- End of Abyss is it good? Yes — reviewers rate it 8/10, a gorgeous sci-fi horror Metroidvania.
- Strongest points: Cinematic visuals, tactile twin-stick combat, and a rewarding, sprawling map.
- Biggest flaws: Brutally hands-off progression and a handful of bugs at launch.
- Length: Roughly 13 hours to reach the credits.
- Best for: Fans of Little Nightmares vibes and challenging exploration games.
End of Abyss Review: The Short Verdict
End of Abyss is a sci-fi horror Metroidvania developed by Section 9 Interactive, a Swedish studio founded by former Tarsier Studios developers — the team behind Little Nightmares. While the two games play very differently, the atmospheric DNA is unmistakable. You play as Cell, a young technician descending into the rusted ruins of an underground base alongside a squad of soldiers, piecing together why you're there as you unfurl its corroded maze.
The Push Square review scored it 8 out of 10, calling it "a gorgeous horror-tinged must for Metroidvania fans." So the short answer to "is End of Abyss good?" is a confident yes — with a few caveats worth knowing before you dive in.
Video Highlights:
- 13-hour campaign across more than half a dozen interconnected zones
- Twin-stick shooter combat with dodge rolls, grenades, and flares
- 60 FPS performance on both PS5 and PS5 Pro with no separate performance modes
- Some launch bugs: audio glitches, invisible barriers, and one progress-halting stuck spot
- Final score: 8/10 — a moody, cinematic must-play for genre fans
If you love atmospheric horror, hand-drawn-feeling sci-fi ruin, and exploration that refuses to hold your hand, End of Abyss is an easy recommendation. If you want constant waypoints and frequent upgrades, temper your expectations.
Strengths and Weaknesses at a Glance
Here's how the major aspects of End of Abyss stack up based on hands-on review impressions:
| Aspect | Rating | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Atmosphere & Visuals | ★★★★★ | Blue-hued fog, cinematic lighting, shifting perspective between top-down and sidescroller |
| Combat | ★★★★☆ | Tactical twin-stick gunplay; slow-firing weapons, dodge, flares, grenades |
| Exploration | ★★★★☆ | Constantly expanding map, satisfying shortcuts; can be obtuse |
| Progression | ★★★☆☆ | Upgrades must be hunted down; vaults and rare materials are easy to miss |
| Performance | ★★★★★ | Locked 60 FPS on PS5 and PS5 Pro, great haptics |
| Stability | ★★★☆☆ | Audio bugs, invisible barriers, one stuck-after-boss incident |
Where It Shines
- Mood and cinematography
- Sense of discovery rivaling Elden Ring moments
- Each enemy type demands its own tactic
Where It Struggles
- Zero hand-holding in navigation
- Map icons don't update after unlocking doors
- Late-game enemy variety drops off
Neutral Calls
- 13-hour runtime feels well-paced
- Difficulty stays fair but firm
- Optional bosses gate the best mods
The reviewed build suffered from stacked technical issues: audio problems, invisible barriers blocking paths, and one case where the player got stuck in the environment after a boss fight and had to re-beat it. A day-one patch may resolve these — check recent patch notes before buying.
Gameplay Deep Dive: Exploration and Combat
Exploration
End of Abyss follows classic Metroidvania structure: locked doors, unreachable platforms, and a map that steadily opens through shortcuts and new traversal tools. Zones twist across multiple levels, and you'll study schematics like a wannabe architect. The game is deliberately unforgiving — one reviewer spent hours in a radiated area called Containment before finding a radiation-protection mod hidden in an easily missable room in a completely different zone.
Combat
As a twin-stick shooter, encounters are intense. Guns fire slowly, shots are easy to miss, and enemies swarm quickly. Success depends on tactical use of dodges and gadgets — grenades and attention-drawing flares in particular.
| Enemy Type | Behavior | Best Counter |
|---|---|---|
| Giant wasp-like creatures | Aerial swarming | Dodge-heavy footwork, flares |
| Corpse-burrowing spiders | Reanimate bodies as ambush | Preemptive grenades |
| Scuttling hand-spiders | Fast close-range rush | Kiting and precise shots |
| Late-game enemies | High health, less variety | Patience and upgraded weapons |
End of Abyss doesn't shower you with upgrades. Mods are found only in vaults, vaults need keys from bosses (some optional), and rare materials are required for weapon upgrades, extra health packs, and suit power. Every find feels genuinely valuable.
How to Get the Most Out of End of Abyss
Follow this approach to avoid the frustration that trips up many first-time players:
Scan Everything Manually
Scan doorways and interactable objects to mark them on your map. Objects you can't interact with yet — future gadget gates — are worth tagging for return trips.
Explore Zones Before Pushing Forward
Key mods and materials are often hidden in easily missable side rooms, sometimes in entirely different zones than where they're needed. Comb hallways thoroughly.
Hunt Optional Bosses for Vault Keys
Bosses drop vault keys, and vaults hold the mods that define your build. Not all bosses are mandatory, but skipping them means skipping power.
Use Gadgets, Not Just Guns
Slow-firing weapons mean flares and grenades do real work. Draw swarms away, control space, and dodge — never tank hits.
Backtrack With New Tools
Zones can double in size when a single door opens. Return to old areas with new traversal gadgets and keycards for the game's biggest payoffs.
For every frustrating dead end, there are two moments where everything slots into place. Discovering a hidden route in End of Abyss delivers a rush comparable to uncovering a new region in Elden Ring.
Technical Performance and Presentation
The game ran flawlessly at 60 frames per second on both PS5 and PS5 Pro in testing, with no performance mode options — none were needed. The blue-tinted darkness creates a distinct foggy look that shines on OLED displays, and the game constantly shifts perspective: strictly top-down in some rooms, sidescroller framing in others, and points in between, giving every area its own visual identity. DualSense haptics also earn praise.
| Platform | Frame Rate | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| PS5 | 60 FPS | Flawless in testing |
| PS5 Pro | 60 FPS | No enhanced mode options, equally stable |
| OLED displays | N/A | Reviewer highlight — gorgeously dark imagery |
Before You Buy, Check:
- You enjoy exploration without waypoints or hand-holding
- Twin-stick shooter combat appeals to you
- You're okay with backtracking through complex maps
- Launch-day patch notes confirm bug fixes
- 13-hour runtime fits your schedule and budget
Play on an OLED screen if you have access to one. The blue-hued darkness and torch-lit cinematography are the game's visual signature, and OLED contrast makes it sing.
FAQ
Q: Is End of Abyss good compared to other Metroidvanias?
Yes. Reviews score it 8/10, praising its cinematic atmosphere, tactical twin-stick combat, and satisfying exploration. Its main drawbacks are unforgiving navigation and some launch bugs, but genre fans consider it a must-play.
Q: How long is End of Abyss?
Expect roughly 13 hours to reach the credits. Completionists who hunt every vault, mod, weapon, and rare material will spend considerably longer, since upgrades must be actively found rather than earned automatically.
Q: Is End of Abyss related to Little Nightmares?
It's made by Section 9 Interactive, a Swedish studio of former Tarsier Studios developers who created Little Nightmares. The games play differently, but the ominous, atmospheric vibes feel familiar.
Q: Are the bugs in End of Abyss fixed?
The reviewed pre-release build had audio issues, invisible barriers, and one stuck-in-environment incident after a boss fight. A day-one patch was expected to address them, so check the latest patch notes before purchasing.