Platform(s): PC (version reviewed)
Genre: Zombie survival shooter

I’ll be real with you – games, where survival hinges on keeping zombies at bay with dwindling supplies, are not my first pick. Every creak and shuffle makes me twitchy, and I’m usually the first one backing out of a match when things get hairy. So, diving into No More Room in Hell 2 was a choice I approached with a mix of dread and cautious curiosity. How bad could it be, right? Well, turns out, quite a lot—both in atmosphere and technical frustrations.

This early-access survival horror has a knack for creating spine-chilling tension, sure, but it’s also packed with enough bugs and clunky mechanics to make you wonder if the real horror here is dealing with the game itself. If you’re like me, someone who jumps at their own shadow, strap in; we’re going deep into zombie territory, and it’s as rough as you’d imagine.

Gripping but Unpolished

When No More Room in Hell 2 is firing on all cylinders, it achieves a grim, nail-biting tension that calls to mind George Romero’s classic zombie horror films. Torn Banner Studios has crafted an immersive, bleak world where darkness creeps in around every corner and eerie silence is interrupted only by the shuffle of undead feet. The Unreal Engine 5-powered visuals capture the oppressive tone beautifully, enhancing the experience with flickering lights and gloomy biomes. You find yourself on the fringes of a sprawling map, scouring the ruins for resources while stumbling through dark, labyrinthine streets toward a central objective.

Each match starts with players spread across the map, equipped with only a revolver, a pipe, and a dwindling stock of ammo. The idea of meeting others along the way for spontaneous alliances or narrow escapes is compelling, creating brief but memorable interactions. However, the predefined spawn points often make these moments feel forced, reducing the element of surprise and limiting the organic tension Torn Banner seems to be aiming for.

A Tale of Two Experiences

The gameplay promises high-stakes, cooperative survival where every bullet counts, and every zombie encounter could be your last. However, No More Room in Hell 2’s combat feels inconsistent. Firearms offer satisfying, weighty impacts when they connect, but melee combat is often unreliable, leaving you wondering whether your swings will land. The zombies themselves, especially red-eyed variants, can become unyielding bullet sponges, which detracts from the experience by making encounters feel more tedious than terrifying.

Adding to this, the permadeath mechanic feels great in theory—losing your character permanently ramps up the stakes. However, in practice, unpredictable zombie behaviours, inconsistent hit detection, and occasional AI bugs make death feel unfair rather than a consequence of skilful play. Zombies sometimes ignore players or slide erratically around the map, breaking immersion and undermining the strategic element permadeath should bring.

Early Access Hurdles

While Torn Banner has made strides in atmosphere, technical issues plague No More Room in Hell 2, even on high-end systems. Frame rate drops, stuttering, and bugs abound, with zombies randomly T-posing or failing to react to players altogether. These performance hiccups become particularly grating in a game where precision and timing are essential to survival. Turning off volumetric effects and enabling DLSS can help somewhat, but the game’s optimization still feels a long way from stable.

The interface also could use refinement. Overly large HUD icons and obtrusive notifications detract from the immersive experience. Players are directed by large icons and CRC notifications that turn what could be an exploration-focused survival game into more of a “GPS-guided” zombie trek, limiting the thrill of navigating an open world filled with the undead.

Where Does Survival End & Grind Begin?

No More Room in Hell 2 leans heavily into the brutal difficulty of zombie survival, often to its own detriment. The limited resources—particularly for ammo and medkits—are challenging, but some design choices push the game from thrillingly difficult to downright frustrating. Zombies that respawn randomly can disrupt the flow, especially in solo exploration, making it difficult to regroup or even take a quick breather. While these choices clearly aim to intensify the atmosphere, they sometimes feel more like artificial difficulty spikes than genuine challenges.

Promising but Needs Polish

No More Room in Hell 2 has the foundation of a truly engaging zombie survival experience. Torn Banner Studios has created a unique, atmospheric world that does a lot of things right—particularly in crafting a dark, oppressive ambience that fans of survival horror will appreciate. But this early access build shows just how much work remains to be done. Bugs, inconsistent mechanics, and performance issues hold it back from its full potential.

As it stands, No More Room in Hell 2 is worth a look for those eager to get in early on a promising title, but be prepared for an experience that’s rough around the edges. With further polish, optimization, and fine-tuning, this game could carve out a unique spot in the co-op survival genre. For now, it’s a work-in-progress that’s intriguing yet flawed.

Pros

• Nails the Atmosphere with bleak, gritty environments.
• Tense, unexpected encounters with other players create memorable, unscripted teamwork (or disaster) situations.
• Unreal Engine 5 delivers eerie, shadow-laden landscapes that draw you in.
• Permadeath adds weight to each encounter, making survival genuinely nerve-wracking.
• Each biome offers unique challenges and visuals, adding depth to the exploration.

Cons

• Frequent FPS drops, stuttering, and bugs can break immersion in critical moments.
• Melee and gunplay feel clunky, often turning encounters into frustrating luck-of-the-draw brawls.
• Insanely tanky enemies and scarce resources can make battles feel more punishing than tense.
• Random zombie respawns and scarce resources sometimes feel frustratingly unfair.
• Unpolished HUD with distracting notifications and oversized icons make the game feel more like a guided tour than a true survival experience.

Final Score: 60/100

Review copy provided by the publisher.