Hell is Us may not be the best game of 2025, but it certainly is one of the more unique ones. With its complete lack of direction for the player, brooding atmosphere, and terrifying depiction of war, there is an incredible sense of place that it uses to rise above its other shortcomings.
There are very few games that immerse you in the way Hell is Us does. Relying on the player to figure out the story, where to go, and what to do is such a strange idea in this day of handholding everywhere.
Luckily, there are still some games that employ this tactic, and we’re going to check out a handful of them today. If you’re looking for something to scratch some of the same itches post-Hell Is Us, check these titles out.
8 S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl
The Warzone
Stalker 2 felt like a breath of fresh air when it released in 2024 due to the exact reasons Hell is Us has been so compelling. There is little direction on what to do or where to go, the atmosphere is depressing, oppressive, and horrifyingly realistic, and the combat is both engaging and scary depending on the enemies you’re fighting.
You have a ton of freedom in this game to approach the world how you want to, but nothing is ever set out perfectly for you. You have to think about where you’re going, how you’re going to get there, and most importantly, how you’re going to survive when you do.
It’s a brutal, dark world, and you can easily find yourself lost and without a sense of what you’re supposed to do. much like Hell is Us, it can be very helpful to take notes in the real world so you don’t lose track of your place in the game.
7 The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
Pave Your Own Way
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom may not seem like Hell is Us on the surface, but it does replicate the sense of freedom and lack of handholding that it gives you. From square one in Tears of the Kingdom, the world is your oyster. You can go anywhere you want at any time, explore where you see fit, and follow the story at your leisure.
A lot is left up to the player to figure out in Tears of the Kingdom. With the building tools in your arsenal, traversing the world is completely on you to figure out, as are the numerous puzzles you’ll come across while playing the game.
You can wander aimlessly, or see something in the distance that feels impossible to climb, only to use your own ingenuity and creativity to get to the top where some special reward might be waiting. While the tone between the two games is completely different, both are quick to remove handholding from the equation, treating you as the experienced gamer you are and respecting your ability to figure things out the hard way.
6 Atomfall
Unraveling the Thread
Atomfall is another game that perfectly fits with what Hell is Us does. It’s got an obscure story that relies on you to make your own discoveries about what is actually going on in the world and also has an atmosphere that feels like a world gone wrong in so many ways.
The exploration especially reminds me of Hell is Us, as there is little direction on where you should be going much of the time. It’s got a little more handholding, but ultimately, you have to find your own way to the objective, and you can do it by stealth or by force.
You’re very underpowered in the game for the most part, but making clever use of your surroundings and keeping an eye on the roaming enemies helps you survive. It’s got one of the more interesting stories when you figure out everything that’s happening, and that mystery slowly coming to light is very similar to how Hell is Us slowly lets us in on the larger story at play.
5 Death Stranding
All Roads Lead To Nowhere
Hell is Us more than a little bit resembles Death Stranding. Whether it’s the cloak the main character wears, the color palette of the game, or the strange creatures which could easily be mistaken for a type of BT, there is plenty in Death Stranding that Hell is Us drew from to become a success of its own.
While the sequel may be the better game, Death Stranding is the one that gives the feeling of mystery, desolation, and despair. It’s such an odd journey, full of self-made discoveries, optional side quests, and lore to discover involving the world. The trek you’re on is very similar to the one you find yourself on in Hell is Us.
It’s a strange, creepy world where humanity is on the brink, and terrifying creatures called BTs roam the world. There are also so many strange anomalies like rain that ages you called Timefall, and tons of other bizarre things to discover. The combat is the weakest part of the game, which is the same thing that Hell is Us has to deal with, but much like Death Stranding, the rest of the game more than makes up for it.
4 Bleak Faith: Forsaken
Where Are We? And When?
Hell is Us is often mistaken as a Soulslike, and although it has some of those bones to it, it’s more about the exploration. Bleak Faith is on a similar level. Yes, it’s highly inspired by Souls games, however, it does some things very differently.
While this is far from the best game out there, there are few games that conjure up this feeling of being in a place that’s completely removed from the real world. It’s an overwhelming feeling of being foreign to a place. It’s so incredibly weird, with this ambient soundtrack that just chills the bones.
There is a story driving this all forward, but it’s the way the game forces you to imagine what’s going on in this bizarre place that drives you forward. The combat feels very similar to Hell is Us as well, with a variety of weapons, strong attacks, weak attacks, and a unique take on a magic system as well.
It’s one of the more unique Soulslikes out there, and while it’s not on the level of the greats, it produces a feeling unlike any other.
3 Horizon Zero Dawn
Discover Future’s Past
Horizon Zero Dawn may have a bit more handholding than Hell is Us, but there are still a ton of similarities. The world itself shares the most in common from my experience. They both have extremely mysterious worlds, where something isn’t quite right, but you don’t know exactly what that is until you dig deeper.
Both have amazing backstories that are largely optional, but if you go digging deeper, you find amazing discoveries, and find out how both of these post apocalytpic hellscapes came to be.
The gameplay is a bit different for sure, but it’s about that feeling of wonder and eerieness that connects these games. It’s unraveling that mystery that pushes you forth in both games, and they do it expertly.
2 Outward
Become an Explorer
If you like games where you have no idea where to go or what to do, well then, Outward should be perfect after playing Hell is Us. From the jump, you have absolutely no direction other than you need to pay off your family debt. Right away it’s clear, this is on you to figure out.
The rest of the game does not let up in that regard either, as entire systems like magic are basically optional if you don’t explore the right places. It’s an intimidating and wildly difficult game with pseduo Soulslike combat much like Hell is Us, but it’s even more unforgiving. There are penalties to dying here, and there are also survival elements that will make you keep track of your food eaten and the rest you’ve gotten.
It’s not for everyone, but the hardcore crowd that has taken to Hell is Us will likely find a ton to like in this extremely unique RPG.
1 Outer Wilds
The Secrets of Space and Time
Outer Wilds is one of those games that is a one-of-a-kind experience that is best going into blind, and the exact same thing can be said for Hell is Us.
There is no objective marker pointing you anywhere for the most part, and the story is a complete mystery. figuring out everything that’s going on is simply one of the most awe-inspiring moments in gaming. It’s a brilliant game about exploration, puzzle solving and, ultimately, discovering your place in the universe. This is one that doesn’t come along very often.
There is a certain existential dread that comes with playing Outer Wilds, and Hell is Us has a similar thing going on despite being glued to one planet the entire time. The way each story is told feels similar, relying on you and your real-life deductions to figure out everything that’s at play. Both have pretty great payoffs in the end as well.
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Author: 360 Technology Group
