End of Abyss review: Secrets beneath the surface

End of Abyss delivers great atmospheric horror to pair with its mysterious story.

It’s been more than a year since I first played End of Abyss at Summer Game Fest and was quickly captivated by its eerie setting and fun exploration. Now that I’ve gotten to play the full game, Section 9 has delivered a survival horror game that takes notes from a handful of genres, using their best traits to great effect. 

Something is spreading

End of Abyss follows Cel, a combat technician sent to investigate strange disturbances in an underground compound. As she continues to descend through the massive structure, she comes face-to-face with increasingly dangerous creatures and humans infected by a gnarly parasite.

I’m a sucker for a game that doesn’t over-explain its lore, and End of Abyss is exactly that. You’re essentially dropped right into this mysterious compound, with no crash course explaining what went wrong, what the state of the world is, or even who you are. Instead, you pick the pieces up through the environment, messages that you find, and the limited dialogue from other characters. It immediately establishes a sense of mystery that remained throughout my playthrough.

The lack of expedition also opens the door to player speculation. Exploring derelict interiors and using environmental clues to piece together what happened before my arrival gave me shades of classic Resident Evil. 

I found myself wanting a few more answers than the game was willing to give, but I overall enjoyed the decision to craft a more subtle narrative that sets a tone and informs gameplay.

If it moves, shoot it

The creatures in End of Abyss consist of parasitic fleas that burst from the bodies of deceased humans, infected workers,  and husks that have fully consumed their host. Additional enemies are introduced as you descend into the compound, with more powerful enemy types upping the challenge.

At first, Cel is equipped with a pistol with unlimited ammo. Although End of Abyss is a 3D game, it resembles a twin-stick shooter in the way you move her around with the left stick while using the right stick to aim in any direction. Enemies will move sporadically to dodge your attacks, so your ability to aim will be tested.

Cel can deploy a dodge roll to avoid incoming attacks, which comes in handy when you’re swarmed by multiple enemies or fighting an aggressive boss. Rolling out of the way of an attack usually buys you enough time to fire off a few shots of your own, and that was the rhythm I settled into for most fights. This did create a dynamic where some fights felt less engaging than others. Standard enemies can feel more like busy work than an actual obstacle when rooms are packed with them.

During Cel’s journey, she can find and add new weapons to her arsenal. Designated rooms are home to an upgrade station, where players can spend Fragments to upgrade weapons and craft more ammo for them. These are also the only places that you can manually save your game. Another survivor horror staple, these rooms are littered throughout the compound and force you to be a bit more strategic when it comes to spending resources on a fight. It also creates a sense of urgency when your health and ammo is low, but you’re far from the nearest saferoom. 

What’s over there?

Exploration is a key aspect of the End of Abyss experience. As Cel makes her way through the compound, she’ll find plenty of side rooms, locked doors, and blocked pathways. Like in a metroidvania, there’s a lot of backtracking, as you’ll often see locked areas that require a key or item that you don’t yet have. You’ll eventually acquire these items and can then return to these areas. In some cases, this is required for story progression; in others, it’s optional.

This is where one of my favorite features comes into play: the scanner. Hitting down on the d-pad opens a scanner that shines a bright blue light as it analyzes objects, structures, and creatures in the surrounding area. Not only will it register new subjects to your log, it also provides insightful information about what a door might require, or what kind of enemy you’re looking at.

I scanned everything. Wooden crates, locked doors, even enemies that were actively pursuing me. If I hadn’t seen it before, I was whipping out the scanner. It’s visually satisfying to use, and also serves as a Pokedex for the horrors that lie underground.

Exploration is bolstered by some truly excellent sound design. The interior areas of the compound are vast and echoey, with practically every sound reverberating in the distance. Drips of water break up the silence as you walk through sewer pipes, and the cracking sound of a husk rising to life never failed to put me on edge. Even the pop of the pistol firing felt crisp and weighted. In a game of few words, End of Abyss conveys a lot of its message through sound.

Finding the source

End of Abyss is a strong debut title from Section 9. It’s a tight and well-paced adventure that makes great use of its creepy setting, with great exploration elements and serviceable combat. It doesn’t overstay its welcome; it left me wanting more from this universe.

This review is absed on an Epic Games Store code provided by the publisher. End of Abyss launches on October 1, 2026, for PC (EGS), PS5, Xbox Series X|S.

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Review for
End of Abyss
8
Pros

• Great exploration mechanics
• Excellent sound design
• Nails the creepy atmosphere
• Subtle worldbuilding

Cons

• Combat loop doesn't always work