Dead Take

About

Dead Take is a single player action game with a horror theme. It was developed by Surgent Studios and was released on July 31, 2025. It received positive reviews from players.

Dead Take is a tense mystery set in a mansion where you search for a missing friend after a glamorous party turns eerie. Explore an abandoned film set, piece together corrupted video files, and uncover hidden secrets while navigating a haunting atmosphere. Every clue brings you closer to the truth behind the silence.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

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89%

Audience ScoreBased on 562 reviews

story139 positive mentions

grinding4 negative mentions

The atmosphere is excellent, creating a tense and creepy environment throughout the game.
The performances from the cast, especially Neil Newbon and Ben Starr, are outstanding and elevate the story.
The puzzles are engaging and provide a satisfying challenge without being overly difficult.

The story can feel disjointed and leaves many questions unanswered, which may frustrate some players.
There are instances of cheap jump scares that detract from the overall horror experience.
The game is relatively short, which may leave some players wanting more content.

story
363 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
59%
3%
The story of the game has received mixed reviews, with many praising its intriguing and psychological elements, strong performances from a notable cast, and unique storytelling through FMV clips. However, some players found the narrative disjointed, lacking depth, or overly reliant on jump scares, leading to confusion and a desire for a more coherent plot. Overall, while the atmosphere and character development were appreciated, the execution of the story left some players wanting more clarity and substance.
- “The story is gripping, secrets and lore are hidden in plain sight; it's easy to miss little bits, but it's also equally easy to catch them.”
- “The love for the story, and for the medium at large, is evident in every bit of writing and performance that contributes to the overall masterpiece.”
- “The story unravels in a way that keeps you curious (and uneasy), and it never leans too heavily into anything cheap or overdone.”
- “The overuse of cheap jump scares, fragmented story that is hard to follow and even the pacing made it hard to stay engaged throughout my playthrough.”
- “I didn't know what the point was of the text messages of everyone's story because they don't all correspond to anything in particular.”
- “The story is lost on me too, which is extremely frustrating given how rudimentary everything else was, even asset-wise.”
optimization
129 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
58%
37%
5%
The game's optimization has received mixed feedback, with many players noting standard Unreal Engine 5 issues such as stuttering and subpar performance, particularly at launch. While these technical shortcomings do not significantly detract from the overall enjoyment, they are noticeable enough to warrant mention. Despite the optimization flaws, the stellar performances from the cast remain the standout feature, often overshadowing the game's gameplay and writing weaknesses.
- “There's a few optimization issues - just standard UE5 stuff - but nothing to the point where it detracted from my enjoyment.”
- “Interesting indeed find your missing friend and uncover the mysteries behind a nuts director, very creepy the only real negative I have is performance is abysmal unless you go to the NVIDIA app/settings and start tinkering and then in the game's settings enable NVIDIA DLSS and frame gen etc. to get it just right as the standard settings do not help.”
- “The performances are great, the voice acting is great, but the game does run a little choppy.”
- “It isn't optimized too well, but it is still a good experience.”
- “Interesting indeed, find your missing friend and uncover the mysteries behind a nuts director. Very creepy; the only real negative I have is performance is abysmal unless you go to the NVIDIA app/settings and start tinkering. Then in the game's settings, enable NVIDIA DLSS and frame generation, etc., to get it just right, as the standard settings do not help.”
- “I just wish it was optimized a bit better.”
atmosphere
127 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
38%
2%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its immersive and unsettling qualities, effectively building tension and dread throughout the experience. Many reviewers highlight the combination of atmospheric music, sound design, and strong voice acting as key elements that enhance the overall horror experience, despite some criticism regarding reliance on jump scares. Overall, the game's atmosphere is considered its standout feature, creating a compelling backdrop for the narrative and gameplay.
- “Dead Take delivers a gripping and atmospheric experience that stays with you long after the game ends.”
- “The atmosphere and music build up a wonderful sense of dread and horror.”
- “The atmosphere is incredibly immersive, and the graphics are absolutely top-tier – from the lighting to the FMV integration, everything looks stunning.”
- “There was one or two moments where it got me, but overall the atmosphere was lacking slightly and I never felt truly scared of the situation.”
- “All I found were cheap jumpscares that were easily anticipated, and an atmosphere that didn't strike me as scarier over time.”
- “I found the horror atmosphere dulled down a lot by the cheap looking environments that are nearly the whole game.”
gameplay
81 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
27%
63%
10%
The gameplay of "Dead Take" is primarily a puzzle-solving experience set in a mansion, reminiscent of escape rooms, where players explore, find clues, and solve straightforward puzzles. While the integration of live-action clips and a unique splicing mechanic adds some novelty, many reviewers found the gameplay to be simplistic and lacking in challenge, often relying on backtracking and easy puzzles. Overall, the game is seen as a blend of atmospheric exploration and narrative-driven mechanics, but it struggles with execution and depth, leaving some players wanting more from the gameplay experience.
- “I would describe the gameplay as something akin to an escape room in one big mansion.”
- “The majority of gameplay is spent exploring the producer’s mansion, searching for clues, keys, and number codes to unlock doors, and items to repair broken statues or machines such as a cinema projector.”
- “Knowing no matter what you do, see, or hear, there won't be consequences does take some of the fear factor out from a gameplay perspective.”
- “Gameplay-wise, Dead Take is primarily a puzzle-solver wrapped in psychological horror elements and told mostly through a found-footage style narrative.”
- “The gameplay is pretty basic for a psychological horror, and I do respect that for such a genre shift from a metroidvania to a FPS horror game.”
graphics
40 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
42%
8%
The graphics of the game have received widespread praise for their stunning visuals, immersive atmosphere, and attention to detail, contributing significantly to the overall experience. While some players noted performance issues and a demanding GPU requirement, the aesthetic quality and environmental storytelling were highlighted as top-tier. However, a few reviews mentioned that the graphics, while nice, may not be groundbreaking, particularly in gameplay segments, and some found the overall composition lacking in depth.
- “The atmosphere is incredibly immersive, and the graphics are absolutely top-tier – from the lighting to the FMV integration, everything looks stunning.”
- “Lovely graphics, intriguing story, enjoying every minute.”
- “The graphics are really well made, the layout of the house is fun to explore, and the game has a nice sheen/polish to it.”
- “The graphics for the gameplay segments are bad; everything looks too shiny.”
- “For a non-action walking simulator with not particularly mind-blowing graphics or art direction, it has a full array of graphic options that don't seem to add much other than a really chuggy framerate and overly shiny everything.”
- “It’s another Unreal Engine 5 game that doesn’t look or run great; seriously, I think I’d get more than 90fps but nope, the game tanks to 30fps when playing at the max settings on an RTX 4070 at 1440p. Using DLSS fixes this, but for these kinds of visuals, I’m not exactly privy to using DLSS.”
music
23 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
35%
52%
13%
The music in the game is praised for its ability to create a tense and eerie atmosphere, enhancing the horror experience with dynamic changes that correspond to different locations. While many players appreciate the soundtrack's contribution to the game's ambiance, some report audio bugs and issues with abrupt or missing music that detracts from key moments. Overall, the music is considered a significant element of the game's immersive experience, despite some technical shortcomings.
- “The atmosphere and music build up a wonderful sense of dread and horror.”
- “The music would change depending on which area you entered, and it made every newly explored location worth the wait.”
- “The music does so much for the ambience of the game and makes it much scarier.”
- “The music was both abrupt and unnecessary throughout the game.”
- “When you first enter the mansion, the music kicks up with a sense of impending doom... when nothing is even happening.”
- “I had some audio issues with the game, though. There was a part where music was obviously supposed to be played that was silent, and that part leads to an important plot point that wasn't voiced/the audio didn't play either.”
emotional
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by powerful performances and poignant moments, particularly in scenes that evoke deep feelings, such as the heartbreaking sounds of a lost baby and a moving speech by a character. However, some players felt that the emotional narrative was undermined by distractions from gameplay mechanics, like puzzles and audition tapes, which detracted from the potential for a more impactful exploration of the characters' struggles. Overall, the authentic acting and immersive atmosphere left a lasting emotional impression on many players.
- “The atmosphere was amazing, the acting felt so authentic and emotionally charged, and it's rare to find a game where the performance alone can pull you this deep.”
- “There's a speech near the end that is given by Neil's character that actually made me feel like the things he was saying were things he had been through himself.”
- “Every single actor puts in such a heartfelt and dedicated experience; it's hard to believe it's in a game.”
grinding
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be a mixed experience; while the creepy atmosphere and puzzles are generally enjoyable, some elements, particularly certain puzzles and the quest for 100% completion, can become tedious and frustrating. Overall, the game balances engaging content with moments of monotony.
- “Was very much a walking simulator type of horror game, got a bit tedious in places.”
- “It's got a great creepy vibe and most of the puzzles/mysteries are fun to solve, but it does get a bit tedious by the end.”
- “100% completion was straightforward, though one achievement was mildly tedious - the 'read all the lore' one.”
humor
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is characterized by a mix of corny writing and intentionally over-the-top portrayals, such as the absurdity of a legendary film director creating hilariously bad scenes. While some moments aim for genuine scares, they often come off as amusing, contributing to an overall enjoyable experience.
- “I also couldn't help but roll my eyes as Duke Cain is made out to be this blindingly genius legendary film director, and the few scenes of 'The Last Voyage' we see are hackneyed, hamfisted, and hilariously bad.”
- “The game had a few moments that did scare me, but it scared me in a funny way, which made playing it in one go more enjoyable.”
replayability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game has limited replayability, with many users noting that it offers a brief 5-7 hour experience that may not warrant multiple playthroughs. While some do not view this as a significant drawback, the consensus is that the lack of replay value is a notable aspect of the game.
- “Not much replay value, so pay whatever a 5-7 hour experience is worth to you.”
- “And to me, personally, there is no replayability.”
- “Feels like there is no replayability (though I don't really consider this a true con).”
stability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Overall, the game's stability is generally good, with most users reporting smooth performance. However, some have experienced occasional audio glitches and significant bugs that affect gameplay.
- “The game ran smoothly without any issues, except for some audio glitches in the cellphone messages.”
- “The game is extremely buggy.”
character development
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game excels in character development, offering a profound exploration of the psychological factors that transform individuals into perceived monsters, compensating for the absence of traditional horror elements like jumpscares and gore.
- “What it lacks in the usual jump scares or gore of horror, it makes up for with deep, intense character development and the dread of seeing what truly drives people to become what we see as a monster.”