I Am Dead Reviews

I Am Dead is ranked in the 79th percentile of games scored on OpenCritic.
8.5 / 10.0
Oct 10, 2020

Entering minds as Morris showed me that though so many characters were dead, people still allowed them to live on because of what they left behind. I put down I Am Dead with a new lease on life, a unique sensation for a video game to deliver. It's a puzzle game with a lot of heart. The characters are engaging, the world is delightful, the message is strong, and it's a fantastic way to escape into a game for a few hours. Hollow Ponds and Richard Hogg created an unforgettable experience that Nintendo Switch owners should definitely pick up. I Am Dead taught me that death isn't the end, but in fact, just the next step in all of our journeys.

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90 / 100
Dec 16, 2020

From ts heartful story that is only made better by a charming set of characters, to the soothing atmosphere of the gorgeous island-town Shelmerston, I am Dead constructs a serendipitous but accurate portrayal of the usually sorrowful emotions around death.

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9 / 10.0
Oct 24, 2020

It's not often that a game has been able to address the celebration of life, though death, quite like I Am Dead.

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8.9 / 10.0
Jan 10, 2020

I Am Dead is a relaxing and emotional puzzle adventure that allows you to take a back seat experience and learn about the characters of the game through strong storytelling and learn through attention to detail. Although the game can feel a little underwhelming when it comes to rewarding you for collecting all of the Grenkins and got a bit glitchy towards the end, the real reward from playing I Am Dead rewards you with good storytelling and a life lesson about life, death, and knowing where you come from.

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Lee Mehr
Top Critic
6 / 10.0
Sep 10, 2021

Although buoyed by pleasant presentation and a warm atmosphere, I Am Dead's lackluster main puzzles make this a more reserved recommendation.

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GameSpew
Top Critic
7 / 10.0
Aug 9, 2021

It’s the narrative and world around you that will keep you playing I Am Dead. The actual gameplay – seeking out objects by manipulating your environment – can feel rather monotonous rather quickly. If anything, I Am Dead feels like a more mature, more evolved take on the hidden object genre, and so it won’t appeal to everyone. But thanks to wonderfully-told stories and a bizarre but delightful mix of fantasy and grounded reality, this is a short adventure that’s fun while it lasts.

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C+
Dec 10, 2020

I would love to visit the charming island of Shelmerston. Clearly a lot of thought was put into this game and it is enjoyable to discover that. Unfortunately, I Am Dead’s repetitive gameplay, awkward controls, and short story that left me feeling discontent made me overall a bit disappointed.

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9 / 10.0
Oct 7, 2020

I loved my time with I Am Dead so much I wish there was a little bit more of it. Hanging with Morris and Sparky is a chill, relaxing time, even if there's an undercurrent of the sad afterlife coursing through the world. It might be that juxtaposition between the reality of death mixed with the playfulness of the world that makes I Am Dead so memorable and fun.

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Oct 27, 2021

I Am Dead takes pains to emphasize that death is not the end for anybody, so much as a transition into something else. It’s a comforting sentiment and a refreshing take on the grisly finality the death is normally viewed with in games. While it’s far from the first story-driven game to examine the concepts of our own mortality, I Am Dead‘s approach to exploring what it means to have lived and died is both quaint and uplifting, and it makes staring death in the face a surprisingly pleasant affair.

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3 / 5.0
Aug 16, 2021

Spending time with the citizens of Shelmerston is incredibly charming and makes I Am Dead worth a look. With an unsatisfying conclusion and gameplay, which quickly grows a bit one-note, however, this won’t be a game for everyone. Still, if you want a charming little game to spend a quiet afternoon with, you could do far worse.

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8 / 10.0
Oct 10, 2020

There isn’t much challenge or strategy with I Am Dead and honestly, there really doesn’t need to be. It’s more about the sights and the people we meet along the way, it goes to show that even after we’ve passed on we are never truly gone, our stories, our legacies will be remembered by the people around us, sometimes even for centuries. The design of the world is incredibly basic, with a simplistic vector style that doesn’t even have any shadows, but honestly, I don’t hold that against the game.

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Liked
Aug 19, 2021

I Am Dead explores the afterlife with an adventure filled with puzzles and exploration, which quickly falls into repetition with a lack of imagination, despite being a game with its heart in the right place.

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6 / 10.0
Aug 18, 2021

There’s absolutely no challenge in I Am Dead, aside from the easily missable riddles. I understand that some games are about the journey and not the challenge, but most of I Am Dead is a bore.

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8 / 10.0
Aug 13, 2021

Its puzzles are nowhere near challenging and the exploration is limited to small areas, but they are still enjoyable thanks to the heartwarming story that unfolds after each section. When combining it all with the vivid visuals and remarkable voice work, you cannot help but feel right at home.

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4.5 / 5.0
Oct 29, 2020

However, if you’re interested in a strong narrative, fun art, and completing simple puzzles, I Am Dead is the most fun you’ll have this year.

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Noisy Pixel
Justine Stacy
Top Critic
8 / 10.0
Oct 13, 2020

I Am Dead takes players on a whimsical journey through a colorful and cute narrative that plays on themes of death and discovery. Each chapter gives us a new piece of the puzzle, making it tough to put the game down, even if the game’s systems become repetitive across long play sessions. You’ll get the most out of this adventure by taking your time, and you’ll be glad you did as you splice through each new object to uncover all the secrets hidden within.

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9 / 10.0
Oct 13, 2020

I Am Dead is a wonderful and vibrant experience that gives players a different look into the afterlife, with its delightful world hosting some truly heartfelt tales. Exploring the island of Shelmerston and using your x-ray ability to closely examine every object around you never stops being satisfying, whilst learning more about the ghosts you are seeking remains touching throughout. It is guilty of being a bit simple in places and you won’t come across any real challenge during your journey, but it doesn’t make the experience any less compelling. I Am Dead is simply a special game and one that should definitely be experienced if you like to play something that feels a bit different.

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