In this day and age, it’s hard to create an open-world survival game that truly stands out, but The Dead We Knew has found a gameplay gimmick that could be the key that truly sets it apart in the crowd. Steam has become the go-to place for ambitious indies to make a mark on the industry, so it’s no surprise that The Dead We Knew is going to be exclusive to the platform when it launches later this month. There are plenty of open-world survival games worth checking out on Steam, but The Dead We Knew‘s weather system could prove to be its ultimate secret weapon.
Some of the best open-world survival games of the past decade have each had a special gameplay flare that makes for a unique experience, even when there are still a lot of similarities with other games in the genre. Between games like Project Zomboid, Valheim, and Subnautica, there is plenty of potential left in the open-world survival genre, but finding the ideal unique premise is far easier said than done. On the surface, The Dead We Knew might seem like another run-of-the-mill zombie game. However, it uses weather in a way that many open-world survival games have been sleeping on.
The Dead We Knew’s Approach to Weather Mechanics Is a Simple, But Effective Change to Open-World Survival Gameplay
The Dead We Knew‘s night and day cycle presents its own interesting challenges to players, but the use of fog is where the game really shines. Instead of simply using fog as a way to obscure a player’s vision and make exploration and survival more challenging, the fog also acts as a trigger that makes zombies more violent and harder to fight. This twist on in-game weather is similar to how Dying Light‘s day and night cycle changes the behavior of zombies.
Guess the games from the emojis.
Guess the games from the emojis.
Easy (120s)Medium (90s)Hard (60s)
In the Dying Light games, daylight is a much safer time to explore and scavenge for materials to survive another day. However, nighttime brings forth zombies that are far more aggressive and downright terrifying. There are several games that have hard day and night cycles, so The Dead We Knew‘s concept isn’t exactly anything new. Flipping the system to focus on fog instead of nighttime is a fun twist that keeps it fresh, though. It may be an idea that has been explored in the past, but it’s a feature that tends to get slept on in the open-world survival space.
-
Image via MAY19 Studio -
MAY19 Studio -
Image via MAY19 Studio
Just from the previews on the game’s Steam page, it’s already easy to see that the fog cover is no joke. A clear day in The Dead We Knew reveals a beautiful, tree-covered forest biome, but the fog is thick and oppressive. It’s easy to imagine just how heart-pounding zombie encounters have to be in these scenarios. There are so many great zombie games out there that it’s hard to find a new formula, but The Dead We Knew shows that the most interesting ideas are sometimes the simplest.
The Dead We Knew is scheduled to launch on Steam on September 17 in Early Access. As of right now, developer MAY19 Studio is putting all its focus on the PC release. Console users who are interested may have a long wait ahead of them, because it’s unclear if the developer has plans to release ports in the future.
Other Confirmed Features for The Dead We Knew
- Exploration and scavenging
- Base building
- Crafting
- Other weather hazards like wind and rain
- Single-player or 4-player co-op
- Hunting, foraging, and gardening
- Cooking
These are all staple features in the open-world survival genre, but that doesn’t mean The Dead We Knew will feel stale. It’s still a new adventure with some fresh takes on proven gameplay features sprinkled in, which could make it a great game to check out with friends. New zombie games on Steam often have stiff competition to go up against, so it will be interesting to see if The Dead We Knew‘s fog mechanic does the trick in attracting attention at the game’s launch.
September Is Already Packed With Big Releases, But The Dead We Knew Could Be a Fun Indie Surprise
With the Marvel’s Wolverine release date right around the corner and games like Control Resonant and Silent Hill: Townfall debuting at the end of the month, The Dead We Knew has found itself in a tricky spot. This indie zombie survival title has a few serious heavy hitters to go up against, but open-world survival fans who have been looking for something new might want to keep this game on their radar.
There are so many great zombie games out there that it’s hard to find a new formula, but The Dead We Knew shows that the most interesting ideas are sometimes the simplest.
Since it’s an indie game that is releasing in Early Access, The Dead We Knew may be rough around the edge, but it could also be the perfect new Steam release to scratch the itch for fans of games like Project Zomboid and Dying Light who need a fresh world to dive into. Open-world survival titles can be some of the best ways to game with friends, but these kinds of games are also just as rewarding when playing solo. Because of mechanics like building, crafting, and hunting, the open-world survival genre boasts a surprisingly cozy edge, despite trying to fight for survival against hordes of zombies and the elements.
The Dead We Knew Might Be the Perfect Appetizer for Zombie Lovers
Even though the world of zombie games has been crowded for a while now, there is one game in the genre that many fans have been waiting on for years. State of Decay 3 was originally announced back in 2020, and gamers have been ready to see what this chapter has in store. Summer was a big moment for the game, because this year’s Xbox Games Showcase finally revealed a State of Decay 3 release window for 2027.
The Dead We Knew boasts many similar features that will be present in State of Decay 3‘s gameplay, so it has the potential to be a great first course for gamers who have been particularly eager to see what Undead Labs has in store for the series’ next entry. Granted, The Dead We Knew won’t be a one-for-one comparison, but it’s a fun-looking new zombie title with an intriguing weather system that could make it a surprisingly entertaining challenge.
