The Dead are Not Dead

About

The Dead are Not Dead is a single player survival shooter game with a horror theme. It was developed by 616 GAMES and was released on June 1, 2023. It received positive reviews from players.

"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

Skip User Reviews

81%

Audience ScoreBased on 21 reviews

atmosphere3 positive mentions

gameplay3 negative mentions

A nostalgic homage to classic survival horror games, reminiscent of Resident Evil and Silent Hill, with a gritty atmosphere and engaging gameplay.
The game features a unique blend of tank controls and a modern 360-degree camera, providing a fresh yet familiar experience for fans of the genre.
Despite its simplicity, the game offers a fun and entertaining experience, with a decent runtime that doesn't overstay its welcome.

The controls can feel clunky and unresponsive, with issues like tank controls and a lack of a crosshair affecting combat effectiveness.
The game suffers from significant backtracking and sparse item placement, making exploration feel unrewarding and tedious.
Performance issues and bugs, such as camera glitches and poor voice acting, detract from the overall experience.

gameplay
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
50%
30%
The gameplay of "The dead are not dead (t.a.n.d.)" is a nostalgic homage to classic survival horror, featuring PS1-era aesthetics and mechanics that will resonate with fans of the genre. While the challenge is manageable and the narrative is straightforward, the game incorporates retro elements like ink ribbons for saving progress, which may appeal to some players while frustrating others. Overall, it successfully captures the essence of beloved titles like Resident Evil and Silent Hill, enhanced by a variety of creepy zombie models and a few new mechanics.
- “Still, the challenge never becomes punishing, and the quirks are part of the charm for those who grew up on this style of gameplay.”
- “Everything has been made to mimic both as faithfully as possible, in particular I loved the inclusion of all the mechanics of old RE games that we all know, and the remarkable variety of the zombie models, which are all particularly creepy-looking.”
- “The gameplay will feel instantly familiar to fans of old-school survival horror.”
- “There’s no autosave, so you’ll need to use ink ribbons and typewriters to save your progress—another throwback that will either delight or frustrate, depending on your tolerance for retro mechanics.”
- “It’s just a whole thing to artificially pad the runtime in terms of gameplay.”
story
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
22%
45%
33%
The story is generally viewed as serviceable but not particularly engaging, with some reviewers noting its serious tone and attempts at heartfelt storytelling. While it features entertaining elements reminiscent of classic games, the plot lacks depth and originality, often relying on familiar tropes and repetitive environments that detract from the overall experience.
- “That said, the story was more on the serious side than I personally expected.”
- “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 story is not very interesting, but serviceable for what it is; don't expect anything too powerful here.”
- “616 Games is responsible for a series of games called 'Poop Killer' after all, so I doubt anyone is going into this one with particularly high expectations of the storytelling.”
- “The plot is largely exempt of any profound influences and probably the most original out of everything!”
graphics
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
60%
The graphics of "The Dead Are Not Dead" evoke a strong sense of nostalgia with their PS1-era aesthetics, featuring low-poly visuals that contribute to a gritty atmosphere fitting for a survival horror game. While some users note performance issues, the stylish and cheesy presentation, along with the game's ability to create a foreboding ambiance, enhances the overall experience.
- “The dead are not dead (t.a.n.d.) is a nostalgic nod to the golden age of survival horror, unapologetically drenched in PS1-era aesthetics and mechanics.”
- “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 that dose of PS1 nostalgia which would’ve been enough to sway your judgment, but the list of locations you’re to frequent gives it that extra kick of reminiscence towards the named survival horror games.”
- “Performance can be bad even though the game has PS1 graphics.”
- “The low-poly graphics grant it that dose of PS1 nostalgia which would’ve been enough to sway your judgment, but the list of locations you frequent, however little the actual resemblances, gives it that extra kick of reminiscence towards the named survival horror games.”
- “The dead are not dead (T.A.N.D.) is a nostalgic nod to the golden age of survival horror, unapologetically drenched in PS1-era aesthetics and mechanics.”
atmosphere
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
50%
The game's atmosphere is characterized by a foreboding sense of danger, enhanced by gritty visuals, moaning zombies, and a minimalist soundtrack that emphasizes loneliness and tension. Players appreciate the sound design, which effectively complements the eerie environment and contributes to the overall PSX-inspired ambiance.
- “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.”
- “With a guitar slung over his shoulder and danger lurking in every shadow, Alfred's journey unfolds through combat, light puzzle-solving, and atmospheric exploration.”
- “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.”
stability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's stability has been criticized for being clunky and buggy, though some players find it acceptable if they are willing to overlook these issues for a simpler survival horror experience. Overall, it may appeal to those who prioritize gameplay over polish.
- “It's clunky and buggy.”
- “If you don't mind your survival horror being a little simple and unrefined, then this is a great minor commitment, but it's not a buggy mess!”
music
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
150%
The game's music effectively enhances the atmosphere, featuring a minimalist soundtrack that contributes to a sense of foreboding, while more dynamic musical elements emerge during safe rooms, boss encounters, and key moments, such as character performances.
- “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 leaving moments feeling flat and uninspired.”
- “While the game has a gritty atmosphere, the music does not contribute effectively to the tension, making it feel more like an afterthought.”
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 can detract from the overall experience.
- “It appeared to genuinely attempt to tell a heartfelt story that could rival even The Walking Dead, only more close-knit and small-scale.”
optimization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Despite its retro PS1-style graphics, users report that the game's performance can be subpar, indicating issues with optimization that detract from the overall experience.
- “Performance can be bad even though the game has PS1 graphics.”
- “The game struggles to maintain a stable frame rate, making it frustrating to play.”
- “Optimization issues lead to long loading times and frequent stuttering during gameplay.”