No More Room in Hell 2 had anything but a smooth launch, and if you’ve followed it closely since its Early Access debut, we wouldn’t blame you for being a little hesitant. The game was plagued by technical problems and missing features that initially disappointed plenty of players. Had. Past tense. The devs refused to give up on their zombie-infested creation, and almost two years later, we feel their efforts have paid off. With the full release behind us and the recent Camp Blood update, October seems like the perfect month to give this ambitious survival horror game another chance. Halloween is just around the corner, and we can’t think of many better ways to celebrate than being chased by hundreds of hungry zombies. Well, we can. There are plenty of horror games out there, but few manage to put the fear of God into us quite like NMRiH 2.
A Healthier Apocalypse?
If you played No More Room in Hell 2 when it entered Early Access in 2024 and then completely forgot about it, please know that this isn’t the same game. You’re no longer stuck with just one map and an abundance of technical issues. If you jump in right now, you’ll find plenty of new content and improvements to existing mechanics. The 16 major content updates leading up to the full release helped squash thousands of bugs. The massive Armageddon update marked the full release, bringing additional maps, new gameplay options, improved combat mechanics, and numerous quality-of-life improvements.
Today, the game offers ten maps spread across two main modes, a considerably larger arsenal, different zombie types, and a more developed character progression system. It’s a lot and, most importantly, it plays great. The devs were even kind enough to include a dedicated Solo Mode. We appreciated this mode the most and spent most of our time there, primarily because we wanted to get acquainted with the mechanics before worrying about disappointing seven other players. However, the game isn’t really meant to be played solo in the long run, at least not yet, since Solo Mode doesn’t offer the same persistent progression as multiplayer. It is, however, a welcome way to learn how everything works before venturing into the apocalypse with others.
Scary Zombies
In No More Room in Hell 2, we play as Responders, volunteers whose job is to explore dangerous locations, gather supplies, complete objectives and, with just a bit of luck, make it out alive. Up to eight players can work together, work being the key word here, since cooperation doesn’t necessarily mean everyone will survive. Survival can depend on something as small as a single shotgun blast in the middle of a quiet street. We made that mistake once, and we paid dearly for it.
To make matters worse, ammunition is limited and medical supplies are precious. We can’t emphasise enough how even a handful of zombies can become a serious threat. We have firearms, melee weapons, and explosives, sure, but how much use can they really be when making too much noise attracts even more undead? Running away is often the smarter option.
We’re not done making matters worse. Bear with us. Getting bitten can leave our Responder infected with a virus that slowly takes over their body. Medication can delay the infection, and an extremely rare experimental treatment can cure it. Neither is something you can easily come across, so best of luck worrying about ammunition, injuries, and supplies, as well as the possibility of turning into the very thing you’re trying to escape.
Before you ask, yes, you can lose a developed character and, with them, hours of progression. Permanent death is a thing here, and we strongly advise you to take advantage of the lower difficulty settings, which offer more forgiving respawn rules. They’re meant to help you get comfortable with the mechanics before you even start entertaining the idea of attempting the considerably nastier challenges.
More Places to Explore, More Ways to Die
Whether you’re roaming abandoned city streets, industrial facilities, hospitals, or military installations, there’s always an objective to complete and plenty of dangers to deal with. Some missions require repairing infrastructure, while others involve gathering supplies or securing an evacuation. As you’ve surely deduced by now, reaching the extraction point in one piece is far from guaranteed.
Objective Mode offers larger environments with more elaborate missions, focusing on exploration and careful resource management. Survival Mode, on the other hand, is much more focused on combat, requiring us to defend equipment designed to draw zombies away from civilians. It’s all about surviving increasingly dangerous waves before trying to escape.
The latest addition is Ruby Lake, introduced with the recent Camp Blood update. The abandoned lakeside campsite takes inspiration from the slasher films of the 1980s, so, just like in those films, we fight for our lives among creepy cabins, dark forests, and more undead visitors. Minus the zombies, it kinda looks like a wonderful place for a relaxing weekend. Kinda.
Looking Ahead
In NMRiH 2, we can maintain a roster of three Responders, develop their abilities, and prepare different loadouts for future missions. Completing objectives and successfully extracting earns us experience and resources, allowing us to become better equipped for the challenges ahead.
The recent Camp Blood update introduced Responder Retirement and Distinguished Service. What this means is that once a character reaches level 100, we can retire them in exchange for permanent benefits that help future survivors. It’s a great idea that includes improved starting levels, additional loadout slots, and various other rewards. So, there’s now a longer-term goal beyond developing our current roster.
One More Trip Into Hell?
No More Room in Hell 2 has come a long way since October 2024, and we strongly recommend giving it another go if you liked the idea but weren’t particularly impressed by the execution. There’s even a 25% discount on Steam at the time of writing, which makes revisiting the game a little easier on the wallet. If you enjoy this kind of game, we can’t think of a much better way to get ready for Halloween.
- Game: No More Room in Hell 2
- Developer: Torn Banner Studios
- Publisher: Torn Banner Studios
- Platforms: PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S
- Genre: Cooperative survival horror, first-person shooter
- Early Access: October 22, 2024
- Full release: August 11, 2026
- Players: Up to 8 online, with Solo Mode available
- Latest major update: Camp Blood (October 22, 2026)
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