Critics Praise Dark Adventure Hell is Us as Review Embargo Lifts

Hell is Us: Early Reviews Point to Atmospheric but Divisive Experience

Today marks the start of early access for players who own the Deluxe edition of Hell is Us, and with it, the review embargo for the game has officially lifted. Developed by Rogue Factor and helmed by Jonathan Jacques-Belletête, the acclaimed art director behind Deus Ex: Human Revolution and Mankind Divided, this dark adventure action title has garnered its first critical reactions.

As of this writing, Hell is Us holds promising scores, with an average of 79 on Metacritic for its PS5 version and 82 on OpenCritic, where 85% of critics recommend the game. Reviewers have highlighted several strengths, including impressive level and environmental design, a flexible character build system, satisfying combat, engaging lore, and a deeply atmospheric world. Many believe the game's exceptional mood-setting is largely thanks to the sound design and soundtrack by Stéphane Primault. As Ed Nightingale from Eurogamer noted:

"Hell is Us is a true masterpiece in terms of mood creation, and in many ways, it owes this to its soundtrack – or rather, its entire soundscape – crafted by composer Stéphane Primault. His music envelops the game in a thick, oppressive atmosphere that makes your head spin. This isn't surprising, given Primault's past in a metal band; his music is something dark, unsettling, and unforgettable. I strongly recommend playing this game with headphones."

However, the game isn't without its criticisms. Common points of contention include a limited variety of enemies, challenging multi-foe encounters, navigation difficulties, weak dialogue paired with a monotonous protagonist, and an unbalanced late-game experience.

One of the most polarizing design choices is the complete absence of an interactive map. Some critics appreciated this decision, finding that it encourages players to pay closer attention to their surroundings. Others, however, felt that navigating the game was already difficult due to a lack of signposts and markers, and the omission of a map only amplified these challenges.

Key Reviewer Takeaways:

• Push Square – 90/100: "From the opening moments, Hell is Us pulls you into its incredibly deep and detailed world, and its intricate, labyrinthine level design is captivating. A strong foundation of complex combat and puzzles requiring significant ingenuity is fully realized here through a years-long mystery that turns out to be far grander than it initially seems. The developers at Rogue Factor don't hold the player's hand, making the game's world the true star, and it's well worth it. This game definitely isn't for everyone, but if you love delving into detective stories with rich mythology, you absolutely must play Hell is Us."
• GamesRadar+ – 80/100: "Hell is Us presents a harsh world full of sorrow, yet the journey through it is consistently enjoyable. The complete lack of hand-holding and superbly crafted puzzles provide a constant sense of accomplishment, and moments of frustration—while unpleasant—are thankfully rare enough to be forgiven."
• XboxEra – 70/100: "Hell Is Us is a game of two entirely different realities. On one hand, it's an immersive world with heartbreaking stories of humanity and its absence, compelling the player to truly reflect on their actions, understand this painfully beautiful world, solve complex puzzles without a hint of guidance—all topped off with a Soulslike-inspired combat system. On the other hand, it’s a reality of aimless wandering across the map, endless trial-and-error, moments of getting stuck on some intricate multi-layered puzzle in the middle of a boundless labyrinth, or dying due to clunky combat mechanics in inconveniently designed locations. Such a combination of incredible highs and frustrating lows is quite rare. And how much you enjoy the game almost entirely depends on how willing you are to tolerate its shortcomings."
• Eurogamer – 60/100: "Hell is Us is a deep, nightmarish meditation on the horrors of war, but contentious design decisions can sometimes only cause irritation.
  Despite a number of flaws, I still think Hell is Us is a compelling experience. Every time I failed a quest or couldn't recall an important clue, something else awaited me: sometimes I explored city streets shrouded in the ghostly glow of exploded bombs and strewn with bodies frozen in their death throes; other times I unearthed an ancient tomb full of divine and mystical secrets; sometimes I infiltrated a strange facility where sirens shriek and the cries of trapped people echo through metallic corridors. The strength of Hell is Us—absolutely and completely—lies in its unique atmosphere and sense of discovery. Few modern games dare to do something similar."

The full release of Hell is Us is scheduled for September 4th on PC (Steam), PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S. The game features text localization in Russian. Rogue Factor has also noted that some Xbox players might experience issues with achievements not unlocking, but a patch (version 1.3.28.43567) addressing this is ready and expected to be available for download today.

Ultimately, Hell is Us appears to be a game that offers a profound and atmospheric experience for those willing to embrace its challenging design and lack of hand-holding. If you're a player who values deep lore, intricate worlds, and a unique atmosphere over conventional navigation aids, this dark adventure might be precisely what you're looking for.