Review: Hell Is Us (Switch 2) - Thought-Provoking, Admirable, And Frustrating By Design
Nintendo Life’s review of Hell Is Us for Switch 2 positions the Rogue Factor title as a counterpoint to recent criticisms of AAA game design philosophy. The review comes amid broader industry discourse sparked by Insomniac’s Wolverine, which has drawn criticism from players who feel fatigued by overly linear, heavily guided experiences that minimize player agency through design elements like directional markers and navigation assistance features.
Hell Is Us adopts a deliberately different design approach, one that trusts players to navigate and progress with minimal hand-holding. Rather than following the trend of claustrophobic linearity and constant guidance through visual cues like yellow paint or automated navigation trails, the game encourages player autonomy and discovery. The reviewer frames this as an “admirable” design choice, though also acknowledges the approach creates frustration by design—suggesting the game intentionally embraces difficulty and opacity that some players may find off-putting.
The review reflects a growing conversation within gaming communities about design philosophy: whether AAA games should prioritize accessibility and guided experiences, or whether they should challenge players to engage more actively with their worlds. Hell Is Us represents a deliberate rejection of the guidance-heavy model that has become increasingly common in triple-A productions, offering an alternative vision that rewards player exploration and self-directed progression.