Review of Hell Is Us for Xbox – More games like this, please

We analyzed for Xbox one of the most surprising games of this end of year, Hell Is Us.

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At the end of May, I had the opportunity to try Hell Is Us at a Nacon event in Paris, and from that moment on, I knew this title had something special. Despite not having a well-known name behind it like other releases this year, it gave me the feeling that it could be one of those games that surprises anyone who dares to give it a chance. Now, with its release on September 4th, the time has come to analyze it in its final version for Xbox Series X.

What Hell Is Us proposes is simple to explain, but difficult to execute: a third-person action adventure that doesn’t rely on the most traditional formulas of the genre. There’s no map, no guide to indicate the path, no endless list of missions to hold your hand. Here, you have to follow your instincts, read the environment, and accept that getting lost is part of the experience. And the truth is that, although it’s not a perfect game, it has enough hits to leave a mark.

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Technical Section

Visually, Hell Is Us meets the requirements. It’s not a graphical powerhouse comparable to the giants of the genre, but on Xbox Series X, it offers a more than solid presentation. It has two graphic modes: quality and performance. Personally, I recommend performance mode, as it maintains a more constant fluidity and provides greater comfort in combat, where every frame counts. The quality option improves lighting and ambient detail, but I think the overall experience shines more by prioritizing 60 FPS. In the end, each player can choose the mode they prefer, but in my case, performance mode has been the best way to play.

The scenarios have a careful design, with a dark and melancholic tone that reinforces the atmosphere of a country ravaged by civil war and a strange supernatural plague. The creatures that appear in the world, our enemies, are well-constructed, with original designs that manage to convey threat from the first encounter. You can tell there’s good work in animations and the impact of combat, which is intense and brutal. Additionally, to give more spectacle to combat, many enemies will pull out a core from their interior, with which combat will intensify in a brutal way and will have a strategic point to improve over time.

In terms of sound, the game arrives with texts translated into Spanish and voices in English. The dubbing is good, and the localization of the subtitles is correct, making it easy to follow the plot without problems. The sound effects in combat and the ambient soundtrack help reinforce that feeling of constant danger.

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Gameplay

This is where Hell Is Us really differs from other games in the genre. There’s no map, indicators, or markers to tell you where to go. Each mission requires reading clues, observing the environment, and, in general, using your intuition to progress. It may be disconcerting at first, but when you get used to it, you discover that it’s part of the proposal: it’s not about the game guiding you, but about you discovering.

Combat is demanding and direct. We have a range of melee weapons like swords, axes, greatswords, and spears, all designed specifically to face the supernatural creatures scattered throughout the maps. Each weapon can be improved with use, and it’s fundamental to learn their attack and defense patterns to survive. Here, you can’t just mash buttons: Hell Is Us forces you to play with your head, to measure times, and to take advantage of any advantage.

In this case, although it may have a Souls-like aesthetic, it’s not a game of this genre. We’ll have to dodge blows, block, and attack. We also have a life bar and a stamina bar, but that’s where the similarities end. Hell Is Us doesn’t offer its own depth in combat, with very different rhythms compared to what we can see in Souls-like games. Anyone who thinks they can play it like that will be disappointed, as we’re facing a very different proposal. If you have doubts, I recommend trying the demo available in the Store, which is quite representative.

The drone that accompanies us becomes an indispensable ally. It can read inscriptions, reveal environment information, and support us in combat. Although it doesn’t become an easy shortcut, it does add variety and an extra layer of strategy that prevents fights from becoming repetitive. Exploration is divided into semi-open maps. We’re not talking about a gigantic open world, but rather large areas that we can traverse and connect through an automatic transportation system. This, far from being a limitation, ensures that each zone is designed with intention, where we’ll have to solve puzzles, find clues and objects to deepen the story, without it being too overwhelming due to its size.

What I liked the most is that the game doesn’t give you anything for free. It’s tough, demanding, and although it has several difficulty levels to avoid frustration, it always maintains that feeling that advancing depends solely on you and your ability to adapt.

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Duration

The main campaign of Hell Is Us can last around 18-20 hours, depending on how you approach the missions and how much you stop to explore each area. Since there are no markers or indications, it’s normal to lose time looking for a way to advance, and that naturally extends the experience.

Replayability lies in how you approach each confrontation, which weapons you decide to improve, and in the exploration of the different areas. It’s not an infinite title, nor is it designed to be extended with filler content, but it does offer enough to feel complete and satisfying.

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Conclusion

Hell Is Us is a welcome surprise in the current landscape. It doesn’t try to compete with the giants of the genre based on spectacle, but instead bets on a different formula: an exploration system that trusts the player, demanding combat that doesn’t allow distractions, and an atmosphere that mixes the harshness of a civil war with the supernatural.

It’s not a perfect game: it has its technical limitations, and at times, it can feel repetitive or tough. But it’s also a brave title that decides not to give you everything done and asks you to get involved for real. And that, in a market where many games seem cut from the same pattern, is something worth celebrating.

If you’re looking for a different challenge, a game that forces you to observe, to fight with your head, and to be involved in every step, Hell Is Us is a title that deserves your attention. You might not have expected it, but here’s a dark horse that has a lot to say this year.

We thank Nacon for the material provided to make this analysis possible.