The Axis Unseen

The Axis Unseen

Released Oct 2024

A heavy metal horror game where you hunt monsters from folklore in an open world. Discover enhanced sense powers, elemental arrows, magic and journals from people who came before you. Almost all of the UI exists in the world itself. Created by one of the developers of Skyrim and Fallout.

74% positive · 368 reviews
Not yet
Released, but still in active development
High confidence
Active Development
Not yet
Released, but still in active development
High confidence
Active Development

Where to buy

Steam $24.99 Green Man Gaming Steam key $24.99
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Evaluation

The Axis Unseen launched on October 22, 2024 as a fully released, self-published indie game with no microtransactions or live service elements. Since launch, the solo developer (Just Purkey Games) has been consistently active, shipping multiple substantial updates: - Shortly after launch (October 25, 2024), a patch overhauled the tutorial and improved stealth. - A major update on November 22, 2024 added an entirely new map system, an AI Director, overhauled gravity, and numerous gameplay improvements — described as "the biggest patch yet." - Another feature patch on November 11, 2024 introduced an immersive playable main menu. - A significant patch on December 17, 2024 added 40 changes including a compass, arrow retrieval from living creatures, and stealth adjustments. - On May 14, 2025, the intro, tutorial, and ending received a major structural overhaul. - A bug-fix patch was released on January 25, 2026. - On May 19, 2026, the developer announced a physical PS5 edition, explicitly stating: "The Steam version remains fully supported, and we'll continue sharing updates for the PC version here." No specific future content or DLC has been formally announced, but the developer's consistent pattern of meaningful updates and the explicit May 2026 statement about continued Steam support indicate the game is still being actively worked on. Both released DLC items are non-gameplay additions (the soundtrack and a digital journal).
Evidence
Developer announces physical PS5 edition and explicitly states 'The Steam version remains fully supported, and we'll continue sharing updates for the PC version here.'
news post · May 19, 2026 source development ongoing
high
Major structural overhaul of the game's intro, tutorial, and ending — a substantial content rework shipped over 6 months after launch.
news post · May 14, 2025 source content shipped
high

Content

2 of 2 released · no outstanding content

Media

Details

Publisher
Just Purkey Games
Achievements
46
Platform
Windows
Controller
full support
Steam Deck
Verified
Players
Single-player

About this game

The Axis Unseen® is a heavy metal horror game created by one of the developers of Skyrim and Fallout.

Hunt monsters from folklore in a mysterious open world. Discover enhanced sense powers, elemental arrows, magical abilities and journals from people who came to this world before you. Almost all of the UI exists in the world itself.

Beware, the hunter is also the hunted.

Your entire village of Hunters has been slaughtered by the creatures, can you stop them from being unleashed on our world?

Reviews/Accolades

“A knockout indie entry in gaming.” - TechRaptor

“Just Purkey Games has made something special… You’re off the edge of the map. Here be dragons. But if you play it right, the scariest thing in this world might just be you.” -Shacknews

“The Axis Unseen is the most Skyrim-like game I’ve played since Skyrim… stripped back and filtered through the likes of Elden Ring and Praey for the Gods.” - The Escapist

The Axis Unseen is a game with deep combat and hunting mechanics. Follow the tracks and blood trails of the creatures. Pay attention to the wind direction so they can't smell you approaching.

The Axis Unseen can be played both as a stealth game or as an intense action game, depending on your personal style and preference.

For people who want a less hardcore experience, the difficulty can be changed at any time and there is even a pacifist mode where you can take pictures of the creatures to unlock things instead. For an extra challenge, there is a permadeath mode.

The Axis Unseen is a game all about immersion and discovery. Your bow shows important UI elements such as how much noise you are making, how much magic you have left and how visible you are. Creatures will track you with sight, sound and smell and and have specific weaknesses.

You have to check your quiver to see how many arrows you have. Tattoos on your hand light up to show your health and active powers.

Can you uncover the mysteries of this world and how to defeat the creatures?

The Axis Unseen features original music by Clifford Meyer, previously of the legendary post-metal bands ISIS and Red Sparowes. It is a unique blend of heavy metal and primitive instruments. The music dynamically adjusts to what is going on in the game. Sometimes it is atmospheric, other times it is intense metal.

Upgrade your senses with the powers of the creatures. See scent particles. Feel the warmth left behind on their tracks. See colors that no human has ever seen.

Your bow and arrow keeps you alive. Upgrade your bow or even find different arrow types such as fire, wind controlling or time distorting arrows. Experiment to see all the different ways the arrows can interact with each other, such as wind arrows making the fire spread faster.

You have a safe area where all of the monsters, powers, magic, equipment and map sections that you find unlock sculptures and a 3d version of the map to look at to help you navigate the world. You can also use this space to seamlessly fast travel around the world without ever needing to open a menu.

Find out what happened to the Hunters and other visitors to this place who came before you and what secrets they uncovered by finding their journals. Where did this world come from? How do you stop the creatures from escaping into your world? As you explore this world you will also make your own journal entries and drawings about the monsters, powers and equipment that you find.

You are the only one who has a chance to stop these creatures from continuing to escape into our world.

The Axis Unseen® is developed by Nate Purkeypile. Nate Purkeypile has been making games for 22+ years and worked on titles such as Skyrim, Fallout 3/4/76, Starfield, Metroid Prime 3 and BloodRayne 2. He was the Lead Artist on Fallout 76 and the Co-Lead/Lead Artist on the Fallout 3 DLC, Point Lookout.

Last evaluated Jun 22, 2026
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