This 2012 Zombie Game Still Beats Most Modern Survivals | Deadlight Review

In a world of endless open-world zombie games, Deadlight: Director’s Cut feels like a haunting echo from another time — a side-scrolling survival story about fear, solitude, and atmosphere over firepower.

Originally released in 2012 by Tequila Works and Microsoft Studios, Deadlight strips away modern excess for something raw and cinematic — a 2.5D platformer with grounded gameplay, stunning noir visuals, and emotional tension that still hits hard in 2025.

In this review, I revisit Deadlight on PC and Steam Deck, exploring what makes it a forgotten gem of the apocalypse genre — from its moody Seattle ruins to its quiet desperation. If you love Limbo, Inside, or short, focused games that deliver real atmosphere, this one’s worth your time.

⏱️ Timestamps

00:00 – What if survival wasn’t about fighting back?
00:30 – A forgotten gem from another era
01:00 – The story of Randall Wayne and 1980s Seattle
01:45 – Gameplay breakdown: survival, puzzles, and tension
02:30 – Combat and resource scarcity
03:15 – Deadlight vs Limbo & Inside
04:00 – Short, tight, and replayable
04:45 – Visuals and atmosphere
05:30 – Steam Deck performance and handheld impressions
06:30 – Playing on PC and TV
07:10 – Why Deadlight still holds up in 2025
08:00 – Final thoughts & what’s next

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