Dead of Darkness

Top-down survival horror with scarce supplies and unsettling hallucinations

Retrofiction Games · Released Jan 23, 2025

Reviews: Very Positive; 87% of 225
Recent reviews: Not enough recent
Playing now: 1; right now
Steam Deck: Verified
Last update: 7 months ago; Feb 16, 2026

What is Dead of Darkness?

This top-down, pixel-art survival horror game takes place on Velvet Island in 1985, where private investigator Miles Windham follows a lead about his daughter's death. Search for clues, solve puzzles, manage limited supplies, and fight or evade enemies. Encounters also affect Miles's mental state, triggering hallucinations.

For you if...

+you enjoy careful exploration and puzzle solving
+you like tense survival horror with scarce resources
+you want a story-driven game with cosmic horror

Not for you if...

−you prefer fast action over careful route planning
−you want a relaxed game without hostile encounters

What players say

87% of 225 reviews are positive

Players praise the story, voice acting, atmosphere, and classic survival-horror pacing. They often complain that the map and inventory do not pause combat, while some find the backtracking and sudden enemy attacks frustrating.

Screenshots and trailer

Dead of Darkness system requirements

As published by the developer.

Minimum

OS: Windows 7, 8, 8.1, 10 x64
Processor: Intel Pentium D 830 (2* 3000) or equivalent / AMD Athlon 64 4000+ (2600) or equivalent
Graphics: GeForce 7600 GT (256 MB)
Memory: 2 GB RAM
Storage: 1 GB available space
DirectX: Version 10