If Resident Evil Ever Tries Open-World, Hell Is Us Is the Perfect Template

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Despite potentially being eclipsed by “Hollow Knight: Silksong,” the game “Hell is Us” is remarkably impressive in various aspects and warrants more recognition. Immersed in a twisted, war-ravaged environment, “Hell is Us” takes a unique approach, prioritizing immersion above all else. It provides a semi-open world gaming experience that values challenge, enigma, and self-reliance; players must navigate the game on their own terms, as it offers little guidance.

As a gaming enthusiast, I’ve got to say, it’s not just the fact that Hell is Us buckles traditional open-world and adventure game conventions that makes it stand out; instead, what sets this game apart is the innovative replacement of those familiar elements.

In a nutshell, the game titled “Hell is Us” offers an immersive journey through a meticulously crafted universe. It subtly and explicitly uses environmental hints to guide players, creating a unique semi-open world experience with numerous organic points of interest for engaging gameplay. Notably absent are typical features like waypoints or maps, which only serves to highlight the game’s exceptional design even more. Furthermore, the game’s world design is remarkably simple yet elegant, and its principles could potentially be applied to other types of games as well.

If Resident Evil Ever Does Go Open-World, Hell is Us Will Be Good Inspiration

Hell is Us Has a Surprising Amount in Common with Resident Evil

While it doesn’t share the campy zombie sci-fi storyline or the iconic gunplay and characters of Resident Evil, Hell is Us draws inspiration from Capcom’s renowned survival horror franchise in various ways. It immerses you in a horror-themed world with chilling and unsettling supernatural adversaries, and an apocalyptic backdrop where safety is hard to come by. In terms of gameplay, Hell is Us incorporates classic survival horror elements such as battling groups of tough enemies, solving environmental puzzles that demand item collection, pattern recognition, and so on.

In simpler terms, “Hell is Us” doesn’t follow the format of Soulslike games, but instead, it shares more similarities with the survival horror genre, particularly in its gameplay style.

It’s no secret that many fans speculated about Resident Evil 9 becoming an open-world game, but with the unveiling of Resident Evil Requiem, it’s now certain that Capcom won’t be adopting the open-world format. Initially, there were plans for RE9 to be an open-world multiplayer game, but these have since been abandoned. While Capcom’s decision is reasonable, it’s intriguing to speculate about how an open-world Resident Evil game might turn out, especially after playing Hell is Us.

Why a Theoretical Open-World Resident Evil Should Follow Hell is Us’ Footsteps

The investigation in “Hell is Us” stands out on its own, but it truly shines within the context of its atmosphere. In simpler terms, stepping into unfamiliar territory and feeling completely disoriented, with no maps or familiar landmarks to guide you, can be quite unsettling. Each turned corner or opened door feels like a leap of faith, and this kind of uncertainty is exactly what an open-world “Resident Evil” game could capitalize on.

If a future Resident Evil game adopts an open- or semi-open world design, the freeform exploration style of Hell is Us would be ideally suited. This design approach would align with Resident Evil’s horror elements, while avoiding common pitfalls associated with open-world games. Hell is Us has demonstrated that strategic combat and puzzles similar to those in Resident Evil can thrive within this template, so Capcom could leverage these aspects effectively.

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2025-09-12 00:20