I Am Dead
- October 8, 2020
- Hollow Ponds
- 7h median play time
It's not often that a game has been able to address the celebration of life, though death, quite like I Am Dead.
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Get on PS Store"I Am Dead" is a charming puzzle adventure game where you play as a ghost named Morris. Explore the afterlife and protect the living by uncovering secrets and solving puzzles as a spirit. Discover the interconnected stories of the deceased and living inhabitants of the quaint island of Shelmerston.
Mac OS
Nintendo Switch
PC
Playstation 4
Playstation 5
Windows
Xbox One
Xbox Series X|S
PlayStation
Xbox
Reviews
- The game features a charming and beautifully crafted world with vibrant visuals and detailed environments.
- The story is engaging and heartfelt, exploring themes of memory, legacy, and the afterlife in a thoughtful manner.
- The unique gameplay mechanic of peeling away layers of objects to uncover hidden items adds depth and creativity to the puzzle-solving experience.
- The gameplay can become repetitive and tedious, especially with the mechanics of finding hidden objects and solving riddles that may feel overly simplistic or frustrating.
- The ending is abrupt and lacks closure, leaving players feeling unsatisfied with the resolution of the story.
- Some puzzles, particularly the riddles, can be overly difficult or confusing, especially for players unfamiliar with British slang or cultural references.
- story158 mentions
- 46 % positive mentions
- 53 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The story in "I Am Dead" is generally described as charming and touching, exploring themes of death, memory, and acceptance through engaging character narratives and unique gameplay mechanics. However, many players express disappointment with the abrupt ending and lack of closure, which detracts from the overall experience. While the visuals and voice acting are praised, some find the pacing slow and the plot predictable, leading to a mixed reception regarding its storytelling depth.
“The story is well done and feels like you are really learning about real people and places.”
“The story is interesting and doesn't shy away from relatively dark subject matter.”
“The story was sweet and impactful.”
“But for a game about death, moving on, and the passing of the torch, I cannot believe that they simply drop the entire premise of the story in such a ridiculous manner and deprive anyone playing of closure.”
“I found myself disappointed when I finished the game; the ending was abrupt and it felt like the story was cut short.”
“The story is unfortunately not worth having to deal with the bizarre controls and gameplay mechanics.”
- gameplay93 mentions
- 34 % positive mentions
- 59 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "I Am Dead" features a unique mechanic that allows players to zoom through and dissect objects to uncover hidden details, creating a visually engaging scavenger hunt experience. While the puzzles are inventive and the art style is charming, many players find the gameplay to be simplistic and repetitive, lacking depth and challenge. Overall, it offers a calming, story-driven experience that may appeal to those who enjoy exploration and narrative over complex mechanics.
“The gameplay is that you can see through objects and slice into them to explore what hides inside.”
“I am dead is mechanically an object-finding game, which I actually consider quite unique among the genre: it allows you to peek into the internals of objects and people, peeling boxes and walls off like layers of onions, and discover the smallest and cutest secrets hidden in plain sight.”
“The gameplay itself is unique and the puzzles keep you interested, making sure to leave no stone unturned.”
“The gameplay mechanism was a bit monotonous and there was little to no reward for most of my actions.”
“Let's get this out of the way first: there's not much to the gameplay; in this regard, it's simply a fancy, occasionally clever, hidden object game.”
“The gameplay is incredibly simplistic; basically, it is a unique hidden object game, but it really tugged on my heartstrings.”
- graphics55 mentions
- 73 % positive mentions
- 22 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The graphics of "I Am Dead" are widely praised for their vibrant, stylized art style and charming character designs, which contribute to an engaging and immersive atmosphere. Reviewers highlight the beautiful visuals and clever mechanics, such as the unique object-peeling feature, as standout elements that enhance the gameplay experience. While some note that the graphics can appear simplistic in certain areas, the overall aesthetic is described as delightful and heartwarming, making it a visually appealing choice for players seeking a cozy, story-driven game.
“Touching story, with absolutely beautiful and stylized graphics.”
“The visuals are a gorgeous feast of vibrant colors.”
“The art style is beautiful and it has a lot of warm and comforting moments.”
“Graphically, the game appears simple, but I think it's fooling us by using simple colors for textures; objects and scenes are all well put together and have a good level of complexity to them.”
“It's got a cute and unique concept, but honestly in practice it's just tedious and boring... I like the art style and all, but man, I got through to the second character you have to find and I can't play more; it feels like work, in a bad way.”
“The game has a fair few foibles and basically simply requires you to effectively pixel hunt by clicking on so much stuff in the environments, but the context of why you're doing it combined with the simple art style and the gentle music got me through most of it, even if I was a little annoyed at the ancillary additions.”
- emotional33 mentions
- 97 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is widely praised for its heartwarming and touching narrative, exploring themes of life, death, and personal histories in a charming and visually stunning environment. Players appreciate the engaging storytelling, beautiful graphics, and delightful voice acting, which together create a cozy and uplifting experience, despite some criticisms regarding gameplay mechanics. Overall, the game is seen as a heartfelt journey that resonates deeply with players, leaving a lasting emotional impact.
“A heartwarming, touching, insightful puzzle game all about life, the stories we share with our loved ones, and what makes up our character once we reach the grave.”
“It explores the afterlife in a way that’s heartfelt, yet oddly uplifting, leaving you with more to think about than you might expect.”
“The artwork, the puzzles, the story; I even almost shed a tear here and there.”
“Terrible puzzles, bad controls, and a boring story that fails to keep you engaged.”
- music20 mentions
- 70 % positive mentions
- 15 % neutral mentions
- 15 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its relaxing and soothing qualities, perfectly complementing the charming art style and overall atmosphere. Reviewers highlight the soundtrack as a standout feature, enhancing the gameplay experience and evoking emotional responses. While some found the gameplay mechanics repetitive, the beautiful music consistently received high marks, contributing to a cozy and enjoyable environment.
“The music is relaxing and pairs very well with the game's overall atmosphere.”
“The gameplay is incredibly simplistic, but it really tugged on my heartstrings and is a wonderful game with some fantastic visuals, a great voice cast, and an amazing soundtrack to boot.”
“The pace is perfect, music is great, it's very cozy.”
“The game has a fair few foibles and basically simply requires you to effectively pixel hunt by clicking on so much stuff in the environments, but the context of why you're doing it combined with the simple art style and the gentle music got me through most of it, even if I was a little annoyed at the ancillary additions like the 'grenkins' and the stupid 'riddles'.”
“The OST is quite active but always firmly in the background of the soundscape.”
“Music is alright, it fits.”
- grinding10 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Overall, players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and repetitive, with many expressing that while the concept and aesthetic are charming, the gameplay quickly becomes monotonous. Some enjoyed the satisfaction of completing puzzles, but the majority felt that the mechanics were overly simplistic and led to a sense of drudgery, making it feel more like a chore than an enjoyable experience.
“I wanted to like this game because the aesthetic and concept are very sweet, but good gravy is this game tedious!”
“It's got a cute and unique concept but honestly in practice it's just tedious and boring... I like the art style and all but man, I got through to the second character you have to find (out of... five? six? idk) and I can't play more, it feels like work, in a bad way.”
“This becomes very tedious as you exercise the same mechanics over and over and over.”
- humor6 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is characterized by clever and surprising elements found within objects, as well as amusing conversations that add charm to the experience. While some players found the humor engaging and appreciated the attention to detail, others felt that the overall narrative became predictable and lacked surprises, leading to a sense of boredom by the end. Overall, the game offers a cozy and thoughtful atmosphere with moments of humor that appeal to a wide audience.
“I appreciated the sense of humor in some of the objects you'd find hidden inside others.”
“Sweet and humorous, this amusing little game of observation is good for a broad range of ages.”
“The main plot writing can be a bit heavy-handed, but the voice acting is good, and the many little secrets and hidden things you can find while exploring made me laugh quite a few times.”
- atmosphere6 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 17 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its relaxing and immersive qualities, enhanced by calming music and thoughtful worldbuilding. Players appreciate the steady pacing and engaging story, although some find the controls overly complicated, which can detract from the experience for certain gamers. Overall, the game creates a tranquil environment that encourages exploration and prolonged engagement.
“It was a relaxing experience and had a great atmosphere to play in.”
“The music is relaxing and pairs very well with the game's overall atmosphere.”
“The ambiance and worldbuilding truly immerse you; I often stayed in levels far longer than necessary just soaking in the atmosphere and understanding the world the developers crafted.”
“The ambiance and worldbuilding are immersive, often making me stay in levels far longer than necessary just to soak in the atmosphere and understand the world the developers crafted.”
- character development3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is praised for its diversity and depth, featuring well-written dialogue and engaging character designs that enhance the storytelling experience. The combination of aesthetic appeal and nuanced character arcs contributes to a compelling narrative.
“There's quite a bit of diversity in the character design, which kept the game interesting!”
“Strengths include the well-written dialogue and the fun character designs.”
“Putting aside its endearing aesthetic, what makes this game shine is the depth and nuance of its storytelling and character development.”
- optimization2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's optimization is generally well-received, with standout voice performances that enhance its cozy, community-focused atmosphere, appealing particularly to a younger audience.
“A very cozy British game about community and caring for the people around you, this game has some of the best voice performances of the year.”
- stability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The game is generally considered stable, though players have noted the presence of bugs that can affect gameplay. Despite these issues, the overall experience remains enjoyable and wholesome.
“It's a wholesome, buggy game.”
“The game crashes frequently, making it hard to enjoy.”
“I experienced constant lag and instability during gameplay.”
- replayability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 100 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Users generally find the replayability of the game to be high, citing multiple paths, varied character choices, and dynamic environments that encourage exploration and experimentation. Many players appreciate the inclusion of different difficulty levels and unlockable content, which adds to the incentive to replay. Overall, the game offers a fresh experience with each playthrough, keeping players engaged over time.
Critic Reviews
I Am Dead Review
A very interesting game indeed, I Am Dead isn't top-tier indie magic but it's a hide-and-seek sandbox that will reward you the deeper you go. It's refreshingly content-rich, what with the Grenkins to find and riddles to solve for committed players. An appealing sense of place and strong visuals are only spoiled by some misplaced attempts at quirkiness and some minor control issues. Overall, though, I Am Dead makes us long for the sweet embrace of the reaper. Wait, no. It's just a rather enjoyable game. That's it. Not that other thing. Good god.
70%Where's Waldo's ghost?
Annapurna Interactive, Hollow Ponds, and designer Richard Hogg have put together a puzzling story of ghosts and a race to save the living in I Am Dead.
80%Gone but not forgotten --- I Am Dead Review
From its heartful story that is only made better by a charming set of characters, to the soothing atmosphere of the gorgeous island-town of Shelmerston, I am Dead constructs a serendipitous but accurate portrayal of the usually sorrowful emotions around death.
90%
