Dead In Antares

About

Dead In Antares is a single player survival role playing game with a science fiction theme. It was developed by Ishtar Games and was released on February 19, 2026. It received positive reviews from players.

Dead in Antares is a turn-based survival management game with RPG elements, set on an alien planet. Lead a crew of survivors sent on a mission to save humanity. Manage their needs, strengthen their teamwork, and explore this mysterious world to find a way back home.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

81%

Audience ScoreBased on 74 reviews

story7 positive mentions

graphics3 negative mentions

Improved gameplay mechanics compared to previous entries, with less RNG and better resource management systems.
Engaging and well-paced character development with meaningful relationships and dialogues.
Polished presentation including art style and atmosphere, with a fresh sci-fi setting that expands the series' universe.

Limited player choice and restrictive early game progression reduce replayability and player agency.
The UI and quality-of-life features are unintuitive, cluttered, and require improvement for better usability.
Character writing includes stereotypes and forced interactions, with lack of depth and inconsistent narrative immersion.

story
38 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
18%
74%
8%
The story in this game offers a classic "lost in space" sci-fi adventure with strong character-driven narrative and engaging interactions, reminiscent of but distinct from its predecessor, Dead in Vinland. While praised for its creativity, effort, and character variety, some players find it linear with occasional plot holes, pacing issues during combat, and characters that sometimes feel unconvincing for the mission's stakes. Overall, the story is solid and immersive, though not groundbreaking, and benefits from deeper player involvement and future fixes.
- “It's very similar to the previous one 'Dead in Vinland' but the change of universe from Viking to sci-fi planet with the focus on telling a story through characters and plot makes it unique and very engaging.”
- “Great story, solid characters, 20 hours in and I actually care what happens to all 10 of them, good writing, all 10 folks seem different and not clichéd.”
- “So much story and creativity went into this.”
- “Basically, this game feels like it should have been made before Dead in Vinland due to the lack of story depth in comparison.”
- “Every time you enter combat, the story grinds to a halt and it's a slog until it's over.”
- “There are some glaring issues like certain story beats getting revealed before they should have if you got certain relationships higher than the game expected you to.”
gameplay
32 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
28%
63%
9%
The gameplay closely follows its predecessor, focusing on resource management, worker placement, and team assignment to maintain balance and survival, with some notable improvements and new mechanics like power generation. While largely similar, the mechanics feel more refined and integrated, providing a smooth, addictive experience despite occasional issues with complexity and pacing. Overall, fans of management games and the original title will find the gameplay enjoyable and engaging.
- “Gameplay-wise, Dead in Antares is a big step forward compared to its predecessors.”
- “A great sequel, opening up completely new gameplay mechanisms and avenues.”
- “Despite a slow first hour and cliché premise, the gameplay mechanics become so tight that addiction kicks in.”
- “Once you’ve established the right upgrades for your camp and team, the gameplay starts to feel pretty linear.”
- “Other than that though, the gameplay is fairly much the same as Vinland, which is great since, as I said, I enjoyed that game a lot.”
- “The core gameplay is near identical; explore your surroundings, assign your team to various work tasks, and carefully manage your stats and debuffs.”
graphics
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
17%
50%
The graphics feature an improved UI and detailed art style reminiscent of "I Was a Teenage Exocolonist," creating a beautiful and atmospheric experience. However, some users find the ending visuals lacking in aesthetics and feel a bit anti-climactic. Additionally, the graphics can cause performance issues on older machines despite the game's age.
- “The art style and planet details remind me so much of 'I Was a Teenage Exocolonist' that they feel like they're almost made by the same team.”
- “The art style is beautiful and the soundtrack is a good combination of relaxing and unobtrusive while still enhancing the setting's atmosphere.”
- “The graphics also make the game really sluggish on my machine even though it is only 10 years old.”
- “Better UI, better graphics etc... and the final 1/3 must be completely new features.”
- “I wish the ending had more aesthetics though, it's a little bit anti-climactic to me.”
replayability
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
60%
Replayability in the game is mixed, with some players noting limited replay value due to fewer player choices, while others find it enhanced by higher difficulties and alternate endings; overall, it feels less replayable compared to more open titles, though longer game length may reduce the need for replayability.
- “There is replay value if you want to try higher difficulties or explore possible alternate endings.”
- “And maybe replayability is less important when the game is three times as long.”
- “The game at the moment has no replayability.”
- “It's just less player choice and less replayability.”
- “Dead in Vinland felt more open and replayable.”
music
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
50%
The music is generally well-received for its relaxing and unobtrusive qualities that enhance the game's atmosphere, though some users consider it only fair in comparison to other aspects. Overall, it complements the setting effectively without being overwhelming.
- “The art style is beautiful and the soundtrack is a good combination of relaxing and unobtrusive while still enhancing the setting's atmosphere.”
- “Tldr; Dead in Vinland has better characters, music, and story.”
- “Also, really dig the music.”
- “Dead in Vinland has better characters, music, and story.”
- “Music: fair”
character development
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
67%
Character development in the game is described as intimate but unconventional, with character designs leaning toward a vtuber-like aesthetic rather than realistic humans. Some narrative elements, like hallucinations tied to relationships, feel inconsistent or confusing.
- “Character development is so intimate.”
- “The character design is a little out there as well; everyone looks like a VTuber instead of a normal human.”
- “Once Captain Rosebud's relations with the good doctor progress for the first time, she hallucinates about having to fetch the wood (which is not a resource in this game at all), and that can't be blamed on head trauma unless it's the character designer's fault.”
atmosphere
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The game's atmosphere is enhanced by a beautiful art style and a relaxing, unobtrusive soundtrack that effectively complement the setting. However, the intended "alien" atmosphere feels somewhat overused, which may lessen its impact for some players.
- “The art style is beautiful and the soundtrack is a good combination of relaxing and unobtrusive while still enhancing the setting's atmosphere.”
- “I understand it’s meant to give the game an 'alien' atmosphere, but it feels heavily overused.”
optimization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game features well-optimized mechanics and story that enhance the experience, especially for players who enjoy worker placement strategies. Its design is particularly suited for a group of around ten players, providing a smooth and engaging gameplay after a few hours in.
- “This game should be enjoyable for those that love worker placement optimization.”
- “Once you're a few hours into gameplay, though, you can see that the mechanics and story are both well-optimized for this particular party of ten.”
humor
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is lighter and more playful compared to the deeper, more meaningful tone found in Dead in Vinland. It offers a fun, comedic element that balances the overall experience.