A forthcoming action game from ProbablyMonsters is challenging the established formula for WWII-era combat games by stripping away firearms in favour of visceral, up-close melee fighting. Nekome: Nazi Hunter centres on Vano Nastasu, a young Romani man consumed by grief after Nazi soldiers brutally murder his family. His path of vengeance across war-torn Europe plays out through gutter fighting; a win-at-all-costs close-quarters style developed in the early 1900s.
What distinguishes this approach is the deliberate focus on personal, brutal combat over the distance-fighting mechanics typical of WWII games. Unlike other revenge narratives set in the Second World War, this game grounds itself in the Romani perspective rather than the Jewish perspective more commonly portrayed in films and games. The developers describe this as telling the war "through an intentionally narrow and human lens, grounded in character and consequence."
Stealth and notoriety
The gameplay loop begins with infiltration. Players scout enemy compounds, plan their approach, and decide whether to eliminate targets silently or engage in direct combat. Vano scouts enemy routes, plans his assault, and strikes with precision in a mix of stealth and brutal up-close combat. As combat encounters escalate, the game borrows structural elements from action franchises like Batman Arkham and the martial arts game Sifu, featuring counters, strikes, and context-sensitive takedowns.
A notoriety system tracks how viciously Vano operates. Kill careless enemies and patrols respond immediately; eliminate enough targets and enemies may grow so fearful they hesitate to engage. As players progress, Vano's reputation evolves among Nazi ranks, and they could encounter enemies later in the game who are terrified by his presence, depending on whether players have chosen stealth or aggressive approaches.
Skill progression feeds both playstyles. A three-part skill tree covers damage and melee prowess, character-specific abilities like stealth takedowns on officers, and improvised weapons scavenged from the environment. The game remains early in development, with developers signalling that the user interface and some mechanical details may shift before release.
Grindhouse inspiration and narrative
The game is inspired by grindhouse cinema and features visceral combat with grounded finishing moves, coming together in a symphony of violence where every encounter carries lasting consequences. The word nekome itself comes from Yiddish, meaning revenge. The developers frame this as retribution rather than simple revenge; a soulful, deliberate hunt for justice expressed through brutality.
ProbablyMonsters, founded by former Bungie President and CEO Harold Ryan, positioned the game as narrative-driven and linear. The game remains quite early in development, with developers assuring previews that the user interface is still very likely to change, but everything shown indicates this is a game worth watching.
The game is currently planned to arrive on PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC, though no release date has been announced. More details are expected to emerge as development progresses.