| ACG |
Jeremy Penter |
Recommended |
09-01-2025 |
“Slick world building and some incredible puzzle world, is held back by some wonky combat, Ultimately, Hell is Us stands on its own well enough, its just a bit wobbly.” |
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| Atarita |
Sezerhan Yıldırım |
70 / 100 |
09-05-2025 |
Hell is Us drops players into a harsh, unforgiving world where discovery is entirely up to them. With no map, quest markers, or handholding, it’s just you, your instincts, and the unknown. Bold design, a captivating world, and thought-provoking themes make it one of the year’s standout releases. |
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| But Why Tho? |
Adrian Ruiz |
10 / 10 |
09-01-2025 |
No maps. No markers. No mercy. Hell is Us trusts you to listen, to feel, and to get lost. And in doing so, it offers something truly rare: a soul. |
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| Capsule Computers |
Travis Bruno |
8 / 10 |
09-06-2025 |
With no handholding, Hell is Us challenges players to unearth its haunting secrets. Dense lore and grim set pieces enthrall alongside challenging puzzles just don’t expect varied combat or foes. |
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| CGMagazine |
Zubi Khan |
8 / 10 |
09-01-2025 |
Hell is Us takes place in the 90s and features a grounded aesthetic juxtaposed with unearthly entities called Hollow Walkers |
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| Checkpoint Gaming |
Austin Gallagher |
8.5 / 10 |
08-31-2025 |
Hell is Us is an impressive milestone for a small team of developers, with the player-plattering design resulting in a strong vision. Whilst simple combat and mechanically shallow traversal hold the title back, there’s an undeniable clarity of vision that creates an overall cohesive package. Each of the game’s many elements feeds into one another to elevate the true star of Hell is Us, Hadea. The way themes are handled with such care should also be applauded. Few places in all of video games feel so present and fully realised, especially in a debut entry. So despite Hadea’s ongoing problems, I would highly recommend you consider crossing the border and staying a while. |
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| Chicas Gamers |
Juanma Luengo |
Recommended |
09-01-2025 |
Hell is Us is a return to the origins of the adventure genre, but with the maturity of a studio that knows what it wants to offer. It combines free exploration, intense combat, and an intriguing narrative that plays with both war and humanity’s inner demons. In short, an old-fashioned exploration and combat adventure with an excellent setting. |
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| COGconnected |
Mark Steighner |
84 / 100 |
09-01-2025 |
Its ultimate message about humanity caught in endlessly repeating tragic loops has some weight. For gamers willing to take on its challenges and solve its mysteries, Hell is Us has a lot to offer. |
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| Console Creatures |
Bobby Pashalidis |
Recommended |
09-01-2025 |
Hell is Us is equal parts intriguing and frustrating, with some impressive design choices that force you to think and plan your path through Hadea. The idea behind player-pattering is refreshing in a time where many games leave the sense of mystery out of their plans from the beginning, and the combat forces you to think about how to deal with wildly unpredictable enemies that feel and sound like they’re from another world. In the nearly 50 hours you’ll spend in this meticulously planned-out world, there’s very little filler to worry about, with some often engaging stories dealing with a great mix of very real scenarios of civil war mixed with some impressive, ethereal, otherworldly dangers. |
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| Cultured Vultures |
Ash Bates |
7.5 / 10 |
09-04-2025 |
While the combat leaves something to be desired, particularly when it comes to variety, Hell Is Us’ exploration of the cycles of violence and combat carries the whole experience. |
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| DualShockers |
Christian Bognar |
8.5 / 10 |
09-01-2025 |
The game’s only true disappointment is the lack of enemy variety and minimal bosses, which can result in the combat growing stale pretty quickly. |
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| Evilgamerz |
Jeroen Janssen |
8 / 10 |
09-01-2025 |
Developer Rogue Factor is to be commended for employing a Player-Flattering approach in a game like this, and it works perfectly for me, with the exception of the puzzles, which are too dull and sometimes unforgiving. Perhaps it even goes too far, as in Act II, the objectives become somewhat confusing. The gameplay may not be particularly special, and the combat often feels repetitive, but the exploration aspect of the game kept me engaged for hours, even bringing me back to various areas. The game offers dozens of hours of content, with exploration taking up a significant amount of time. As mentioned, it might be too much without a walkthrough guide. In total, I spent a whopping thirty hours playing the game before the end appeared, and then you can still complete all the sidequests, including the Good Deeds missions. As the game progresses, you can spend much more time finding the right combinations of characters, investigations, and locations, as the connections can become more complex due to the amount of data you collect. The action is perfectly playable for both beginners and experienced soulslike/action enthusiasts, but eventually the difficulty will increase, and some might find it a bit overwhelming. Ultimately, this is more of an action game than a soulslike, though. At the lower difficulty level, the game is easy for everyone. Hell is Us didn’t include the word “hell” in its title for nothing. Are you up for a new, refreshing challenge, where the latter lies mainly in the puzzles? Then I’d love to put you to the test! |
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| Game Rant |
Pam K. Ferdinand |
3.5 / 5 stars |
09-01-2025 |
Rogue Factor’s Hell is Us immerses players into a war-torn land that’s intriguing to explore but falls short in a few key areas. |
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| GameBlast |
Thiago da Silva |
8.5 / 10 |
09-01-2025 |
Hell is Us was a pleasant surprise, featuring a great story and robust gameplay. Despite low enemy variety and challenging puzzles for casual players, its positive aspects stand out. Rogue Factor outdid itself with this project, and I look forward to the studio’s next games. |
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| Gameblog |
Unknown |
8 / 10 |
09-01-2025 |
Hell is Us is much more than what it lets on in its first few minutes of gameplay. By cleverly combining action, adventure, and challenging puzzle-solving, the title immerses us in a particularly dark and mature atmosphere, underscored by violence inspired by the worst hours of humanity. |
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| GameGrin |
Joshua Render |
7.5 / 10 |
09-03-2025 |
Hell is Us is a game that offers something unique, but that same challenge might turn away a lot of players looking for something with a more streamlined experience. |
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| Gamepressure |
Giancarlo Saldana |
7.5 / 10 |
09-01-2025 |
Hell Is Us makes bold choices: no hand-holding, no maps, no shortcuts. That design philosophy is both its biggest strength and its biggest frustration. |
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| GamePro |
Samara Summer |
80 / 100 |
09-01-2025 |
The development team did a wonderful job of creating an environment that somehow always invites exploration. I also found Remi and Tania to be fascinating characters – and I really liked the ending, even though it came a bit too quickly for me. |
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| Gamer Guides |
Craig Robinson |
85 / 100 |
09-01-2025 |
An amazing immersive experience that has been lost with the art of hand-holding maps and quest markers. The game makes good use of puzzles, both easy and ones that get you thinking. However, the combat is extremely lacking, which stops it from reaching greater heights. |
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| Gamers Heroes |
Johnny Hurricane |
8.5 / 10 |
09-01-2025 |
While we don’t envy it going up against Hollow Knight: Silksong, Hell Is Us is one of the best games we’ve played this year. |
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| GAMES.CH |
Benjamin Braun |
75 / 100 |
09-01-2025 |
Although “Hell is Us” is in many ways more of an old-school game, the lack of excessive game aids and the integration of serious puzzles provide a pleasantly fresh breath of fresh air in the increasingly challenging everyday life of gamers. |
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| GameSpew |
Richard Seagrave |
8 / 10 |
09-01-2025 |
With its sometimes chilling civil war setting and general lack of guidance, Hell is Us isn’t a game for everybody. Those who embrace its hands-off approach, however, will likely find it an incredibly compelling experience providing they can tolerate its occasionally frustrating combat. And it’s ever so rewarding being a force of good in such a dark world. |
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| GameSpot |
Alessandro Barbosa |
7 / 10 |
09-01-2025 |
Hell is Us promises a narrative adventure without the handholding, and mostly delivers on that through rewarding exploration and experimental combat. |
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| GamesRadar+ |
Luke Kemp |
4 / 5 stars |
09-01-2025 |
The dark side of humanity drives the entire experience. |
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| GamingBolt |
Ravi Sinha |
7 / 10 |
09-02-2025 |
Hell is Us knows what it wants to be, and if you’re willing to take the ride, it may surprise you with its lore and approach to exploration. Just be prepared for plenty of awkward bumps along the way. |
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| Geeks & Com |
Kevin Cormier |
9 / 10 |
09-01-2025 |
After the approximately 30 hours it will take you to complete Hell is Us (more if you want to solve everything), you will come to one conclusion: this game is extraordinary. The atmosphere will draw in more than a few players, thanks to the exceptional work of Rogue Factor. Rarely have I been immersed so quickly in such a fantastic universe. The studio has put its efforts in the right places to make their first release a high-quality game. In my humble opinion, Hell is Us will be part of the discussion about the best games of 2025. And it will have earned it! |
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| Hey Poor Player |
Shane Boyle |
4 / 5 stars |
09-01-2025 |
For all its shortcomings in the combat and enemy variety departments, Hell is Us is one of my favourite games of 2025, and is sure to be close to the top of my rankings when the time comes. Hands down the most refreshing experience I’ve had on console in quite some time, Hell is Us takes years of tropes and bad habits built up by the industry and discards them in favour of player agency. It’s a game that I hope finds its fans, as while I anticipate it being an incredibly polarizing experience, we need more experiences like this to stand alongside the AAA junk food that is undoubtedly satisfying, but frequently hollow. If you’re like me and want to reprogram your brain to not instinctively climb a wall or squeeze through a gap that might happen to have yellow paint splashed across it due to years of being indoctrinated by video games, then please take the time to sample the delight that is Hell is Us this summer. |
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| Hobby Consolas |
Unknown |
88 / 100 |
09-01-2025 |
With its combination of Souls-like combat, unguided exploration, Resident Evil-esque puzzles, and Zelda-esque dungeon crawling, Hell is Us is one of the most gritty, challenging, and surprising experiences of the year. |
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| IGN |
Jada Griffin |
7 / 10 |
09-04-2025 |
Hell is Us has a blend of exploration, puzzles, and combat that, while familiar, pushes you to really pay attention to the world around you in a way that’s both compelling and occasionally frustrating. |
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| IGN Spain |
Estrella Gomez |
8 / 10 |
09-01-2025 |
Hell is Us is a game based on exploration. It invites you to discover the story and secrets of its world at your own pace, without a single mission indicator in sight. The result is a challenging adventure that constantly rewards the player with very positive feelings. Although the combat system does not reach the expected level, Hell is Us stands out for its immersive atmosphere, complex story, and clever puzzles. |
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| Multiplayer First |
Alexander Lataillade-Nguyen |
6.5 / 10 |
09-01-2025 |
Hell Is Us is a game that dares to be different, and for that, it deserves recognition. Its refusal to hold your hand creates moments of genuine exploration, mystery, and tension. Puzzles and investigative elements shine, and the atmosphere is haunting in a way few games manage. |
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| NoesPaisparaFrikis |
Jorge Cuadri |
8.8 / 10 |
09-04-2025 |
If you like the Souls setting and are interested in narrative and exploration, don’t hesitate for a second to invest the few euros for this wonderful offering from the cold lands of Montreal, Quebec. You’ll find a top-notch narrative and gameplay experience, accompanied by fun and satisfying combat, that won’t let you put down the controller until you unravel the mysteries that permeate Hadea’s grimy and gritty civil war. |
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| NoobFeed |
Nusrat Choity |
70 / 100 |
09-05-2025 |
Hell Is Us is a fascinating paradox. It’s about taking away modern amenities and making discovery feel like labor instead of a gift. You can have deep, lasting experiences when you think this way, like when you find a wrecked village or figure out a complex dungeon riddle. But sometimes, the lack of purpose, repetitious combat, and technical flaws indicate how rough around the edges its goals are. |
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| PCGamesN |
Paul Kelly |
5 / 10 |
09-01-2025 |
Hell is Us starts strong, but quickly falls into a tedious loop of collection and delivery, with an uninspiring combat system and a story that loses its initial promise. The superb place-setting and unnerving tone can’t save this action RPG from stumbling across the finish line. |
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| Play Watch Read |
Martin de Mooij |
8 / 10 |
09-01-2025 |
Hell is US is an Action RPG with light Souls-Like influences in the field of gameplay. The player has to solve the puzzles with minimal hints and little indication. It is not constantly said where to go and what should be done there. It is therefore up to the player to make the choice what has priority and this ensures a nice play experience. |
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| PlayStation Universe |
Garri Bagdasarov |
9 / 10 |
09-01-2025 |
Hell Is Us is a game about the depravity of humanity and the consequences of our actions. Almost everything about Hell Is Us is crafted to perfection, from its incredible environmental storytelling to its characters and world. Though some may find it difficult to progress due to a lack of direction, its exploration becomes a key to its success. Its combat is fun with plenty of mechanics to mess around with, but it could have done with a little more enemy variety. |
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| PPE.pl |
Paweł Musiolik |
8 / 10 |
09-01-2025 |
I can add Hell is Us to the list of games that took me by surprise. I was expecting another overhyped mediocrity with unfulfilled promises. What I got was the complete opposite of my expectations. |
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| PSX Brasil |
Rui Celso |
90 / 100 |
09-01-2025 |
Hell is Us is a game that stands out for its boldness in making you think. It breaks from the norm and manages to captivate you in a way that perhaps other similar titles in the genre couldn’t. With a well-told narrative and top-notch exploration, the title is worth every second of your attention. |
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| Push Square |
Aaron Bayne |
9 / 10 |
09-01-2025 |
With an incredibly dense lore and labyrinthine level design, Hell Is Us is a captivating experience. The game takes its solid (but tough) combat and chin-scratching puzzles and elevates them with a century spanning mystery that goes deeper and deeper. Its hands off approach means there is a huge emphasis on the world, and thankfully Rogue Factor does not disappoint. It’s not going to be for everyone, but for those that love a good lore-filled mystery, this is a PS5 must-play. |
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| Shacknews |
Josh Childs |
9 / 10 |
09-01-2025 |
Hell is Us initially hooked me with its horror vibe and cool-looking action. After a fifty-hour playthrough, I’m happy to report that the combat is indeed cool and the vibes are indeed horror-adjacent, but Hell is Us is much more than that. |
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| Slant Magazine |
Unknown |
4 / 5 stars |
09-01-2025 |
Upsetting and relevant as it often is, Hell Is Us isn’t exactly pointedly angry about right-wing fanaticism, genocide, and how easily populations can be manipulated. |
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| SpazioGames |
Unknown |
7.5 / 10 |
09-01-2025 |
Hell is Us boldly carves out its own path, favoring a slower, more contemplative experience that rewards patience, curiosity, and a taste for the unconventional. It’s not trying to appeal to everyone-and that’s precisely the point. This is a game for those who find meaning in silence, in suggestion, in the space between things. It seeks to provoke rather than guide, to immerse rather than entertain. For some, it will resonate deeply; for others, it may feel distant or impenetrable. |
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| TechRaptor |
Ashley Erickson |
8 / 10 |
09-01-2025 |
With little glitches and a substantial time investment, Hell is Us has a solid foundation in the action adventure and RPG genres. Given the mature storyline, however, it should be played by those willing to encounter multiple dark themes. |
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| The Games Machine |
Emanuele Feronato |
8.3 / 10 |
09-04-2025 |
The KAPI drone adds variety with support functions, while fights against Hollow Walkers and Haze offer a mix of interesting but not always varied patterns. The atmosphere is very evocative, but marred by monsters that don’t live up to the setting. |
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| TheGamer |
Hilton Webster |
3.5 / 5 stars |
09-01-2025 |
While Hell Is Us confidently executes upon its story, quests and puzzles, so much of it feels hampered by the fear that players would give up too quickly if it kept on taking risks. I really, really wish it did, though. |
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| TheReviewGeek |
Greg Wheeler |
7.5 / 10 |
09-01-2025 |
Hell is Us isn’t perfect, but it’s a highly enjoyable experience. While the story and characters don’t quite hit the mark, its rich mythology, striking world design, and varied combat make it easy to recommend. It’s not a Souls-like, but this adventure packs plenty of soul. |
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| TheSixthAxis |
Jason Coles |
7 / 10 |
09-01-2025 |
Hell Is Us is a genuinely interesting game that many will adore for its commitment to letting you spend your time exploring mysteries and unlocking lore. The fact that you’ll want a notepad near you will send some of you rabid, and that’s great. For me though, Hell Is Us is a game that looks beautiful in every respect, but ends up feeling a little bit too paint-by-numbers when it comes to the actual mechanics at play. I like Hell Is Us well enough, but I don’t know that I’ll remember it. |
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| TheXboxHub |
Ryan Taylor |
4 / 5 stars |
09-01-2025 |
The foundations of Hell is Us are rock solid. A follow-up game would allow for the combat systems to be refined, and for the story and world to be built out more. |
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| WayTooManyGames |
Kyle Nicol |
8.5 / 10 |
09-01-2025 |
Since its announcement, Hell is Us was shaping up to be a game to keep a close eye on, and now that I’ve played it, for the most part, ended up being even better than I expected. It felt like a slight breath of fresh air that removes most of the handholding, entrusting players to progress at their own pace. It’s a wonderful and unique experience, but one that occasionally stumbles with repetitive enemy design and a story that falls short of its full potential. Regardless, these issues felt like mere setbacks, and don’t stop Hell is Us from being one of the biggest surprises of the year. |
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| Wccftech |
David Carcasole |
8.5 / 10 |
09-01-2025 |
Hell is Us is an amazing accomplishment, and will easily remain one of 2025’s best games, though it falls short of amazing, and reaching the status of some of its influences. With a rich atmosphere, stunning visuals, deep lore, wonderfully realized characters and a fairly solid combat experience, it’s not a game to be missed. |
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| Xbox Achievements |
Richard Walker |
75 / 100 |
09-01-2025 |
Hell is Us is a third-person action game built around the concept of “Player-Plattering,” according to developer Rogue Factor. The idea is that yo… |
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| XboxEra |
Győző Baki |
7 / 10 |
09-01-2025 |
I still feel like recommending Hell Is Us, to some people at least, because it is a unique experience worth digging into. Just, remember to arm yourself with a lot of patience – and maybe a guide or two. |
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