Summary
As abstract as the concept itself, Hell in video games can take many different forms. As a location, it is affected by genre and story, as well as the overarching ties to mythology - it can be a hellrooted in fantasyor in science.
Many games have tried to definitively and accurately portray the fiery dimension, with varying degrees of success, often complicated with delicate maneuvering through religious contexts. Some games, however, disregard all of this and instead choose to create a personal hell more terrifying than any recorded depiction.
One of the first games from the well-known developer Take-Two Interactive,Hell: A Cyberpunk Thrilleris apoint-and-click adventure gamedetailing the oppressive regime of the Hand of God, a fascist theocracy with the ability to banish criminals and delinquents to Hell.
What seems fantastical at first is gradually revealed to be more science-fiction, as ‘hell’ is in actuality a virtual reality computer program designed to keep the population in check. The plot and gameplay might seem dated, especially with the coincidentalMatrixsimilarities, but it does offer a unique take on the hellish dimension.
Whilst Mojang’s smash hitMinecraftisn’t technically set in Hell, the lack of pressured direction allows players to spend their entire game session inThe Nether,Minecraft’s red, flaming dimension of sinister creatures and cavernous structures.
It can become even more terrifying when players lose track of their portal, or accidentally have it destroyed, trapping them in The Nether where everything is potentially hostile. The pixilated, blocky environment shouldn’t fool the average miner into thinking it is a low-stakes experience, because it is not.
Saints Row: Gat Out of Hellwas the finalpiece ofSaints Rowcontentprior to the reboot, and could not be further from where the original game started if it tried. As an example, the amalgamated American city of Stillwater was replaced with the domain of Satan, Hell.
The campaign consists of a humorous take on the devil and his minions, occupying a corporation-heavy Hell from where Johnny Gat recruits a team of allies. Like any good adventure into Hell, the game’s climax contains a fight with Satan himself, allowingGat out of Hellto be one of the more rewarding depictions of the underworld.
7Grim Fandango
Metascore: 94
Shadowy,artistic in both visual and sound design,and lacking the traditional fires of Hell,Grim Fandango’sunderworld is far more nuanced, taking heavy inspiration from both the noir films of the 20th-century and Aztec culture. Controlling Manny Calavera, players attempt to aid a noble individual mistakenly believed to be a sinner on their journey to paradise.
As an adventure game, the despair and damnation of Hell are more subtle; players are presented with more implied hardships than actual scenes of punishment or horror. These features makeGrim Fandangoone of the more relaxing versions of Hell ever depicted.
In a campaign of bloodshed against the Greek Pantheon, it was inevitable that God-killing protagonist Kratos would eventually end Hades once and for all; teased sincethe first game,God of War 3features the impressive showdown between the vengeful Spartan and the King of The Underworld.
Although it is not the only location visited in the game, The Underworld is featured prominently, brought to the forefront as Kratos' vengeance against the gods reaches its conclusion. Adopting an eye-catching purple color scheme, the Hell ofGod of War 3is a newly-skinned revisit to the infamous location.
For the titular character ofHellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice, Hell is a state of mind more than a physical location. Haunted by the death of her lover and determined to reclaim his soul, Senua undergoes intense physical and mental torment as she attempts to face the god Hela in combat.
Senua’s psychosis, a groundbreaking depiction of mental health and itshistorical culture and impressions,effectively self-punishes herself with the guilt of her lover’s death in a way a physical realm of fire could not. It takes arduous effort for Senua to shed this mindset, but accompanied by the player, it becomes a rewarding journey of discovery.
4Shadows Of The Damned
Metascore: 76
A punk rock take on the demon-hunting formula,Shadows of the Damnedfollows Garcia Hotspur as he travels to The Underworld to rescue his girlfriend from The Lord of Demons, Fleming. Mixing shooter elements with role-playing,Shadows of the Damnedgives the playermore power than other games do when depositing them in the hellish realm.
The game also inverts certain character elements when it comes to the demonic underworld, such as the bold inclusion of demons as allies, or the final fate of Fleming. As would be expected from the creator ofResident Evil,Shadows of the Damnedis an excellent combination of horror and action.
More science-fiction than mysticism, theDoomfranchise, beginning with the 1993 original, often revolves around the exploits of an unnamed soldier sent to kill hordes of demons that threaten the safety of Earth.
2016’s reboot focuses more on Hell as a locationthan previous installments, sending Doomguy into the fiery landscape after first bringing his brand of violence to Mars. The reboot pits players against many iconic enemies from the franchise, including the infamous Cyberdemon, showing that the forces of Hell will appear no matter where Doomguy is.
It may only be the final act of the original 1997Diablothat sends the player character into Hell to defeat the titular Lord of the Underworld, but the rest of the game doesn’t shy away from the gradual descent into this realm.
Diablois responsible for many features common to video games in the modern era, such as colored loot tables and popular fantasy themes. Combined with the rich lore, which establishes the mortal world’s place between the High Heavens and Burning Hells,Diablo’s hellbecomes one of the most iconic iterations in video game history.
It may be aninaccurate adaptionof the 14th-century epic, butDante’s Inferno,developed by the creators ofDead Space,is nevertheless a triumph. Re-imagining the poet as a member of The Knights Templar, Dante travels through the nine circles of Hell, hacking and slashing along the way, in order to find his lost love.
The Hell ofDante’s Infernois researched and intricate, with great care being given to differentiate each canton and give it a distinctive visualization to the varied Circles of Hell, from the purple shades of Lust to the arena format of Fraud.Dante’s Infernois one of the best depictions of Hell around. Rooted in historical fact, it was always going to have a strong design for the underworld.
