Skip to main content

The Dead are Not Dead

53%Game Brain Score
graphics, music
story, gameplay
81% User Score Based on 16 reviews

Platforms

PCPCWindowsWindows
Buy Nowfrom $0.99
Buy NowGet on Steam$0.99Buy NowGet on itch.io Store$1.99

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
The Dead are Not Dead screenshot
The Dead are Not Dead screenshot
The Dead are Not Dead screenshot
The Dead are Not Dead screenshot
The Dead are Not Dead screenshot
The Dead are Not Dead screenshot
The Dead are Not Dead screenshot
The Dead are Not Dead screenshot

81%
Audience ScoreBased on 16 reviews
graphics2 positive mentions
gameplay3 negative mentions
  • The game is a solid homage to classic survival horror games, particularly reminiscent of Resident Evil and Silent Hill, with engaging mechanics and a nostalgic atmosphere.
  • Despite its short runtime, the game offers a compelling story with unexpected dark turns and a gritty visual style that enhances the horror experience.
  • For its low price, the game provides a fun and enjoyable experience, making it a worthwhile choice for fans of retro survival horror.
  • The game suffers from technical issues, such as mouse control problems and poor voice acting, which detract from the overall experience.
  • Enemy variety is limited, and the game features excessive backtracking and padding, which can lead to frustration during gameplay.
  • While it aims to capture the essence of classic horror, the game often feels derivative and lacks originality, relying heavily on nostalgia without offering substantial new content.
  • story
    5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The story is praised for its originality and heartfelt approach, drawing comparisons to notable titles like "The Walking Dead" and "Resident Evil." However, the environmental storytelling suffers from repetitive settings, which detracts from the overall narrative experience.

    • “The plot is largely exempt of any profound influences and probably the most original out of everything!”
    • “It appeared to genuinely attempt to tell a heartfelt story that could rival even The Walking Dead, only more close-knit and small-scale.”
    • “That said, the searching for family plot line gave me throwbacks to Resident Evil 2 and Silent Hill (1999); the looking for a safe haven - Resident Evil: Afterlife.”
    • “The plot is largely devoid of any profound influences and is probably the most original out of everything!”
    • “It appeared to genuinely attempt (emphasis on this) to tell a heartfelt story that could rival even The Walking Dead, only more close-knit and small-scale.”
    • “Every single area was ridiculously spacious and identical in their environmental storytelling thanks to repeating props, almost as if to exclaim 'forget interesting set pieces, we just need places to pad the runtime.'”
  • gameplay
    5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay is praised for its faithful recreation of classic Resident Evil mechanics, including the use of ink ribbons for saving, storage boxes, and healing items, while also introducing new elements. Players appreciate the variety of creepy zombie models and the nostalgic feel that evokes memories of both Resident Evil and Silent Hill. However, some feel that certain aspects may artificially extend gameplay time.

    • “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.”
  • atmosphere
    3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    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 successfully evoke a nostalgic PSX vibe that resonates with fans.

    • “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

    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 resemblances—gives it that extra kick of reminiscence towards the named survival horror games.”
  • music
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's music effectively enhances the atmosphere, featuring a minimalist soundtrack that complements its gritty visuals and moaning zombies. Players note that music primarily emerges during safe rooms, boss encounters, and jumpscares, adding to the overall tension and immersion.

    • “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 music only materializes out of thin air in safe rooms (if even then), boss encounters, jumpscares, and when Alfred literally whips out his instrument to strum away and sing a tune.”
  • emotional
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game is praised for its genuine effort to deliver a heartfelt story, drawing comparisons to "The Walking Dead" for its emotional depth, albeit on a smaller scale. However, technical issues like camera stutters when interacting with the environment may 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.”

Buy The Dead are Not Dead

Videos

Games Like The Dead are Not Dead

Tormented Souls Image
This game contains adult content
83%3.4kreviews

Tormented Souls

2021Survival Shooter
PCPCXboxXboxXbox Series X|SXbox Series X|S+6
Hollowbody Image
This game contains adult content
82%2.1kreviews

Hollowbody

2024Survival Survival
PCPCWindowsWindowsSteam DeckSteam Deck
Red Valley Image
This game contains adult content
74%65reviews

Red Valley

2022Survival Shooter
PCPCWindowsWindowsPlayStationPlayStation
Organ Quarter Image
This game contains adult content
89%243reviews

Organ Quarter

2017Action Adventure
PCPCOculus RiftOculus RiftOculus QuestOculus Quest+5
Daymare: 1998 Image
This game contains adult content
61%1.5kreviews

Daymare: 1998

2019Survival Action Adventure
PCPCXboxXboxXbox Series X|SXbox Series X|S+6
Eternal Evil Image
This game contains adult content
77%252reviews

Eternal Evil

2022Shooter
PCPCXboxXboxXbox Series X|SXbox Series X|S+1
GHOST at DAWN Image
This game contains adult content
88%82reviews

GHOST at DAWN

2023Survival Action Adventure
PCPCWindowsWindows
Alisa Image
90%1.4kreviews

Alisa

2021Survival Action Adventure
PCPCWindowsWindowsPlayStationPlayStation+2
Heaven Dust 2 Image
90%289reviews

Heaven Dust 2

2022Survival Role Playing Shooter
PCPCPlaystation 4Playstation 4WindowsWindows+2
Eldervale Image
88%134reviews

Eldervale

2019Survival Shooter
PCPCXboxXboxWindowsWindows+2