Is It Worth Your Time?
Released: January 29, 2026
Platforms: PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch
Developer: Rock Square Thunder
Genre: Isometric Survival Horror
On trial today is I HATE THIS PLACE, the second game from Rock Square Thunder (the first being The Lightbringer). This is an isometric survival horror game soaked in 80s comic book style. Imagine Stranger Things meets Darkwood, if it were self-aware, and easier.
It has a lot going for it... but I think it gets lost in its own ambition.
Story
You play as Elena, visiting your aunt’s supposedly haunted farm. Alongside your friend Lou, you attempt a ritual to summon the Horned Demon, the one responsible for your mother’s disappearance. When the ritual ends, Lou is gone and you’re left to uncover the truth behind this strange and dangerous place.
The story doesn’t hold back. It includes:
A secret government agency known as The Department
A godlike entity called the Horned One
Cults
Ghosts
Alien activity
Giant spiders
Zombies
...and more!!!
It feels like every 80s horror trope was tossed into a blender. One moment you’re exploring the spirit realm as a paranormal detective, the next you’re sneaking through a military base full of infected creatures. It’s all a bit chaotic.
Now, you might say Stranger Things did something similar, but that show had over 45 hours to tell its story. This game runs about 8.
There is some important context, though. The game is based on the comic I Hate This Place by Kyle Starks. That comic is exactly this kind of genre mash-up, and the game follows that blueprint closely. While the tone may work across a long-form comic series, it felt jarring in this shorter game format. If I’d read the comics, maybe I would’ve understood it better.
Still, the central plot, Elena, Lou, and the Horned One, is compelling and smartly written. I just wish the game had focused more tightly on that core narrative instead of trying to do it all.
Gameplay
The opening tutorial had me thinking this would be a stealthy, resource-driven survival experience. You’re watching your noise levels, hunger, stamina, and health. Every step feels dangerous.
But then you return to the farm, which becomes your home base. You’re given control over building and managing it, setting up water and food stations, workbenches, traps, and ammo crafting. It’s a surprisingly robust survival-crafting system.
But it’s also OVER-tuned. I quickly became overpowered without even trying. I had more food, healing items, and bullets than I could ever use.
Combat stopped being tense. I stopped sneaking. I ran into danger without hesitation. Even nighttime, which is supposedly more deadly, rarely posed a threat.
So I looked for a difficulty slider. amd there wasn’t one. That’s the game’s biggest flaw.
To be clear, the core mechanics are solid. The sneaking, building, investigating, and combat all feel good. There are clever puzzles and secrets that the game lets you solve on your own, with only the occasional “use key here” prompt.
But I wanted to be challenged more consistently. The game you play during the tutorial isn’t the same game you play afterward.
The developers describe it as “immersive survival horror,” but also “approachable.” Maybe I just wanted something with more teeth. I wanted to weigh my options. Distract or fight? Stay inside or risk a run through the dark? Instead, I just steamrolled everything.
Graphics & Sound
Visually, the game nails the 80s comic book vibe. You’ll see stylized motion text when walking, cooking, or shooting.
On PC everything ran smoothly. So I booted it up on my SteamDeck thinking this woudl be the PERFECT game for it and I was pulling around 30 fps. Playable, but a bit low for my taste. With some optimization, it could be great on handheld.
The only visual disappointment was the text and UI.
Dialogue text looks plain and unstyled, like placeholder fonts
Notes and speech bubbles miss the comic flair you'd expect
The UI lacks clarity in some places and hides important information
As for sound design:
Footsteps, weapon sounds, and enemy cues are all well executed. The retro synth soundtrack is exactly what you'd expect and gives strong Stranger Thigns vibes. I only wish the music didn’t occasionally drown out dialogue during key scenes.
Voice acting is solid. NPCs are fun to listen to and help carry the tone.
Final Verdict
So, is it worth your time?
I finished the main story in just under 7 hours. A 100% run would probably take 10 to 12. I know I missed a few secrets, and I’m excited to see what the community uncovers post-launch.
At its $30 launch price, I’m hesitant to give this a strong yes. The game becomes too easy, too fast, which undermines much of its survival horror promise. But if it launches with a 20% discount, dropping it into the $24–25 range, I think it’s worth considering.
If you want a light survival horror experience with charm and polish, this will absolutely scratch that itch. If you’re hoping for deep tension and limited resources, you may want to wait for a difficulty patch or balance update.
Is It Worth Your Time?
Released: January 29, 2026
Platforms: PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch
Developer: Rock Square Thunder
Genre: Isometric Survival Horror
On trial today is I HATE THIS PLACE, the second game from Rock Square Thunder (the first being The Lightbringer). This is an isometric survival horror game soaked in 80s comic book style. Imagine Stranger Things meets Darkwood, if it were self-aware, and easier.
It has a lot going for it... but I think it gets lost in its own ambition.
Story
You play as Elena, visiting your aunt’s supposedly haunted farm. Alongside your friend Lou, you attempt a ritual to summon the Horned Demon, the one responsible for your mother’s disappearance. When the ritual ends, Lou is gone and you’re left to uncover the truth behind this strange and dangerous place.
The story doesn’t hold back. It includes:
A secret government agency known as The Department
A godlike entity called the Horned One
Cults
Ghosts
Alien activity
Giant spiders
Zombies
...and more!!!
It feels like every 80s horror trope was tossed into a blender. One moment you’re exploring the spirit realm as a paranormal detective, the next you’re sneaking through a military base full of infected creatures. It’s all a bit chaotic.
Now, you might say Stranger Things did something similar, but that show had over 45 hours to tell its story. This game runs about 8.
There is some important context, though. The game is based on the comic I Hate This Place by Kyle Starks. That comic is exactly this kind of genre mash-up, and the game follows that blueprint closely. While the tone may work across a long-form comic series, it felt jarring in this shorter game format. If I’d read the comics, maybe I would’ve understood it better.
Still, the central plot, Elena, Lou, and the Horned One, is compelling and smartly written. I just wish the game had focused more tightly on that core narrative instead of trying to do it all.
Gameplay
The opening tutorial had me thinking this would be a stealthy, resource-driven survival experience. You’re watching your noise levels, hunger, stamina, and health. Every step feels dangerous.
But then you return to the farm, which becomes your home base. You’re given control over building and managing it, setting up water and food stations, workbenches, traps, and ammo crafting. It’s a surprisingly robust survival-crafting system.
But it’s also OVER-tuned. I quickly became overpowered without even trying. I had more food, healing items, and bullets than I could ever use.
Combat stopped being tense. I stopped sneaking. I ran into danger without hesitation. Even nighttime, which is supposedly more deadly, rarely posed a threat.
So I looked for a difficulty slider. amd there wasn’t one. That’s the game’s biggest flaw.
To be clear, the core mechanics are solid. The sneaking, building, investigating, and combat all feel good. There are clever puzzles and secrets that the game lets you solve on your own, with only the occasional “use key here” prompt.
But I wanted to be challenged more consistently. The game you play during the tutorial isn’t the same game you play afterward.
The developers describe it as “immersive survival horror,” but also “approachable.” Maybe I just wanted something with more teeth. I wanted to weigh my options. Distract or fight? Stay inside or risk a run through the dark? Instead, I just steamrolled everything.
Graphics & Sound
Visually, the game nails the 80s comic book vibe. You’ll see stylized motion text when walking, cooking, or shooting.
On PC everything ran smoothly. So I booted it up on my SteamDeck thinking this woudl be the PERFECT game for it and I was pulling around 30 fps. Playable, but a bit low for my taste. With some optimization, it could be great on handheld.
The only visual disappointment was the text and UI.
Dialogue text looks plain and unstyled, like placeholder fonts
Notes and speech bubbles miss the comic flair you'd expect
The UI lacks clarity in some places and hides important information
As for sound design:
Footsteps, weapon sounds, and enemy cues are all well executed. The retro synth soundtrack is exactly what you'd expect and gives strong Stranger Thigns vibes. I only wish the music didn’t occasionally drown out dialogue during key scenes.
Voice acting is solid. NPCs are fun to listen to and help carry the tone.
Final Verdict
So, is it worth your time?
I finished the main story in just under 7 hours. A 100% run would probably take 10 to 12. I know I missed a few secrets, and I’m excited to see what the community uncovers post-launch.
At its $30 launch price, I’m hesitant to give this a strong yes. The game becomes too easy, too fast, which undermines much of its survival horror promise. But if it launches with a 20% discount, dropping it into the $24–25 range, I think it’s worth considering.
If you want a light survival horror experience with charm and polish, this will absolutely scratch that itch. If you’re hoping for deep tension and limited resources, you may want to wait for a difficulty patch or balance update.
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We wanted to play games that were worth our time. From work to family and kids, and other hobbies, game time was scarce. Our goal is to help you know which game to spend your time playing.
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