Long-Awaited Co-Op Zombie Game Is Finally Arriving Next Month

Though No More Room In Hell 2 has been playable via Steam and Epic’s early-access programs for a while now, the 1.0 build is finally on the way, and it’ll coincide with the game’s launch on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S. All of this arrives on August 11.

The first-person zombie game is played on large, semi-open maps and built for teams of up to eight players. If you never played the original, think Left 4 Dead, but slower and much harder. It’s also less of a shooter than that genre titan, because making noise is sure to attract trouble you’re better off avoiding with the use of the game’s many melee weapons.

Each round plays like a run with your chosen character, and you’ll progress as you survive round after round–or you’ll die mid-round (and permanently) and turn into a fast-moving zombie that chases down the team you left behind. The stakes are high.

The game has seen its ups and downs so far on PC, as the team at Torn Banner (Chivalry 2) has tried to strike a balance in the game’s difficulty while adding polish. This has resulted in only a “Mixed” rating from Steam users right now, but a lot of those issues have always seemed like growing pains to me, and hopefully these wrinkles are ironed out for the 1.0 release.

For what it may be worth, I love zombie games as much as anyone, and I’ve had a lot of fun with this one. I’ve only not sunk many more hours into it yet because I’ve been waiting for this 1.0 version. Based on what I’ve played in the past, I already count No More Room In Hell 2 as one of the best zombie games, and I’m hoping the 1.0 build further cements it in that conversation.

New with this upcoming build is a risk-free solo mode, which doesn’t apply the game’s permadeath system you’ll have to contend with otherwise, as well as a training ground so you can learn the game before you put your character on the line. There’s also a new wave-based Survival mode that some players tried out during a free weekend preview earlier this year. Several maps have been expanded, and character customization will be deeper than you’re used to if you’ve played any of the game’s earlier versions.

No More Room In Hell 2 will feature cross-play for all systems, and the team has addressed “over 8,000 bugs” for the 1.0 launch. It’ll go for $30 with preorders and “launch” period sale pricing on offer for those who jump in early.