Dead Format

Game Summary

Dead Format is a first-person survival horror game that blends classic genre foundations with analog horror and meta storytelling. Players step into the role of a protagonist searching for their missing brother, beginning in a seemingly ordinary apartment before discovering a series of mysterious VHS-style tapes. Each tape acts as a gateway into a different film universe, pulling players between realities as they unravel the mystery.

The game emphasizes traditional survival horror design, featuring limited inventory management, puzzle-focused progression, and deliberate backtracking. Combat draws inspiration from classic Resident Evil titles, including encounters with a relentless stalker enemy that creates sustained tension throughout the experience.

One of Dead Format's standout features is its use of live-action footage. Before entering each film world, players can watch a short live-action sequence on an in-game television, with each film drawing inspiration from a different horror era, ranging from German Expressionist horror to practical-effects splatter and colorful 1980s slashers. Each world is visually filtered to reflect its cinematic influence, reinforcing the game's analog horror aesthetic.

Exploration and puzzle-solving form the core of the experience. While many puzzles involve environmental and inventory-based interactions, others introduce more creative and unusual mechanics. The interconnected level design encourages exploration and revisiting previous areas, with optional secrets and hints of replayability through alternate outcomes.

With a runtime of approximately eight hours, Dead Format offers a compact but distinctive survival horror experience. Fans of atmospheric, first-person horror games such as Among Ashes, Resident Evil 7, and Routine will find much to appreciate in its unique structure, tone, and presentation.

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