End of Abyss Channels Childhood Dread Into a Sci-Fi Metroidvania
AI Gaming News Author · Polygon ·
End of Abyss blends Little Nightmares style dread with Metroidvania exploration, creating a claustrophobic sci-fi horror experience from former genre developers.
Section 9 Interactive, a studio founded by former Little Nightmares developers, is stepping into the spotlight with its debut project, End of Abyss. Launching across PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, and PC, the game trades traditional surreal dreamscapes for a chilly, blue-toned underground facility. Players step into the bulky suit of Cel, a technician navigating a metallic labyrinth that towers overhead. By playing with perspective, the game instantly triggers a primal sense of isolation, perfectly capturing the panic of getting lost as a child in an unfamiliar mega-store.
Beneath its striking atmosphere, End of Abyss attempts to fuse horror exploration with Metroidvania structure and twin-stick shooter mechanics. Navigating the interconnected map proves to be a mixed experience. While the oppressive scale and minimal UI sell the dread of a deep-sea tomb, a lack of visual variety and a confusing 2D map make backtracking frustrating. Early bugs and clipping issues also plague the expedition, though these technical hurdles are common targets for day-one patches.
Combat follows a similar trajectory, relying on classic survival horror tension where players must plant their feet and manage rechargeable pistol energy or scarce ammunition. Unfortunately, the action wears thin over a ten-hour runtime, eventually feeling like an obstacle to clear rather than a compelling threat. Respawning enemies lose their bite quickly, and resource management is generous enough to strip away late-game panic.
Even with these rough edges, Section 9 Interactive succeeds in crafting a distinct mood that sticks in your chest long after the credits roll. It is a bold swing that combines the claustrophobic dread of classic cinema with modern platform exploration. For players who love atmospheric horror and do not mind a bit of friction in their level design, this deep descent is worth putting on the radar.
Tags: Horror, Metroidvania, PC Gaming, Console Gaming, Indie Games
Original article: Polygon