It seems we have a fascination with going places we’re not supposed to—like delving into ancient civilizations filled with wealth and deadly traps. Maybe it’s some kind of adventurous instinct or even a fetish for danger. Case in point: that’s exactly what I did during the Abyssus preview, provided by DoubleMoose Games and The Arcade Crew. I explored the first location, plunging into the depths of a massive underground (or possibly underwater?) cavern, doing my best to stay alive as I fought off hordes of enemies and scavenged for weapons and other useful items.
This is the essence of Abyssus. On the surface, the gameplay loop didn’t appear groundbreaking—at least, that’s what I thought initially—but my perception changed once I started playing. While the game incorporates Roguelite elements, it stands out by being played from a first-person perspective, which happens to be one of my favorite game styles. Having grown up on FPS classics like Unreal Tournament and Quake II, Abyssus evokes that same fast-paced, arena-style shooter nostalgia. Picking off enemies from a distance felt familiar yet thrilling, and as I progressed, survival became an increasingly difficult task.
Abyssus is far more than a run-and-gun survival game. There are also room challenges—whether it’s avoiding damage altogether or clearing out specific enemies. Succeeding in these challenges earns you valuable rewards, while failure just makes you wish you hadn’t failed.
As you proceed through the rooms, you’ll either get access to chests that reward you with gold—which can be used at a shopkeeper’s store, which, interestingly, only appeared after about five hours of gameplay—or blessings that provide weapon upgrades and charms that provide defensive and support benefits. Yes, the game is very RNG-heavy. There are also chests found through the game that require keys, which I never had on me, so I couldn’t tell you what was inside of them.
Throughout each session, you’ll collect gold and come across items that either enhance your damage output or improve your chances of staying alive. Completing challenges unlocks better gear, both cosmetic and DPS-oriented. There’s also an arsenal of weapons at your disposal—like the Engine Rifle, Shotgun, and the Brine Revolver pistol. These are the only weapons available for the preview, where the Shotgun is found throughout your venture, and the pistol is found via some platforming. It’s not just that, as the weapons can also be set up via a customized loadout.
One of the most intriguing features is the inclusion of a skill tree, which requires you to locate what are called Soul Fragments. Finding and earning these will allow you to gain permanent upgrades for your character, giving you a critical edge in Abyssus. As you can imagine, tracking down these fragments can significantly improve your chances of success as you face the game’s relentless challenges.
Yes, there are bosses. The demo features one mid-boss, which is pretty easy, and an end-level boss that really gave me a run for my money—at least until I figured out the pattern. I wasn’t expecting the end boss to be as epic as it is, and I assumed it would be a simple encounter. Thankfully, it’s nothing like that. It’s a full-on, multi-phase fight, and I’m going to assume the other bosses in the full version of Abyssus will follow a similar format. I’m waiting for someone to call this a Soulslike of Shooters because you know someone is going to— just not me.
Sadly, the demo doesn’t support controllers, so if you’re not a fan of the keyboard and mouse control scheme, that might be a downside. That said, Abyssus is a PC game, so you’re probably already familiar with the classic WASD setup. And if not, hey, no judgment.
Fly Solo Or With Friends – Multiplayer
During my preview of Abyssus, I flew solo. While the game supports up to four players per session, which seems like a solid idea given how challenging the game can get for a lone player, I didn’t have the chance to participate in any online sessions. Still, seeing the multiplayer framework already in place has me excited about what’s to come.
I have to commend the DoubleMoose Games for making multiplayer sessions easy to set up. Once you’ve cleared the tutorial level, you can add friends, browse existing sessions, or create your own—choosing the number of players to include. Whether you’re looking for a two-player co-op adventure or something larger, it’s entirely up to you. That said, I’m not sure if increasing the player count makes the game harder, but it’s an intriguing possibility.
Early Thoughts
While this is an early preview of Abyssus, what I’ve played so far has been incredibly fun, and I’ve invested far more time in it than I initially expected. I’m hopeful that future sessions will expand to include multiplayer options, adding even more depth to the experience. I’ve always enjoyed frantic, fast-paced shooters, and in my old age, I can tell I haven’t lost a step. Abyssus has earned its place in my growing catalog of unexpected gaming discoveries for 2025.
Download the demo today on Steam. There’s no ETA on when Abyssus will be released as of yet.
