Into the Dead (franchise)

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Into the Dead is a video game franchise of zombie-themed action-adventure, survival horror games developed and published by PikPok.

Contents

Into the Dead
Into the Dead logo.png
Genre(s) Action-adventure
Survival horror
Developer(s) PikPok
Publisher(s) PikPok
Versus Evil [1]
Gearbox Publishing [1]
Netflix
Boltray Games [2]
Platform(s) iOS
Android
Windows Phone 8
Nintendo Switch
Windows
macOS
First release Into the Dead
6 December 2012
Latest release Into the Dead: Our Darkest Days
9 April 2025 (early access)

Gameplay

The main installments, Into the Dead (2013) and Into the Dead 2 (2017), are endless runner games. Players navigate through zombie-infested landscapes, moving left or right to dodge them and avoid obstacles while continuously advancing forward. The objective is to survive as long as possible or reach a destination point. Weapons can be picked up from supply crates along the way, and upgraded to deal with zombies more effectively.

Spin-off installment Into the Dead: Our Darkest Days (2025) is set in Walton City, Texas in August 1980. The game adopts a 2.5D side-scrolling shelter survival format in which players manage a group of survivors during a zombie outbreak. Gameplay emphasises base-building, scavenging, permadeath, and character-driven choices. [3]

Games

Release timeline
2012 Into the Dead
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017 Into the Dead 2
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022Into the Dead 2: Unleashed
2023
2024
2025 Into the Dead: Our Darkest Days
TBAInto the Dead 3

Into the Dead (2012)

The first main installment of the series released for iOS on 6 December 2012, Android on 5 April 2013, Windows Mobile on 4 January 2014, and Windows on 28 March 2016. The game received "critical acclaim". [4] [6] It has a Metacritic rating of 84/100 based on 11 critic reviews. [4]

Into the Dead 2 (2017)

The second main installment was released for Android and iOS on 13 October 2017, and the Nintendo Switch on 25 October 2019. [7] [8] [9] The game received "generally unfavorable reviews". [10]

Into the Dead 2: Unleashed (2022)

A modified version of Into the Dead 2 was released exclusively for Netflix subscribers on 5 April 2022. [11] [12] [13]

Into the Dead: Our Darkest Days (2025)

Into the Dead: Our Darkest Days is a spin-off title of the franchise which was announced on 15 December 2022. [14] [15] It is a side-scrolling survival horror game, released in Early Access for Windows and macOS via Steam on 9 April 2025. [16] [2] It has been described as a blend of This War of Mine and State of Decay. [17] [18]

Into the Dead 3 (TBA)

A third main installment was announced on 13 December 2022 on the 10th anniversary of the franchise. It is currently in development. [19] [20]

References

  1. 1 2 "Into the Dead 2 - IGN". IGN. Retrieved 18 September 2025.
  2. 1 2 "Into the Dead: Our Darkest Days". Steam. Valve. Retrieved 16 September 2025.
  3. Kandula, Sri (2025-04-08). "Into the Dead: Our Darkest Days Early Access Review | I Am Legend". RESPAWN STATION. Retrieved 2025-09-08.
  4. 1 2 3 "Into the Dead for iPhone/iPad Reviews". Metacritic . CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on December 4, 2017. Retrieved December 27, 2017.
  5. Campbell, Nissa (December 20, 2012). "'Into the Dead' Review – An Atmospheric Zombie Runner". TouchArcade . Archived from the original on September 22, 2018. Retrieved September 22, 2018.
  6. "Into the Dead". IGN. Retrieved 2025-09-08.
  7. "Into the Dead 2". GameStop. Retrieved April 21, 2020.
  8. "'Into the Dead 2' Launching on iOS and Android October 13th, Creepy New Gameplay Trailer Released". TouchArcade . 2017-09-15. Retrieved 2023-06-30.
  9. "Into the Dead® 2 now available on the App Store and Google Play". PikPok . 2017-10-12. Archived from the original on 2023-07-02. Retrieved 2023-07-02.
  10. "Into the Dead 2". Metacritic. Retrieved 2023-07-01.
  11. "Into the Dead 2: Unleashed". Google Play . Archived from the original on 2023-07-02. Retrieved 2023-07-02.
  12. Spangler, Todd (2022-03-22). "Netflix Games to Release First First-Person Shooter Title". Variety . Retrieved 2023-07-02.
  13. "Into the Dead 2: Unleashed". Netflix Media Center. 5 April 2022. Retrieved 8 September 2025.
  14. "Into The Dead: Our Darkest Days - Official Announcement Trailer". IGN . 2022-12-15.
  15. "Into the Dead®: Our Darkest Days Announced For PC In 2024". PikPok . 2022-12-16. Archived from the original on 2023-07-01.
  16. "Into the Dead: Our Darkest Days to release in Early Access on 9 April 2025". Into the Dead. 2025-03-20. Retrieved 2025-04-03.
  17. Cichacki, Shaun (2025-04-08). "'Into the Dead: Our Darkest Days' Blends 'This War of Mine' and 'State of Decay' Into an Engaging New Formula (Early Access Impressions)". VICE. Retrieved 2025-06-08.
  18. "While We Wait For State Of Decay 3, This Punishing New Zombie Game Is Hitting All The Right Notes". GameSpot. Retrieved 2025-06-08.
  19. "Into The Dead 3 - Official Reveal Teaser Trailer". IGN . 2022-12-13. Archived from the original on 2023-06-30. Retrieved 2023-06-30.
  20. "'Into the Dead 3' Announced in Celebration of the Franchise's 10th Anniversary". TouchArcade . 2022-12-14. Retrieved 2023-06-30.