Xbox Game Pass users praise 'awesome' free RPG that was quietly dropped this month

Xbox Game Pass users are praising a recently released RPG which just hit the service this month.

Rogue Factor’s Hell Is Us released last year on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S, where it was pretty well received despite a few initial shortcomings.

With such a stacked latter of 2025 though, you’d be forgiven for missing out on it. Fortunately, Nacon is giving Game Pass subscribers a way to check the game out without having to spend $60.

Added to the Ultimate, Premium and PC tiers of Xbox Game Pass last week, Hell Is Us is an action-adventure game with RPG elements set in the fictional country of Hadea, which has been torn apart by an ongoing civil war.

In Hell Is Us, you explore a semi-open world to find answers to your questions, having to deal with mysterious supernatural beings that no modern weapon can defeat.

These creatures have arrived here due to the “calamity”, a strange cosmic event which has put the region into chaos, and you’ll have to use your drone and sword to cut a path through these infested lands.

Hell Is Us sets itself apart from other games of its type by putting the exploration entirely on you. There isn’t a map, nor a compass or quest markers to guide your way. Instead, you need to follow your instincts and pay attention to the environment in order to orient yourself. Clever writing and innovative level design is the best way the game guides you.

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Nacon

Hell Is Us is perfect for the Game Pass experience

Xbox Game Pass user Adamski-J posted their experience with the game on Reddit, calling Hell Is Us “awesome”.

“I was looking through the recently added and saw Hell Is Us and remembered that I had seen some hype about it when it was released. I thought 'screw it, I'll give it a try as it's free',” Adamski-J wrote.

“Long story short - I'm now 19 hours in and OH MY GOD is this game awesome! The scenery is gorgeous, the story is really well told, the combat is simple but taxing at times, and the fact that exploration is key to progress is brilliant.

“I want to splurge about all the things I love about the game but I also don't want to spoil anything because I think people should at least give it a try. Honestly, give it a try and feel free to come back and tell me how right or wrong I am about the game!”

Indeed, some of the comments underneath Adamski’s post reiterate their point, with one reply reading: “It's weird how some games just sneak up on you like that. went in with zero expectations and suddenly you've lost a whole weekend.”

Meanwhile, another comment says: “I had this game on my radar since it launched but was in no rush as I was slightly put off by there being no map or markers. But boy was I wrong. I finished Act 1 yesterday (only 7% of players have done that btw!!) and I can not get enough of it.”

When we reviewed Hell Is Us last year, Angharad was a little less enthused about it, but still said that it “has all the makings of an incredible game but is let down by clunky combat, a meandering main quest and lack of direction.”