Dead Watch
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About Dead Watch
Dead Watch is an indie RPG with adventure elements set in a decaying castle. Developed by Doctor Shinobi, it launched on December 31, 2026, for PC, Mac, and Linux. The game’s core hook is a time loop: every time you find a corpse, you reset to the past to prevent the next death. Exploration and decision-making drive the narrative as you uncover the castle’s secrets, altering events to break the cycle. It’s a story-driven experience where your choices directly impact the timeline. Best suited for players who enjoy mystery and branching narratives.
Gameplay
You start each loop with a new memory, piecing together fragmented clues through item inspections and dialogue. The castle is a labyrinth of hidden passages and interactive objects, requiring backtracking to test different solutions. When a body appears, you rewind to the earliest checkpoint and retry with updated context. Combat is minimal, favoring stealth or dialogue to avoid triggering resets. The loop mechanic creates tension; even small mistakes reset progress, forcing creative problem-solving. Sessions often involve cycles of failure and adaptation, with each loop lasting 15-30 minutes depending on the branching path.
What Players Think
PlayPile community ratings average 4.2/5, with 68% completing the base story. Average playtime is 14.5 hours, though 23% log over 20 hours for 100% completion. Moods lean polarized: 41% rate it “hauntingly clever” while 18% call it “frustratingly obtuse.” Critics praise its nonlinear storytelling but note sparse environmental feedback. One user wrote, “The loop is punishing but rewarding,” while another criticized, “Too many dead ends without clear clues.” Achievements include “Chronologist” (finish all endings) and “Specter of Doubt” (trigger every possible death).
PlayPile's Take
Dead Watch is a niche title for narrative-driven players who thrive on puzzle-solving. At $29.99, it’s reasonably priced for its depth, but the steep learning curve may deter casual gamers. The time loop mechanic is its standout feature, offering fresh challenges with each reset. With 32 achievements and a 14-hour average playthrough, it’s not a quick play but a commitment. Skip it if you dislike backtracking or vague storytelling. For fans of branching mysteries, it’s a bold experiment worth trying.
Game Modes
Single player
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