You play the role of The Suffering 's protagonist, Torque, a death row inmate with an unclear past who has been imprisoned for murdering his ex-wife and children. Shortly after being interred in a new prison on Carnate Island, an earthquake appears to release demonic creatures based on the many modes of execution used in the island's sordid history. These creatures proceed to eliminate much of the prison population, leaving only you and a few other inmates and guards to fight back and uncover the truth behind the outbreak.
The gameplay revolves around first-person shooter action, with Torque using an array of firearms and brutal execution methods to take down hordes of demonic creatures. As you progress through the game, you'll encounter increasingly difficult enemies and must scavenge for supplies and ammunition to survive.