Hell Is Us for PS5 is going to offer quite an interesting action-adventure for those who enjoy figuring things out on their own. The game takes pride in avoiding handholding, particularly when it comes to its large and mysterious dungeons that mix puzzles with combat and environmental challenges.
What’s interesting is Rogue Factor’s approach, as they want players to solve puzzles without any hints. It’s a bit of a throwback feeling, where you might have to keep a pen and paper handy to track your discoveries. Does anyone else remember those days?
Creative and art director Jonathan Jacques-Belletête explained that the dungeons contrast with the current setting by incorporating otherworldly fantasy elements. The idea is that history repeats itself, and the ancient artefacts and puzzles you uncover reflect ongoing events in the game’s world. That gives the exploration a deeper meaning, beyond just solving a puzzle or beating enemies.
“Some of the dungeons have a lot more puzzles than others, some are more about combat, and some have a lot of environmental changes, like the one in the trailer where you have to play with the water levels and things like that. So they’re all different and tied to lore, which you sometimes need to understand in order to solve a puzzle. One of our themes is ‘history always repeats itself’, and even though you figure out these artefacts from ages ago, you realize that it relates to what’s going on right now. There’s lots to discover and play around with.”
The mix of contemporary settings with surreal, fantasy dungeons might feel a bit unusual, but it definitely adds a distinct flavor to the game. I wonder how many players will appreciate the challenge of figuring things out without handholding in today’s gaming climate.
For those curious, Hell Is Us will launch on PS5 on 4th September 2025. It’s an experience that demands patience and attention to detail, but it might just reward you with a memorable adventure. What do you think? Are you up for tackling these dungeons on your own?
Watch the trailer here:
More info from the PlayStation Blog.
