Seven years in the making, Luna Abyss* arrives as a rare gem in an oversaturated shooter landscape. The UK-based studio Kwalee Labs—once Bonsai Collective—has crafted a game that borrows from the adrenaline of DOOM and the atmospheric dread of Returnal, but with its own identity. The latest demo, unveiled at Steam Next Fest, reveals a world where precision combat, fluid movement, and a hauntingly beautiful prison setting collide.
The game follows Fawkes, a prisoner-turned-Scout navigating the endless depths of Luna, a dystopian facility that may or may not be real. Players wield an arsenal of weapons, each tailored to exploit enemy weaknesses, while dodging a relentless barrage of orbs and lasers in a bullet-hell spectacle. Movement is sharp—dashes, slides, and double-jumps—keeping combat dynamic and responsive.
The World Feels Bigger Than the Story
Visually, Luna Abyss excels. The prison’s scale is overwhelming, designed to feel like an abyss that never truly ends. Lore entries and environmental details reinforce this sense of vastness, though the narrative remains fragmented. Early demos hint at a deeper cosmic horror undercurrent, but whether it delivers on that promise remains to be seen. What’s clear is that the world itself is a character—dark, immersive, and layered with secrets.
The tone strikes a delicate balance. While the game leans into sci-fi grit, moments of dry humor—between Fawkes and the disembodied AI guide Aylin, or in boss designs—add levity without undermining tension. It’s a refreshing contrast to the often joyless tone of modern shooters.
A Combat Loop That Doesn’t Break
Gameplay is the standout. Weapons feel distinct, and the boss fight in the latest demo—a chaotic gauntlet of lasers and projectiles—demonstrates how tightly the mechanics are tuned. The lack of a weapon in the demo’s rotation suggests more variety ahead, but even now, the core loop is addictive.
Performance is another strength. The demo ran flawlessly on an ASUS ROG Xbox Ally X, a promising sign for players with aging hardware. With memory prices still high, this could be a lifeline for those reluctant to upgrade.
What’s Next?
If Luna Abyss* maintains this momentum, it could carve out a niche as one of 2026’s standout shooters. The question isn’t whether it can compete with live-service fatigue—it already does—but whether the narrative will rise to meet the world’s ambition. Early signs are promising, but only a full playthrough will reveal if this prison truly is an abyss worth exploring.
A 2026 release window has been confirmed, though no exact date is set. For now, the Scourge Crater demo offers a taste of what’s to come—and it’s a compelling one.
