This month marks its biggest update with Reanimation, which adds a new map (Pottsville), combat improvements, a roster of characters, a radial inventory and a “big surprise.” The latter has been in the works for a long time, and will provide players with “a lot more to do.”

Pottsville is the first new map since early access launched. It’s a more urban-focused environment that’s denser and more claustrophobic. As for the character roster, it provides three slots and lets you decide which Responder to take into a map. No more potentially getting a level 50 character killed.

Alongside the new radial inventory, items now have weight – the heavier an item, the more space it takes up. If that wasn’t enough, combat would allow for “more creativity” and “better interplay” with allies.

“It’s now much more important to measure your strike distance, decide on the direction of your attacks, keep an eye on your stamina – and juggle all of this with allies at your side. One player may take a more ‘crowd control’ role, knocking back multiple zombies with heavy attacks and kicks, while another player more carefully disperses enemies with precision as zombies make it through the crowd.” You can also expect new melee armaments to spice up the experience.

Stay tuned for a release date for Reanimation and more details. No More Room in Hell 2 is available for PC via early access. Check out our review of the launch version here.

LEVEL ZERO: EXTRACTION

Doghowl Games’ extraction shooter is currently in early access, so technically, it can get better- but that isn’t the trajectory it has followed thus far. Level Zero: Extraction had a promising enough premise, but was let down by significant gameplay and balancing issues even at launch. In the time since then, the developer has consistently made updates that have proven unpopular with players, leading some to wonder just how healthy the game’s future is going to be.

Launching by November end, it will make ammo scarcer, “re-tuning difficulty” for players’ levels, and performing “balance passes” on the lethality of its zombies. The latter will also benefit from improved hit reactions and more realistic movement (which you can see in the trailer below).

The Power Plant, currently the only way to extract and end a match, will receive a new random ending, achieved by completing tasks in the central area. New sequences are currently in the works for early 2025, and the next map remains in development (though there’s no ETA on its launch).

There will also be two new weapons – the M1911A1 handgun and the M7A1 assault rifle. Players can also look forward to “hundreds” of fixes, from revive bugs to sliding zombies. Stay tuned for more details, and check out our review of the early access version.

However, zombies have long since proven a medium to evoke terror and remind humanity of its frailty and how things can go from peaceful to post-apocalyptic in the blink of an eye. What do you do when that’s the case? Lever Games’ No More Room in Hell captured that tension, that ever-present atmosphere of dread, from its inception as a Half-Life 2 mod to a standalone release in 2011. You weren’t a hero or someone special; just a survivor attempting to see another hellish day.

Despite the naming, No More Room in Hell 2 isn’t that.

"Right off the bat, any semblance of building a spooky atmosphere feels tossed by the wayside in favor of pushing the objective."

Torn Banner Studios may be listed as the developer, but it acquired Lever Games in June, with the sequel having been in development for several years. That Summer Game Fest trailer certainly gave the impression of adhering to the original’s fundamentals, albeit on a much bigger map (singular).

However, early access portrays a more traditional – and, at times, rote – extraction shooter. As disappointing as that sounds for fans of the original, any hopes of it standing on its fundamentals are dashed by numerous technical issues, some flawed design decisions, a repetitive gameplay loop, and an unexciting premise. Even the zombies feel like they’re just here so they don’t get fined – more akin to contemporary Romero than the classics.

Contrary to what it may feel like at the start, No More Room in Hell 2 does have a premise. Instead of a survivor, you’re a “responder” who must rush to the power plant to restore it and prevent total regional collapse, as the CRC blares over the radio. You start alone, but there are seven other players on the map.

With nothing but a revolver, flashlight, and metal pipe, fight or avoid zombies to survive while looting other points of interest for better weapons, healing items, explosives, equipment, etc. Once you know where things are, stocking up on ammo is pitifully easy, though going trigger-happy out in the wild isn’t the best idea since the noise can attract other zombies.

Right off the bat, any semblance of building a spooky atmosphere feels tossed by the wayside in favor of pushing the objective. I appreciate the CRC telling me from the outset about key, red-marked locations to clear first. However, any tension from exploring locations, like the hospital, hopping up crates and other materials to the boarded-up second floor while discovering dozens of undead casually roaming on the first, is dulled by constant updates.

"Even if you can deal with all that, the zombies in question feel like they soak up too much damage."

Whether other players looted a location, ventured to the power plant, or tripped over a rock, you’ll hear about it. I would have appreciated more subtle notifications when far from others – the cacophony can continue when we’re together.

Despite reasonably meeting the recommended requirements for High settings and setting the upscaling to TSA, the frame rate left something to be desired in my first go-round. Toning down a few options like volumetrics while opting for Nvidia DLSS Quality improved things significantly, even with crowds of zombies. However, the zombies themselves present a litany of their own issues.

Rubber-banding, sliding across the floor, suddenly shifting from awkward shuffles to lunges, teleporting through the player – it’s a far cry from the dead simply walking the Earth. Graphical glitches like zombie heads awkwardly floating in the air or, even worse, barely attached to the still-moving body are one thing.

But everything else impacts the overall gameplay, especially turning melee into a test of luck unless you’re on top of a car and swinging away at an undead crowd (which seemingly can’t reach, despite their climbing capabilities). It doesn’t help that melee combat feels clunky overall, regardless of the weapon’s size and weight – like you’re swinging while underwater. At least the fire axe feels like it has some heft to it.

Even if you can deal with all that, the zombies in question feel like they soak up too much damage. I’m all for dealing with runners, whether pushing them away (which feels clumsy) or desperately fleeing and using the environment to turn the tables. However, the red-eye zombies and their ability to tank punishment notwithstanding, unleashing a shotgun blast or heavy rifle shot to the skull to see a zombie continually amble forward with nothing but their lower jaw and wagging tongue is annoying. Humorous to some extent, but disheartening regardless.

"Starting alone is intriguing until you spend time reaching the plant and find that 60 percent of the lobby is already dead, making the final stretch that much more challenging."

No More Room in Hell 2 tries combining the original’s brutal mechanics and realism with a more “mainstream” approach (for lack of a better word). However, some elements don’t mesh with the more fast-paced gameplay flow. Starting alone is intriguing until you spend time reaching the plant and find that 60 percent of the lobby is already dead, making the final stretch that much more challenging. Zombies infinitely respawn, which feels balanced for eight players, but significantly more irritating when you’re suddenly ambushed out of nowhere from behind after mind-numbingly clearing out undead from atop a car.

However, it doesn’t quite explain the approach to permadeath. You start with a responder, and upon successful extraction, they receive XP to unlock new passive skills of your choosing. If they die during a mission, you must select a new randomly generated responder and repeat the process.

It’s not unlike other extraction shooters where dying results in lost loot, even if co-op is forced, and the team’s failures, through no fault of your own, result in hours of lost progress. But if you give me some rando I have no attachment to, why not let me customize their appearance and playstyle when starting afresh?

When you’re not facing bugs like your weapon’s ADS glitching out, making it impossible to shoot, or zombies getting stuck in the railing, the visuals are appealing. Locational damage on the undead is perhaps the highlight, even if it can range from exposed bits to simple crimson masks when taking one too many hits to the decaying dome. It’s no F.L.E.S.H. system from Dead Island 2, but I’ll take it, and despite the many issues with melee combat, at least the gunplay feels satisfying and responsive.

"Torn Banner may eventually find a way to reconcile the sequel with the original’s approach, but it currently has a long way to go."

The lighting, shadows, and environmental details are also worth noting, with several locations dripping with atmosphere, like rows of abandoned vehicles near checkpoints, field camps in disarray and bodies, undead and otherwise, lying about. Their puzzles fell a little too much on the simple side – like knocking out four fuse boxes to turn off electrical traps to enter a building and then hitting three breakers to restore power – but they work. Now, if only there were more to the gameplay loop than just running to the plant and extracting.

Even after dealing with all the issues and glitches, No More Room in Hell 2, ironically, has plenty of room to grow in early access. Moments, where you’re desperately gunning down hordes and extracting alongside what little teammates remain can be enjoyable, bugs and all. However, considering how many other better and more polished co-op shooters are on the market, it’s not enough. Torn Banner may eventually find a way to reconcile the sequel with the original’s approach, but it currently has a long way to go.

This game was reviewed on PC.

Torn Banner Studios has provided an update on lag and server problems. It’s already worked to address matchmaking, adjusting parameters to match players based on ping. Though another adjustment was made, it’s still “actively monitoring” the situation.

Meanwhile, the server issues resulted from Asia and US-West players playing on cloud instances with “about half the efficiency of our target” due to the service provider not having “adequate” options. As such, Torn Banner is working to address issues, including teleporting zombies, “slow hit reactions,” and so on. It’s also working on a hotfix to fix a “selection of gameplay and performance issues.” Stay tuned for further details.

No More Room in Hell 2 is available for PC via Steam Early Access. It features one map, multiple enemies and weapons, and permadeath characters, with plans to remain in early access for a year at least.

On Steam, the developer confirmed it plans to remain in early access for “at least one year.” It will include permadeath characters, multiple enemy types, ‘unique “enemy encounter” moments’, various melee and ranged weapons, a dismemberment system for zombies, traps, explosives, and an evolving narrative. Only one map, Power Plant, is available, but it will have “over a dozen places of interest” with “puzzle-like objectives and rewards.”

Torn Banner plans to include additional maps, weapons, storylines, and customization in the full version. While the early access pricing is yet to be announced, it will be “reasonable” (with an expected increase en route to the full version). Head here for more details on the title’s co-op mechanics, combat, and more.

30. Level Zero: Extraction

tinyBuild’s Level Zero: Extraction pits players against a fierce alien that’s only weak to light, and it’s up to you to survive against the ferocious creature as you carefully tiptoe your way through dimly lit environments. Between an interesting-looking atmosphere and the ability to join forces with up to 2 friends, Level Zero: Extraction has quite the potential to become a surprise hit if it plays its cards right. It’s set to release sometime in 2024 for consoles and PC.

Featuring various members of the horror shooter’s development team, the video offers yet more glimpses at No More Room in Hell 2’s gameplay, with new bits and pieces also being revealed on its combat (which, unsurprisingly for a Torn Banner game, is quite a point of emphasis here), how the game will introduce meaningful gameplay variation across different runs, how co-op will work, and more. Check out the trailer below for more details.

No More Room in Hell 2 is set to launch for PC in early access this Halloween. More details on the game will be shared later in the week with a livestream from Torn Banner Studios on June 11.

No More Room in Hell 2 supports up to eight players and features a large map teeming with the undead. Coordinating with your teammates, stocking up on supplies and fighting for survival is key. There are explosives, guns and other items to discover, though beware – die, and all your progress is lost thanks to permadeath.

Some rogue-lite elements are present, like leveling up your responder through looting and offering access to starting gear and equipment. Still, this isn’t like Left 4 Dead – multiple zombies can be lethal, ammo is limited, and you’re not the tankiest human.

No More Room in Hell 2 will receive more details at the PC Gaming Show on June 9th. Torn Banner will also host a livestream on June 11th. Stay tuned in the meantime.

Popular Source engine mod No More Room in Hell could see its sequel releasing very soon, at least for early access. It recently received an official Steam page with the release date listed as “coming soon.” The current plan is to remain in early access for “about one year,” though developer Lever Games noted that many of its features are already complete.

The current goal is to add more maps and game modes along with constant optimization, both graphically and network-wise. When the early access version lands, there will be maps like Brooklyn Heights and Night of the Living Dead available. New weapons, from firearms to throwables and melee weapons, will also be added along with cosmetics.

Zombies will also be improved to have better navigation, new abilities and behaviors, and even some randomness to their wardrobes. How feature-packed and optimized the early access version will be remains to be seen. But with how popular its 2011 predecessor provided to be, No More Room in Hell 2 could perform above expectations. Stay tuned for more details in the meantime.