Hell Is Us

Description
Hell Is Us is a third-person action game with a strong focus on puzzle elements. Set in a semi-open world environment, the game combines melee-based combat with exploration with very few clues, leaving much to the player to piece together. It takes place in Hadea, a fictional country divided by civil war and affected by a supernatural calamity. Alongside human conflict between two religious factions—the Sabinians and the Palomists—the land is plagued by chimeric creatures that cannot be harmed by modern weaponry. The environment includes war-torn cities, trenches, villages, crypts, and abandoned facilities. It draws from 20th- and 21st-century conflicts, combining imagery of modern warfare with supernatural elements.
The protagonist, Remi, enters Hadea in search of his missing family. During his journey, he encounters both human and supernatural threats, as well as characters from different sides of the conflict. The narrative explores the history of Hadea, its religious divisions, and the appearance of supernatural entities.
The game is structured around exploration without the use of traditional navigation aids such as maps or quest markers. Progression relies on environmental cues, character conversations, and item discovery. Side activities, referred to as Good Deeds, are triggered through interactions or collected objects.
Combat is focused on melee encounters with supernatural creatures. Players can use four main weapon types—sword, polearm, twin axes, and greatsword—each with unique attack patterns. Weapons can be imbued with elemental properties tied to human emotions. A mechanic called the Healing Pulse restores health based on successful timed inputs after dealing damage. Remi is also equipped with a drone that assists with reconnaissance and combat.
The world of Hadea is divided into zones that feature environmental hazards, enemies, and Timeloops—areas containing apparitions of past events that repeat until resolved. Time manipulation is also used for some gameplay elements. Dungeons include underground ruins, temples, and scientific facilities, each containing puzzles, locked passages, and items required for progression.