The Axis Unseen (2024)

The Axis Unseen is an engaging survival and hunting game developed by the developer of the Fallout and Skyrim series. It might still have some rough edges but considering that it was developed entirely by one person, you can overlook these shortcomings. The environment and monsters in the game are extremely well-designed, and together with its heavy metal soundtrack, they create a vast apocalyptic atmosphere in which you can lose yourself for hours. The game doesn't feature hand-holding tutorials, so if you want to survive in this terrifying world, you must even consider where you step or the direction of the wind.

There's potential in The Axis Unseen. The idea of an adventure game with no HUD and an emphasis on your instincts is an intriguing setup, and the use of a simple set of weapons and powers keeps you from feeling overpowered. However, the combination of laughable physics and a plethora of bugs and design issues make this a game that's difficult to love if you aren't into the heavy metal aesthetic. As it stands now, it is an interesting title, but it needs plenty of patching before it will be worth checking out.

The Axis Unseen is an expertly crafted indie title that combines metal music, horror, and hunting to create a rocking new experience.

I went into The Axis Unseen hoping it would be my jam, and it was. It even made me okay with not having a map (well, after a while), and as someone who has a terrible sense of direction on their best day, that’s no mean feat. I just wanted to explore its world, fight new monsters, and see what I could find. Mostly, though, I think about the stories I got to tell while playing it, like that bit with the Elder Horned Beast I told you about at the beginning here. A little while after I got the fire arrows, I realized I could probably kill a Tree Golem with them, and when I finally ran into one, I finally took it down. It was incredible. And there are so many stories like that in The Axis Unseen. I hope the technical issues get fixed, but even with them, I think Just Purkey Games has made something special. Just... be careful if you venture into this realm between realms? You’re off the edge of the map. Here be dragons. But if you play it right, the scariest thing in this world might just be you.