Video games are absolutely amazing because they allow gamers to visit all sorts of fictional locations, from beautiful fantasy worlds to strange Sci-Fi planets. However, one of the most commonly utilized locales in this industry is none other than hell itself, the place in the afterlife where corrupt souls are sent to be punished.
Games That Spent The Longest Time In Development, Ranked
Discover the video games that spent the most time in development, from The Last Guardian to Beyond Good & Evil 2.
For decades, developers have been taking advantage of this sinister concept to create some of the most disturbing, shocking, and/or epic locations in their video games. Whether it’s just for a few levels or for the entire duration of the adventure, the following titles are notorious for allowing players to literally go to hell. Various alternative iterations from other cultures were considered for this list as well, like the Underworld from Greek Mythology.
Devil May Cry 3: Dante's Awakening
A Surreal Adventure Through The Demon World
Devil May Cry 3: Dante's Awakening
- Released
- February 17, 2005
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ // Blood, Suggestive Themes, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Capcom
- Genre(s)
- Hack and Slash, Action-Adventure, Beat 'Em Up
- Platform(s)
- PC, Xbox One, Xbox 360, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4
The Demon World is one of the most important locations in the lore of the Devil May Cry series, and while Devil May Cry 3: Dante's Awakening is not the only game in which Dante visits this place, it is definitely the most memorable and remarkable one. Not only does he end up inside the belly of the mighty Leviathan (which is explicitly stated to be part of the Demon World), but he also goes to that hellish place after Arkham breaks its seal and opens its respective gate.
Despite the game’s wacky and over-the-top writing, this version of the Demon World is surprisingly ominous, with surreal backgrounds that make each location look like a living painting. While there, Dante has to face several powerful demons, including all the game’s previous bosses (AKA "Lost Souls”), Arkham’s powerful final form, and his own twin brother, Vergil, in an intense but tragic final battle.
Dante's Inferno
Dante’s Dangerous Quest To Save His Wife
Dante's Inferno
- Released
- February 9, 2010
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ Due To Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Nudity, Sexual Content
- Developer(s)
- Visceral Games
- Genre(s)
- Hack and Slash
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 3, PlayStation Portable, Xbox 360
Dante from Devil May Cry is not the only person with that name to visit a version of hell, because Dante, the titular character from Dante's Inferno, is also forced to travel there in order to rescue his wife, Beatrice. This title is loosely based on Dante Alighieri's Divine Comedy and, as a result, it features one of the most fascinating and distinct versions of hell ever created for a video game.
Like the original poem, hell in Dante's Inferno is split into Nine Circles, all of which have their own unique atmosphere and geography. This keeps the adventure interesting and engaging, while also allowing the player to face all sorts of historical figures and dangerous demons. Some of the circles are particularly notorious for featuring grotesque imagery, which makes this hack-and-slash adventure feel even more sinister than it already is.
God Of War 3
Kratos Goes To The Underworld And Kills Hades Himself
God of War III
- Released
- March 16, 2010
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ due to Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Nudity, Strong Language, Strong Sexual Content
- Developer(s)
- Santa Monica Studio
To no one’s surprise, the Underworld has been a key part of the God of War series since its very inception, as Kratos has been forced to go there on many occasions, including the very first game. However, the third entry in the original trilogy, God of War 3, is a notorious exception, since it marks the first time he finally gets to confront the God of the Dead himself, Hades.
10 Best Hack And Slash Horror Games, Ranked
These horror games let players take down terrifying enemies with devastating attacks and combos.
Kratos falls into the Underworld at the beginning of the game, shortly after defeating Poseidon, and the lost souls of River Styx remove all the powers, weapons, and abilities he had gained in his previous adventure. The rest of the level looks as terrifying and twisted as it did in previous God of War games, but the HD graphics of the PS3 made it look more detailed than ever before. Kratos is finally able to escape the Underworld at the end of the level, after defeating and killing Hades in one of the most challenging but enjoyable boss battles in the game.
Bayonetta 2
The Stylish Witch Descends To Inferno To Save Her Friend’s Soul
Bayonetta 2
- Released
- October 24, 2014
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ due to Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Partial Nudity, Strong Language, Suggestive Themes
- Developer(s)
- Platinum Games
- Genre(s)
- Action
- Platform(s)
- Switch, Nintendo Wii U
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
In the Bayonetta series, the titular character fights corrupt angels from Paradiso by making contracts with powerful demons from Inferno. However, these evil creatures are not her friends, and she eventually has to travel to their place of origin in her second adventure, after Gommorah steals Jeanne’s soul and sends it there.
In Bayonetta 2, angels and Paradiso are represented by the colors white and gold, whereas demons and Inferno are represented by red and purple, which gives each location its own distinct identity. Needless to say, Inferno looks absolutely incredible (in both the Wii U and Nintendo Switch versions of the game) and is filled to the brim with powerful demons that Bayonetta has to defeat in order to save her friend, including Insidious, Phantasmaraneae, and Alraune.
Doom Eternal
The Doom Slayer Has To Go To Hell In Order To Save Earth
DOOM Eternal
- Released
- March 20, 2020
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Intense Violence
- Developer(s)
- id Software
- Platform(s)
- Xbox One, PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Nintendo Switch
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
The entire Doom franchise is synonymous with the concept of going to hell, with the modern reboot trilogy featuring one of the most chaotic and disturbing representations of this place. The Doom Slayer visited Hell on more than one occasion, but his various visits in Doom Eternal are definitely the most interesting ones.
While this game mostly takes place on Earth (which has been invaded by demons after the events of DOOM), the Doom Slayer has to go to hell to retrieve a Sentinel’s power source, although he also returns later in The Ancient Gods DLC. While hell is obviously jam-packed with powerful demons and terrifying locales that are full of blood and guts everywhere, getting to rip and tear through these evil beings in their own home turf is always incredibly satisfying.
Helltaker
Perfect For Anybody Who Likes Seeing Demon Girls Wearing Suits
Helltaker
- Released
- May 11, 2020
- Platform(s)
- PC
Not all games that feature hell prominently have to be violent and/or action-heavy, as this iconic afterlife location can also be the background for something more funny and lighthearted. Developed entirely by Łukasz Piskorz, Helltaker is a free Indie game that went viral in 2020 due to its unique premise and charming hand-drawn art style.
10 Best Indie RPGs Ever
These independently-made RPGs not only captured the hearts of fans, but revolutionized the gaming landscape.
In Helltaker, the titular playable character travels to Hell to form his own harem of demon girls dressed up in suits. In order to accomplish this, he has to solve various grid-based puzzles in which he has to avoid traps and get keys. While this concept may sound somewhat gratuitous at first, Helltaker is a surprisingly fun, inventive, and charming little game that anyone can enjoy, not to mention that it really stands out from other hell-based titles due to its writing and presentation.
Hades
Zagreus’ Legendary Quest To Escape The Underworld
Hades
- Released
- September 17, 2020
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T for Teen: Alcohol Reference, Blood, Mild Language, Suggestive Themes, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Supergiant Games
- Genre(s)
- Action RPG, Roguelite
- Platform(s)
- PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Switch, PC
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
While the Underworld from Greek Mythology has been featured in countless video games, Hades is definitely the most popular one, seeing as pretty much the entire game takes place within the realm of the dead. To escape the Underworld and reach Mount Olympus, Hades’ son, Zagreus, has to fight his way through hordes of enemies by using various abilities and weapons.
In terms of presentation, Supergiant Games never disappoints, as Hades’ depiction of the Underworld is colorful, beautiful, and ominous, not to mention that the roguelike structure of the gameplay allows the player to visit different locations and fight a variety of enemies and bosses. On top of all that, Zagreus can also meet and interact with many characters in the Underworld, including Greek Gods (like Nyx or Thanatos) and Cerberus (whom he can pet).
Metal: Hellsinger
A Rhythmic Journey Across The Eight Hells
Metal: Hellsinger
- Released
- September 15, 2022
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M For Mature // Blood, Strong Language, Violence
- Developer(s)
- The Outsiders
- Genre(s)
- FPS, Rhythm
- Platform(s)
- PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S
- OpenCritic Rating
- Strong
The iconography of hell has not only served as a source of inspiration for various game designers but also for many talented musicians, especially those who specialize in the Metal genre. Metal: Hellsinger perfectly reflects how hell has inspired both mediums, as this is a rhythmic first-person shooter in which the potency of the player character’s shots is increased if they’re synchronized with its excellent heavy metal soundtrack. But, of course, the more efficient the player is at fighting to the beat, the more intense the background music will get.
Lore-wise, Metal: Hellsinger tells the story of the Unknown, a person who descends to Hell and has to fight through its eight circles in order to regain her memories and her voice. Unlike other games (and similarly to Dante's Inferno), this version of hell is not entirely made up of blood and fire, as each circle has its own theme and presentation, which gives this already epic musical adventure some much-needed variety. Additionally, the designs of the demons are quite terrifying, which makes taking them down to the beat of metal music even more rewarding.
10 Best Open-World Games With A Focus On Player Morality And Consequences, Ranked
Lots of games make players make tough decisions, but these open-world games are full of hard moral choices and dire consequences.