Dead Effect

Starting at $2.39Buy now

Dead Effect is a sci-fi FPS game with over 5 hours of single-player campaign, featuring 12 missions and a gripping story. Survive against hordes of zombies in Survive and Biohazard modes, and explore multiple rooms for extra items and ammo. With a unique set of achievements and the special ability of Bullet Time, prepare for an intense and immersive experience.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

Reviews

71%

Audience ScoreBased on 1,319 reviews

story85 positive mentions

monetization12 negative mentions

Fun and engaging gameplay with a variety of weapons and upgrades.
Decent graphics and atmosphere reminiscent of classic FPS games like Doom 3.
Affordable price, especially during sales, making it a good value for casual gaming.

Repetitive gameplay and level design, leading to a lack of depth and engagement.
Poor voice acting and a clichéd storyline that detracts from the overall experience.
Frustrating mechanics, such as the inability to jump and the presence of grenade-throwing zombies that can lead to cheap deaths.

story
493 mentions
17 % positive mentions
74 % neutral mentions
9 % negative mentions
The story in "Dead Effect" is generally considered weak and predictable, often described as a generic zombie narrative set aboard a spaceship. While some players find the cheesy elements and voice acting amusing, many agree that the plot lacks depth and originality, relying heavily on clichés. Despite its shortcomings, the game offers a straightforward narrative that serves as a backdrop for the action, with additional lore available through collectible tablets scattered throughout the levels.
- “The atmosphere overall creates a sense of urgency to the events as the story unfolds and the game progresses.”
- “The story is cheesy but good; there's even a new game plus mode and tons of great progression with lots of weapons.”
- “The story was interesting (although the voice acting could've been a little bit better).”
- “The game's story is ridiculously bad... I know I wouldn't have played the game in its entirety if I hadn't muted it and listened to true crime podcasts while playing haha!”
- “The story is ridiculously cheesy (it's so B-movie that you could almost call it a C-movie), but it was obviously done that way on purpose.”
- “The story is weak and doesn't keep you interested.”
graphics
271 mentions
48 % positive mentions
41 % neutral mentions
11 % negative mentions
The graphics of "Dead Effect" receive mixed reviews, with many players noting that while they are decent for a mobile port, they often appear dated and reminiscent of early 2000s titles like "Doom 3." Some users appreciate the immersive atmosphere and visual design, highlighting the game's ability to create tension in its claustrophobic environments, while others criticize the optimization and repetitive level design. Overall, the visuals are generally considered good for an indie game, but they lack the polish and innovation seen in contemporary AAA titles.
- “Set in a futuristic space station infested with the undead, Dead Effect uses detailed graphics and immersive sound effects to create a constant sense of tension and danger.”
- “Even for a mobile game, Dead Effect features impressive graphics with a visual design that captures the essence of a claustrophobic and terrifying space environment.”
- “The graphics are really good for such a small company, but the voice acting is beyond terrible.”
- “The graphics look like it's a game from 2005, which doesn't really bother me, but still.”
- “The graphics are terrible, and there's two bosses the whole game.”
- “The graphics are kind of like Doom 3, but the levels are not as complex.”
gameplay
224 mentions
34 % positive mentions
51 % neutral mentions
15 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Dead Effect" is a mixed bag, with many players noting its fluid controls and engaging mechanics that evoke classic FPS titles like "Doom" and "Dead Space." However, criticisms arise regarding its mobile port origins, leading to clunky controls, repetitive gameplay, and some frustrating mechanics, such as limited sprinting and a lack of a jump function. Overall, while the game offers enjoyable zombie-slaying action and a solid upgrade system, it suffers from a lack of depth and polish that may deter some players.
- “The gameplay is solid, you move through levels and complete objectives while blowing zombies' brains out.”
- “The gameplay is fun and the story is passable.”
- “Great game for the price, and awesome gameplay too!”
- “While Dead Effect does look very good for a mobile port, the mechanics are sorely lacking.”
- “The gameplay feels clumsy; this game screams 'cheap game'.”
- “You can feel it's a port on almost every step; through some mechanics, controls, pacing, etc., the game is pretty boring, level layout very basic, and playing it actually feels like a chore.”
music
72 mentions
44 % positive mentions
50 % neutral mentions
6 % negative mentions
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with many players appreciating its atmospheric qualities and fitting themes that enhance the gameplay experience. However, several users note issues with the audio mixing, particularly that the music often drowns out dialogue, making it difficult to hear voiceovers. While some find the soundtrack enjoyable and immersive, others criticize it for being repetitive and occasionally out of place.
- “The ambient music and battle tracks are nice and enhance your game by a fair amount.”
- “Dead Effect's musical score is quite impressive, coupled with an impressive looking environment it really helps set the game's overall tone.”
- “From the quiet halls with the creaking and settling hull in the background, to the tense and frantic zombie engagements, there's no sound effect or piece of music that feels out of place, and that also helps so much with the immersion.”
- “I can't adjust the audio to make the dialogues louder than the music, even though the options are there.”
- “The combat music is so bad in my opinion that on my 5th encounter I wanted to stop playing the game.”
- “The sound is also improperly mixed, with the music overpowering all the speech and the volume sliders literally don't work.”
atmosphere
56 mentions
59 % positive mentions
36 % neutral mentions
5 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its immersive blend of sci-fi and horror elements, enhanced by atmospheric lighting, sound design, and detailed environments that evoke a sense of urgency and tension. Players appreciate the game's ability to create a foreboding and claustrophobic setting reminiscent of classics like Doom 3 and Dead Space, contributing to an engaging and thrilling experience. While some critiques mention a reliance on music for tension, the overall consensus highlights the game's impressive graphics and captivating atmosphere as standout features.
- “The combination of atmospheric lighting and sound design contributes significantly to the immersion of players.”
- “The sound design, narrative, and environment all contribute to creating an atmosphere of fear that increases the immersion and excitement of the game.”
- “The atmosphere feels like Doom 3 and Dead Space; not nearly as good as them, but an interesting concept.”
- “The atmosphere feels like Doom 3 and Dead Space, not nearly as good as them but an interesting concept.”
- “I don't know if this is trying to be scary all around, but the atmosphere that was used in Dead Space 1 resembles this very much, but with a lack of audio (background noises that keep you aware of the horrors around the next corner) to make the rusty broken down space station seem scary.”
- “The atmosphere is dark and creepy; the gameplay is fast and furious!”
humor
34 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is characterized by its hilariously bad voice acting and over-the-top performances, which many players found amusing despite the overall lack of polish. The dialogue and character accents, particularly the mad scientist trope, contribute to a gory dark comedy vibe that enhances the experience, making it enjoyable for those seeking a lighthearted, albeit flawed, gaming session. Overall, while the game may not excel in design or originality, its comedic elements provide a memorable and entertaining distraction.
- “The voice acting is incredibly over-the-top, but also completely hilarious.”
- “The scientist actor especially was hilarious considering he has that stereotypical mad scientist accent, which made me chuckle a few times.”
- “Hilarious B-movie voice acting.”
monetization
33 mentions
9 % positive mentions
55 % neutral mentions
36 % negative mentions
The monetization aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players appreciating the absence of microtransactions, which allows for a more enjoyable experience without the pressure of in-app purchases. However, some users feel that remnants of the original mobile game's monetization, such as a secondary currency and ad placements, still linger, leading to a perception of the game as a potential cash grab. Overall, while the removal of microtransactions is praised, concerns about gameplay balance and lingering monetization elements remain.
- “The fact that there are no microtransactions helps you enjoy this as a wholesome product, albeit with a little bit of fair grinding.”
- “A fun little survival horror FPS with no microtransactions.”
- “It has zero free-to-play/microtransactions, as opposed to their iOS versions, and it's just complex and simple enough to merit hours and hours of your time.”
- “This honestly feels like a cash grab.”
- “They removed the microtransactions but left the painfully unreasonable gameplay there.”
- “First and foremost, this is a port of a mobile game that was originally designed to have microtransactions in it.”
grinding
29 mentions
0 % positive mentions
3 % neutral mentions
97 % negative mentions
Players generally find the grinding in the game to be a mixed experience; while some appreciate the lack of microtransactions and enjoy the process of farming for upgrades and achievements, others find it tedious and repetitive, particularly in survival modes. The grind can be rewarding for those who enjoy testing new weapons, but it may also lead to boredom due to limited character progression and clunky controls. Overall, the grinding aspect is seen as a significant part of the gameplay, with varying levels of enjoyment depending on individual preferences.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “Without the grinding, the game is maybe a third shorter, but it would be better for it because the survival levels are just dull and doing them over and over again isn't a ton of fun.”
- “Grinding in the game will get boring and pointless pretty fast; you have zero character progression despite what the game tells you.”
replayability
26 mentions
38 % positive mentions
50 % neutral mentions
12 % negative mentions
Overall, the game is praised for its strong replayability, thanks to various modes such as survival and challenge, as well as the opportunity to unlock numerous weapons and upgrades. While the campaign is relatively short, players find value in replaying for different character experiences and the engaging gameplay mechanics. However, some reviews note that the replay value may not sustain interest for hundreds of hours, indicating a balance between enjoyment and potential repetitiveness.
- “Additionally, the game includes survival and challenge modes that increase replayability, keeping players engaged for the long term.”
- “I was able to beat the main campaign in about 4 hours going at a casual pace, but there's tons of replay value attached to this game; including weapon unlocks and two survival wave-based modes that really bring the killing floor out in this game.”
- “It offers great replayability since there is a ton of weapons to unlock and a lot of tablets to find.”
- “The campaign is short (around 6 hours) but there is a bit of replay value with new game+ and survival mode.”
- “Derivative gameplay, terrible voice-acting, mediocre/nonsensical plot and almost non-existent replay value do not a quality game make.”
- “Although it is an awesome game, it's not something you'll play for hundreds of hours, though I can sense some replayability in the game (I only beat the first few levels thus far).”
optimization
19 mentions
32 % positive mentions
37 % neutral mentions
32 % negative mentions
The optimization of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players praising its smooth performance and stable frame rates, while others criticize it for being poorly optimized, particularly on PC. Although many users report that it runs well and has decent graphics, there are complaints about the need for a decent computer and occasional brightness issues. Overall, the consensus suggests that while the game performs adequately for some, it may not be optimized effectively for all systems.
- “As far as performance goes, this game runs very well.”
- “Now that I'm playing it again, it's even better because it's optimized and has added some new powers to the characters, which are really nice.”
- “Well optimized, excellent graphics, oddball storyline, a good selection of weapons, etc.”
- “The worst performance ever in the video game.”
- “Also you need a decent computer to run this, not because it's super graphics intensive, but it's just horribly optimized.”
- “The game isn't optimized for PC at all.”
stability
19 mentions
16 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
84 % negative mentions
The stability of the game is highly inconsistent, with many users reporting significant bugs, glitches, and performance issues that hinder gameplay. While some players experienced smooth performance and minimal issues, the overall sentiment leans towards the game being a "buggy mess" with unfinished elements. Despite its potential and enjoyable content, the frequent technical problems detract from the overall experience.
- “The zombies behave as expected, and the load times for the weapons are realistic. I have had no glitches of any description, and I have had such a great time playing this that I have put this company on my radar and will buy the next thing that they make.”
- “The game runs great at 2560x1440, with all graphics settings set at high.”
- “I tried the game on my 5-year-old Apple laptop, and it runs great too!”
- “It's pretty buggy as well.”
- “The game is full of little glitches and it is in many ways unfinished.”
- “It is a buggy mess, poor hit detection.”
emotional
7 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is mixed; while some players appreciate the nostalgia and wholesome experience free from microtransactions, others find the voice acting and repetitive environments lacking depth. Moments of genuine emotional connection arise, particularly during impactful scenes, but overall, the emotional engagement is inconsistent and often overshadowed by the game's shortcomings.
- “Tears welled up in his eyes when he realized what exactly was at stake.”
- “If you are me and were a big fan of FPS in the 90s, I say give this a chance; you just wax poetic and shed a tear in retrospect of simpler times... shall I say purer times?”
- “The fact that there are no microtransactions helps you enjoy this as a wholesome product, albeit with a little bit of fair grinding.”
character development
2 mentions
50 % positive mentions
-50 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is minimal, with little emphasis on story or significant backstory for the characters, leaving players with only basic information to inform their choices. The focus is primarily on gameplay mechanics, such as combat and exploration, rather than on character arcs or emotional engagement.
- “The only backstory you get for the two characters you can select is literally almost just one sentence, and that's it. I have no reason to want to play as the character I choose aside from their abilities or weapons.”
- “The game is not focused on story, so you'll not find any huge plot twists or character development here, but you will get to shoot a ton of zombies and explore a dark and atmospheric sci-fi spaceship.”
- “Character development - the only backstory you get for the two characters you can select is literally almost just one sentence, and that's it. I have no reason to want to play as the character I choose aside from their abilities or their weapons.”