Dead Format thrusts players into a 1990s Scotland survival horror where a missing brother obsesses over banned GHL VHS tapes called "Video Ghastlies," pulling users into live-action infused nightmares from iconic film styles. Developed solo by katanalevy using Unreal Engine 5, it blends first-person exploration, puzzles, and combat across twisted worlds accessed via apartment-hub tapes. Full release hits Steam December 10, 2025, following a demo hailed for atmosphere and innovation.
Cursed Tapes and Scottish Mystery Plot
Set in late 90s Scotland, players scour a cluttered apartment for clues about a sibling vanished amid GHL tape fixation, sparking a government ban probe. Inserting tapes warps reality into horror homages—Silent Era shadows, Italian Giallo intrigue, 80s body mutations, found footage dread—each with unique enemies, bosses, and lore tying to the brother's fate. Live-action VHS previews (shot with practical effects like stop-motion, puppets, latex masks) foreshadow threats, blurring media and gameplay.
The hub apartment enables saving, inventory management, and tape combo-crafting for progression, with transferable items across eras adding strategy. Narrative unfolds via notes, footage, and environmental storytelling, evoking Videodrome's flesh-tech fusion and analog unease. Demo covers initial Silent and Body Horror tapes, hinting at expanded full-game scope.
Solo dev katanalevy infuses personal touches, filming family footage through real VCRs for authentic distortion, crafting a mixed-media tribute to VHS nasties and B-movies.
Survival Horror Mechanics and Combat
First-person gameplay emphasizes scavenging supplies, solving era-specific puzzles (lab gates, violin foes, rising undead), and surviving with improvised arsenals like the grotesque "Flesh Gun" of bone and meat. Peek, crouch, sprint, aim, and quick-swap tools via intuitive controls (WASD/E/Tab standard, full controller support). Worlds feature branching paths, shortcuts, and no mid-level saves for tension.
Tapes seamlessly transition to interactive horrors post-previews, with combat blending shooting, melee, and evasion against grotesque bosses. Puzzles demand clue-hunting (notes, items), while scarcity forces resource management. Demo showcases tight loops: explore tape world, craft new tape, return to hub—polished yet brief.
Unreal Engine delivers ray-traced lighting and VHS filters without overwhelming performance, though streaming may stutter on HDDs.
Atmosphere, Visuals, and Sound Design
Practical effects shine in live-action clips—water tanks, green-screen, signal noise—evoking cult VHS panic, paired with 3D worlds mimicking film grain and era aesthetics. Enemies like grave-robbing undead or lab mutants build dread through sound (heavy steps, infection logs) and scarcity. Scottish accents and 90s nostalgia ground the surreal.
Demo feedback praises "rock solid" execution, "genuinely creepy" vibes, and unique tape-entry, topping itch.io comments at 5/5 averages. YouTube playthroughs highlight jumpscares and immersion.
System Requirements and Platforms
Minimum: Intel i7-8700/AMD Ryzen 7 2700, 16GB RAM, RTX 2060 Super/RX 5700 (8GB VRAM), 7GB SSD, Windows 10/11 64-bit. Recommended: i5-12400F/Ryzen 5 5600X, RTX 3080/RX 6800 (12-16GB VRAM). UE5 demands solid GPUs; tweak Lumen/TSR for lower rigs. PC exclusive at launch.
Is Dead Format Worth Buying? Verdict
Absolutely for horror fans craving analog terror and fresh mechanics, priced fairly (~$15-25 with launch discount) from solo-dev passion. Demo raves—"masterpiece," "unique concept," "hooked right away"—signal full-game potential despite brevity risks.
Pros:
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Innovative VHS portal system blending live-action and gameplay.
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Tense puzzles, combat, and era homages (Cronenberg vibes).
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Stellar atmosphere via practical FX and sound.
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High replay from branching paths and item synergies.
Cons:
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Demanding specs may sideline budget PCs.
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Demo bugs (softlocks, hangs) suggest launch patches needed.
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Short sessions suit bitesize horror, not epics.
Ideal for Silent Hill/Resident Evil lovers or VHS collectors seeking Resident Evil-style survival with extraction-like tension. Download the free demo first—perfect for content creators scripting creepy videos. Post-launch, expect optimizations; pairs with atmospheric indies like Ghost of Yotei for chills. Solo-dev grit shines; snag on sale if waiting. Dead Format rewires horror through static—dive in before the tapes erase you.
