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End of Abyss is a PS5 action game built around top-down shooting, exploration and survival-horror tension. Its appeal depends on whether you enjoy retracing dark, branching corridors and piecing together routes; one full PS5 review praised its atmosphere but also reported late-game frustration, challenging bosses and navigation friction.
What is End of Abyss?
Developed by Section 9 Interactive AB and published by Epic Games, Inc., End of Abyss launched for PS5 on October 1, 2026, according to the PlayStation game page. Section 9 also lists Xbox Series X|S and PC via the Epic Games Store on its official studio site.
You play as Cel, a young combat technician sent to investigate unexplained disturbances in an underground compound. The PlayStation Store describes abandoned areas, monstrous creatures, equipment upgrades, a scanner and tools for adapting to threats. New routes and unlocks can send you back through previously visited corridors to find hidden areas.
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How combat and exploration work
The game combines top-down shooting with route-gated exploration. The official description emphasizes scanning, gear upgrades and unlockable tools, while a June 2026 Xbox Wire guided-demo preview describes twin-stick aiming and a mix of weapons and survival actions. That preview covers a demo, not a full-release PS5 test.
#1 Best Overall
- Fight: The demo included an energy pistol, a shotgun with limited ammunition, flares and grenades. Players could dodge and use limited healing.
- Explore: Scanning, keys, locked doors and shortcuts create reasons to search rooms and revisit earlier paths.
- Prepare: Crafting stations and gear upgrades support adapting to the threats ahead.
Those systems suggest a deliberate loop: explore a dangerous area, manage weapons and supplies, unlock a route or tool, then decide whether to press on or revisit an earlier corridor. The official materials describe this structure, but the demo preview alone cannot establish how balanced or satisfying every part of it is across the full game.
What the PS5 review found
GamesRadar+ reviewer Luke Kemp says he played for 18 hours on PS5 using a publisher-provided code. That is his personal review-session length, not a typical completion time; he notes that going directly to the final boss can take substantially less time. His review praises the atmosphere, pacing and monster design, but says the experience can become frustrating, particularly in its latter half.
Rank #2
- PS5 Features include raytracing modes and immersive haptic feedback for DualSense
- Use darkness and cover to avoid being overwhelmed by the ship's deadly new inhabitants
- Seek out the weapon fabricators to increase your firepower as you journey deeper, into the dark and terrifying depths, but beware ammo is limited
- Gather materials & schematics for weapon upgrades and suit customizations with buffs
- Harvest DNA material to improve health, toughness and defensive capabilities.Survive an ever changing labyrinth. Each and every expedition into The Persistence will be disorienting and different.Death is just the beginning. Fatal encounters will result in Zimri's consciousness being uploaded into a new cloned body, ready to try again, with any upgraded stats, suits & weapon schematics kept to aid the next attempt to save the ship
Where the game works
Kemp found the atmosphere and pacing effective when the game was working well. The appeal is strongest for players who like absorbing a setting, studying environmental clues and gradually learning how its spaces connect. Section 9 co-founder Marcus Ottvall has said the project shifted from an action-oriented top-down shooter toward a slower, more atmospheric experience as the team prioritized exploration and tension. That is the developer’s account of its design intent, rather than an independent assessment.
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Kemp reports cramped boss arenas and bugs, including enemies hitting through walls and a soft lock. He also found some objects hard to see in dark scenes and said backtracking could become aimless. Those are findings from one reviewer’s PS5 session; the cited sources do not establish whether a later patch changed those issues.
Rank #3
- Value for money
- Good product with exc\
- Perfect puzzling: Puzzles slowly increase in complexity enabling seamless progression and rewarding exploration.
Backtracking may be a feature or a drawback, depending on what you want. Kemp says environmental rewards and retracing complex spaces can suit players who enjoy exploratory navigation. If you prefer a clearly marked story route, he warns that you may need guides to avoid losing direction.
Who should play End of Abyss?
- It may suit you if you enjoy top-down shooting, dark environments, route discovery and returning to earlier areas when new tools open paths.
- Be cautious if visibility problems, difficult boss encounters, bugs or unclear navigation quickly spoil a game for you. Those concerns come from Kemp’s review, not a broader review consensus.
- Compare it with other games by asking how much backtracking you enjoy, how fair you expect boss fights to feel, and whether you value atmosphere more than straightforward navigation.
PS5 availability and accessibility
The official US PlayStation Store listing confirms a digital PS5 version and gives the premise and feature description. The reviewed official sources do not establish a physical PS5 disc edition.
Rank #4
- FACE THE LEVIATHANS: Adds a new Border Board and Leviathan cards to replace the threat track, introducing sea monster battles that add tension and excitement to every game.
- NEW LORDS AND ALLIES: Recruit powerful Lords and Allies with abilities designed to help you fight Leviathans and secure victory.
- GAIN EXTRA REWARDS: Defeat the most Leviathans to earn the statue token and gain 5 extra victory points at the end of the game.
- HIGH STAKES AND STRATEGY: Explore the depths carefully—fighting Leviathans is risky but rewarding, while fleeing may result in injury.
- EXPAND YOUR ABYSS EXPERIENCE: Requires the Abyss board game to play. Designed for 2-4 players, ages 14+, this expansion deepens strategy and gameplay.
PlayStation lists basic subtitles for the main story and main characters, adjustable stick sensitivity, the ability to play without motion or touch controls, vibration or adaptive triggers, and the option to pause when playing offline. The listing does not provide further detail about subtitle customization.
What is not established
The sources here include one independent full PS5 review, not a broad set of reviews, so Kemp’s evaluation should not be read as a consensus. They also do not establish a current patch version, post-patch performance, measured resolution or frame rate, or a verified physical edition. The Xbox Wire account is a guided-demo preview and should not be treated as evidence of final-release PS5 performance.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- Enhanced Accuracy - Increased moving range for a same angle of the stick after installing the Extender, much more easier to perform a precise aiming, turning or movement, reduced fatigue;
- Best Grip & Comfort - With the thumb grip cover installed on, the soft rubber silicone material provides comfort and extra grip, get better experience in a long session game play, makes everything under control;
- Pefect Protection - With the sets installed on provides prefect protection to the vulnerable original sticks of your controller, avoid any possibly damage;
- Different Height Options - Install extender & grips sets adds 10 mm height to the stick, enhances precision in shooting, racing games. Install only silicone thumb grips, enjoy original height and ideal comfort and protection;
- NOTICE - The sets are compatible with PS5 & PS4 Controller; Clean the grip for best performance; Keep the sets away from children under 3 years old, Keep the sets way from heat sorce and acid
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
