The Dead are Not Dead

About

"The Dead are Not Dead" is a survival horror game with tank controls and a third-person camera, reminiscent of PS1-era games. The player, as Alfred, searches for his older brother Jake in a post-apocalyptic world filled with slow zombies. The game features a low-budget 80's style plot, unprofessional dubbing, and graphics inspired by old PS1 games. Manual saving is required via ink and typewriters, and exploration is key.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

79%

Audience ScoreBased on 14 reviews

graphics2 positive mentions

gameplay3 negative mentions

The game successfully captures the nostalgic atmosphere of classic survival horror games like Resident Evil and Silent Hill, with its low-poly graphics and familiar mechanics.
For its low price, the game offers a solid experience with engaging gameplay, including boss fights and a variety of zombie models that enhance the horror experience.
Players appreciate the brief yet enjoyable runtime, making it a fun option for fans of retro survival horror looking for a quick gaming session.

The game suffers from technical issues, such as mouse control problems and poor voice acting, which detract from the overall experience.
Many locations feel repetitive and lack distinctiveness, leading to a sense of monotony during exploration and backtracking.
The gameplay can be frustrating due to illogical puzzle placements and inventory management issues, which can artificially extend the game's runtime.

gameplay
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
60%
The gameplay is praised for its faithful recreation of classic survival horror mechanics, including the use of ink ribbons for saving, storage boxes, and healing items, which evoke nostalgia for fans of the genre. The variety of creepy zombie models adds to the atmosphere, while some players feel that certain elements may artificially extend gameplay time. Overall, it successfully blends familiar elements with a few new mechanics, and it runs smoothly on the Steam Deck.
- “Everything has been made to mimic both as faithfully as possible. In particular, I loved the inclusion of all the mechanics of old Resident Evil games that we all know, and the remarkable variety of the zombie models, which are all particularly creepy-looking.”
- “A welcome change that immediately plunges you into familiar territory, with mechanics like having precious ink ribbons to save progress, storage boxes, and green herbs to munch on.”
- “It's just a whole thing to artificially pad the runtime in terms of gameplay.”
- “A welcome change that then immediately plunges you into familiar territory as well as mechanics like having precious ink ribbons to save progress, storage boxes, and green herbs to munch on.”
- “It will remind you of Silent Hill and Resident Evil, although with a few new mechanics.”
story
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
75%
The story is noted for its originality and attempts to deliver a heartfelt narrative reminiscent of classic titles, particularly in its family-searching theme. However, the execution suffers from repetitive environments that detract from the overall storytelling experience, making it feel padded and less engaging.
- “The plot is largely exempt of any profound influences and probably the most original out of everything!”
- “That said, the search for family plotline gave me throwbacks to Resident Evil 2 and Silent Hill (1999); the quest for a safe haven reminded me of Resident Evil: Afterlife.”
- “It appeared to genuinely attempt to tell a heartfelt story that could rival even The Walking Dead, only more close-knit and small-scale.”
- “The plot is largely devoid of any profound influences and probably the least original aspect of the game.”
- “It appeared to genuinely attempt to tell a heartfelt story that could rival even The Walking Dead, but it felt more close-knit and small-scale.”
- “Every single area was ridiculously spacious and identical in their environmental storytelling due to repeating props, almost as if to exclaim 'forget interesting set pieces, we just need places to pad the runtime.'”
atmosphere
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
67%
The game effectively establishes a foreboding atmosphere through its gritty visuals, haunting sound design, and minimalist soundtrack, which together enhance the feelings of loneliness and tension. Players particularly appreciate how the sound complements the eerie silence, immersing them in a world filled with moaning zombies and a palpable sense of dread. Overall, the atmospheric elements are a standout feature, evoking a strong sense of the classic PSX horror experience.
- “This game creates a nice sense of foreboding atmosphere with its gritty visuals, moaning zombies, and ambient, minimalist soundtrack.”
- “I appreciated and adored the sound design more than anything it had to offer visually… it complemented the loneliness and deathly silent atmosphere by having you walk-run with either nothing but the noises you make or the snarls of zombies.”
- “The only thing that this game gets right is the PSX atmosphere.”
- “I appreciated and adored the sound design more than anything it had to offer visually; it complemented the loneliness and deathly silent atmosphere by having you walk-run with either nothing but the noises you make or the snarls of zombies.”
graphics
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
50%
The game's graphics effectively evoke a foreboding atmosphere through gritty visuals and low-poly design, reminiscent of PS1-era survival horror titles. The combination of moaning zombies and a minimalist soundtrack enhances the overall experience, creating a nostalgic yet immersive environment.
- “This game creates a nice sense of foreboding atmosphere with its gritty visuals, moaning zombies, and ambient, minimalist soundtrack.”
- “The low-poly graphics grant it a dose of PS1 nostalgia, which would have been enough to sway your judgment. The variety of locations you frequent, despite their minimal resemblance, adds an extra kick of reminiscence towards classic survival horror games.”
- “The low-poly graphics grant it a dose of PS1 nostalgia, which would have been enough to sway your judgment, but the list of locations you frequent—however little the actual resemblance—gives it that extra kick of reminiscence towards the classic survival horror games.”
music
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
150%
The game's music effectively enhances the foreboding atmosphere, featuring a minimalist soundtrack that complements the gritty visuals and moaning zombies. Notably, music emerges during safe rooms, boss encounters, and jumpscares, adding a unique touch when the character Alfred performs with his instrument.
- “This game creates a nice sense of foreboding atmosphere with its gritty visuals, moaning zombies, and ambient, minimalist soundtrack.”
- “The music only materializes out of thin air in safe rooms, boss encounters, jumpscares, and when Alfred literally whips out his instrument to strum away and sing a tune.”
- “The soundtrack feels disjointed and fails to enhance the overall experience, often feeling out of place during key moments.”
- “While the game has a gritty atmosphere, the music does little to contribute to the tension or immersion, often feeling forgettable.”
emotional
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is praised for its sincere effort to deliver a heartfelt narrative, drawing comparisons to the emotional depth of "The Walking Dead," albeit on a more intimate scale. However, technical issues like camera stutters when interacting with the environment may detract from the overall emotional experience.
- “It genuinely attempts to tell a heartfelt story that could rival even The Walking Dead, but on a more close-knit and small-scale level.”