Hell Is Us | Dark Souls, Death Stranding, And Returnal Had A Baby?
4In this video, we're taking a deep dive into the upcoming game Hell Is Us, a 3rd-person action-adventure that combines brutal melee combat, atmospheric exploration, and a haunting story set in a war-torn world. The developers have been clear—they don’t want this game labeled as a soulslike. But if you're familiar with games like Dark Souls, Returnal, and Death Stranding, you might find that hard to believe. In our opinion, Hell Is Us feels like it could easily be the lovechild of these iconic games, blending their core elements into something that fans of the genre will definitely recognize.
Set in an isolated country ravaged by both civil war and a mysterious calamity, Hell Is Us throws players into a world filled with terrifying supernatural creatures that can’t be defeated with modern weapons. Instead, you’ll rely on ancient swords, axes, and spears to battle these chimeras while exploring a semi-open world that forces you to navigate using only your instincts—no maps, no quest markers, no hand-holding. This is a world that demands you pay attention, make your own decisions, and carve your own path.
The game’s developers emphasize that it’s not a soulslike, yet many elements scream otherwise. The dark, oppressive atmosphere, the focus on tough, methodical combat, and the deeply cryptic lore—all of these echo the hallmark features of the Soulsborne genre. The game’s narrative, which revolves around the idea that human violence is an unending cycle fueled by emotions and passions, feels like a thematic cousin to the lore-heavy storytelling we’ve come to expect from games like Dark Souls and Demon’s Souls.
We also can't ignore the other clear influences. The combat system, featuring a wide array of melee weapons specifically designed to battle supernatural creatures, has shades of Returnal’s fast-paced, high-stakes fights, but with a deeper focus on melee over ranged combat. Meanwhile, the game’s emphasis on solitary exploration in a hostile world brings to mind Death Stranding's lonely journey across an alien landscape, where every step feels deliberate and dangerous.
One of the standout features of Hell Is Us is its unique exploration system, which forgoes traditional open-world navigation tools like maps and markers. Instead, you’re encouraged to follow your instincts and make discoveries entirely on your own. This is reminiscent of the environmental storytelling and player-driven exploration found in the Dark Souls series, where every corner could hold a secret—or a deadly surprise. In Hell Is Us, your decisions and discoveries feel personal, with no on-screen guidance leading you. This alone makes it feel like a true spiritual successor to soulslike exploration, even if it’s presented in a more modern, semi-open world.
The combat itself looks punishing in true soulslike fashion. Armed with medieval-style weaponry and a drone companion, you’ll face off against terrifying chimeras—monstrous beings born from the mysterious calamity plaguing the land. These creatures can't be defeated by modern weapons, so your sword and drone are your lifelines in this hostile environment. Combat appears to require patience, strategy, and timing—traits that any Souls fan will immediately recognize. Learning how to effectively fight these creatures and understanding when to engage or retreat could very well be the difference between life and death.
Despite all these similarities, the developers continue to distance the game from the soulslike label. They’ve doubled down on Hell Is Us being its own thing, but based on what we’ve seen so far, it’s hard not to notice the clear DNA of the Souls genre running through this game. From its atmospheric world-building to its challenging combat mechanics, Hell Is Us feels like a fresh yet familiar experience that fans of Dark Souls, Returnal, and Death Stranding will likely appreciate.
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So, is Hell Is Us really its own unique entity, or is it a blend of some of the best elements from Dark Souls, Death Stranding, and Returnal? In this video, we’ll break down the gameplay mechanics, combat systems, and narrative themes to see if the game truly stands apart—or if it’s another entry in the ever-growing world of soulslike games. One thing is for sure, this game promises to be an intense, immersive journey through a world torn apart by both human and supernatural horrors, and we can’t wait to see if it lives up to its ambitious premise.
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