Beneath by Camel 101: Why This Deep-Sea Horror FPS Is a Must-Play

Hello RivalSector, Elias here. We are just days away from Halloween, and if you are anything like me, you are scouring your backlog for the perfect horror game to play in the dark. This year, however, I am clearing my schedule. Why? Because a new contender is about to surface, and it looks like an absolute banger. I am talking about Beneath, the new first-person action-horror game from developer Camel 101.

The game is literally launching next week. After what feels like an eternity of tantalizing trailers and deep-sea dread, we finally have a hard release date. This is not a drill.

I have been following this project for a while, and my hype levels are through the roof. We are not just getting another indie walking simulator. The developers are promising a high-octane, “retro-inspired” survival horror shooter that explicitly channels the golden era of mid-2000s FPS campaigns. Think F.E.A.R., but swap out rogue psychics for Lovecraftian gods. If that does not get your pulse pounding, I do not know what will.

So, let’s suit up, check our oxygen levels, and dive deep into what we should expect from Beneath when it drops.

The Horror Pedigree: Who is Camel 101?

First things first, let’s talk about the team. If the name Camel 101 does not immediately ring a bell, their games might. This is not their first horror rodeo. This small-but-mighty indie studio, famously made up of just two brothers, has already proven they know how to build tension.

Their previous title, Those Who Remain, was a gripping psychological horror trip that played with light and darkness in a town plagued by demons. Before that, they gave us Syndrome, a claustrophobic sci-fi survival horror set on a derelict spaceship. I see a pattern here, and I love it. These developers specialize in taking familiar, isolated settings, like a haunted town or a dead spaceship, and turning them into pressurized nightmares.

Now, they are taking that expertise and plunging it thousands of feet beneath the ocean. This is what makes Beneath so exciting. It is not just a new concept from a new team. It is the culmination of years of horror-crafting experience from a developer that respects the genre. They are taking the psychological-thriller chops from Those Who Remain and smashing them together with the survival-action elements of Syndrome. The result looks to be their most ambitious, and frankly, most terrifying, game yet.

The Abyss Gazes Back: The Premise

So, what is the story? Beneath puts you in the heavy, water-logged boots of Noah Quinn, a veteran deep-sea diver. The setup is classic: Quinn is on a mission to a remote, high-tech underwater research facility. His goal is to retrieve something, but the personal stakes are ratcheted up to eleven. His daughter’s life is on the line, tying his success to a deeply personal motivation.

Naturally, this is not a simple retrieval mission. When he arrives at the station, he finds it in ruins, plunged into chaos. The crew is gone, replaced by… something else. We are talking grotesque abominations, twisted creatures from the abyss, and even other hostile, armed humans who seem to be part of a sinister conspiracy.

Trapped miles beneath the surface with no escape, Quinn has to navigate the crumbling, flooded corridors of the “Abyss” and fight his way to survival. The setting alone is pure, unfiltered nightmare fuel. It combines claustrophobia, thalassophobia (fear of the deep ocean), and nyctophobia (fear of the dark) into one horrifying package. This is not just a dark hallway, it is a dark, flooded hallway that could buckle under the crushing ocean pressure at any moment.

Gameplay: F.E.A.R. Meets Cthulhu

This is the part that has my full attention. Beneath is not a “run and hide” horror game. It is a full-blown First-Person Shooter. The developers have been very open about their inspirations, and the name that keeps coming up is F.E.A.R.

Yes, that F.E.A.R. The 2005 classic that set a new bar for AI and visceral, slow-motion combat. Beneath is aiming for that same “methodical” and intense combat loop. This means we can expect smart enemies that flank, use cover, and work together. You will have to fight not just lumbering monsters but also trained soldiers who are just as armed as you are.

But here is the twist: this is still a survival horror game. While you have a gun, you will not have an arsenal. Every bullet will count. This creates a fantastic tension that sits right between Doom and Resident Evil. You have the tools to fight back, but you lack the resources to be reckless. This forces you to be tactical. Do you engage that patrol head-on, or do you use the shadows to sneak past and conserve your precious shotgun shells for the… other things… lurking in the dark?

Here is a quick breakdown of the core mechanics we are expecting:

• Intense, Tactical Combat: This is the “action” part of action-horror. You will need to aim true, use cover, and manage your reloads against enemies that are actively trying to outsmart you.
• Ruthless Resource Management: Ammo, healing items, and suit power are all scarce. You will be scavenging every locker and crate, and every missed shot will hurt.
• The Sanity System: My favorite part. This is where the Lovecraftian theme comes in. As Quinn witnesses the horrors of the Abyss, his sanity will start to fray. This is not just a story beat, it is a core mechanic. We can expect the world to warp around us. Hallucinations, auditory scares, and a blurring line between what is real and what is in Quinn’s head will make navigating the station a psychological minefield.
• Dual Threats: You are not just fighting monsters. You are also fighting humans. This dynamic will force you to change your tactics. Soldiers might be predictable, but the “grotesque Lovecraftian monstrosities” will have their own unique, terrifying behaviors.

This blend of mechanics is what makes Beneath feel like a breath of fresh, albeit salty and terrifying, air. It is a direct answer to players like me who love horror but also want to be able to fight back.

That Sweet, Sweet Retro Vibe

Another thing that stands out from all the footage is the game’s aesthetic. Camel 101 has described it as having a “golden-era PS3/Xbox 360 vibe.” This is music to my ears.

Do not get me wrong, the game looks great. It uses modern lighting and effects to create a thick, oppressive atmosphere. But its design philosophy is proudly old-school. It is not an open-world sandbox with a 100-hour map full of icons. It is a “story-driven single player campaign” designed to be a tight, focused, and unforgettable 10-plus hour experience.

This is the kind of game I grew up on. The kind of game that respects your time but does not hold your hand. It is built for veteran gamers who miss those strong, linear, narrative-driven FPS campaigns. The recent Steam Next Fest demo gave players a small taste, and the reception was electric. People are hungry for this exact kind of game, and Beneath looks ready to deliver a full-course meal.

The Final Details: Release Date, Platforms, and Price

Alright, let’s get down to the brass tacks. You do not have to wait long. Beneath is launching in just a few days. The publisher, Wired Productions, has confirmed the full release details, and the price is an absolute steal for a new, highly-anticipated title.

Here is everything you need to know in one place:

That is right, it is launching at less than 20 bucks, and with a discount on top of that. For a polished, story-driven, single-player horror FPS? That is an easy day-one purchase for me.

My Conclusion: Get Ready for the Plunge

I am genuinely stoked for this. Beneath is not just “another indie horror game.” It is a passion project from a proven developer, a love letter to a bygone era of FPS design, and a perfect storm of genres. It mixes the tactical gunplay of F.E.A.R., the resource-scrounging dread of Resident Evil, and the mind-bending psychological horror of the Cthulhu mythos.

This is the exact kind of single-player experience I have been craving. It is focused, it has a strong identity, and it is not afraid to challenge the player. Camel 101 is swinging for the fences, and I am here for it.

With its launch just days away, Beneath is poised to be the sleeper hit of the Halloween season. If you are a fan of horror, a fan of old-school shooters, or just a fan of great, story-driven single-player games, this needs to be on your radar.

I will be grabbing my copy on day one and streaming it. What about you? Are you brave enough to take the plunge? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below, and be sure to check out our Gaming Insights category for more deep dives on the hottest upcoming titles.