Is Hell Is Us worth playing? Discover seven important things players are asking before you decide to open your wallet.
After years of teasers and speculations, Hell Is Us has finally landed on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S. Developed by Rogue Factor and published by Nacon, the game is being pitched as a third-person action adventure that blends psychological horror with soulslike elements. Set in a fictional country torn apart by civil war, the game throws us into an eerie world filled with human conflict and surreal supernatural menace. The big question buzzing around since its reveal has been whether it is just another Soulslike clone or something different. Instead of a review, here are five key things to know before buying, based on early reviews, dev insights, and community reactions.
You can also check out if Chronos the New Dawn is worth buying before you decide to empty your wallet.
Is Hell Is Us a Soulslike?
This is the No 1 question on everyone’s lips- Is Hell is Us a Soulslike? The combat system in Hell Is Us borrows heavily from Soulslike design. Fights are stamina-based, deliberate, and often punishing if you rush in without thinking. Players wield swords, axes, and polearms, with a drone companion thrown in for a tactical twist. That said, most critics agree that while the influence is obvious, the game stops short of being a true Soulslike. It is less about grinding or enduring relentless boss battles and more about balancing atmospheric exploration with bursts of tense combat.
So is Hell Is Us a Soulslike? Not really. It has the DNA of one, but it would be more accurate to call it Soulslike-inspired. For players who want some of that punishing edge without dedicating weeks of their lives to memorizing attack patterns, this hybrid approach might be more appealing.
Is Hell of Us too depressing? What’s the world and story like?
If you are expecting a cheerful romp, prepare to be disappointed. The world of Hell Is Us is dark, oppressive, and deliberately depressing. It is set in Hadea, a fictional nation torn apart by civil war. On top of that human tragedy, the land is infested with eerie hollow creatures, giving the whole experience a nightmarish quality. You play as Rémi, a peacekeeper working for the ON (Organized Nations) on a mission but actually wants to uncover the fate of his parents. Quickly you realize that the country itself has become an antagonist.
The game has been described by most reviewers as heavy and often unsettling. The developers lean on psychological horror and symbolic storytelling, mixing political undertones with supernatural dread. The end result is a world that is as disturbing as it is fascinating. If you prefer uplifting narratives, you might find Hell Is Us a tough sit, but for fans of grim, atmospheric storytelling, this setting is one of its strongest hooks.
How tough is it, really- and what is the gameplay and combat like?
This is where many comparisons to Soulslikes come in, and where things get interesting. The combat in Hell Is Us is slower if you compare it to most action games. Every swing of your weapon matters, stamina must be managed carefully, and enemies will punish reckless play. Yet, unlike Dark Souls, the challenge is not overwhelming. Some players even find the mechanics a little stiff, which takes away some of the danger.
But toughness here is not just about fighting. Exploration in Hell Is Us is designed to test your patience and perception. There is no minimap, no glowing quest markers, and no handholding whatsoever. You are expected to rely on environmental clues and dialogue hints to find your way forward. In other words, you are your own map. For some, this is immersive and rewarding. For others, it is frustrating and confusing. How tough is it, really? That depends on how much you enjoy being dropped into a hostile world with little guidance.
Is Hell Is Us a horror game?
Another common question players are asking is whether Hell of Us counts as a horror game. The answer is yes, but only partially. It is not built as a survival horror in the style of Resident Evil, nor does it rely on constant jump scares. Instead, it uses horror elements to build atmosphere and tension. The hollow enemies are unnerving, the environments feel hostile even when nothing is happening, and the psychological weight of civil war trauma hangs over every interaction.
So if you are still asking – Is Hell Is Us a horror game? It is better to think of it as a hybrid. Horror is one tool in its arsenal, but it shares equal focus with action and narrative exploration. If you are looking for something purely designed to terrify you, this is not it. If you want a game that unsettles and disturbs while telling a layered story, then the horror influence will feel right at home.
Is Hell Is Us open world?
Open-world design is becoming the default in modern gaming, hasn’t it? This is why so many are wondering if Hell Is Us is open world. The answer is no. It is not a huge sandbox with hundreds of icons to chase. Instead, it offers semi-open areas that connect together but remain carefully curated. This makes it more comparable to Dark Souls, Silent Hill, or even Black Myth: Wukong. There is freedom, but always within boundaries designed to keep the atmosphere tight.
This approach actually strengthens the game. A fully open world might have diluted the sense of oppression that defines Hell Is Us. By keeping exploration contained, every location feels purposeful, dangerous, and narratively charged. Is Hell Is Us open world? No, but that is a design choice that works in its favor rather than against it.
Is Hell Is Us on Xbox Game Pass?
One of the most common questions since launch is whether the game is included in subscription services. The answer is no. Hell Is Us is available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC, but it is not on Xbox Game Pass or PlayStation Plus at release. If you want to play, you need to buy it at full price.
Could Hell Is Us come to Xbox Game Pass in the future? Possibly. Many mid-tier titles eventually make the jump once sales slow, but there is no guarantee. For now, Game Pass subscribers will have to wait and see.
How long or how many hours is Hell Is Us?
How long is Hell of Us? Playtime is always a key factor, and here Hell Is Us falls into the mid-range. Most reviewers and players report that a normal playthrough takes between 18 hours to 21 hours, depending on how much you explore and how often you get lost without a map. Yes, completionists who love exploring the beautiful yet haunted landscapes can stretch it to around 30 hours, but this is not a 60-hour epic.
For many, the length is a good match for its atmospheric design. The story is intense and often depressing, so dragging it out much longer might have been exhausting. So if you are stiill wondering how long is Hell Is Us, it is long enough to deliver a full narrative without overstaying its welcome
