The Tool Desk
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What is Hell Is Us?
Developed by Rogue Factor and published by Nacon, Hell Is Us is a third-person action-adventure released for its Standard Edition on September 4, 2025, according to Nacon’s FAQ. It pairs exploration in a semi-open world with melee combat, an ancient sword, a drone and supernatural enemies, as described on Nacon’s product page.
The setting is bleak and violent rather than comforting. That grim tone is part of the experience, not just a backdrop: TechRadar’s review describes graphic imagery and a harsh war setting. The result is best approached as a serious, mature adventure, not a lightgoing world to wander through.
How does exploration work without a map?
There is no map, compass, quest-marker system or journal to direct progress. Rogue Factor’s executive creative director and art director, Jonathan Jacques-Belletête, explained the intent on PlayStation.Blog: “Instead, we invite you to dive directly into the game’s universe and rely on your own observation, reasoning, and intuition to progress.”
#1 Best Overall
- A HOSTILE WORLD: In addition to the civil war dividing the country, the region is suffering from a mysterious calamity, which has given rise to supernatural creatures that no modern weapon can defeat. Your drone and sword from a different age are your faithful allies as you cut a path through lands infested with terrifying chimeras and try to unravel the mystery of their appearance.
- A UNIQUE EXPLORATION SYSTEM: No map, no compass, no quest markers. Following your instincts is part of the adventure. Enjoy a unique experience that uses innovative writing and level design to let you make your own decisions and follow your instincts as you explore. Your discoveries are yours alone.
- COMBAT AGAINST ORIGINAL CREATURES: Swords, spears and axes. A wide range of weapons forged specially for fighting these supernatural creatures is available. You must learn how to fight these monsters and use your drone wisely to stay alive.
- HELL IS US DELUXE EDITION: Packaged in a Deluxe Edition metal case, the Hell is Us Deluxe Edition includes the game disc, plus digital bonus content including Hollow Walker Pack, Phol Guard Pack, Secret Code, Digital Artbook, and Digital Original Soundtrack.
- 'The central theme of Hell is Us is that human violence is a perpetual cycle fueled by human emotions and passions.'' – Jonathan Jacques-Belletête, Creative Director
That does not mean the game gives you no information. NPC conversations and environmental details can suggest where to go or what to investigate; the difference is that the game expects you to interpret those leads instead of converting them into a tracked objective. As Jacques-Belletête put it, “The environments are not there simply to decorate, they are there to communicate.”
For attentive players, that approach can make exploration feel more involving: you look for context, connect clues and decide what to try rather than simply moving toward a marker. But the game does not reliably preserve every useful detail for you. GamesRadar’s review found the approach generally rewarding while noting that passwords and some clues are not recorded, and that revisiting a precise location can become tedious. If you tend to forget details, keeping your own brief notes may help.
Rank #2
- A HOSTILE WORLD: In addition to the civil war dividing the country, the region is suffering from a mysterious calamity, which has given rise to supernatural creatures that no modern weapon can defeat. Your drone and sword from a different age are your faithful allies as you cut a path through lands infested with terrifying chimeras and try to unravel the mystery of their appearance.
- A UNIQUE EXPLORATION SYSTEM: No map, no compass, no quest markers. Following your instincts is part of the adventure. Enjoy a unique experience that uses innovative writing and level design to let you make your own decisions and follow your instincts as you explore. Your discoveries are yours alone.
- COMBAT AGAINST ORIGINAL CREATURES: Swords, spears and axes. A wide range of weapons forged specially for fighting these supernatural creatures is available. You must learn how to fight these monsters and use your drone wisely to stay alive.
- 'The central theme of Hell is Us is that human violence is a perpetual cycle fueled by human emotions and passions.'' – Jonathan Jacques-Belletête, Creative Director
Is the combat challenging, and can you adjust it?
Combat is a substantial part of the adventure, not an incidental obstacle between discoveries. TechRadar’s reviewer praised its weight and challenge, and reported that players can adjust enemy health, damage and aggression independently. That flexibility makes the pressure more tunable than a single overall difficulty choice would be.
There are trade-offs in the action-RPG side of the experience. TechRadar’s reviewer criticized the limited weapon variety and lack of customizable character stats, so players seeking extensive buildcrafting may find less to experiment with than in a deeper role-playing game.
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Rank #3
- HOW TO PLAY: The Dealer draws a Scenario Card and reads it aloud. The other players choose two of their Action Cards and play them, facedown. The Dealer shuffles the Action Cards and picks the one they definitely would not do, saying "HELL NO!" Then, they pick the Action Card they definitely would do, saying "HELL YEAH!"
- SITUATION: While scuba diving, your wound starts bleeding, and sharks begin to circle. What do you do?
- ACTION: Ask for an autograph! Hell No
- ACTION: Use your jetpack to escape! Hell Yeah
- REPEAT PLAY: With 135 Situation Cards and 387 Action Cards you'll never run out of wild predicaments
Who is likely to enjoy Hell Is Us?
- A good fit: players who enjoy environmental storytelling, contextual clues and working out their next move without explicit waypoints.
- Think twice: players who depend on a written objective log, dislike taking their own notes or find backtracking especially frustrating.
- Consider the tone: the setting is grim and violent, so it is not an obvious choice for someone seeking a relaxed or cheerful adventure.
- Consider the progression: if varied weapons and detailed character builds are central to your enjoyment, the criticisms noted by TechRadar are relevant.
TechRadar lists color-blind modes, options to reduce motion blur and camera shake, and a directional audio indicator. Its reviewer reported spending just under 30 hours on a thorough run; that is one reviewer’s experience, not an average or a guarantee of how long a playthrough will take.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Verdict: is Hell Is Us worth playing?
Hell Is Us is worth considering if the idea of navigating through observation and inference sounds appealing rather than inconvenient. Its no-marker design gives exploration a clear identity, while the missing journal and occasional tedious return trip show the cost of that choice. Players who want explicit navigation, extensive character customization or a lighter atmosphere should weigh those drawbacks carefully.
Rank #4
- HELLBOY DICE GAME: Take on the role of a B.P.R.D. recruit exploring a mysterious location. It’s training day for B.P.R.D agents as you battle frog monsters, Rasputin and more in this fun, fast-paced, and fiendish push-your-luck Hellboy game.
- ADVENTURE GAME: As a new recruit your abilities and resources are limited so you’ll need your wits about you to try and survive. Push your luck to press deeper into the unknown or play it safe and live to fight another day. The choice is yours!
- DICE-ROLLING GAME: Players explore a deck of cards representing rooms. As they flip the card, they will face challenges and foes. They’ll roll and manipulate dice in order to successfully pass the room.
- STRATEGY BOARD GAME: The differently colored dice represent your limited resources and you must choose carefully when selecting which ones to roll. If you run out of dice or wounds, it’s the end of your turn.
- NUMBER OF PLAYERS AND AVERAGE PLAYTIME: This fun dice game is designed for 2 to 4 players and is suitable for ages 10 and up. Average Playtime is approximately 10 to 30 minutes.
For readers who decide the exploration style suits them, Nacon lists physical PS5 and Xbox Series X editions on its US store. Regional availability can differ. Switch 2 timing is also unclear: Nacon’s store displays October 27, while an official Steam Community announcement gives October 8, 2026 for the Switch 2 version and an update. Check the relevant regional storefront for current availability rather than relying on either date.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- German packaging. German instructions. German playable.
- 3rd person action adventure that combines intense close combat with the thrill of exploration. Player plating, full control over adventure, through research, discovery and decision. A wide range of weapons including swords, spears and axes.
- A huge semi-open world and a unique mature setting paired with an innovative design philosophy.
- Intense action and a unique risk reward system that combines endurance with the health of the player.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
