Hell Is Us promises semi-open world exploration with no map, no compass, and no quest markers

gamepur.com:

One of the big talking points in the wake of Elden Ring’s success was the game’s ability to draw players into its expansive world without the conventions of modern open-world game systems. Instead of map markers and quest reminders, Elden Ring lures players to its secrets and traps via visual cues and intuitive landscape design. Players feel like they are making discoveries organically and of their own volition, and walk away enjoying the experience more than if they were led along with flashing arrows and map pins. It seems that this revelation had been brewing among game developers for a while now, and some studios are already primed to return to the simplicity of unguided exploration. Rogue Factor is one such studio, and their recently revealed upcoming title Hell Is Us promises exploration with no map, no compass, and no quest markers.

Hell Is Us is a third-person action game with a dark sci-fantasy story that seems to take place on Earth following a supernatural cataclysm of some sort. After a civil war in an unnamed country, humanity is assailed by “chimeras” that seem to be born out of negative human emotions. The premise is enticingly cryptic, and the few shots of Hell Is Us’ ravaged landscapes flashed in the trailer showcase a moody and dark world that could be quite fun to explore, especially without quest markers and other handholding systems. We will know more about Hell Is Us and its retro-novel approach to exploration as the game nears its planned release window in 2023.