The survival horror genre is getting a bold new entry with I Hate This Place, a craft-based isometric survival horror game with a style unlike anything else on the market. Its official release date trailer just dropped, and it delivers a terrifying blend of comic-book visuals, nightmarish monsters, and tense survival mechanics. Fans of Don’t Starve, The Forest, and Silent Hill will want to pay close attention—this one is shaping up to be special.

A Bold Comic-Book Horror Aesthetic

What immediately sets I Hate This Place apart is its visual style. Instead of leaning on hyper-realistic graphics, the game embraces a graphic novel look, with bold comic art lines and heavy shadows reminiscent of 1980s horror movies. Think Creepshow colliding with Sin City—stylized, grotesque, and deeply unsettling.

This isn’t just a gimmick. The aesthetic adds to the game’s oppressive atmosphere, making every encounter with its twisted monsters feel like panels ripped straight out of a nightmare comic book.

Gameplay That Fuses Crafting and Survival Horror

At its core, I Hate This Place blends familiar survival mechanics with horror-driven tension. Players must:

  • Scavenge resources during the day to prepare for the terrors of the night.
  • Craft weapons and defenses to hold back enemies.
  • Build and fortify shelters against the ever-growing threats.
  • Use stealth and sound mechanics, since monsters are drawn to noise.

This mechanic feels like an evolution of what Don’t Starve did so well—only here, the stakes are cranked way higher. Every action, from chopping wood to hammering planks, could attract a grotesque monster lurking just out of sight.

A World Warped by Horror

The trailer hints at a reality that is constantly shifting and warping, bending the rules of the environment itself. This isn’t just a frozen wilderness like The Long Dark or an abandoned forest like The Forest—it’s a dimension where reality is unstable, leaving players uncertain of what’s real and what’s nightmare.

The result? Players are always on edge. The environment isn’t just a backdrop—it’s part of the horror.

The Monsters That Stalk by Sound

One of the most intriguing features revealed is the sound-based enemy AI. Monsters don’t just spot you—they hunt you based on the noises you make. It’s a terrifying concept reminiscent of A Quiet Place and horror classics like Silent Hill, where even your breathing feels dangerous.

Stealth isn’t optional—it’s survival. Crafting and combat will be important, but learning when to stay quiet could make the difference between life and death.

Comparisons to Other Survival Horror Games

While I Hate This Place is carving its own niche, fans of survival horror will notice echoes of beloved games:

  • Don’t Starve – The isometric view, scavenging, and crafting mechanics make for clear inspiration, but this game dials up the fear factor dramatically.
  • Silent Hill – The warped reality and grotesque monster design give off psychological horror vibes similar to Team Silent’s classic work.
  • The Forest – Like Endnight Games’ cult hit, this game focuses on building, surviving, and fortifying against relentless threats.
  • Resident Evil Village – With its “prepare by day, survive by night” rhythm, there are shades of Capcom’s modern RE formula here, only reimagined in a comic-book nightmare.

By drawing from these inspirations while adding its own unique comic art identity, I Hate This Place could stand out as one of the most unique horror titles of 2025.

Release Date and Platforms

Players won’t have to wait too long to step into this nightmare. I Hate This Place launches on November 7, 2025, across all major platforms:

  • PC (Steam, Epic Games Store, GOG)
  • Nintendo Switch
  • PlayStation 5 (PS5)
  • Xbox Series X|S

That broad release ensures horror fans, no matter their platform of choice, will be able to dive in.

Why Survival Horror Fans Should Be Excited

Survival horror thrives when it combines resource management, atmosphere, and player vulnerability. By the looks of this trailer, I Hate This Place has all of that:

  • A distinctive comic-book horror style that makes it instantly recognizable.
  • Deep crafting and building systems that let players prepare for endless dangers.
  • Noise-based enemy AI that ensures every action has consequences.
  • A world where reality itself is a threat, adding psychological terror on top of survival tension.

It feels like the perfect blend of horror influences—both survival and psychological—wrapped in a striking new package.

If you’ve been waiting for a fresh take on survival horror, I Hate This Place could be one of 2025’s breakout titles. With its bold visuals, terrifying monsters, and emphasis on stealth and survival, it’s shaping up to be a nightmare worth entering.

Will you scavenge and survive—or fall prey to the horrors lurking in the dark?

👉 I Hate This Place releases November 7, 2025. Check out the official release date trailer here