Have you ever wondered what city-building would be like in the depths of Hell? The HELL: City Builder Of The Dead answers that question with a bold, quirky twist on the genre. This indie simulation by METROPOLICE Studio puts you in the shoes of a newly-appointed “Hell Governor,” tasked with transforming a chaos-ridden underworld into a functioning infernal metropolis. Hence mythology meets strategy in an epic clash as you manage damned souls, harness sinister resources, and confront legendary hellish Titans. The result is a city-building sim that’s as sinfully fun as it is strategic and challenging.
In The HELL, every decision — and every soul — counts. Will you bring order to a realm ruled by sin, or be consumed by the very chaos you’re trying to control? It’s time to find out. Welcome to Hell, Governor.
“YOU ONLY LIVE TWICE” – HELL GOVERNOR
🎥 Watch the official trailer:
Hell is Open for Business (Premise & Setting)
The HELL: City Builder Of The Dead drops you into a domain like no other – the fiery pits of Hell itself. Also, as the Hell Governor, your job isn’t simply to build a city; it’s to restore a broken underworld to its former (terrible) glory.
The catch? Your “citizens” are the tormented souls of the dead, arriving from history’s greatest catastrophes and tragedies. However, these souls come from across time – disasters, wars, plagues – and they’re not here for a vacation.
Furthermore, almost all of the structure isn’t just a building, but a monument to sin and suffering, with dark lore and demonic design. Therefore, the story unfolds in reverse chronological order, moving from modern disasters back through history, revealing the mysterious fall of Lucifer. On the other hand, episodes are based on real events, woven with mythology and sin.
Sinful Strategy: Souls, Sinners, and Seven Deadly Sins
The heart of the game lies in managing souls and sin.
Souls arrive in The Wait, where their emotional state determines how you handle them:
- 🔵 Blue Souls: Calm, patient
- 🟡 Yellow Souls: Agitated
- 🔴 Red Souls: Furious — will transform into destructive Sadists!
Convert them into:
- Sinners: Your workforce
- Soldiers and Specialists: Sentries, Sirens, and Stalkers to defend and enforce your rule
Apart from this, you will unlock abilities tied to the Seven Deadly Sins through the Pandemonium. For example, Gluttony increases production, while Wrath fuels your armies.
In addition, each power you use comes at a cost. In Hell, nothing is free.
Blood, Waste, Cries, and Fears: Resource Management in Hell
First, you must manage four core resources:
- Blood: Fuels buildings and infrastructure
- Waste: Used to construct structures
- Cries: Unlocks tech via the Dreadful Tree
- Fears: Traded for Sin powers and upgrades
Moreover, you’ll harvest resources through unique facilities – blood pumps, waste refineries, and scream extractors – and distribute them via the Blood Path, a demonic power grid.
Use them wisely… or be overrun by Sadists, rebellions, and collapse.
Historical Disasters & Titanic Sins: Episodes of The HELL
The story plays out in episodes, each tied to real disasters and a deadly sin.
Episode 1: “Dancing Plates” – Japan, 1923
- Sin: Gluttony
- Disaster: Great Kanto Earthquake
- Titan: Namazu – The Earthshaker
Episode 2: “Broken Vein” – Indonesia, 1883
- Sin: Wrath
- Disaster: Krakatoa Eruption
- Titan: Rangda – The Widow Witch
Episode 3: “Witching Hour” – Aztec, 1540
- Sin: Greed
- Disaster: Cocoliztli Epidemic
- Titan: Xololt – The Sick God
Despite each Titan tests your city’s resilience, it forces you to confront sin and history in vivid, twisted ways.
Decisions, Consequences, and Chaos Management
Issue Decrees to influence your underworld:
- Speed up soul processing (but risk unrest)
- Suppress rebellion (but lose resource efficiency)
- Sacrifice units for instant gains (at moral cost)
In particular, choices have consequences. However, every decision affects your city and its fate.
Need better planning tools? Switch between 3D and orthographic view, zoom in/out, or scan resource maps. Build smarter. Survive longer.
Better Than Yesterday: METROPOLICE Studio
METROPOLICE Studio, a small Malaysian team of 11 developers, has spent 3+ years crafting this hellish vision. Their motto? “Better Than Yesterday”.
For instance, they’ve showcased The HELL at:
- APU Game Week
- Level Up Play KL 2024
- Taipei Game Show 2025
- Unreal Engine Meetup KL
Their dedication to narrative, design, and culture sets them apart — blending myth and history into a unique indie experience.
What Sets The HELL Apart From Other City-Builders?
While there are dozens of city-builders on the market, few take the bold risks that The HELL: City Builder Of The Dead dares to explore. Unlike traditional simulations, this game flips genre expectations by adding emotional states, spiritual lore, and moral consequences to your every action. However, you’re not just moving resources or zoning buildings. It should be noted, you’re wrestling with sin, tragedy, and the weight of thousands of souls.
Moreover, the dynamic Titan boss system adds a layer of tension rarely seen in the genre. Also, these aren’t scripted cutscenes or one-time disasters; they’re interactive, evolving threats that force you to adapt your city layout, upgrade your defenses, and rethink your strategy on the fly. Without a doubt, every boss fight feels personal, because it’s your city they’re threatening — your planning that’s being tested.
Furthermore, the episodic narrative structure ensures that no two missions feel the same. Above all, one episode may challenge you with volcanic storms and fire damage control, while the next tests your diplomacy and soul management in a flood-ravaged limbo. Besides, this episodic storytelling approach brings a refreshing variety to the genre — each chapter feels like a new mythology to conquer.
Lastly, METROPOLICE Studio’s commitment to historical and mythological authenticity, paired with quirky design and clever writing, makes The HELL feel like a living world. Even so, every building, decree, and disaster has lore behind it — turning your city from a simulation into a storybook of sins and redemption.
Final Thoughts: Will You Reign in Hell?
Last but not least, The HELL: City Builder Of The Dead delivers something rare — a city-builder with soul (and lots of souls). Thus, between historical depth, wicked strategy, and wild design, it challenges players to be ruthless, creative, and morally curious.
Can you run a thriving city in Hell… or will you join the Governors before you?
