Interference: Dead Air

About

In "Interference: Dead Air," you work the graveyard shift in a remote security booth, until a strange facility invasion unfolds. As chaos ensues, you must direct survivors to safety, reroute power, and monitor threats, all through a two-way radio and an archaic computer. Your choices will determine if your trapped best friend survives or not.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

75%

Audience ScoreBased on 146 reviews

story16 positive mentions

replayability3 negative mentions

The game features excellent voice acting and a captivating soundtrack that enhances the overall experience.
The branching dialogue system allows for multiple endings and engaging interactions, making each playthrough feel unique.
The atmosphere is well-crafted, with a nostalgic 80's aesthetic that adds to the immersive storytelling.

The game is disappointingly short, with many players completing it in under two hours, leading to a feeling of it being more of a demo than a full game.
The character Valerie is often perceived as unlikable and self-centered, which detracts from the player's investment in the story.
Gameplay mechanics, such as managing power and guiding Valerie, can feel shallow and repetitive, lacking depth and meaningful interaction.

story
80 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
76%
4%
The game's story is a mixed bag, with some players appreciating its focus on world-building and branching narratives influenced by player choices, while others criticize its reliance on an unlikable character, Valerie, and its short length, which can be completed in under two hours. The narrative draws on cheesy 1980s thriller tropes, and while the voice acting is praised, many feel the gameplay mechanics detract from the storytelling experience, leaving a sense of incompleteness. Overall, the story offers potential for multiple playthroughs but may not satisfy all players due to its limitations and pacing.
- “The generative engine means many possible endings, and it's fun to see how your choices along the way influence the story.”
- “If you played Firewatch and have been itching for more of that tasty story-based, multiple-choice answer, first-person role-play goodness, this is the long-awaited spiritual successor you've been waiting for.”
- “The main plot is fun and has some variability seen over several playthroughs, a good few puzzles/stories to follow outside that, and extremely solid voice acting throughout.”
- “The game (story) can easily be completed in less than 2 hours.”
- “Valerie is extremely annoying and very toxic, and given the whole plot relies on her, the game suffers.”
- “I don't want to spoil the story for those who wish to play, but you are basically playing as a passive listener, and sadly that stays that way throughout the 2-hour experience (which honestly could be done much faster if you realize when it's over).”
gameplay
62 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
10%
85%
5%
The gameplay is characterized by its minimalist mechanics that create tension without overwhelming stress, but many players feel it lacks depth and variety, leading to a shallow experience. While the core loop of managing tasks and interacting via radio is initially engaging, it quickly becomes repetitive, with players expressing a desire for more complex mechanics and a richer environment. Overall, the game offers some replay value and enjoyable moments, but many reviewers believe it could benefit from further development to enhance the gameplay experience.
- “It's not long or complex, but it has some replay value and manages to make its minimalist mechanics feel suitably tense without feeling overly stressful.”
- “The core gameplay loop of going back and forth with a person on a radio is engaging enough, but most fun will come from experimenting with the environment and, of course, different choices in the radio talk.”
- “I adore games like this with a tight narrative and set of mechanics.”
- “I liked the story and the voice acting, but it feels like the gameplay wasn't fully thought out.”
- “The gameplay loop of managing the map/computers/radio is intriguing and stressful initially, but once you've got a handle on it or you're playing a new shift, you don't have to really focus on it and move on to killing time in the booth with the 'pointless' tasks.”
- “Everything else is so shallow it just seems like it could've used a lot more time fully developing some actual gameplay mechanics.”
music
36 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
25%
8%
The music in the game has received high praise for its ambient sounds and retro synth-pop elements, effectively enhancing the overall atmosphere. Reviewers highlighted the exceptional voice acting and sound design, noting that the soundtrack significantly contributes to the immersive experience, despite some feeling it was underutilized in a game that felt more like a demo. Overall, the combination of music, voice acting, and sound design creates a compelling and engaging environment for players.
- “The music is great, the fake 80s touches are well done and the voice acting as a whole is pretty solid, which is critical in a game like this.”
- “Overall the voice acting, music, and atmosphere was a phenomenal experience and totally worth the time I have put into it.”
- “The atmosphere and especially the music are incredible, but it feels wasted on something that amounts to little more than a demo.”
- “And the music stops as soon as that happens, so it's not even fun to just chill in the booth once the game ends.”
- “The layering of sounds, music, dialogue, and visual cues badgers you on with just the right amount of stress, good and bad, that you want to see things through to the end.”
- “[*] sound and music: 6”
graphics
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
50%
17%
The graphics of the game are praised for their quality and effective representation of the "synth-fi" aesthetic, with a nostalgic nod to 80s visuals. While some players note that the confined setting limits breathtaking visuals, the overall presentation is considered appealing and well-executed, enhancing the game's immersive experience. Reviewers appreciate the graphics as a strong component that complements the game's mechanics and narrative.
- “The other aspects of the game are also on point; the graphics are nice to look at, and the sound design and music bring the whole experience together.”
- “The presentation definitely lands the 'synth-fi' aesthetic they're going for.”
- “People complaining about this game are the same type of people that just want the same type of mindless games with action, gore, and overstimulating visuals.”
- “The script helps sell each character, and the graphics sell the vision.”
atmosphere
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its immersive quality, enhanced by superb voice acting and a unique synth-pop soundtrack that evokes an 80s spooky vibe. Players appreciate the engaging exploration and the focus on character-driven storytelling, making it a compelling experience for those who prefer a narrative-rich environment over action-packed gameplay. However, some feel that the atmospheric elements are underutilized in what feels like a demo rather than a fully realized game.
- “Overall the voice acting, music, and atmosphere was a phenomenal experience and totally worth the time I have put into it.”
- “I had a lot of fun and can highly recommend this to the gamers out there who don't need flashy chase sequences and jumpscares or lots of action, but are instead looking for a real game about interesting people with an amazing atmosphere that really pulls you in.”
- “Great atmosphere, kind of like an 80's spooky version of Firewatch.”
replayability
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
37%
38%
The game's replayability is mixed; while it offers some value through various conversation paths and achievement hunting, its short duration and simplicity limit the overall replay potential. Players generally feel they can only revisit the game a few times to experience everything, as the story is brief and straightforward.
- “It's not long or complex, but it has some replay value and manages to make its minimalist mechanics feel suitably tense without feeling overly stressful.”
- “As for replay value, I feel like you could really only play this game three times max to get everything you might have missed, which won't take you very long considering the story runs for about an hour.”
- “Nice little game, although quite short, and there's not much replayability, except for achievement collectors, I guess.”
- “As for replay value, I feel like you could really only play this game 3 times max to get everything you might have missed out, which won't take you very long considering the story runs for about roughly an hour.”
- “The fact that there are so many conversation possibilities should increase the game's replay value a lot.”
emotional
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is characterized by a mix of humor and heartfelt dialogue, showcasing excellent writing that resonates with players. However, some reviewers noted a lack of lighthearted moments, as the game often jumps straight into combat without building emotional connections. Overall, the game's attention to detail in interactions adds depth to the emotional experience.
- “There's a lot of humor and a lot of genuine heartfelt dialogue - the writing is excellent.”
- “This game also looks and sounds phenomenal - the tiny details when interacting with realistic, creative objects like taking damage when touching a cactus or being healed by drinking water pay homage to many games and movies that came before it.”
optimization
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The optimization of the game is praised for its high-quality character performances, particularly highlighting Valerie's acting, which rivals that of many big-budget titles. The character interactions are also noted as being exceptionally well executed, enhancing the overall gaming experience.
- “Her performance is just as good, if not better, than the acting in many big budget games, and she adds a lot to the experience.”
- “And the character interactions and Valerie’s performance are both very well done.”
humor
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's humor is characterized by its ability to seamlessly shift from serious and emotional moments to lighthearted and funny dialogue, showcasing excellent writing that balances heartfelt interactions with comedic elements. Players appreciate this dynamic, which adds depth to the overall experience.
- “It can be serious and depressing one second, then the next you're making jokes and the dialogue turns kind of funny.”
- “There's a lot of humor and a lot of genuine heartfelt dialogue - the writing is excellent.”
stability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game demonstrates strong stability on the Steam Deck, with users reporting smooth performance and successful achievement tracking. Overall, it runs well on this platform.
- “I played this on the Steam Deck, where it runs great, by the way! I even unlocked many achievements on the Steam Deck.”
- “I played this on the Steam Deck, where it runs great, by the way! I even unlocked many achievements on the Steam Deck.”

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6h Median play time

6h Average play time

6-6h Spent by most gamers

*Based on 2 analyzed playthroughs

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