- End of Abyss Steam: A third-person sci-fi horror Metroidvania by Section 9 Interactive, featuring former Little Nightmares creators.
- Core loop: Explore a dark facility, solve puzzles, unlock upgrades, and backtrack to open new areas.
- Runtime: A 12–15 hour campaign following Cell, a voiceless technician.
- Key warning: Early difficulty spikes and a buggy map system can frustrate new players.
- Best strategy: Fully upgrade your pistol and prioritize optional areas for major upgrades.
End of Abyss Steam Overview
End of Abyss Steam players step into the boots of Cell, a voiceless technician sent to investigate an underground research facility that has gone dark. Developed by Section 9 Interactive—a team that includes former creators of the Little Nightmares series—this 12-to-15-hour sci-fi horror adventure blends third-person Metroidvania exploration with Soulslike boss encounters and classic survival horror atmosphere.
Video Highlights:
- Third-person Metroidvania with twin-stick shooting and environmental puzzles
- Fixed camera angles reminiscent of classic Resident Evil
- Atmosphere and art direction inspired by Little Nightmares
- Bosses draw from Soulslike design with punishing melee patterns
- Exploration and backtracking form the core progression loop
The game wears its influences openly. The midnight blue color palette and disconcerting stillness echo Little Nightmares, while body horror enemies call back to Alien, Event Horizon, and The Thing. Combat uses twin-stick shooting with a soft lock-on at close range, shifting to manual aim as enemies get farther away—a deliberate tension-building choice.
If you enjoy exploration-heavy Metroidvanias but dislike pure survival horror resource scarcity, End of Abyss leans more toward a "darker, creepier Metroid" than a true survival horror experience as the campaign progresses.
Core Gameplay Systems
The facility is explored floor by floor, section by section, with new items regularly unlocking shortcuts and optional areas. Most significant upgrades are hidden off the main path, rewarding thorough exploration.
| System | Description | Design Inspiration |
|---|---|---|
| Twin-stick shooting | Soft lock-on up close, manual aim at range | Classic horror action |
| Dodge roll | Invincibility frames are key to surviving bosses | Soulslike combat |
| Restoration pods | Safe points that reset enemies | Dark Souls bonfires |
| Fixed cameras | Purposeful friction in cramped quarters | Resident Evil |
| Upgrade items | Explosive charges, grappling hook, new weapons | Metroidvania staples |
Maps have been known to lie: doors you opened may still display as locked, and doors you have keys for may not show the "return now" icon. Always verify doors in person rather than trusting the map icon alone.
Weapons and Progression
Your starting pistol is underpowered early, but the arsenal expands as you descend. Notably, the fully upgraded pistol with infinite ammo can outperform every later weapon, making it the safest long-term investment.
Pistol
- Infinite ammo when fully upgraded
- Reliable at all ranges
- Best long-term investment
Shotgun
- Strong close-range burst
- Ideal for swarmed rooms
- Limited ammo economy
Rifle and Flamethrower
- Ranged and area options
- Situational value
- Ammo-dependent
Survive the Early Game
Conserve ammo, keep distance from enemies, and learn dodge-roll invincibility frames against the first bosses.
Hunt Optional Areas
Most major upgrades are hidden off the main path. Detour whenever you spot a sealed route or suspicious wall.
Unlock Exploration Tools
Explosive charges destroy weak walls and floors; the grappling hook pulls down previously inaccessible ladders.
Fully Upgrade the Pistol
The infinite-ammo upgraded pistol rivals or beats the shotgun, rifle, and flamethrower in most encounters.
Master the Mid-Game Power Climb
Around the halfway point the difficulty curve flattens—most later bosses fall in one to two attempts once dodges are timed well.
Most bosses telegraph attacks with roughly half a second of warning before hurling a fleshy appendage. Punish recovery windows with dodge-roll invincibility frames rather than trading hits.
Strengths and Weaknesses Breakdown
No game is flawless, and End of Abyss mixes genuine high points with recurring frustrations. Here is an honest scorecard based on hands-on time with the full campaign.
| Category | Verdict | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Exploration | ★★★★☆ | Excellent loop, marred by faulty map signals |
| Atmosphere | ★★★★★ | Midnight blue palette, eerie stillness, superb art direction |
| Combat | ★★★☆☆ | Good tension, but some under-the-hood aim randomness |
| Bosses | ★★★☆☆ | Unique looks, but several feel interchangeable |
| Horror pacing | ★★★☆☆ | Enemy resets at safe points erode scare factor |
| Difficulty curve | ★★★☆☆ | Early spikes, satisfying mid-to-late climb |
A patch shipped shortly before launch review scrubbed several non-map issues entirely. The map reliability problem may be fixed by the time you play—check recent patch notes on the Steam page before assuming it still applies.
New Player Checklist
Before diving into the facility, set yourself these milestones to avoid the most common early-game pitfalls.
Campaign Milestones:
- Learn dodge-roll invincibility frames before the first boss
- Collect every hidden map to reduce navigation stress
- Find explosive charges and the grappling hook in optional areas
- Fully upgrade the pistol for infinite ammo
- Unlock key shortcuts to reduce backtracking through enemy zones
Keep a mental note of every locked door and unreachable ledge you pass. The game consistently rewards returning to old routes after milestone story moments.
FAQ
Q: Is End of Abyss available on Steam?
End of Abyss is a sci-fi horror Metroidvania developed by Section 9 Interactive and reviewed on PC. For current pricing and regional availability, check the official Steam store page, which always reflects the latest patch notes and purchase options.
Q: How long is End of Abyss?
The campaign runs roughly 12 to 15 hours, with additional time if you seek out optional areas, hidden bosses, and the majority of upgrades, which are placed off the main path.
Q: Is End of Abyss a Soulslike or a survival horror game?
It borrows from both. Bosses and restoration pods echo Dark Souls, while the atmosphere recalls Little Nightmares and Resident Evil. In practice, most players will experience it as a darker, creepier Metroidvania rather than a pure survival horror title.
Q: Is the map bug still a problem?
At review time, the map could show incorrect door statuses even after a patch fixed other issues. Verify locked doors in person, and check recent patch notes on Steam before playing.