Team Analysis / Dead Letter Dept. (PC)

In a world where most of us are glued to our computer screens, typing away to shoot off an email or completing mundane forms, a game where you sit at a virtual desk in front of a virtual computer doesn’t exactly scream thrilling. Yet here I am, thoroughly engrossed by Dead Letter Dept., a creepy and original gaming experience that had me feeling uneasy right from the start. It takes me back to my days slogging through tedious data entry at an accounting firm, where I’d drown out the monotony with Spotify for hours on end.

Dead Letter Dept. is a first-person horror game where your job is unexpectedly chilling: entering information from old, undelivered mail through your computer, whether it’s addresses, clippings, bizarre letters, or indecipherable alien languages. You play as a character who’s just moved to a big city, living out a cramped, box-filled existence, working a temporary data entry job. The setting is haunting—a dystopian vibe permeates the prison-like hallways, stretching endlessly, draped in eerie green light. Despite this, there was something oddly comforting about sitting down to an ancient, 90s-style monitor.

Your first day on the job is uneventful, just basic data input. However, the content of certain messages turned out to be unsettling. I’m not a speed demon on the keyboard, clocking somewhere around 67-69 words per minute with 92-93% precision. While speed isn’t a focal point in Dead Letter Dept., it did inject a little fun into the typical typing tasks. As the days pass, the puzzles grow more sinister, delivering content that gives off a serial killer vibe. Without spoiling it, this game plants you firmly on edge, warily glued to your screen amid unexpected jump scares—not the kind that you’d usually encounter in a horror game.

As someone who critiques a lot of media, I approached this game with low expectations but was pleasantly surprised by how engaging and inventive it was. It’s an eerie journey that pulls you in and keeps you hooked. If you’re curious about Dead Letter Dept., you might want to see what typing in this world feels like!

Alex Southgate

I have a golden rule about horror games: I call in backup. And that’s why I’m tagging along with Madeleine on this venture. She seems to relish a good scare, unlike me. But I’ll do my best to weigh in on this sinister typing experience.

Dead Letter Dept. nails the psychological horror aspect. It’s not just about jump scares, and trust me, my heart leapt more than once. It’s the uncanny sensation that someone’s watching, as you type away, that ratchets up the tension. Rather than outright fear, it’s the dread and discomfort that’s most daunting.

What begins as routine mail processing soon spirals into something personal. These fragments whisper secrets to you, unveiling a narrative that mirrors your own past or hidden knowledge you shouldn’t possess. Either way, expect to tumble into a nightmare with multiple possible conclusions.

Across six days of virtual work, Dead Letter Dept. wraps up around three hours per run, complete with varied endings. It invites repeated playthroughs, especially if you’re keen on exploring every story arc. Not a game for casual, short bursts, you’ll get one save per play. Committing uninterrupted time ensures you savor the full atmospheric impact.

Despite my aversion to horror, Dead Letter Dept. captivated me. It cleverly reshapes the typing game trope, paired with a plot intriguing enough to entice return visits. The horror doesn’t detract, it deepens the game, broadening appeal even to non-horror aficionados.

The game world’s unsettlingly crafted without relying on gore, complimented by intuitive controls and fitting music. It unfolds like an uncomfortable short story that’s compelling enough to revisit multiple times.

For anyone like me who peeks through fingers during horror, Dead Letter Dept. may surprise you. It’s certainly left its mark on me, deserving a nod even from the chiller-seekers-in-denial like myself.

This review was offered from a game copy provided by the publisher.

Dead Letter Dept. Scores:

– Gameplay: 10/10
– Plot / Writing: 9/10
– Design / Visuals: 8/10
– Replayability: 9/10

Overall: 9/10

Review Summary:

Dead Letter Dept. is an exciting deep dive into a world teetering on madness. It morphs the mundane task of data entry into a thrilling horror scenario, making it a must-play for horror enthusiasts. But even if blood-curdling isn’t usually your go-to, you’ll still find plenty to enjoy.