This could be the first truly good extraction RPG – playtest now available

HUNGER takes players to a dark version of Napoleonic Europe, where a mysterious plague has transformed much of the population into bloodthirsty monsters. Players take on the role of a survivor and venture out from the safety of a castle, either alone or with up to two companions. Out in the dangerous world, forests and abandoned villages hold valuable loot and essential resources. The problem is that monsters aren't the only threat – other players are roaming the world as well. In other words, it's a classic extraction setup.

Unlike traditional extraction shooters such as Escape from Tarkov, however, the focus is on long-term character progression. Players who die during an expedition may lose their equipment, but they keep the experience they've earned. There are also no plans for regular progression wipes. On top of that, the game features a player-driven marketplace, crafting professions and plans for additional endgame activities such as dungeons and boss fights. In other words, HUNGER also aims to deliver the experience of an online RPG.

The first truly good extraction RPG? Players can find out for themselves

With HUNGER, the developers are attempting something that no studio has quite managed to pull off so far. Several developers have already tried their hand at extraction RPGs, but a major breakthrough has yet to happen. One example is Dungeonborne, which was shut down less than a year after launch. Dark and Darker also got off to a promising start, but its overall Steam rating has since fallen to just 62% positive. More recently, player sentiment has taken an even sharper turn for the worse, with only 11% of recent reviews being positive. Players are particularly critical of the removal of separate solo and duo lobbies, as well as changes to the equipment system. Could HUNGER do better? The initial response at least offers some hope.

According to SteamDB, the playtest, which is currently running as part of Steam Next Fest, has already attracted more than 16,000 concurrent players. A look at Reddit shows that players generally like the core concept. Criticism mainly focuses on sluggish movement, unbalanced character progression and inconsistent performance – issues that could potentially be addressed before release. Anyone who wants to form their own opinion can still take part in the playtest until October 26, 2026. Signing up on Steam is free, although an invitation isn't guaranteed. Early Access is expected to begin later in 2026.

For a closer look at the gameplay, here is the official gameplay reveal trailer:

As a child in the 90s, my Gameboy was my steady companion. After school, the PlayStation was fired up. When I finally got my first PC, I was completely hooked. My passion for gaming has never waned since. For me, writing for Notebookcheck means reporting on topics that are really close to my heart - in addition to gaming, I also like to write about e-mobility, photovoltaics and innovative gadgets. When I'm not sitting at my computer, I'm probably on water rescue duty on the Baltic coast or trying to counteract the downsides of my geek life - namely sitting for long periods - at the local swimming pool.