Watching the Summer Game Fest showcase in the YouTube Theatre, I was blown away by what I saw of End of Abyss. While there were plenty of big-budget horror titles as part of this year’s show, this smaller, incredibly creepy game had me hooked the moment I saw the trailer.
Section 9—formed by veterans behind the acclaimed Little Nightmares—has set its sights on a new frontier: a haunting, atmospheric blend of Metroidvania exploration and survival horror, all set against the backdrop of a derelict space station. After spending time with a hands-on demo, it’s clear that End of Abyss is shaping up to be one of the most distinctive and unsettling experiences on the horizon, and I am incredibly excited to see more.
From the moment the demo begins, End of Abyss wastes no time establishing its oppressive tone—and making it clear that it’s a twin-stick shooter. Players step into the boots of a lone survivor, awakening on the abandoned station with little more than a flashlight and a creeping sense of unease. The world is rendered in a stark, top-down perspective, providing a clear view of the surrounding environment. With each area you enter, there’s a new opportunity to feel dread around every corner. Every section is a chapter in environmental storytelling, with flickering lights, shifting shadows and remnants of a lost crew painting a picture of catastrophe and isolation.
Sitting down and actually controlling the experience, I was surprised by how many genres End of Abyss blends together and how well they work to support the game’s vision. It combines the interconnected level design of classic Metroidvanias with the tension and resource management of survival horror. The result is a game that demands both careful exploration and quick reflexes—and let me tell you, it’s not easy.
“After spending time with a hands-on demo, it’s clear that End of Abyss is shaping up to be one of the most distinctive and unsettling experiences on the horizon…”
As you navigate the labyrinthine station, you’ll encounter locked doors, hidden passages and environmental hazards that require both new abilities and a keen eye to overcome. Even with all of this, the game feels incredibly fair, giving you all the tools you need to meet each challenge. You just need to slow down, take your time and explore everything the station has to offer.
While the exploration may be slow and methodical, the combat is anything but. You’ll find yourself in tense, challenging fights once you dig your feet into End of Abyss. Rather than the hack-and-slash chaos of many action games and Metroidvania-style experiences, encounters here are measured and fraught with danger.
Drawing heavily from survival horror conventions, you’ll quickly learn that ammo is scarce, and every shot counts against the grotesque, body horror–inspired monstrosities that roam the station’s dark halls. The game’s twin-stick shooting mechanics allow for precise aiming, but enemies are relentless, forcing players to weigh every decision: fight, flee, sneak by in the shadows, or die and try again. The game makes experimentation part of the process, and that is kind of the point.
“End of Abyss is a feast for fans of sci-fi horror.”
Section 9 Interactive wants players to feel the weight of every encounter—to sense the threat lurking around every corner. But that’s also what makes the game so compelling. You’re learning about the space station with each new room you uncover, gradually piecing together what happened and why you’re there. That history is woven into every inch of the setting. Audio logs, environmental clues and cryptic messages hint at the catastrophe that befell the crew, inviting players to unravel the narrative at their own pace. This approach rewards curiosity and encourages players to explore every nook and cranny, echoing the storytelling sensibilities that made Little Nightmares such a standout.
Despite its top-down viewpoint, End of Abyss is a feast for fans of sci-fi horror. The art direction is truly diabolical—and I’m all here for it—with twisted creatures lurking just out of sight as you walk through slick, industrial corridors. The team behind the game clearly knows how to get under your skin—some of them worked on Little Nightmares, after all—and from what I’ve seen, it’s masterfully done. The lighting design is especially noteworthy, using darkness not just as a backdrop but as a gameplay mechanic, forcing players to balance the need for visibility with the risk of attracting unwanted attention. It’s a greatest-hits collection of horror elements—and you know what? It works.
While the demo only offered a brief glimpse into the world of End of Abyss, it was enough to leave a lasting impression. The game’s commitment to making players feel small, vulnerable and one wrong footstep away from death helps bring its world to life in a masterfully unsettling way. Every victory feels earned, every discovery hard-won, and every encounter with the station’s horrors a reminder that survival is never guaranteed.
I only played around 30 minutes of End of Abyss, but I already want to see more. The game is slated for release in 2026, and if the demo is any indication, Section 9 Interactive is poised to deliver a title that stands shoulder-to-shoulder with the best in sci-fi horror. For fans of Metroidvania exploration, survival horror tension and rich, atmospheric storytelling, this is one to keep firmly on your radar.
