Into the Dead: Our Darkest Days is a Survival Zombie game. This isn’t your typical zombie game. It’s a true side-scroller. That sounds fresh and cool, but does it really fit the tone of the game, and is it practical from a (zombie) gameplay perspective? Here is our Into the Dead: Our Darkest Days Preview.
Texas, 1980. Walton City has fallen to a zombie outbreak. Lead a band of desperate survivors from refuge to refuge by scavenging, crafting, and fighting in a relentless struggle for survival. Plan wisely, stick together, and above all keep moving if you want to make it out alive.
The game is published by Boltray Games & PikPok and developed by PikPok
Survival and Moral Choices
The game places you in a post-apocalyptic world where you must help a group of survivors move from shelter to shelter. Every decision matters: who do you send out to scavenge for supplies? Who stays behind to defend the shelter? The moral choices are tough; sometimes, leaving a survivor behind is necessary to protect the rest of the group.
Atmosphere and Presentation
The game’s aesthetic is dark and atmospheric, capturing the bleak 1980s ambiance. The environments are detailed, portraying decay and despair. With scary zombie growls and soft background noises, the music and sound effects intensify the tension and keep you on edge all the time.
Personal Experience and Final Thoughts
This game genuinely surprised me. Normally, I’m not a fan of side-scrollers, I honestly thought Assassin’s Creed Chronicles was terrible. I really don’t like that kind of style, unless it’s an old-school retro game. Then it just fits! But in this case, it really works. At first, I was just messing around a bit. You don’t just move left to right, you can also go upstairs and more. But after a while, I started to really get a feel for the game and got the hang of the controls. When I got to try the game at Gamescom 2024, there were still a few small bugs. For example, I picked up one item, but the game showed me a completely different one.
I think it’s fresh and innovative, and that’s exactly what we need right now! The game is now available in Early Access, so you can try it for yourself!
Conclusion
This game successfully creates an immersive post-apocalyptic atmosphere, where moral dilemmas and strategic decisions take center stage. Despite initial skepticism about the side-scrolling genre, the game proves surprisingly effective thanks to its strong ambiance, innovative gameplay, and thoughtful design. The experience at Gamescom 2024 showed that there are still a few minor issues to fix, but the original approach and fresh ideas make this a title worth watching. For anyone looking for something new and challenging, this Early Access version is definitely worth trying.
Buy the full game now on Steam!
A big thank you to the team for the invitation – it was a fantastic experience!
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