Hunting monsters to a heavy metal tune has become my new habit, thanks to this survival horror shooter from a former Skyrim developer

My first steps on the Unseen Axis are tentative. I am born in the middle of a vast forest with a bow in my hand and I don’t remember this place or who I am. The slow sound of the electric guitar seems to match my heartbeat as I struggle with my new surroundings. Firing the spirit arrow allows me to anticipate danger; its otherworldly blue light fills the dark landscape with a cool veil of magic. I place a bright beacon on a suspicious-looking structure a few hundred yards away, and suddenly, with a heavy thud, I’m pulled away from my reconnaissance mission. I’m being attacked by a horned monster and a creature that resembles Bigfoot, and as I quickly move my mouse wheel to switch to wooden arrows, the atmospheric guitar music suddenly turns into a full-fledged metal jam.

It’s just another day in the mystical, unforgiving world of the Unseen Axis. One Independent project from Just Purkey Gamesled by oldSkyrim Developed by and Fallout developer, the game pits players against a vast world of hostile creatures intent on exploring you. I have yet to experience all the twists and turns of the Nameless Hunter’s story, but there is one thing I can do: hunt my prey for energy sources that will power my weapons, spells, and an emerging array of useful abilities. I hope it gets me out of difficult situations as quickly as I find myself in it.

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Axis Unseen Screenshot of a bow and arrow with a skeletal creature floating in the air — (Image credit: Just Purkey Games)

Perhaps my favorite thing about Axis Unseen so far is its brutal mix of survival gameplay and heart-pounding moments of true terror. Supported by the ever-present ebb and flow of music, speeding up or slowing down depending on imminent danger or combat encounters, the experience is a unique sensory experience that demands my full attention.

There doesn’t seem to be much to look at to begin with. Endless rolling earthen hills of pale white rock form the mean terrain of each level, and are accessed by passing through glowing gates from a safe hub area. But a quick glance at the horizon reveals massive skeletal remains, conjuring images of long-dead monsters that once roamed these lands. Fortunately, the creatures lurking here are now much smaller but still powerful.

Sneaking up on prey is something the game forces me to do a lot, but unfortunately I don’t act that way for The Axis Unseen. “Don’t run,” the text on the screen tells me, too late, “if you keep running, you’ll die.” My thundering footsteps can be heard by creatures several feet away, as indicated by the noise indicator that I chose to ignore. If I see them looking at me, it’s much easier to place an arrow between their eyes. With only five bullets in my quiver at any given time, a one-shot kill is pretty important in this brutal wilderness, unless I want to make the rounds to get them again. Of course, I always have my trusty knife for close encounters if I accidentally go into spray-and-pray mode, but I like to keep those moments few and far between. Because the game can sense my panic and uses it against me.

Unseen Axis screenshot showing burning creatures running across a sun-soaked clearing

(Image credit: Just Purkey Games)

Fear prevents me from using my primary and secondary magical abilities, leaving me with nothing but bows, arrows, and knives to defend myself in case I react too hastily to events. After all, I play a hunter; cold-blooded, calm, patient. But I say again, it’s not like that at all I, which means I often forget that The Axis Unseen features both magic and melee combat.

The most useful spell I’ve come across is a rune that glows purple in my hand when I get close enough to a nearby creature. If only the upper part of the rune is lit, this indicates that the monster is smaller or has a weaker build. So what if this thing gets fully activated? Yes, I’m stepping back for now. Knowing when and how to choose your quarry is vital to survival. FromSoftware Games similar to Elden RingDying in the world causes me to release energy that is not sealed at the point of death. This is a huge pain in the ass; I need that energy to boost my powers and health reserves, dammit, and that’s the only thing I can do HE from the core area where I was reborn.

All of this adds to the unique blend of game mechanics and genres that Just Purkey Games has used to create the unpredictability of The Axis Unseen. While some of it can be annoying, the combination certainly does its job, especially when combined with the charmingly outdated Skyrim-like graphical nonsense. Pure stubbornness sends me back into the fight, and I make sure to leave all the other monsters on my killer’s tail behind. Revenge, energy and subtle story pieces will If he kills me, be mine – and in the Unseen Axis he will almost certainly be mine too

The Axis Unseen is out now on PC. For more recommendations go to our page Independent Agenda series.

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