Dead Take Reviews
Dead Take clearly wants players to focus on uncovering its story, and the mansion is built in a way that makes exploration feel rewarding even without much resistance. The atmosphere does a lot of heavy lifting, with sound and lighting creating an ever-present sense of tension that kept me leaning forward the whole time. Dead Take might not break the escape room genre wide open, but it finds a creative way to pull players into its world, and it's worth seeing through to the end.
Dead Take too often dips into the surreal but is otherwise an authentic and terrifying view into the trauma of being an actor.
Dead Take features Ben Starr and Neil Newbon as opposing actors fighting for a seat at an auteur's table
If the story were longer and there were more live-action sequences, then the game could have been something truly special. However, what’s here is still worth checking out, especially for horror aficionados who are looking for something a bit different, and a little more real.
Dead Take is a sublime horror game filled with some phenomenal performances expertly heightened by the live-action nature. It's unique, fun, and fantastically paced.
Dead Take is a fascinating experiment in blending video game and cinematic language. With an escape room feel and a psychological thriller atmosphere, Surgent Studios' experience fails to fully realize the potential of an intriguing concept.
Review in Italian | Read full review
This short jaunt through a haunted mansion leads you through entertaining puzzles, even if you're not quite sure why you're there, but will entice you further with a deeper mystery about the abuse of power in the entertainment industry.
Dead Take is a game about actors, made for actors by actors. While the plot and mystery surrounding the narrative turns shoulder the burden of keeping up interest throughout, sound puzzle design and a blanketing atmosphere make it a worthwhile play for horror fans.
Dead Take is a sharp turn for Surgent Studios after Tales of Kenzera: ZAU. But the developer's attempt at first-person narrative horror via escape room is a bold jab at Hollywood's dark underbelly, helmed by some incredible performances.
Dead Take has got some great atmosphere, wonderful voice acting, and a real creepy story, slightly hampered by simple puzzles and an over-use of jumpscares.
Dead Take is a solid adventure for the FMV genre that provides an eerie and moody atmosphere set in the Hollywood hills. What's there is an intriguing exploration of the powers that be and the dog-eat-dog nature of the film industry, and how it can consume people. It may not contain the deepest or most complex puzzle, nor does it make replayability easy for optional objectives, but you don't stay for that. What you're there for is the stellar performances; the likes of Ben Starr, Neil Newbon, Laura Bailey and more giving it their utmost all to deliver you a sufficiently chilling horror experience. There are horrors in that mansion, and though not all in there may delight, it's a worthwhile and memorable jaunt behind Hollywood's closed doors.
A short first-person psychological horror game, Dead Take cleverly incorporates full motion video footage to explore the lengths that some will go to in order to achieve success. It's not particularly scary but it does go to some dark places, making it definitely worth checking out for fans of the genre.
A well-executed psychological horror game that looks beyond the glossy surface of the film industry to reveal its compromises.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Dead Take is a very good cinematic escape room with elements of psychological horror. Great acting, a well-crafted atmosphere, and interesting puzzles make for an interesting departure from Surgent Studios' first title. I hope the creators don't abandon this direction and stay with the horror genre in their future productions.
Review in Polish | Read full review
Think of Dead Take as a short, sharp theatre piece you play. Live-action clips led by Neil Newbon and Ben Starr steal the show, and the supporting cast supplies texture worth hunting for.
Dead Take is a surprise standout experience from Surgent Studios. It's got a stacked cast with a focus on storytelling over anything else, using the allure of Hollywood as the gateway to unconventional horror. While there are some predictable moments, the environment, the performances, and immersion make up for it. It is an emotionally charged horror experience that punches well above its weight and serves as a commentary on ambition and exploitation.
Dead Take is a unique glimpse into the indie horror genre through the lens of an actor desperate to stay relevant in the ever-changing landscape of the film industry. Its use of atmosphere and film craft drives home a narrative that is both captivating and compelling. However, the combination of poorly lit environments and heavy shadows can make certain puzzles feel cheap, and the lack of clear direction may be too much for some players to overcome.
If you enjoy psychological horror and escape room games, Dead Take is a title you definitely shouldn’t overlook.
Review in Slovak | Read full review
Dead Take‘s phenomenal, haunting, and mesmerizing FMV performances deserve every bit of the praise they’ll receive and more. They wash away almost every other sin by the end.
Dead Take is a very solid experience with a strong narrative weight, both in development and theme, and although the lack of combat or escape may put off more hardcore players, the plot and the actors' performances leave a mark on anyone who passes through Duke Cain's dark mansion.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review