Death Relives

About

Death Relives is a single player survival action adventure game with horror and mystery themes. It was developed by Nyctophile Studios and was released on July 25, 2025. It received very positive reviews from players.

Be prepared for a first-person look on life through the eyes of a teenager, who is trying to escape from mighty Aztec god Xipe Totec. Get ready for a chaotic experience with horror and survival mechanics.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

91%

Audience ScoreBased on 96 reviews

story22 positive mentions

optimization3 negative mentions

The game features a unique and immersive atmosphere rooted in Aztec mythology, providing a fresh take on the horror genre.
Sound design and music are standout elements, enhancing the tension and overall experience, especially during key moments.
The companion app adds an interesting layer to the gameplay, allowing for interaction and puzzle-solving that feels personal and engaging.

Gameplay can become repetitive, particularly with the reliance on stealth and hiding mechanics, which may frustrate some players.
Technical issues, including bugs and unresponsive controls, detract from the overall experience and can lead to frustrating moments.
The story and character development may feel underwhelming or confusing at times, leaving players wanting more clarity and depth.

story
46 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
48%
45%
7%
The game's story is generally praised for its engaging narrative and atmospheric depth, effectively utilizing environmental storytelling and cultural elements, particularly Aztec mythology, to enhance the experience. While some players found the pacing and abrupt ending lacking, many appreciated the emotional core of the protagonist's journey and the unique twists that set it apart from typical horror games. Overall, it offers a memorable, immersive experience, though some felt the presentation could be improved to better convey its intriguing plot.
- “Adrian’s search for his mother provides emotional grounding, while the broader story unfolds through environmental clues and symbolic imagery rather than explicit exposition.”
- “The story, the modeling, the voice acting, and the gameplay mechanics all come together to create an incredibly immersive experience that pulls you in to the very core.”
- “Beautiful game with a very unique story that is super engaging.”
- “The story fades before it takes shape, and the ending comes too abruptly to leave an impact.”
- “The mission descriptions felt like I was reading the developer team's task list rather than in-game objectives, which completely broke my immersion.”
- “The story is confusing, but I liked the sound design, gameplay was fun, and the puzzles were smart.”
gameplay
33 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
21%
70%
9%
The gameplay is primarily centered around a hide-and-seek mechanic that, while effective and immersive, may feel repetitive and lacking in variety for seasoned players. Some mechanics, such as the phone interactions and item pickups, are criticized for being clunky or underexplained, yet the game compensates with a strong narrative and atmospheric tension. Overall, it offers a solid experience for those who appreciate slow-burn horror and engaging storytelling, though it may not satisfy players seeking complex gameplay systems.
- “While some players may wish for greater mechanical variety or deeper systems, others will appreciate the restraint and cohesion of the design.”
- “The world is beautifully crafted, and the use of mythology is more than just cosmetic; it’s tied into the gameplay and story.”
- “The horror and tension is high, with the gameplay requiring you to balance where the main antagonist is located while also trying to figure out the puzzles and how to progress through the story.”
- “The hide-and-seek structure, while effective early on, may feel overly familiar to seasoned horror players, particularly as the range of mechanics does not expand dramatically over the course of the experience.”
- “I couldn’t find the items I needed to collect, and the pickup mechanic is so clunky that it took multiple tries to grab a single object.”
- “Gameplay does lean heavily on hide-and-seek mechanics and it may not appeal to players looking for more variety.”
atmosphere
27 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
63%
26%
11%
The atmosphere in "Death Relives" is widely praised for its immersive and oppressive qualities, drawing heavily from Aztec mythology to create a unique horror experience. Reviewers highlight the game's stunning visuals, detailed environments, and effective audio design, which together foster a chilling and tense ambiance that keeps players engaged. Overall, the game's commitment to atmosphere, storytelling, and mythological depth sets it apart in the horror genre, making it a standout title for fans of psychological horror.
- “Death Relives is a survival horror experience that leans heavily on atmosphere, mythological dread, and vulnerability rather than action or empowerment.”
- “The atmosphere is absolutely suffocating in the best way, along with the audio design.”
- “The mythological accuracy, the unsettling visuals, the oppressive atmosphere, all of it kept me playing deep into the night.”
- “There's a thick, tense atmosphere that creeps up on you and doesn’t let go.”
- “One of the few horror games where the monster isn’t the scariest thing, it’s the atmosphere.”
graphics
17 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
71%
17%
12%
Overall, the graphics of the game are generally praised for their beauty and detail, contributing to an immersive atmosphere. While some users noted occasional frame rate issues, the visuals are often described as stunning and effective in enhancing the horror experience. However, a few reviews mentioned that the graphics alone may not be enough to compensate for shortcomings in gameplay or story.
- “Great game with epic graphics and also amazing scares.”
- “The game features stunning graphics with a lot of details and decent optimization, which is a huge plus.”
- “The graphics and atmosphere are great, creating a deeply immersive and tense experience.”
- “The visuals and sound design are all fine.”
- “Graphics are decent.”
optimization
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
37%
38%
Overall, the game's optimization is highly praised, with users reporting stable performance, impressive graphics, and no significant issues such as crashes or frame drops. Many players noted that it runs smoothly on various hardware, including the Steam Deck, and expressed hope for future optimization patches.
- “The game features stunning graphics with a lot of details and decent optimization, which is a huge plus.”
- “Performance-wise, it ran smoothly for me (GTX 1080), and I didn’t run into any major bugs.”
- “I do hope there are still optimization patches planned for the future.”
- “Didn't encounter any crashes or any performance problems, which is rare for indie Unreal projects.”
- “Strong optimization; it runs well on both PC and Steam Deck, which is a big win for a UE5 indie title.”
music
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
43%
14%
43%
The music in the game is generally praised for its quality and atmospheric presence, with some tracks described as modern interpretations of Aztec sounds. However, some players feel the soundtrack can become repetitive over time, and while it enhances the experience, it doesn't fully compensate for other aspects of the game that may feel lacking. Overall, the music contributes positively to the game's ambiance, with standout moments that resonate with players.
- “That and the OST is awesome!”
- “There are some really nice moments here, the atmosphere and soundtrack especially stand out.”
- “NPCs are flat, the soundtrack gets old fast, and the game feels more like a grind than a genuine adventure.”
- “This is what Aztec music would sound like if they actually made it in the current era.”
- “I didn't even care when the entity teleported ahead of me and threw javelins into my poor character's young male body... I got to hear the music again!”
emotional
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by Adrian's poignant quest for his mother, which serves as a strong narrative anchor. The story is enriched through environmental storytelling and symbolic imagery, culminating in a jarring yet impactful ending. Additionally, the chilling sound design enhances the emotional tension, evoking genuine feelings of nervousness throughout the experience.
- “Adrian’s search for his mother provides emotional grounding, while the broader story unfolds through environmental clues and symbolic imagery rather than explicit exposition.”
- “Weirdly abrupt and emotional ending.”
- “The sound design is chilling, and there were moments that genuinely made me feel nervous.”
stability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
67%
Overall, the game demonstrates strong stability, running well on platforms like the Steam Deck and showcasing impressive visuals typical of Unreal Engine 5. However, some users have noted occasional bugs with interaction buttons and frequent boss chases that may affect gameplay experience.
- “It runs well, and the Steam Deck also performs great.”
- “It looks fantastic and runs great too, which is a rare thing to say about UE5 games.”
- “The interaction button can be buggy sometimes, which disrupts the gameplay experience.”
- “The boss chases too often, leading to frustrating moments during gameplay.”
replayability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is not considered highly replayable, but it is enjoyable as a one-time experience.
- “Not super replayable, but as a one-shot experience, it's enjoyable.”
- “Once you've completed the game, there's little incentive to go back for a second playthrough.”
- “The lack of meaningful choices makes replaying the game feel redundant.”
grinding
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and repetitive, with clunky controls that detract from the excitement of the experience. Many feel that the constant chases turn into a chore rather than a thrilling challenge, leading to a sense of frustration.
- “The premise is intriguing, but the constant, repetitive chases quickly become tedious, especially with the clunky controls that make escaping feel more like a chore than an exciting challenge.”
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”