A new demo for an upcoming RPG that fuses Skyrim and Dark Souls has just hit Steam, and it might be exactly what you need to see you through the rest of the weekend.
Hell and Back is an old-school action RPG that seems to fuse the likes of Dark Souls and The Elder Scrolls, and it looks rather cool.
It’s a game where you’re tasked with climbing up the layers of hell, bringing chaos to each level with the ultimate goal of reaching salvation.
Judging by the art style and overall look of the game, I’m definitely getting Dark Souls vibes from this. However, I can also sense a bit of classic Ultima and Diablo as well with regards to its presentation (and less-so its gameplay).
What is Hell and Back?
Here’s what the official game description has to say about Hell and Back:
“This game offers a single-player adventure enriched with old-school RPG elements. The player takes control of a virtuous character who falls into a hell he does not belong to. Hell consists of various layers, each presenting challenging boss battles while offering a balanced combat system featuring both magic and physical attacks.
“In the terrifying atmosphere of hell, the player must fight to survive, collect valuable loot to grow stronger, and unravel the depths of a mysterious story that reveals the reason behind the character’s descent into hell.
“The light faded, leaving him in darkness once again, but this time it was not the suffocating stillness of the dungeon. His senses were overwhelmed. The air burned his lungs with every breath, carrying a stench of decay so intense it felt alive, crawling into his very being.
“Screams echoed endlessly, a symphony of agony that pierced his ears and reverberated in his chest. Shadows moved like specters, their forms writhing and shifting, each one a fragment of torment personified. He tried to avert his gaze, but the horrors refused to be ignored. Chains clanged in the distance, and the wet, guttural sounds of flesh being torn filled the void.”
Hell and Back now has a demo available if you’d like to check the game out. The demo offers you a chance to try a small portion of the game, as well as allowing developer Labirent Entertainment the chance to collect data and make improvements to the final product.
There’s no concrete release date set in stone yet for Hell and Back. Labirent says the game is currently projected for “Q1 2026”, so it’s likely we’ll hear about a narrower date in the next few months.
This sounds really exciting! The combination of Skyrim and Dark Souls has great potential, and I’m looking forward to seeing how the demo plays out. It’s always nice to see fresh takes on classic inspirations.
Absolutely, it’s an intriguing blend! The open-world exploration of Skyrim combined with the challenging combat mechanics of Dark Souls could really offer players a unique experience. I’m curious to see how the game’s lore and world-building will come together too!
You’re right, that combination sounds promising! Plus, the way Dark Souls handles combat could really elevate the challenge in an open-world setting. It’ll be interesting to see how they balance exploration with difficulty in the final game.
Absolutely, the combat mechanics from Dark Souls could really elevate the exploration aspect reminiscent of Skyrim. It’ll be interesting to see how the game balances those elements and creates a unique atmosphere. I’m looking forward to trying out the demo!