Summary
There was a time when zombies dominated the video game industry. Unfortunately, the genre seems to have grown stale, with it being harder for studios to recapture the magic of playing weekend co-op matches ofLeft 4 DeadorCall of Duty’s iconic zombie mode, no matter how many sequels and spiritual successors have been made in recent years. However, there is a renewed hope in co-operative zombie games rising from the graves of stagnancy:No More Room in Hellis finally set to make its grand rebirth this year. Thirteen years after the release of its predecessor,No More Room in Hell 2is set to breathe new life into a genre that has been limping along long after its glory days have passed.
First announced back in 2016,No More Room in Hell 2is the sequel toNo More Room in Hell, an independently developed zombie shooter made in the Source engine, taking a great deal of influence from the films of George Romero’s original take on the undead and placing added emphasis on survival elements and resource management. Though initially set to release back in 2022, it was delayed after the development team finalized a partnership that would allow them more time to produce a more quality product. After two additional years of development, a full trailer has been released at last.
Revealed at 2024’s Summer Game Fest, this return to theNo More Room in Hellfranchise brings with it a slew of improvements over its Source Engine progenitor. It’ll feature more than a few key changes to the genre that may shake things up a bit and dust off the cobwebs on the zombie shooter genre.
No More Room in Hell 2 is Experimenting with Features Old and New
No More Room in Hellstarted off from humble beginnings as a mod ofHalf Life 2,winning over longtime fans of the zombie genre with its horror elements and dedicated mechanics, and is regarded as aclassic zombie survival experience. Under the new ownership of Torn Banner—the studio behindChivalry—original developer Lever Games is looking to implement a great many improvements with this new engine. These improvements include:
Though many features are subject to change from the builds shown off in previous developer diaries, it is confirmed that the upcoming early access will feature a large power plant location upon release. Previous teasers have shown off more locations, including a rural farmhouse akin to the one featured inthe iconicNight of The Living Deadmovie.
Putting the Survival Back into Survival Horror
No More Room in Hell Focuses More on Horror than Action
WithNo More Room in Hell 2’s permadeath system, the stakes have never been higher, and players will have to keep their wits about them if they want to survive. If the previous game is anything to go off, combat in this game will be a tense process involving a great deal of forethought rather than the hack and slash elements. That’s because the original game’s developers wanted to put the emphasis on horror elements over the usual FPS staples, removing on-screen targeting reticles and health bars to help build immersion and tension. This extends to gameplay, as rather than starting off the game confident and with a sufficient supply of weaponry to survive, players will be dropped in with the bare minimum, forced to complete objectives and scavenge supplies before they can reunite with each other.
No More Room in Hell 2 Scales Up the Original’s Gameplay
With development focus being centered around crafting a game that balances engaging mechanics with the cinematic flair of a classic zombie thriller, the developers behindNo More Room in Hell 2have another ace up their sleeve when it comes to giving this upcoming game: it’s not just the size of the maps that are bigger, but the amount of people that can play together. Rather than being an exclusively single or four-person gamelike theCall of Duty: Black Opsseries, players can form groups up to eight people, a rarity in the genre and one that brings its own slew of rewarding challenges.
A large aspect ofNo More Room in Hell 2’s gameplay is centered around developing strategies to survive, with the larger playercount allowing for a variety of different options to be discussed and deliberated on between survivors. This could add another layer of challenge too, as players may have their own objectives and goals to complete that differ from those of their fellow survivors—an aspect that harkens back to similar dilemmas in theiconic films that inspiredNo More Room in Hell.
The Stakes Have Never Been Higher in No More Room in Hell 2
Over the years, some gamers have found thatzombie games are becoming staleafter decades of saturating the market, with many games adopting highly similar formats. One way in whichNo More Room in Hell 2could help shake things up is carrying over the first game’s elements that made it unique, such as its infection mechanic. Chances are that if players get too close they could wind up getting bitten, with only a scarce minute or two before their characters automatically die and join the hordes bearing down on them. This adds another layer of complexity to gameplay, one that heightens the tension and need for strategic thinking among players.
Another inclusion that Torn Banner and Lever Games devs can make great use of isthe new permadeath function. Rather than being able to respawn after death like in other popular zombie survival games, players are only going to be able to make use of their one life. After that, they are going to have to create a new character for subsequent playthroughs. With players being made to spawn separately on the map, this will add an added level of difficulty even for experienced zombie game enthusiasts to overcome. Coupling this with the players being separated across the map at the start, players will have to thoroughly rely on each other in order to make it to the end.
Horror fans are eating well after Summer Game Fest, and the trailer forNo More Room in Hell 2could be the herald for the fresh reinvention the zombie genre has been needing lately. Though the full release has yet to be announced, fans will not have long to wait to get a chance to test the game out themselves.No More Room in Hell 2is currently planned to have early access in fall 2024, set to be released on Steam and the Epic Games Store.
No More Room in Hell 2
WHERE TO PLAY
No More Room in Hell 2 is an intense & terrifying permadeath co-op journey into the eerie darkness of zombie-infested zones. As an emergency responder you must survive, scavenge, stockpile and fulfill your mission - then repeat, each time in an ever-changing experience.INTENSE 8 PLAYER CO OPEight co-op players spawn across one huge map, deploying their wits and deadly reflexes to unite & survive against the unstoppable forces of the undead. Players must communicate and strategize to survive, with danger lurking in every shadow. Carve your path through the horde with combat - or cunning.There are multiple ways to tackle any scenario, but character permadeath creates huge consequences for every bad decision, as the undead react to every move and noise you make. Draw foes away with a car alarm, lead them directly into the teeth of a trap, or go with a more forceful approach of explosive action.
