding dungeons filled with environmental puzzles. Hints picked up from dialogue or events are automatically saved in a mindmap that expands over time and can be checked anytime.
If you’re willing to adapt and rely on your own problem-solving, you’ll be rewarded. But if you expect the interface to guide you every step of the way, frustration may set in quickly.
Combat: Challenging, But Not Overwhelming
Combat in Hell is Us is tactical—you’ll need to manage stamina for attacks, dodges, and blocks. Health and stamina are linked through two connected bars. This means taking hits drains not only your health but also your stamina. The system adds tension but can be frustrating if you get hit several times in a row, leaving you nearly helpless afterward.
There are no ranged weapons, only special melee weapons to fight the supernatural beings. While enemy designs don’t vary much visually, each has distinct attack patterns. Enemies are aggressive and punish mistakes, but fights are never unfair and always leave you enough time to react.
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Alternatives to combat—like stealth or running away—are limited. In some cases, you can avoid encounters by taking detours or bypassing fights, but when it comes to boss battles, there’s no way around a duel.
Tech & Controls: Best with a Controller
Hell is Us plays more smoothly with a controller than with mouse and keyboard. Keyboard controls tend to feel imprecise, especially when dodging. Technically, the game runs mostly stable, load times are reasonable, and frame rates hold up even on mid-range systems. Only in complex scenes packed with effects does the frame rate occasionally dip.
Saving: No Quick-Save, But Fair Checkpoints
You can’t manually save at will. Instead, Hell is Us uses fixed save points in the form of small cassettes you must activate. If Rémi dies, you respawn at the last activated save point, keeping all progress made. The spacing between save points is fair, so you won’t lose much time after a death.
Atmosphere & Story: A Dark World Told Believably
The world of Hell is Us feels coherent, dark but not monotonous. Ruins, forests, abandoned towns, and eerie structures alternate regularly. The sound design is subtle but effective—especially the audio cues that help with navigation. NPC conversations are clearly structured and provide valuable hints. Dialogue is voiced in English with German subtitles.
The story of Hell is Us unfolds gradually through encounters, found objects, and the environment itself. If you take a break, the mindmap provides a recap of important details—though often in a condensed form. Still, the main narrative remains easy to follow, as long as you’re paying attention.
Buy or Skip: Who Hell is Us Is For
Hell is Us is clearly aimed at players who enjoy getting lost—sometimes literally. If you love open worlds that don’t explain themselves but reward exploration, you’ll find something special here. If you prefer clear directions, fast-paced combat, or comfort features, you may struggle.
It’s not a classic Souls-like, but it’s no easygoing action-adventure either. Hell is Us is a demanding game that asks for patience, focus, and initiative. Those who commit will experience a dark, atmospheric adventure with plenty of edge. But if you only have half an hour in the evening to play, you’ll likely hit limits fast.
