End of Abyss: Sci-Fi Horror from Little Nightmares Veterans Promises Chilling Survival

I’ll be honest-few Summer Game Fest announcements cut through the noise like End of Abyss did. I’m a sucker for atmospheric sci-fi horror, but this isn’t just another jump-scare cash-in. Revealed by Section 9 Interactive, a studio stacked with ex-Tarsier devs (yes, the brains behind Little Nightmares), End of Abyss instantly piqued my interest with its oppressive vibe, cinematic inspirations, and those unnerving, agile monsters lurking in the shadows.

End of Abyss: A Promising Fusion of Sci-Fi Horror and Survival from Proven Talent

• Atmosphere over shock: This isn’t about cheap scares-End of Abyss leans hard into mood and tension, clearly inspired by classics like Alien and The Thing.
• Developer pedigree: Section 9’s team includes veterans from the original Little Nightmares, so expect environmental storytelling and unsettling world design.
• Gameplay focus: Survival elements look punchy and fluid, setting it apart from most slow-paced horror titles.
• Next-gen only release: Launches next year on PC (Epic), PS5, and Xbox Series-no last-gen compromises here.

Feature	Specification
Publisher	Section 9 Interactive
Release Date	2025
Genres	Survival Horror, Sci-Fi
Platforms	PC (Epic Games Store), PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S

Let’s cut through the trailer’s fog and the inevitable PR spin. The first thing that caught my eye wasn’t just the setting (an abandoned, mysterious labyrinth deep underground), but the way the trailer balanced tension with outright panic. There’s a tangible lineage here to Little Nightmares—Section 9’s team actually built the first two games at Tarsier. Those games were masters of environmental dread, so it’s no surprise End of Abyss uses lighting, sound, and physical scale to make you feel tiny and vulnerable.

What’s new is the hard shift into sci-fi horror. Forget fairytale grotesquery—this is full-on Alien meets The Thing, with a dose of Event Horizon’s existential terror and even some architectural inspiration from cult manga Blame!. You play as Cel, a combat technician (not a space marine, thankfully) dropped into a research mission gone catastrophically wrong. The complex is abandoned, covered in shadow, and infested with creatures that look more nimble and dangerous than the usual horror fodder.

Gameplay-wise, the reveal hints at action that’s far more dynamic than most “hide and hope” horror games. Cel moves quickly, and the monsters do too—this isn’t one of those games where you can just huddle under a table for half an hour. If Section 9 can nail the frantic pacing alongside their famed atmospheric design, we might get a survival horror where evasion and movement are as tense as the creatures themselves.

But it’s not all hype and nostalgia. I’m a little wary of how many different influences the game is juggling. From the trailer and store page, you can spot nods to everything from Mad God’s visual chaos to Blame!’s impossible architecture. That’s a lot to synthesize into a coherent game. Will it all come together, or will it feel like a patchwork of references? The best horror games create their own identity, and that’s something I’ll be watching for as development continues.

Another reason this stands out: Section 9’s targeting only next-gen hardware and PC. No PS4 or Xbox One versions, which usually means fewer technical compromises. If they use that hardware right, we could see some genuinely impressive environments and AI behaviors—something this genre desperately needs to evolve.

Why End of Abyss Matters for Horror and Sci-Fi Fans

It’s been a while since a fresh, original IP really tried to push the survival horror genre forward. Too often, we get Resident Evil clones or indie walking sims that mistake darkness for dread. End of Abyss could break that cycle if it delivers on its promise: a game where horror isn’t just visual, but mechanical and systemic—a world that feels alive and actively hostile. With the pedigree behind it and the clear respect for genre classics, there’s a strong chance this could join the likes of Dead Space and SOMA as a benchmark for atmospheric horror.

Of course, the proof is always in the playing. I’m excited, but not blindly so. If Section 9 can avoid falling into the trap of style over substance, and really hone in on how all its mechanical and narrative parts fit together, End of Abyss could be the next cult favorite for horror die-hards and sci-fi explorers alike.

TL;DR: A New Abyss for Horror Gamers to Dive Into

End of Abyss is shaping up to be a survival horror standout—developed by folks who know how to make atmosphere suffocating and stakes personal. With next-gen focus, bold sci-fi ambitions, and a clear love for genre legends, it’s one to watch if you want your horror tense, not cheap. I’ll be keeping a close eye on this as more details surface, because in the depths of the abyss, every detail could mean the difference between survival and becoming just another story in the dark.