I was only going to start out playing End of Abyss for about... 30 or 40 minutes.
That was the plan, but... things change. I had seen part of the trailer... in passing (I was on the go), so I couldn't give it my full attention at the time. Still, something about it hung around in the back of my mind. I knew I had to eventually give this thing a whirl... for you, but it also piqued my interest.
I jumped in trying to keep my eye on the clock, but... it's easy to get locked in on this game! It feels like Reanimal meets Resident Evil. Before long... I was chillin' on full lean in my chair with the headset on and the controller in my hand in full mission mode.
Next thing I know... I was about an hour and 15 minutes in (after wonder what time it was), looking at the clock and realizing I really didn't want to put the controller down I had to find a save point. End of Abyss is quite the interesting game... as seen in this first 30 minutes of gameplay!
A Bad Day at Work for Cel
You play as Cel, a young combat technician sent into a mysterious underground compound as part of an investigation into some... very strange disturbances. Needless to say, things aren't exactly operating according to the employee handbook down there. Could you imagine this being your assignment (IRL)?
The facility is broken, abandoned in places and filled with evidence that something went horribly wrong. As Cel moves deeper into it, she has to piece together what happened while dealing with creatures that make it pretty clear that whatever occurred down there did not leave everybody... normal.
The Environment Does a Lot of the Talking
One of the first things that pulled me into End of Abyss was its atmosphere.
The environment sets the tone before the game even has to throw something at you. Dim industrial areas, abandoned equipment, strange organic "corruption" and bodies plastered into different areas all help create this constant feeling that you're somewhere you probably shouldn't be. The Reanimal vibes crept in before my first encounter.
The semi-top-down presentation also gives the game its own flavor. I think fans of action-adventure games, survival horror and twin-stick shooters could all find something to latch onto here. There are obvious reasons someone who enjoys Resident Evil or Silent Hill might be interested, but mechanically this isn't simply trying to imitate either one.
There's much more of a move, aim, create space and react style to the combat.
You Better Get Your Dodge Game Together
The controls felt smooth during my time with the game, and I'm going to give you some advice early:
Get your running and dodging skills up. You are going to need them.
Cel isn't built around standing still and trading shots with everything that comes wandering around a corner. When enemies start closing the distance or trying to cut off escape points, positioning becomes extremely important. Being able to dodge out of danger, reposition and then fire back made the combat feel good to me almost immediately.
The twin-stick-style aiming is also why I think traditional twin-stick shooter fans should give End of Abyss a serious look even if horror normally isn't their first choice. The combination is beautiful in battle... so get ready, stay ready, so you don't have to... get ready, when all hell breaks loose.
There is a starting Pulse Gun with unlimited ammunition (I'm grateful for this), while the larger arsenal expands as you explore. Other weapons use limited ammunition, so there's a survival-horror resource-management element involved rather than the game simply giving you an arsenal and telling you to go nuts (sorry Bullet Heaven fans).
Weapons can also be upgraded at workbenches using resources collected during the game. Those upgrades aren't limited to simply making a number bigger, either. Weapons can gain increased damage and additional firing functionality as they're improved, giving you another reason to explore instead of simply sprinting toward the next objective.
Personally?
I'd love a co-op mode. (One can have a blue light on their helmet, and the other one can have a green light on theirs.)
The movement and twin-stick combat already made me imagine running through some of these areas with another player watching the opposite side of the room. So that's officially on my personal wish list.
By the way, Reanimal continue to come to mind... but there's a reason behind it. While Reanimal was developed directly by Tarsier Studios, End of Abyss was made by a brand-new studio (Section 9 Interactive) that actually consists of three prominent members from that studio. Three prominent members, Mattias and Marcus Ottvall, and Gustaf Heinerwall. They represent the former lead programmer, art, and game directors for the Little Nightmares franchise too. So never count yourself out, if a door is closed... develop one.
Your Suit Matters Too
The weapon progression isn't operating by itself. Cel's suit has its own upgrade system through Suit Power and equipable Suit Mods.
Exploration can uncover items that increase the amount of Suit Power available, which in turn determines how many mods you can equip. Those mods can provide useful bonuses such as increased health, additional carrying capacity and protection against environmental hazards.
That makes the suit less of a cosmetic piece of sci-fi equipment and more of something you actually need to think about as you move through different sections of the facility.
I like systems like this because it gives exploration a purpose. Finding another pathway isn't just about saying, "Hey, I filled in another piece of the map." There could be something sitting back there that makes Cel better equipped for whatever nightmare is waiting around the next corner.
The Scanner also plays into that exploration loop by helping identify objects, pathways and other useful information throughout the facility. With branching routes and areas that can become accessible after gaining new equipment and abilities, there's a bit of that "remember that place I couldn't reach earlier?" factor working in the background. So don't forget to get your scan on.
Audio: I Could Hear Trouble Before I Could See It
Audio deserves a special mention because of the way I played.
I used the Audeze Maxwell 2 ANC headphones along with Immerse Gaming Hive spatial audio software, and the combination worked great with End of Abyss.
There were moments when I could prepare for something happening in the environment because I heard it before I actually saw it coming from a certain direction. At times it was on a higher level... but I heard it coming from a certain direction.
In a game built around dark environments, limited visibility and... the possibility of something unpleasant being nearby, that kind of positional awareness adds another layer to the experience. Rather than the audio simply accompanying what I could already see on the screen, I was actively listening to the environment.
That's exactly the kind of game where a good audio setup earns its keep, so don't sleep on it.
The Price Lands In... That Sweet Spot
Now we get to something that's very important around here, the price. End of Abyss is $29.99!
That lands perfectly in the sweet spot as a practical addition to the long suggested SDGT Gaming Budget strategy. Have enough room for one AAA game, one AA game and one... indie game rather than blowing the entire household budget on three expensive AAA releases. It gives you three or more titles and gives you variety.
Based on what I've played so far, End of Abyss is looking mighty comfortable sitting in that AA slot.
And you don't necessarily have to take my word for it before spending anything. There's a free demo available on the Epic Games Store, so give that a whirl first and see how you feel.
End of Abyss is also rated T for Teen for Blood and Violence, so parents who have teenagers interested in horror games may want to give this one a look as well.
If something like Resident Evil is a little too much for you, I think End of Abyss may be a more digestible doorway into this kind of creepy experience (without doing too much). Don't misunderstand me — it can still get tense, and those creatures aren't exactly coming over to borrow some sugar — but the perspective, action-oriented controls and presentation may make it easier for some players to handle.
Overall
The eerie atmosphere grabbed me, the combat felt smooth, dodging and positioning kept me engaged, exploration gave me reasons to keep poking around, and the audio presentation worked especially well with my headphone and spatial-audio setup.
I've thoroughly enjoyed myself with End of Abyss so far.
This is a hands-on more so than a review but my thumbs remain... upright.
So... yeah, give this one a whirl and watch yourself.
End of Abyss is developed by Section 9 Interactive and published by Epic Games Publishing. It launched October 1, 2026 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S and PC.
As always, game on!
+ Sophi
