Dive into the depths and blast through a corrupted civilization in Abyssus. Read on to learn everything we know, our review of the open beta, and more.
Abyssus Review Overview
What is Abyssus?
Abyssus is a first-person shooter with roguelite elements, developed by DoubleMoose Games and published by The Arcade Crew, released on August 12, 2025. This fast-paced multiplayer action shooter drops players into hand-crafted levels where brine-powered weapons meet ancient technology, allowing for powerful upgrades and unique combat strategies.
You step into the role of a brinepunk explorer, tasked with claiming massive brine deposits hidden beneath the ruins of civilization. But your expedition takes an unexpected turn—you uncover a hidden world fueled by brine, a rare substance drawn from the deepest seas. When the sunken kingdom becomes corrupted and rises against you, your mission transforms into a desperate fight for survival.
Abyssus features:
⚫︎ FPS
⚫︎ Roguelite
⚫︎ Online Co-Op
⚫︎ PvE
⚫︎ Arena Shooter
⚫︎ Steampunk
⚫︎ Looter Shooter
| Digital Storefronts | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Steam |
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| $24.99 |
Abyssus Pros & Cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
 Addictive, Adrenaline-Pumping Gunplay Memorable Boss Battles Extensive Customization, Great Progression, and Tons of Unlockables Beautiful World Design and Levels |
RNG and Spawn Rate Balancing Issues Would Benefit from More Game Modes |
Abyssus Overall Score - 76/100
Abyssus is a thrilling and addictive roguelite FPS that shines brightest when played with friends, as the chaos and challenge intensify the deeper you venture into the ancient civilization hidden beneath the dark sea—always tempting you to go for “just one more run.” It starts off tough but becomes deeply rewarding thanks to its wealth of unlockables and a satisfying progression system. However, like many roguelites, it can grow repetitive over time, and with only a single game mode available, the experience would benefit greatly from one or two additional modes to keep things fresh.
Abyssus Story - 6/10
While the story isn’t the main focus in Abyssus, it still does a decent job of giving you bits and pieces through notes from other explorers, the occasional line of dialogue, and strong environmental storytelling. These touches let you piece the narrative together yourself—but it’s never the full picture. Personally, I would’ve loved more lore and explanation, because the world is mesmerizing and brimming with untapped stories. A proper campaign mode could make exploring it even more compelling, and I’m hoping future updates dive deeper into that potential.
Abyssus Gameplay - 9/10
Abyssus is what happens when the unrelenting intensity of Doom collides with the atmospheric artistry of Bioshock, then gets supercharged with the high-octane energy of Roboquest and the roguelite ingenuity of Gunfire Reborn. It wastes no time pulling you into the fray—combat is visceral, pacing is relentless, and its progression loop is both rewarding and dangerously addictive. The blend of roguelite mechanics and fast-paced FPS action shines brightest in multiplayer, challenging your teamwork with engaging puzzles, hidden secrets, and intense boss battles. However, occasional RNG quirks and balance issues—especially in solo or duo runs—can slightly interrupt the otherwise excellent experience. Additionally, the game could benefit from adding a couple more modes to help prevent the gameplay from feeling repetitive.
Abyssus Visuals - 8/10
Abyssus takes a page from Bioshock with its stunning brinepunk aesthetic, delivering beautifully hand-crafted set pieces and unique enemies drawn from an ancient civilization. Visually, it’s an absolute standout. However, it’s not without flaws—I would have loved to see more variety in its handcrafted levels, as revisiting the same environments can start to feel repetitive. Additionally, occasional visual bugs and texture pop-ins can break the otherwise beautiful presentation.
Abyssus Audio - 6/10
While the soundtrack may not be particularly memorable, it supports the action effectively. The real standout is the sound effects—each weapon has a distinct audio signature, making every shot, blast, and reload feel satisfyingly unique, whether you’re firing a railgun, loosing an arrow from a bow, or unleashing the thunder of automated turrets. Overall, the audio design doesn’t do anything groundbreaking, but it performs solidly and complements the gameplay well.
Abyssus Value for Money - 9/10
Priced at a reasonable $24.99, Abyssus offers solid value for its content. It’s an especially fun experience with friends, but it can still be enjoyed solo or with random players online. The game’s strong replayability ensures you’ll keep coming back for more. That said, the experience would benefit from a few additional game modes to help combat repetition over time.
Abyssus Review: Doomguy’s Paradise
There’s something incredibly satisfying about being surrounded by hordes of undead and monstrous creatures, only to obliterate them and blast your way to safety. If there’s a “male fantasy” in gaming, this is it—pure carnage, adrenaline, and unrestrained chaos, the kind of intensity that Doom captured so perfectly. When I first saw the Abyssus trailer, I knew it would channel that same spirit, and after playing it, I can confidently say that Doomguy would feel right at home here. At its core, Abyssus is an FPS roguelite shooter, flawlessly blending fast-paced, visceral gunplay with strategic roguelite mechanics. While it shares similarities with games like Roboquest, it improves on them in countless ways, delivering a far more satisfying and thrilling experience.
Stare into the Abyss Long Enough, The Abyss Stares Back at You
I never thought I’d be quoting Friedrich Nietzsche to describe a game, but Abyssus earns it. The developers have done an exceptional job with atmosphere alone—its world is equal parts fascinating and horrifying, blending thalassophobia with a sense of creeping dread. The Cthulhu-like visuals of some of the creatures you encounter are genuinely scary and completely unique.
The fusion of brinepunk and Aztec aesthetics is masterfully executed. One moment you’re facing ancient golems twisted into sinister forms, the next you’re fending off Aztec tribes eager to sacrifice you, and then you stumble across ghostlike horrors that feel ripped straight from a deep-sea nightmare. The entire world constantly overwhelms you, as if whispering, “You’re not supposed to be here.”
The ruined ancient civilization feels lived-in and tragic, with handcrafted levels dotted with broken ships, sunken temples, and scattered remnants of past explorers. These details spark a constant curiosity to explore every corner, rewarding you with intriguing discoveries along the way.
The weapon design is another highlight. Many of the guns feel like they could have been lifted from Bioshock, infused with that gritty brinepunk style. Some even draw directly from Aztec influences—like the bow and arrow or the electrifying Tesla gun. The explorers themselves look fantastic too, wearing submarine-like suits that feel like a hybrid between Bioshock’s Big Daddy and Dead Space’s Isaac Clarke.
If I have a nitpick, it’s that I wish there were more unique levels. The repetition can become noticeable—not only across multiple runs but sometimes even within the same run. Thankfully, progression keeps things visually fresh. Each time you defeat a boss, you descend deeper into the abyss, and the aesthetics shift dramatically.
The first area is a treasure-laden seabed haunted by the corpses of long-dead pirates. The next transforms into a lush underwater jungle brimming with unexpected life. Then comes a poisoned, mystical sea infused with eerie green-and-purple Aztec lighting—an otherworldly spectacle that’s nothing short of mesmerizing.
Intense, Visceral, and Absolutely Rewarding
Abyssus is absolutely Doomguy’s paradise—pure, unfiltered, visceral chaos in all the right ways. It’s fast, it’s brutal, and it’s ridiculously addictive. Hats off to the developers for delivering a gameplay loop that nails both the intensity of an arena shooter and the strategic depth of a roguelite.
The core loop is pure dopamine. You can host or join sessions with up to four players, and in Abyssus, cooperation isn’t optional—it’s survival. Team up with fellow Brinehunters, plan synergistic loadouts, and fight through a merciless gauntlet of enemies.
Each run is procedurally sequenced from over 64 handcrafted levels, ensuring no two are exactly the same. With each run, you’ll unlock more upgrades, skills, and weapon mods, but brute force alone won’t save you—you’ll need tight teamwork, smart positioning, and tactical use of your loadouts.
Movement feels phenomenal—fast-paced and layered like DOOM, but enhanced with roguelite flair. You’ve got double jumps, dashes, and the ability to chain them together for quick repositioning. Gunplay is where Abyssus truly shines. Every weapon feels distinct and incredibly satisfying, both in look and function. You carry one main weapon per run with infinite ammo (reloads or cooldowns still apply), each with two firing modes: Primary fire – Your bread-and-butter attack, ideal for standard combat, and Secondary fire – A more powerful or situational ability, often with cooldowns, overheat mechanics, or enhanced effects.
Examples? The starting railgun’s secondary unleashes a raw, searing heat blast. The Brine Revolver dominates in close quarters, with a secondary precision ADS shot. The bow and arrow charges primeval souls for its primary shot, while the secondary fires a barrage of arrows. Every gun feels handcrafted with a unique twist, and there are currently 8 to unlock—each wildly different in playstyle.
Then there are abilities, essentially secondary weapons on a cooldown. You start with a frag grenade, but can unlock other tools like deployable turrets that fire on enemies. They’re unlimited-use with cooldown timers, and upgrades can extend their uptime, making them an integral part of your strategy.
Customization in Abyssus runs deep. You can color your weapons, tweak your loadout, and unlock gear either through achievements or by discovering hidden secrets throughout the world. Collectibles are well-distributed, and in my first two hours, I managed to unlock 7 of the 8 weapons while making solid progress on my Soul Wheel upgrades, which provide permanent perks. Costumes are more challenging to obtain, but they’re purely cosmetic, and thankfully, the game has no paywalls or microtransactions to contend with.
Speaking of costumes and weapons, I absolutely adore the pre-run and in-run customization options. The way Abyssus blends looter-shooter elements with roguelite progression is so satisfying—you always feel like each run makes you stronger for the next. Whether it’s achievements, unlocking new gea,r or soul fragments dropped from certain enemies, there’s always something to work toward.
Soul fragments feed into the Soul Wheel, letting you upgrade perks and passives—like carrying more vials for healing, boosting max health, or reducing the number of keys needed to open locked areas. These upgrades make each subsequent run feel fresh and more powerful.
The weapon system and blessings work hand-in-hand, with each blessing synergizing perfectly with specific builds. The different “Aspects” are all fun and feel well-balanced: the Aspect of Fire, the Aspect of the Spirit for controlling spirits, the Aspect of Lightning, and so on. One run I’ll never forget was when I had Aspect of Fire paired with a ton of frag grenade upgrades. I reached the point where I could throw six fire grenades at once—nonstop—and the AoE damage was so devastating it outclassed my primary and secondary weapons in the later stages. That’s when I became “the frag guy,” and it was glorious.
The blessings make you feel powerful, and each level offers meaningful rewards—gold for shops or sacrifices, lore notes, new weapons, and hidden treasures that encourage exploration. Whether it’s between fights or after major battles, there’s always something worth finding, making every run both rewarding and exciting.
The multiplayer in Abyssus is absolutely fantastic. I didn’t encounter any game-breaking crashes, and the experience felt smooth and incredibly fun. Even when playing with random players, I consistently found competent and encouraging teammates, with no signs of toxicity. That said, the game is at its absolute best when played with friends.
I highly recommend running sessions with four players, as the later stages ramp up in intensity and complexity. You’ll be juggling multiple tasks, such as destroying healing flowers while fending off enemies, and boss fights become particularly punishing. Players can only revive teammates or continue when the level ends, making teamwork essential.
The boss battles themselves are brilliantly designed, with massive health pools and intricate attack patterns that demand coordination. My favorite is the fight where you must navigate through water walls while the boss pushes you into poisonous water—relentless, tense, and incredibly satisfying to overcome.
The final boss is terrifying and likely one of the hardest video game bosses of 2025, taking full advantage of the game’s brutal mechanics. Defeating these foes rewards players generously with charms, gold, soul fragments, and occasionally new weapons.
Fully completing the game takes roughly 10–12 hours, but the addictive nature of the gameplay ensures that you’ll keep coming back for more. With developer promises of future updates and additional content, there’s plenty to look forward to.
Balancing Issues and RNG Problems
If you think Abyssus is challenging in multiplayer, try playing it solo—it’s a whole different level of difficulty. One of the game’s biggest balancing issues is how enemy spawn rates don’t scale with player count. This means single-player and duo runs are significantly harder than playing with three or four players, to the point where it often feels tedious and punishing. For achievement hunters, this imbalance makes solo play frustrating, with many runs feeling nearly impossible unless you’ve already unlocked substantial upgrades.
While the first few levels are manageable, the difficulty spikes quickly in smaller lobbies, often becoming overwhelming and unfair—especially when you’re swarmed with enemies while juggling objectives. As a result, I’d strongly recommend playing with three or four players, because solo or duo runs can feel like an uphill battle.
The RNG system can also add unnecessary frustration. Blessings don’t always offer meaningful choices, and sometimes charms feel more like a hindrance than a help. A poorly matched blessing can leave one of your weapons underpowered in the late game, creating difficulty spikes that feel out of your control.
There was one run where I kept getting Aspect of the Fire blessings I didn’t need, when other blessings would have been far more useful. Keys, too, suffer from strange RNG—key rooms can be so rare that I often end runs with a handful of unused keys, and when I do find a key room, it’s frequently just a shop instead of something more rewarding.
A Bosh Rush or Campaign Mode Would’ve Been Neat
I can’t deny that you’ll spend countless hours in Abyssus, steadily improving with each session. It’s incredibly fun, and every run gives you a tangible sense of progression—whether it’s unlocking new gear, collecting soul fragments for passive upgrades, or acquiring brines to tweak difficulty and modifiers.
However, despite all of this, the game can start to feel repetitive and even exhausting. The high-octane chaos is thrilling, but everyone needs a breather, and pairing that intensity with roguelite repetition can be draining—especially since the difficulty ramps up sharply the deeper you descend into the abyss.
That’s why I think the game would benefit from at least one or two additional modes to keep things fresh. Playing solo might count as a “campaign mode” in theory, but in practice, you’re still running the same loop. A dedicated single-player mode with extra story beats, environmental storytelling moments, or even banter with NPCs—like the shopkeeper—could make the experience feel more alive. The lore here is rich and intriguing; it’s just a shame it isn’t explored further.
The bosses, for example, are wickedly designed, and I’d love to see a boss rush mode where you fight them back-to-back with unique objectives. A firing range mode for testing weapon mods and builds could also add variety while letting players experiment more freely. FPS roguelites inherently risk becoming tedious due to their repetitive structure, but small injections of variety—whether through new modes, narrative elements, or experimental challenges—could go a long way. As much as I enjoy mowing down Aztec-inspired monstrosities and detonating explosive frogs, a little levity and variety would keep Abyssus engaging for the long haul.
Is Abyssus Worth It?
Dive into the Depths with Your Friends!
The deeper you descend into the depths, the more Abyssus demands teamwork—and the chaos that follows is an absolute blast. There’s a real satisfaction in clearing level after level, upgrading your gear, and feeling yourself grow stronger and more skilled with every run. By the end of each session, you walk away with a genuine sense of progress.
While the game truly shines when played with friends, it’s still enjoyable with random players, and solo play is perfectly serviceable—just not quite as exhilarating. I do hope the developers continue refining the balance and adding more content to extend its longevity, because Abyssus is already incredibly fun, but it has the potential to be something even greater.
For $25, Abyssus delivers plenty of bang for your buck—especially with zero microtransactions and every unlockable earned purely through gameplay achievements. At that price, it’s more than reasonable to rally two or three friends to join you in the depths. You can expect around 10–12 hours of solid content, with each run varying wildly—lasting anywhere from 20 minutes to over an hour—thanks to the sheer variety of weapon combinations and build possibilities. The replayability is already strong, and with the developers promising future content updates and patches, there’s even more to look forward to.
| Digital Storefronts | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Steam |
|||||||
| $24.99 |
Abyssus FAQ
Is Abyssus Available on Consoles?
As of now, Abyssus is only available on PC via Steam.
How Many Weapons are in Abyssus?
The game has 8 different weapons and 45 weapon mods.
Game8 Reviews
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Abyssus Product Information
 |
|
| Title | Abyssus |
|---|---|
| Release Date | Aug. 12, 2025 |
| Developer | DoubleMoose Games |
| Publisher | The Arcade Crew |
| Supported Platforms | PC |
| Genre | FPS, Roguelite |
| Number of Players | 1-4 |
| ESRB Rating | RP |
| Official Website | Abyssus Website |
