The Derailed

About The Derailed

The Derailed is a first-person psychological horror game developed by Deformed Dreams Studio and released on September 11, 2025, for PC. Set in a crumbling, abandoned train depot, the game tasks you with uncovering a series of unsettling secrets buried beneath the location’s decaying infrastructure. The story leans into atmospheric dread rather than jump scares, using environmental storytelling to piece together the depot’s dark history. As a single-player experience, it focuses on isolated exploration, with minimal combat and a heavy emphasis on mood. The game’s indie roots show in its raw visuals and deliberate pacing, appealing to fans of slow-burn horror.

Gameplay

The Derailed revolves around wandering through a dimly lit depot, interacting with objects to trigger flashbacks and cryptic audio logs. You’ll navigate narrow corridors, climb into train cars, and avoid vague threats that manifest as distorted shadows. The camera feels slightly unsteady, enhancing disorientation. Most of your time is spent solving light puzzles, like restoring power to reveal hidden paths, or collecting fragmented documents. There’s no inventory system, and interactions are limited to a basic grab-and-examine mechanic. The lack of combat means tension comes from eerie noises and fleeting glimpses of something watching. Sessions rarely last more than an hour due to the game’s short content and slow progression.

What Players Think

Community feedback is split, with 62% of PlayPile users rating it 4/5 or higher, though 38% gave it 3/5 or lower. Average playtime is 1.8 hours, and only 22% report completing the game. Reviews highlight the “uneasy atmosphere” but criticize repetitive exploration. One user wrote, “The depot feels alive when it wants to, but most of it is just walking in circles.” The game holds a 76% critic score, praised for its unsettling tone but docked for underdeveloped mechanics. Achievement data shows 43% of players unlocked the “Final Destination” end-game trophy, suggesting a steep difficulty curve.

PlayPile's Take

The Derailed works best as a short, atmospheric experiment rather than a full experience. At $24.99, it’s overpriced for its 2-hour runtime and lack of polish. Fans of games like Amnesia or Outlast might appreciate the mood, but others will find the gameplay too minimalist. With 50 achievements averaging 15 minutes each, it’s a niche pick for horror enthusiasts willing to overlook rough edges. The depot’s secrets are dimly lit and quickly forgotten.

Storyline

Beneath the dusty arches of a nearly forgotten depot, shadows of the past tremble. Whether you want to or not, you will have to uncover the dark secrets of this place.