Releasing on January 26th, 2026, and developed by Rock Square Thunder for PC and consoles, I Hate This Place is described as “a craft-based, isometric survival horror game with twisted monsters and warped reality. Scavenge and build to survive terrifying days and nights while using stealth and noise to fight enemies that stalk by sound, all styled with bold comic art and an ’80s horror vibe.” —Rock Square Thunder.
Rock Square Thunder was founded in 2020 by three former developers from Bloober Team. They released their first game, The Light Bringer, in 2021 and have since grown to a team of 16. According to their website at the time of writing, they are also developing two additional titles: Tabletop Generals: Tactics and another unannounced project. Both currently have TBD release dates.
Gameplay
The core mechanics are what you’d expect from a top-down shooter: movement with WASD (or the analog stick) and aiming with the mouse (or opposite stick). Movement feels smooth and responsive whether you’re swinging a melee weapon, firing a gun, or tossing a Molotov. Combat feels balanced across enemy types—small enemies go down with a single swing, while larger ones require planning and depend heavily on your preferred playstyle. You can charge in guns blazing or opt for a quieter, stealthier approach, especially since some enemies rely on sound to detect you.
Many top-down shooters can feel like maze-puzzle hybrids where 3D walls sit in empty black backdrops. I Hate This Place avoids that common pitfall with richer atmosphere and more detailed environments. The levels feel thoughtfully built, adding weight and mood to exploration.
Story & Worldbuilding
You play as Elna, who wakes at a campsite beside a large pentagram, with your partner Lou nowhere to be found. A mysterious being soon appears to guide you with cryptic hints about what’s happening. Before long, you’ll arrive at the ranch where your aunt and uncle live.
Once at the ranch, you can build stations to craft new items. Resource-based crafting is always satisfying, and being able to lay out your base however you like adds a welcome layer of creativity and ownership.
The story is based on the comic series I Hate This Place, also known under its alternative title Fuck This Place, which gets a brief nod in the game. The developers did a great job translating the comic’s aesthetic into the game through its art direction, tone, and character encounters.
Graphics & Audio
If you remember XIII on PlayStation 2 and the original Xbox, the two games share a similar comic-book-style presentation, including onomatopoeia displayed on screen for certain sounds. The art style leans into a darker, more subdued shelf-shaded look, think Borderlands, but moodier and less saturated.
Enemy AI and animations can be a bit clunky. When an enemy detects you, they sometimes sprint to the nearest wall or door and run in place, unintentionally making them easier to pick off.
Character dialogue boxes occasionally display text with no accompanying audio. At first, I thought this was intentional, perhaps only the opening sentences were voiced, but narration would abruptly resume afterward. In some interactions, the spoken dialogue also doesn’t match the text on screen. These seem like minor bugs that will likely be fixed before launch.
Replayability & Value
The crafting system adds replayability by encouraging experimentation, new weapons, new traps, new ways to design your ranch. Whether you prefer chaotic run-and-gun combat or a quieter, opportunistic approach, I Hate This Place offers a solid amount of gameplay variety.
Pricing hasn’t been announced at the time of publication, which makes gauging value more difficult. However, if it’s priced similarly to The Light Bringer at $14.99, it would likely be well worth the cost.
Review Summary
Review Summary-
Gameplay8/10 BangerSmooth mechanics and simple controls let you focus on the story and environment. Some issues with AI currently, not game impacting.
-
Story & Worldbuilding9/10 ImpressiveBased off the comic series, they did a great job adapting the book into this game.
-
Graphics & Audio7/10 SolidArt style is fantastic and visually appealing. The audio lacks a bit in voice acting.
-
Replayability & Value10/10 PeakAssuming the price is aligned to their pass release, well worth it.
What We Like
- Art style is amazing.
- Smooth gameplay mechanics.
- Easy to pick up and put down.
What We Don't
- AI is a bit clunky at times.
- Voice acting is missing in some dialogs.
