In today’s digital age, the last thing you might expect is a video game where your main task is staring at a virtual computer screen within your actual computer—typing out addresses, snippets of information, and what feels like gibberish. Let me introduce you to Dead Letter Dept., a delightfully disturbing game that puts players on edge from the moment it starts. It brings me back to my old days of working at an accounting firm, mindlessly inputting client data for hours, getting lost in a Spotify playlist as a form of escape from the monotony.
Dead Letter Dept. is a first-person horror experience with a seemingly simple mission: transcribe information from forgotten pieces of mail. The protagonist, a newcomer to the city huddled in a cramped apartment, takes on a temporary data entry job that’s more chilling than it seems. The setting is purposefully bleak, with its stark, industrial corridors and unsettling greenish lighting casting menacing shadows. Yet, there’s an odd solace upon finding an old-school monitor waiting for you to begin your eerie data entry journey.
At the start, the game feels innocuous enough, like a routine day at any desk job. Even if you’re not the fastest typist, the game challenges you without caring too much about speed. But as you proceed, things spiral into a creepy narrative, with strange messages and unsettling images flickering on-screen, hinting at something sinister lurking beneath the mundane task.
I didn’t expect to be so engrossed in this adventure, given the modest premise, but its blend of horror and mystery struck a chord. There’s an undercurrent of unease, a feeling of being watched, especially when the seemingly random documents start to suggest a deeper, darker connection to your own story. By the time you realize the game’s nuances—whether they point to a sinister past or forbidden knowledge—you’re sucked into a gripping narrative with multiple chilling conclusions.
Dead Letter Dept.’s compact journey spans six in-game days and offers multiple endings, making replaying it a rewarding experience to explore different story paths. However, it’s meant for a dedicated sitting; frequent pauses might dilute its haunting impact. Keep at it, though, it’s a unique take on horror gaming that blends task management with psychological tension seamlessly.
For a non-horror enthusiast, this game was thoroughly enjoyable. Its chilling atmosphere is crafted without resorting to clichéd jump-scares or gore, tailoring an unsettling narrative experience that’s more off-putting than outright terrifying. It’s a perfect choice not only for horror aficionados but also welcoming for those, like me, who usually shy away from the genre.
Dead Letter Dept. successfully turns mundane data entry into an engaging, fear-inducing tale, underlined by a creepy setting and immersive storytelling. It deserves a place in the collection of every gamer willing to brave its unsettling narrative. Whether you’re a scaredy-cat or a horror veteran, this game offers thrills and chills without ruining a good night’s sleep.
This review is based on a game copy provided by the publisher.
