Good Fun Corporation, the studio behind Hell Let Loose, is stepping into new territory with Hunger, a first-person multiplayer RPG that mixes gritty extraction shooter mechanics with gothic horror and historical fiction. Set in an alternate version of Napoleonic Europe, Hunger puts players in the shoes of desperate survivors fighting off plague-ridden horrors while uncovering the mysteries behind a supernatural virus.
After handing over Hell Let Loose to publisher Team17 back in 2021, the developers rebranded as Good Fun Corporation and started working on something wholly original. The result is Hunger—a game that wears its influences proudly, pulling inspiration from Hunt: Showdown, Bloodborne, Kingdom Come: Deliverance, and Escape from Tarkov, but with a narrative and art style all its own.
Hunger Coming to Epic Games Store
Grim setting with supernatural roots
Hunger takes place in a version of early 19th-century Europe ravaged by a fast-spreading, rabies-like plague known as the Hunger. Survivors have retreated to the Chateau, a Mont-Saint-Michel-inspired fortress that serves as one of humanity's last outposts. Players take on the role of the Living—six uniquely crafted characters tasked with venturing into plague-ridden territory to scavenge supplies, fight off infected creatures, and uncover the origins of the disease.
The setting was born from a love of Renaissance and Victorian aesthetics, combined with a desire to explore folklore and myth through a historical lens. Good Fun Corporation's CEO and lead developer Maximilian Rea calls it "Renaissance Gothic"—an art style that channels Caravaggio's use of shadow and violence, with environmental influences drawn from English and Dutch painters of the time. The world of Hunger isn't just about vibes, though. The game is built around a tight gameplay loop that combines exploration, combat, crafting, and high-stakes extractions.
Hunger Coming to Epic Games Store
Extraction shooter meets deep RPG
While Hunger clearly draws from extraction shooters like Tarkov and Hunt: Showdown, Rea insists it's not trying to be another entry in that genre. Instead, it uses extraction mechanics as a framework for something more ambitious: a first-person action RPG with build variety, progression systems, and storytelling baked in.
Think of it like Diablo in a plague-ridden, 1800s Europe, where every run into enemy territory has the potential for loot, danger, and discovery. Whether solo or in co-op squads of three, players venture into hostile areas to complete missions, gather resources, and push back against the infected hordes. Lose a run, and you risk everything you brought with you.
Survive, and you bring those rewards back to the Chateau to upgrade gear, improve your loadout, and build out your character's skill tree. There are over 30 weapons planned for launch, alongside consumables, gadgets, and crafting resources. And because this is an RPG at its core, expect systems for gear customization, ability synergies, and a lot of experimentation.
Hunger Coming to Epic Games Store
Six playable characters with dark backstories
At launch, Hunger will feature six distinct characters, each with their own set of passive, tactical, and ultimate abilities. These aren't your typical hero archetypes. There's Hugo, a disillusioned French noble; Eva, a thief raised in the slums of Paris; Serene, a freedom fighter from a slave uprising in the Caribbean; Marie, a Cistercian "battle nun"; Gabriel, a cavalryman from Napoleon's army; and a yet-to-be-named Prussian mercenary who can repair and craft armor.
Abilities aren't locked behind classes, though. Players can mix and match through the mastery tree and item use, giving each run a different feel depending on how you build your loadout. The goal was to avoid rigid roles and instead focus on characters who feel like they've truly survived the horrors of this world. None of them are purely good or evil—they're complicated, morally gray, and shaped by trauma.
Hunger Coming to Epic Games Store
Enemies that tell a story and want to kill you
Hunger isn't just about the characters you play. The enemies—infected humans twisted by the Hunger—are designed to reflect different kinds of danger and to tell their own stories. At Early Access launch, there will be six enemy types: Dregs, Shamblers, Waifs, Bloats, Droolers, and Brutes.
Each enemy behaves differently in combat and has lore that explains who they were before the transformation. That narrative context is intentional. Rea wants players to feel a sense of dread and empathy—knowing that the monster they just took down was once a person with hopes and fears makes the violence hit harder. More enemy types and factions will be added post-launch, and players can expect regular updates that expand the world and deepen the lore.
Hunger Coming to Epic Games Store
Influenced by horror, art, and historical drama
The tone of Hunger is shaped by a wide range of influences—from the unsettling atmosphere of Perfume: The Story of a Murderer to the surrealism of One Hundred Years of Solitude and the brutal beauty of Caravaggio's paintings. Rea also points to Peter Greenaway's films as touchstones for the game's pacing and mood.
If it all sounds a bit literary, that's intentional. Hunger wants to be more than just a shooter. It's aiming to deliver a cohesive world where every detail—from character design to enemy behavior—feels tied to the broader story of survival and decline.
Early Access and what's coming next
Hunger is expected to hit Early Access on the Epic Games Store in the second half of 2025. At launch, players can expect three 1x1 kilometer maps, a central social hub, a full roster of playable characters, and all six enemy types.
Good Fun Corporation plans to spend roughly two years in Early Access, during which time the team will roll out new content including PvP experiences, expanded PvE scenarios, more maps, weapons, and characters. Rea says the end goal is to offer a deep, replayable experience with a meaningful endgame that keeps players coming back.
If the team delivers on its vision, Hunger could carve out a unique space for itself by merging the tension of extraction shooters with the character depth and world-building of a story-driven RPG. And while it's still early days, the foundation already looks promising. Hunger launches in Early Access on Windows PC via the Epic Games Store later in 2025. Here is a list of all the games mentioned in the article:
- Hell Let Loose
- Hunt: Showdown
- Bloodborne
- Kingdom Come: Deliverance
- Escape from Tarkov
- The Cycle: Frontier
- Marauders
- Diablo
- Hades
- Risk of Rain 2
- Slay the Spire
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