Interference: Dead Air

75%
Game Brain Score Based on 73 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • music
Interference: Dead Air Game Cover
Starting at $14.99Buy now
Get on Steam Get on itch.io Store

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.

  • PC
  • Steam Deck
  • Windows
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

75%
Audience ScoreBased on 73 reviews
story8 positive mentions
  • The game features excellent voice acting and a captivating soundtrack that enhances the overall atmosphere.
  • The branching dialogue system allows for multiple endings and engaging interactions, making each playthrough feel unique.
  • The game's retro aesthetic and immersive environment create a nostalgic experience reminiscent of classic 80s sci-fi tales.
  • 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.
  • story40 mentions

    The game's story is a mixed bag, with some players appreciating its focus on world-building and character-driven narratives, while others criticize its brevity and reliance on a single character, Valerie, who is often seen as unlikable. The branching paths and multiple endings offer some replay value, but many feel the gameplay mechanics detract from the storytelling experience, leaving a sense of dissatisfaction despite solid voice acting and an engaging premise. Overall, while the story has potential, it often feels underdeveloped and constrained by its format.

    • “The generative engine means many possible endings, and it's fun to see how your choices along the way influence the story.”
    • “The main plot is fun and has some variability seen over several playthroughs, with a good few puzzles and stories to follow outside that, and extremely solid voice acting throughout.”
    • “As you get into your night, you'll receive several radio calls from friends and co-workers that move the story along, which unfolds into a disaster where you, a lowly paid security guard, have to start making difficult choices since you're the only one who knows how to make competent choices.”
    • “The game 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.”
  • gameplay31 mentions

    The gameplay is characterized by its minimalist mechanics that create tension without overwhelming stress, but many players feel it lacks depth and variety. While the core loop of managing tasks and interacting with characters is initially engaging, it quickly becomes repetitive and shallow, with several reviewers suggesting that more diverse mechanics and a larger environment could enhance the experience. Overall, the game offers some replay value and enjoyable moments, but it struggles to maintain engagement over longer play sessions.

    • “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 gameplay loop of managing the map, computers, and radio is intriguing and stressful initially, but once you've got a handle on it, you can move on to killing time in the booth with the 'pointless' tasks.”
    • “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 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.”
  • music18 mentions

    The music in the game has received high praise for its ambient quality and retro synth-pop influences, contributing significantly to the overall atmosphere. Reviewers highlight the exceptional voice acting and sound design, noting that the soundtrack enhances the gaming experience, despite some feeling it could be better utilized. Overall, the combination of music and voice work creates a compelling and immersive environment.

    • “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.”
    • “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.”
    • “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 songs (especially some of them) are truly amazing.”
  • graphics9 mentions

    The graphics are well-executed, effectively capturing a "synth-fi" aesthetic reminiscent of the 80s, though some players find certain elements too well hidden. While the visuals may not be breathtaking due to the game's confined setting, they are generally praised for their quality and contribution to the overall experience. Overall, the graphics complement the game's mechanics and narrative, enhancing player immersion.

    • “Fun little game with cool 80's aesthetics.”
    • “The other aspects of the game are also on point, the graphics are nice to look at, sound design and music bring the whole experience together.”
    • “The presentation definitely lands the 'synth-fi' aesthetic they're going for.”
    • “The script helps sell each character, and the graphics sell the vision.”
    • “It is graphically really well done, I felt some of the puzzle pieces were too well hidden, but great to find your way through these though.”
  • atmosphere7 mentions

    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 depth of character interactions, making it a compelling experience for those who prefer narrative-driven gameplay over action. However, some feel that the atmospheric elements are underutilized in a game that feels more like a demo than a full experience.

    • “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 gamers 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.”
  • replayability4 mentions

    Overall, the game's replayability is mixed; while it offers some tension and multiple conversation paths that enhance replay value, its short duration and limited complexity mean players may only return a few times, primarily for achievement hunting or to explore different narrative outcomes.

    • “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 fact that there are so many conversation possibilities should increase the game's replay value significantly.”
    • “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.”
  • emotional3 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is mixed; while some players feel it lacks fun banter and heartfelt moments, others praise the excellent writing that includes humor and genuine dialogue. Additionally, the game's attention to detail in interactions enhances the overall emotional experience, connecting it to beloved games and movies.

    • “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.”
  • optimization2 mentions

    The optimization of the game is praised for its high-quality character performances, which rival those found in many big-budget titles, enhancing the overall gaming experience. The interactions, particularly with the character Valerie, are noted for their excellence.

    • “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.”
    • “The character interactions and Valerie’s performance are both very well done.”
  • humor2 mentions

    The humor in the game is noted for its ability to shift seamlessly between serious and lighthearted moments, often blending genuine heartfelt dialogue with witty jokes. Reviewers praise the excellent writing that enhances both the comedic and emotional aspects of the narrative.

    • “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.”
  • stability1 mentions

    The game demonstrates strong stability on the Steam Deck, with users reporting smooth performance and successful achievement tracking.

    • “I played this on the Steam Deck, where it runs great by the way. I even unlocked many of the achievements on the Steam Deck.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Buy Interference: Dead Air

Play time

6hMedian play time
6hAverage play time
6-6hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 1 analyzed playthroughs

Videos

Similar Games

Game News