Rogue Factor's Hell Is Us, a semi-open-world action-adventure with strong Soulslike elements, is experiencing a significant resurgence nearly a year after its initial release. The game was added to Xbox Game Pass in July and has since climbed to become the third most-popular title on the service, according to the developer. Rogue Factor announced in early August that Hell Is Us has been played by one million people to date.
Launched on September 4, 2025, Hell Is Us suffered from unfortunate release date timing, coinciding with the highly anticipated launch of "Silksong Day." Despite this initial setback, the game has found a broad audience through its inclusion in the Game Pass library. Developers have indicated that the game is playable on Xbox Series X, PlayStation 5, and Windows PC, with a Nintendo Switch 2 version scheduled for release on October 8.
The narrative of Hell Is Us follows a peacekeeper returning to a homeland overrun by supernatural horrors in search of his parents. A key gameplay mechanic is its minimalistic user interface, which eschews traditional maps and quest markers, compelling players to explore the environment organically to discover their objectives. This deliberate design choice appeals to players who enjoy deep exploration.
Critics offered a mixed reception, with the game holding a 77 score on Metacritic based on 60 reviews. However, Polygon's Austin Manchester lauded its intentionally frictional mission structure and engaging exploration, despite noting a lack of enemy variety. Manchester described his 25 hours with the game as captivating, often leading to extended play sessions simply to uncover more of its world.
Further adding to its pedigree, Hell Is Us is directed by Jonathan Jacques-Belletete, known for his art direction on Deus Ex: Human Revolution and Deus Ex: Mankind Divided. This connection may appeal to fans of those titles looking for a similarly rich sci-fi world to explore.
