Rewind Or Die

About

Rewind Or Die is a single player survival simulation game with horror, mystery and thriller themes. It was developed by TORTURE STAR VIDEO and was released on April 14, 2023. It received very positive reviews from players.

There's a serial killer stalking your video store, and you just got called into work on your day off! Stock shelves, deal with customers and run for your life!

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

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94%

Audience ScoreBased on 341 reviews

music36 positive mentions

grinding5 negative mentions

Authentic and immersive retro VHS/PS1-style horror aesthetic and atmosphere with great attention to detail, including a well-designed video store setting.
Engaging mix of gameplay elements: puzzle solving, exploration, stealth, and escape/chase sequences with replayability via multiple endings and secrets.
Humorous and campy tone that complements the horror elements, featuring memorable voice acting, character interactions, and a standout heavy metal chase soundtrack.
Short and well-paced experience that captures the feel of a slasher movie, suitable for a single sitting but rewarding exploration.
Polished despite being indie, with solid level design (outside of sewer section), quality audio design, and a unique British setting adding charm.

The sewer/maze chapter is widely criticized for confusing, repetitive, and tedious level design, causing frustration and pacing issues.
Chase music (heavy metal) during pursuit sections is divisive; some find it breaks immersion and becomes annoying after repeated listens.
Puzzles are generally simple or easy to solve, and gameplay can be linear; some players find aspects like objective clarity and item interaction unintuitive or obtuse.
Short overall playtime might feel undersized for the price to some; also issues with controls like lack of native gamepad support and occasional interface challenges.
Jump scares and horror elements can feel overused or not particularly scary, sometimes undermined by humor and tone shifts.

music
83 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
43%
51%
6%
The game's overall soundtrack is praised for its catchy, fitting, and fun music that enhances the retro horror vibe and atmosphere. However, the heavy metal chase music, while a "banger" for many, received mixed reactions—some find it thrilling and fitting for a B-movie feel, while others feel it clashes with the horror tone and becomes repetitive or distracting during extended sequences. Despite this, the music and sound design are widely regarded as standout elements that contribute significantly to the game's charm and experience.
- “The chase music was a banger, and the final boss music was epic!”
- “The story was great, I loved the voice acting, the music was fire, the tension was high, the scares were frightening, the gore was visceral, and it was disturbing!”
- “The sound design of certain interactions, and especially again, the music in all areas, is engaging and frankly, amazing.”
- “The chase music that plays when the villain tries to kill you isn't scary at all; it's so goofy that it ruins the atmosphere.”
- “Every time Pigman chases, and that goofy music starts up, it annihilates the vibe.”
- “The chase music during chase scenes is awful; it completely ruins the experience.”
story
46 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
46%
47%
7%
The story is widely praised for its engaging, nostalgic, and atmospheric horror theme, often compared to classic 80's slasher movies with memorable characters and effective jump scares. While it is generally straightforward and somewhat cheesy, the narrative's charm, multiple endings, and integration with gameplay and puzzles make it a compelling experience. Some users wish for deeper character development or more side content, but overall the story is considered a strong, fun, and fitting element of the game.
- “The story was great, I loved the voice acting, the music was fire, the tension was high, the scares were frightening, the gore was visceral, and it was disturbing!”
- “Bloodwash's optional activities, great storyline and character interactions make it a far more enjoyable and interesting experience than Rewind or Die.”
- “A beautiful game with a beautiful story and beautiful graphics.”
- “Not for nostalgia, not for gameplay, not for story, and not for the horrible map design (sewers).”
- “The story itself is standard fare for this sub-genre, wherein the player goes to 'work' or 'school' and then is confronted (or in this particular case kidnapped) by some slasher archetype; padding out the runtime before the actual horror starts.”
- “I would have liked to see some explanation of the killer's backstory and motives as whilst he has a strong design, he seems very 2D.”
graphics
41 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
49%
44%
7%
The game's graphics are widely praised for their authentic PS1-style retro aesthetic combined with VHS effects, creating an immersive and nostalgic horror experience reminiscent of the 80s and 90s. While not slick or high-definition, the grainy visuals and art style are considered exceptional within this niche, enhancing the atmosphere and complementing the story. Some players appreciate the option to toggle filters like the VHS effect, but overall, the graphics are regarded as a standout feature integral to the game's charm.
- “The game's retro aesthetic and VHS-style visuals create a truly immersive and nostalgic experience, reminiscent of classic horror films from the 80s and 90s.”
- “The graphics as always with these types of retro-styled indie games are fantastic, I love it all to death.”
- “If you're into this aesthetic, I'd argue that this is probably the best looking game within this style.”
- “I think my main issue with graphics is something that you can turn off at any point: the VHS filter.”
- “But, sadly, it ruins the aesthetic a fair amount.”
- “Found this one to be shorter though, and somewhat different from other games, it feels more aesthetically leaned toward the early 2000s instead of the 80s, which is a good thing for a change of pace.”
gameplay
41 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
32%
61%
7%
The gameplay is generally praised for being engaging, challenging without frustration, and incorporating unique mechanics like a rewind feature, though some find certain chase sequences and maze sections repetitive or tedious. Puzzle-solving and exploration are central, with a mostly linear progression that builds tension later in the game. While some criticize simplistic or underwhelming puzzles and occasional technical issues, many highlight the solid design, atmosphere, and enjoyable playtime.
- “A well-made retro PSX horror game with terrifying gameplay complemented by tough-to-make decisions and novel side quests.”
- “The British town setting gives it a fun "video nasty" vibe and the survival horror gameplay is perfectly tuned to be challenging without being frustrating or overwhelming.”
- “The gameplay is challenging, but never feels unfair or frustrating, as you navigate through eerie environments and encounter terrifying enemies.”
- “The problem is I don't think I've ever played or seen a game that handles boss or unkillable enemies chasing you that well (Hellknight probably the closest it gets), and this one falls into having all the issues that come with the mechanic.”
- “Very annoying chase sequences that devolve into trial and error gameplay.”
- “Puzzles were underwhelming, gameplay was simplistic, chases were boring and repetitive.”
humor
35 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game skillfully blends dark, crude, and dry humor with its horror elements, providing funny dialogue, quirky voice acting, and amusing references to pop culture and British culture. Players appreciate its lighthearted tone amid scares, comedic character interactions, and humorous secret bosses, making it an entertaining and refreshing horror experience. Overall, its humor complements the spooky atmosphere without undermining the tension.
- “This game succeeds for me in two key ways: it's somewhat humorous without making the whole game a joke, and it's scary but not so scary I had to stop playing.”
- “The game is pretty nostalgic of when Blockbuster used to be around with funny references to Titanic, Godfather, Indiana Jones, Toy Story, Halloween, and other classic movies as you try to work as a clerk dealing with rude customers, a rude boss, and a killer on the loose.”
- “There's also quite a bit of humor in this as well; the Britishness of it all gave me a weird low-rent version of Peep Show vibes, and I found myself laughing quite a bit, especially in the game's excellent first chapter, where you close up the shop.”
atmosphere
33 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
42%
49%
9%
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its strong retro, VHS-inspired aesthetic, immersive world-building, and effective sound design that evoke a nostalgic yet grimy horror vibe. However, opinions vary as some criticize inconsistent mood due to goofy music and jokes, weaker tension in later chapters, and occasional clunky pacing or puzzle design that disrupt the flow. Overall, the atmosphere is a standout feature that delivers memorable scares and tone, especially in the early segments, though it doesn't always maintain its intensity throughout.
- “Bloodwash was much scarier; the jump scares felt earned, and it did a much better job building its atmosphere than Rewind or Die.”
- “Presentation and atmosphere are everything in this short but visceral experience.”
- “The atmosphere is deliciously retro, and let’s be honest—where else can you get a pixelated slasher experience that wraps up faster than a ’90s B-movie?”
- “The chase music that plays when the villain tries to kill you isn't scary at all; it's so goofy, that it ruins the atmosphere.”
- “Sadly, the dumb jokes ruined the atmosphere and tension on several occasions for me.”
- “The atmosphere falls flat for me.”
grinding
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Grinding sections, particularly chase sequences, tend to start tense but quickly become tedious due to their linear design and repetitive mechanics. The lack of challenging puzzles and visually similar environments contribute to players feeling lost and frustrated. While not overly difficult, these parts often slow down the overall experience.
- “My main feelings on this chase sequence were that it was a bit tense at first before it slowly became kind of tedious, mainly due to the linear nature of these segments. One wrong corner turn and two stabs in a row, and you're dead and sent back to the last checkpoint.”
- “There's a mechanic in that section that is downright tedious, and everything mildly looks the same, making it easy to get lost and forget where you were going in the first place.”
- “I will say that the second chase with Slaw can be a bit tedious as he's always hot on your trail while you find the pressure release switches.”
replayability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
100%
The game's replayability is viewed as limited by some users, with a short main story and minimal incentives to replay beyond the final chapter, while others appreciate the added value and consider the replay elements enough to justify the price. Overall, replay value is present but modest.
- “In my opinion, it doesn’t take long to beat the game, but it has replay value which makes it better. It's definitely worth the price.”
- “Even though the game is short, there is some replay value.”
- “And because of that there is no replay value besides the final chapter, which is only about 10 minutes of the game. I say the game doesn't justify the price to me.”
- “Although the game is short, there is a bit of replay value, but it's limited.”
- “The game is too short and lacks meaningful replayability.”
emotional
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game evokes strong, nostalgic feelings, reminiscent of childhood memories and deeply moving experiences similar to those inspired by heartfelt movies like "Pig" starring Nicolas Cage.
- “Made me feel like a kid again going to Movie Gallery with my parents.”
optimization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is generally well-optimized, running smoothly without bugs or significant performance issues. Minor texture flickering and brief stutters occur on the Steam Deck but only momentarily affect gameplay.
- “Seems pretty polished; didn't experience any bugs or performance issues, love to see it.”
- “Steam Deck had some flickering textures and minor performance stutters, but it only affected my experience for a few seconds each time.”
character development
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Users praised the character design for being top notch, highlighting its strong contribution to the game's overall atmosphere and level design.