No More Room in Hell 2 makes a handful of approaching zombies feel like a serious problem. Torn Banner Studios’ eight-player co-op zombie survival game puts you in the shoes of a vulnerable survivor, and my time playing on PC through Steam quickly turned into a scramble to stay alive.
The tutorial made the basics feel manageable, but putting those lessons into practice was another matter. It wasn’t until my first proper match that I understood how quickly a straightforward objective could turn into a desperate fight for survival.
Welcome to the Apocalypse
My first objective was where No More Room in Hell 2 really clicked. There were eight of us trying to keep what felt like a never-ending stream of zombies away, with the undead coming through doors and windows. It was pretty cool, but also terrifying.
Getting there had been a little less dramatic. The tutorial introduced movement, shooting, melee combat and the things I needed to avoid. Everything came together nicely, although practising melee against a single zombie felt awkward. Some of that was probably me getting used to the controls.
Three or four zombies shuffling towards me in an actual match changed things immediately. Panic set in, and I started swinging wildly to push them back or put them down. There was a clumsiness to those early encounters that suited the situation. I felt like a survivor trying to cope, with plenty still to learn.
The darkness added to that tension without becoming frustrating. Turning around as your flashlight runs out of battery and discovering a zombie behind you is frightening enough on its own. During an objective, with threats coming through multiple entrances, even a full squad didn’t make me feel safe.
Surviving With Strangers
I played entirely with random teammates, which is how I tend to approach games like this. Voice communication was limited in my matches, and I felt that took something away from the experience. I would have liked more conversation, especially when things became hectic.
Cooperation still worked, though. The objectives gave us a shared goal and signposted where we needed to go, so everyone could contribute without talking.
Supplies were more frustrating. In my first few hours, I wasn’t ready for equipment drops, and by the time I reached the care packages, most of the gear had already been taken. Thankfully, melee weapons were usually left behind, so I could still defend myself.
Missing out was annoying, but making do with what remained became part of the tension and enjoyment. I could scrape by, even if I would have preferred a little more equipment to work with.
Learning to Survive
What stood out most was how much I improved as a player. The tutorial taught me the basics, but experience helped me understand when to use them. Watching other players tackle situations was useful, particularly while I was still finding my feet.
Over time, I became better at pushing zombies back, recognising when to move and deciding when it was worth staying to fight. Those choices started replacing the frantic swinging of my first encounters.
My character was gaining levels and passive improvements, but I was developing my own skills alongside them. That made progression satisfying in a way that went beyond unlocking another bonus. I could feel myself becoming more capable of handling situations that had initially sent me into a panic.
Playing With a Controller
I played with a controller, and learning some of the button inputs took time. Once they clicked, combat felt very nice, particularly shooting.
The inventory screens were less comfortable. They were functional, but navigating them felt clunky and didn’t have the same clean feel as combat. That was where I felt mouse and keyboard might offer a better experience. It was a frustration with managing equipment, rather than a problem that spoiled the shooting.
Final Thoughts
No More Room in Hell 2’s atmosphere and rewarding learning curve have kept me interested. Defending objectives with strangers and gradually becoming more capable gave me plenty to enjoy, even when I was surviving on equipment other players had left behind.
My main concern is its staying power. As I become more familiar with the game, I can see the repetition wearing thin. It hasn’t ruined the experience for me, but I wonder how much appeal will remain once I’ve mastered more of the routine.
For me, that balance lands at a 7/10. There’s plenty of tension and satisfaction in learning to survive, with awkward inventory navigation and uncertainty over long-term variety holding it back. I’ve enjoyed my time with it; I’m less convinced it will keep pulling me back indefinitely.