Both playstyle options come with their own risks; the latter rewards you with considerably more F.U.N.C per kill, which is the in-game currency and is required to open some item crates and call in airdrops, but finding the required healing materials after each battle can be inconvenient to say the least. As for the former, it can often be luck based with the loot you find and other contestants can often get the jump on you if you’re not careful.

The Culling succeeds in many ways, but it absolutely excels at creating a tense atmosphere as you explore the arena, always looking over your shoulder. You’ll find yourself constantly on edge, always having to be aware of your surroundings, listening out for the slightest sound of somebody nearby. Due to the constant ambient noise from CCTV cameras tracking your every move, whirring health and recycle machines for unwanted equipment, and the witty quips from the commentator updating you on fatalities across the arena, distinguishing sounds of nearby players can be difficult.

It’s currently in Early Access and unfortunately you can tell, namely with the combat. Messy and inconsistent is the best way to describe it; blocking and shoving are useful mechanics, but when they only work half the time, relying on spamming quick attacks usually feels like the best method. All weapons can be thrown however, with spears and blades obviously being more effective than hammers and pipes. Three tiers of bow are available too, each increasing in damage so if you can get a few shots on your enemy before engaging in the button spam contest, you’ll usually have an advantage.

Traps are prevalent and if used correctly, they can be your best friend. A swift claymore placed behind yourself as you turn a corner can be lethal to your pursuer, but with a limit of five inventory slots you’ll need to prioritise. Do you take the bandage or the damage resistance buff? The man tracker, so you can detect how far the closest enemy is to you, or the stun gun, to momentarily immobilise your opponent during close quarters combat? It all depends on your play style.

As development continues on The Culling, longevity is one issue I can imagine appearing. It’s seen an enormously successful start, being the third most popular game on Twitch during the closed alpha phase and sitting comfortably in the top sellers list on Steam, but Xaviant Games need to ensure it doesn’t become stale. New maps, gamemodes and customisation options are all additions they need to consider including if they wish to grow, or at least retain the current player base.

Steam has seen many games in Early Access that have a huge hit of popularity at the start, then tend to fall off the ropes. Reign of Kings, Hurtworld and Savage Lands to name a few; all showed immense promise, and still could resurge back to the top, but The Culling needs to avoid falling into the same trap by keeping things fresh and interesting. A lot of potential currently, but it’s already starting to become repetitive after eight hours of play. I think I’ll come back to it in a few months.