: Unlike a standard fantasy or strategy game, the world within Army of Ruin is bleak and decaying. The NPCs (non-player characters) often break the fourth wall, expressing genuine fear or agony, or appearing to be aware of the player's real-world presence.
: It taps into the fear of finding "forbidden" software on the deep web or old forums.
The title refers to a chilling creepypasta and internet horror story centered around a mysterious, corrupted video game file .