Dead Take

Last updated
Dead Take
Dead Take VG Poster.png
Developer(s) Surgent Studios
Publisher(s) Pocketpair Publishing
Director(s) Abubakar Salim
Writer(s) Dana Thompson
Composer(s) Ross Tregenza
Engine Unreal Engine 5
Platform(s)
ReleaseJuly 31, 2025
Genre(s) Psychological horror
Mode(s) Single-player

Dead Take is a 2025 first-person horror game developed by Surgent Studios and published by Pocketpair Publishing. The game was released on July 31, 2025 on Windows to generally favorable reviews.

Contents

Gameplay

First-person gameplay immerses the player as they explore. Dead Take game example.png
First-person gameplay immerses the player as they explore.

Dead Take is a first-person exploration game with psychological horror elements. The game has an emphasis on exploration and psychological tension over direct combat. Progression is often tied to collecting items and clues to solve puzzles found around a mansion in order to trigger cinematic sequences through full-motion video (FMV). [1]

Synopsis

The story follows Chase Lowry (Neil Newbon), an actor who is struggling to find work. Chase goes to the aftermath of a party hosted at a secluded estate in the Hollywood Hills, where his close friend and rising star Vinny Monroe (Ben Starr) has mysteriously vanished. Chase investigates the mansion to search for clues, and quickly finds himself ensnared in a nightmare.

Throughout the game, Chase uncovers disturbing secrets about the partygoers, as well as the price they pay to remain in the limelight through a series of full-motion video sequences and the use of fragmented storytelling.

The game features an ensemble cast consisting of Neil Newbon, Ben Starr, Jane Perry, Alanah Pearce, Matthew Mercer, Travis Willingham, Laura Bailey, and Sam Lake. [2]

Development

Dead Take was developed by Surgent Studios, known for the 2024 game Tales of Kenzera: Zau . The studio was founded by actor Abubakar Salim, who served as the game’s creative director. In contrast to their previous title, Dead Take uses a horror framework to critique the entertainment industry and the many struggles actors deal with. [3]

Reception

Critics praised the immersive setting, effective use of FMV, and the storytelling. However, some reviewers cited inconsistent pacing and simplistic puzzle mechanics as the game's flaws. [4] On Steam, the game has a "Very Positive" rating by players. [5]

Notes

  1. ↑ Based on 36 critic reviews
  2. ↑ Based on 37 critic reviews

References

  1. ↑ Franklin II, Anthony (July 31, 2025). "Dead Take: A Psychological Horror Puzzle Game That Pulls You In (Review)". Vice . Retrieved September 24, 2025.
  2. ↑ Nightingale, Ed (July 16, 2025). "Surgent Studios reveals full cast for Dead Take, including Sam Lake, Jane Perry and Laura Bailey". Eurogamer . Retrieved September 24, 2025.
  3. ↑ Amoroso, Dan (July 4, 2025). "Dead Take: Surgent Studios Creative Director Opens Up On New Horror Game". Game Rant . Retrieved September 24, 2025.
  4. ↑ "Dead Take critic reviews". Metacritic .
  5. ↑ "Dead Take on Steam".
  6. ↑ "Test : Dead Take : caméra, horreur, action !". Gamekult . France: Cael. July 31, 2025. Retrieved September 24, 2025.
  7. ↑ Ramée, Jordan (July 31, 2025). "Dead Take Review - No Reshoots Necessary". GameSpot . Retrieved September 24, 2025.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.