The classic first-person action saga, which we might call “on rails” (?) for mobile devices, Into The Dead takes a leap into other genres, adding depth and much more narrative to its already established universe. We’re talking about Into The Dead: Our Darkest Days, set to officially launch in the second quarter of 2025, and which also has a free demo that you can try right now on Steam. And as if that weren’t enough, it will also enter early access very soon! Obviously, you’ll find the link to its Steam page at the bottom of this article.
Yeah, sure, I see some similarities here, but that’s not what we’re here for, right? The truth is, aside from resemblances and references, even failed attempts by other studios like what recently happened with the Polish studio 7Levels and Kong: Survivor Instinct, I honestly find this upcoming Into The Dead quite appealing. Maybe because, deep down, I have a particular love for everything zombie-related. Either way, after watching the trailer, you can judge its appeal and similarities for yourself. So, without further delay, here’s the Official Gameplay Teaser of Into The Dead: Our Darkest Days, brought to you by PikPokGames:
The Origins of Into The Dead
To understand why I emphasize that this entry adds depth and narrative to an already established universe, we need to take a very brief look at its predecessors. So, let’s get to it:
- Into The Dead (2012) was initially released for mobile devices: Android, iOS, and Windows Phone 8. Not long after, it also became available for Microsoft Windows. Its setting was a generic contemporary world, in an unspecified rural environment. The player had to move forward at all times (movement was automatic), only able to lean left or right, dodge, sometimes shoot or strike, but basically, survive indefinitely for as long as possible.
- Into The Dead 2 (2017) was more of the same, BUT with some additions that really raised the franchise’s standard in a positive way. Available for iOS, Android, and Nintendo Switch, it developed more depth by giving the protagonist the primary goal of reuniting with his family, introducing levels with specific objectives, more weapons to unlock and upgrade, and the ability to recruit animal companions to assist in the fight against zombies.
- Into The Dead 2: Unleashed (2022) was released exclusively for Netflix subscribers on mobile devices. It essentially maintained the same features as its predecessor, adapted for Netflix‘s platform, without major changes from the 2017 title.
- As for the third entry in the franchise, not much is known, as it’s supposedly still in development. However, it may have been delayed due to Into The Dead: Our Darkest Days, the title we’re discussing today, which, as we mentioned, is set to release in the second quarter of this year and will enter early access very soon. Yes, we also said that you can download its free Steam demo right now, so if you haven’t done so yet, you’re already wasting time!
Surviving the Zombie Apocalypse in the 80s
It’s 1980, in the fictional city of Walton City, Texas. The place is already quite hostile to its residents, as despite being a coastal city, it’s suffering from an unprecedented scorching heatwave and a major economic crisis. As if that weren’t enough, the cherry on top comes when a zombie pandemic outbreak erupts. Walton City is soon overrun by hordes of countless undead, and the few survivors left are completely cut off from any external help. Obviously, the only option is to band together, as only by relying on each other will they be able to stay alive while trying to reach a rumored safe zone outside the city.
Into The Dead: Our Darkest Days is a side-scrolling survival game that we could consider 2.5D, where, as one of the few humans still alive in Walton City, you’ll have to lead a desperate group of survivors through the zombie apocalypse to safety. You’ll need to craft weapons, gather resources, and balance the group’s needs while trying to keep them alive and out of harm’s way.
- Planning: You must gather a group of ordinary people who, like you, have been left stranded by the terrifying virus that ravaged the city. You’ll need to collect resources and establish a system of shelters that can be upgraded and house survivors while keeping them safe from the apocalypse. But never forget that no barrier lasts forever. You’ll make crucial decisions that will affect both the way your companions live and their chances of making it through the night.
- Adaptation: You’ll have to move cautiously through the ruins of Walton City to recover valuable resources while risking your life and that of your companions. Stealth will be your key resource, though you’ll often be forced to choose between a brutal confrontation or evading the fight as much as possible. All this while keeping an eye on the needs and weaknesses of those who accompany you, as not everyone will fight the same way, and not everyone will react the same under pressure.
- Survival: You’ll navigate the rich and detailed urban landscape of Walton City, convincing others to join you or even fighting against them to protect your group’s lives and possessions. Your humanity will be put to the test multiple times, as the decisions you make will often mean the end of one or more lives, or abandoning someone to their fate. You’ll need to upgrade your tools, weapons, and shelters and equip your companions better and better to help them survive in a dynamic environment that changes over time and according to weather conditions.
What Does It Remind Me Of?
Well, some references may not even need to be mentioned, as the similarities with games like This War of Mine or Kong: Survivor Instinct, which was just released, are, let’s say, too obvious. BUT, that’s nothing that needs to be hidden, because even though it’s easy to find similarities between one game and another, genres are open-ended, and the number of games that can fit into each one is literally infinite.
Besides that, from the little I’ve read and seen in the videos of Into The Dead: Our Darkest Days, I think that, similarities aside, what really matters here is execution, which so far seems to be looking pretty solid. And we can judge that for ourselves right now by installing the demo!
Perhaps one of the reasons 7Levels’ game failed was that, despite being an official canonical Monsterverse title and carrying the name Kong: Survivor Instinct, Kong himself was neither the protagonist nor appeared frequently. And if we think about it, he wasn’t even the driving force of the plot. Maybe all of this could have been solved by changing the name, but of course, being a canonical title, I imagine they had to meet some minimal guidelines.
Into The Dead: Our Darkest Days is a zombie game, and survival, and surviving a zombie apocalypse, and it takes place in a city overrun by zombies. It’s like it’s telling you right from the start where you’re getting into and what you’ll find there: ZOMBIES. And let’s not forget that part of its title carries the already iconic name of a franchise that, perhaps slowly, but it managed to earn its place. At least enough that when people read Into The Dead, nobody asks what it’s about because everyone already knows. Yeah, that’s right: ZOMBIES!
Okay, now that we’ve gone through the game’s description, its references, and that annoying paragraph of me just being myself, we can wrap this up. But before we go, if you’d like, drop by the comments and let us know your thoughts on the demo or the concept in general. You know, gamer, we’ll be reading you! 😉
Images Source: PikPokGames Official YouTube Channel, IGN Official YouTube Channel, Into The Dead: Our Darkest Days on Steam, Into The Dead: Our Darkest Days Official Website
