Players Express Fatigue with the Souls-Like Genre Following the Announcement of Hell Is Us

With the explosive popularity of Elden Ring, many games bearing the Souls-like label have emerged, with notable highlights like Lies of P and Black Myth: Wukong. While these titles and the genre as a whole have been largely embraced by the gaming community, it seems that even a good thing can become overdone.

The recently announced title Hell Is Us has been met with mostly positive reactions, but some fans have also expressed concerns that Souls-likes are becoming too commonplace and possibly overused. Let's take a closer look at the reception of Hell Is Us and how it has sparked discussions about Souls-like fatigue within the gaming community.

Hell Is Us Announcement Sparks Player Concerns Over Souls-Like Genre Oversaturation

During the recent State of Play event, Hell Is Us was officially announced, with developer Rogue Factor showcasing the game's smooth gameplay and its nightmarish, almost horror-like aesthetic and world design. While many players were quick to express their excitement over the potential of the game, others responded with some negative reactions.

Hell is Us showcases new melee action in an unnerving world without maps or markers: https://t.co/2feGSIQcHtpic.twitter.com/xyf6qRXh40

— PlayStation (@PlayStation) September 25, 2024

This backlash stems from the perception that Hell Is Us—though not officially confirmed—appears to follow a Souls-like formula in terms of its combat and design based on what was shown. Many players voiced their concerns that, despite the game looking promising, the influx of Souls-like games has reached a point of fatigue.

As one commenter replied to PlayStation X's announcement, "Another Soulslike and big map without any reason.. gonna skip this one bruh...👎." Another asked, "Why is every game just this now?" while a third quipped, "You guys'll really do anything BUT update, remake, or remaster Bloodborne, huh?"

It’s important to note, however, that Hell Is Us hasn’t been marketed as a Souls-like game. According to its description, it’s a “third-person action-adventure game that combines intense melee combat with the thrill of exploration.” The game should ultimately be judged by its quality, not merely its resemblance to a specific genre.

That said, the community’s concerns about the Souls-like genre becoming oversaturated are valid. Hell Is Us is likely just one of many upcoming games that will straddle the line between meeting player demands and the creative direction of developers.

Fortunately, Hell Is Us looks highly promising, and it's unlikely that these concerns will significantly affect its reception. Players who decide to pick it up will likely judge it on its own merits. Ultimately, we can only hope that developers take note of fan feedback to Hell is Us, and if they do choose to make a Souls-like game, ensure that it's a genuinely good product rather than simply riding the genre's current popularity in 2024.