Level Zero Extraction – The Most Terrifying PvPvE Shooter Yet

In a genre full of military sim clones and twitchy PvP shooters, Level Zero Extraction dares to do something different—and genuinely terrifying. Developed by Doghowl Games and published by tinyBuild, this asymmetrical PvPvE horror shooter blends the high-stakes looting of Tarkov with the lurking dread of Alien: Isolation. The result? A raw, ambitious survival experience that’s both promising and rough around the edges.

Whether you’re a hardened mercenary gunning for loot or an alien monster lurking in vents, Level Zero thrives on tension, surprise, and pure adrenaline.

---

🧪 What Is Level Zero Extraction?

At its core, Level Zero Extraction is a tactical first-person shooter where humans scavenge, shoot, and extract—while something inhuman stalks them from the shadows.

Players can join as:

• Mercenaries: Solo or in teams, explore exclusion zones, find loot, complete objectives, and escape.
• Aliens: One or more players control terrifying monsters with stealth, mutations, and sabotage abilities.

The twist? It’s not just PvP or PvE—it’s both, at once. You’ll be scavenging for valuable loot while dodging monsters, battling other human squads, and navigating environmental hazards.

---

🎮 Gameplay Breakdown

As a Mercenary:

• Drop into one of three maps: Space Station, Caves of Turion, or the Research Facility.
• Fight through PvE threats like mutants and turrets—and PvP threats from other human players.
• Use light traps, neurochips, UV flashlights, and a growing arsenal of military hardware to survive.
• Extract with loot to improve your standing with traders and unlock perks, gear, and cosmetics.

As an Alien:

• Enter through vents, set traps, emit EMP waves to black out lights, and ambush humans in the dark.
• Evolve with new mutations as you level up—tailoring your abilities to suit your playstyle.
• You’re outnumbered, but never outclassed—especially in the shadows.

This isn’t your typical run-and-gun. Strategy, timing, and light management are everything.

---

🔦 What Makes It Different?

🎯 Tense, Asymmetrical Design

The heart of Level Zero lies in its asymmetry. Unlike most extraction games where players face only AI or each other, this one pits mercs against mercs against monsters. It’s a game of ambushes, cat-and-mouse tactics, and clutch escapes—where every flickering light bulb could spell doom.

🔧 Player Customization

You’ll prep for each mission by choosing gear, perks, and gadgets—from motion detectors to grenades. Extracting successfully earns rep and unlocks that help you stay alive longer in future runs.

🧠 Smart but Unforgiving Gameplay

• Play solo? Expect a challenge.
• Bring a full squad? Expect chaos.
• Play as the alien? Master stealth and map knowledge or get shredded.

---

🔥 Pros

• Atmospheric and immersive: The lighting, sound design, and map layouts create real tension, especially in the dark.
• Unique blend of genres: Combines horror, shooter, and extraction elements with a surprising level of synergy.
• Rewarding progression: Extracting loot unlocks meaningful upgrades and customization options.
• Strong dev support: Frequent patches, active community feedback, and transparency from Doghowl Games.
• Tactical flexibility: Play how you want—stealthy, aggressive, or strategic.

---

❄️ Cons

• Steep learning curve: Both mercs and aliens require real effort to master. New players may get stomped early on.
• Balance issues: Depending on the match, aliens might feel OP—or like cannon fodder. Feedback suggests it depends more on skill than design, but it’s inconsistent.
• Limited content (for now): Early Access means fewer maps, weapons, and customization options compared to bigger-budget shooters.
• Performance quirks: Some lighting bugs, crashes, and clunky weapon interactions still pop up.
• Queue times: At lower player counts, matchmaking can be slow or unreliable.

---

🌒 Best Moments Come in the Dark

You’re pinned in a corner with no ammo. Your flashlight’s flickering. A teammate is screaming over comms. You flip a UV light, the air shimmers—and suddenly, an alien shrieks and dives back into the vent.

These are the moments Level Zero lives for. And when they hit, they hit hard.

Even with its rough edges, the game delivers raw, unscripted horror moments few multiplayer titles can match.

---

🧠 The Early Access Caveat

Let’s be clear: This is Early Access. There are bugs, balance tweaks, and optimization needs. But there’s also something undeniably fresh about what Doghowl Games is building.

Players report 50–100+ hours of play, praising the team’s responsiveness and the community vibe. The biggest request? More players and matchmaking improvements.

If the devs stick to their roadmap, Level Zero could become a landmark title in the extraction genre.