Dead Reset FMV Game Previews Reveal Campy Horror Experience

Early previews of Wales Interactive’s upcoming FMV horror title, Dead Reset, suggest a deliberately campy, B-movie experience centered around a time-loop mechanic and a grotesque creature. Based on hands-on access to the first chapter, the game leans heavily into over-the-top performances and practical effects, evoking classic creature features rather than deep psychological terror.

Gameplay Loop Relies on Time Travel Mechanic

Players take on the role of Cole, a character experiencing disturbing visions who finds himself trapped at the Magason Research Facility during a catastrophic outbreak. The core mechanic involves reliving the same horrific events repeatedly after dying – shot by security, torn apart by the creature, or succumbing to other grisly fates. Each “reset” allows players to make different choices from over 280 decision points across eight chapters, aiming to survive longer and uncover the facility’s secrets. The goal is to achieve one of four different endings. Wales Interactive confirmed the structure involves navigating seven distinct locations, triggering 340 potential video sequences based on player actions (Wales Interactive Press Materials, July 2025).

Campy Tone and Creature Design Evoke Classic Horror

Initial impressions highlight the game’s embrace of B-movie aesthetics. The central creature, extracted from an elderly woman in the opening scenes, is a morphing mound of flesh reminiscent of John Carpenter’s The Thing. Its attacks, while violent, are portrayed with a level of theatricality. Previewers noted deaths often felt intentionally exaggerated, with actors visibly grappling with practical effects suits and copious, stylized blood spray. While this shattered tension for some seeking a more serious horror experience, it effectively establishes a specific, nostalgic tone. “The deaths were comical… with a blood-spouting gash left behind that… does not look very realistic,” noted one preview, acknowledging the deliberate camp factor (WCCFtech Preview, July 25, 2025). The narrative introduces mysteries surrounding the creature’s origin, Cole’s visions, and Magason’s relentless pursuit of the specimen, reminiscent of corporate greed themes in the Alien franchise.

Dead Reset carves its niche by embracing FMV’s potential for practical effects and actor-driven performances within a knowingly campy, creature-feature framework. While its B-movie approach and occasionally clunky deaths may not satisfy horror fans craving subtle dread or realism, it promises a specific brand of interactive, gory fun centered on mastering its time-loop puzzle. The full experience, featuring extensive branching paths and multiple endings, arrives on Xbox Series X/S, PS5, and PC on September 11, 2025. Players seeking a throwback to practical effects-driven horror with a central mystery to unravel should mark their calendars.

Must Know

What is the release date for Dead Reset?
Dead Reset launches on September 11, 2025. It will be available on Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 5, and PC via digital storefronts. Wales Interactive announced the date alongside the first gameplay previews.

What kind of horror is Dead Reset?
Early previews describe Dead Reset as leaning into campy, B-movie horror. It features a grotesque practical-effects creature, over-the-top death sequences, and exaggerated performances, evoking classic creature features rather than psychological terror.

How does the time-loop mechanic work?
Players character Cole relives the same catastrophic events at the Magason Research Facility after each death. Dying resets the timeline, allowing players to make different choices to survive longer, access new areas, and uncover clues towards one of four endings.

How long is the Dead Reset game?
The full game consists of eight chapters. Previewers reported taking about an hour to complete the first chapter, including multiple deaths and restarts. The total runtime will vary significantly based on player deaths and paths taken.

What is the creature in Dead Reset like?
The creature is a morphing, fleshy entity extracted from a human host. Its design draws comparisons to The Thing, capable of changing shape. Preview footage shows it attacking with sliding jumps, resulting in comically gory, theatrical death scenes.

Who is developing Dead Reset?
Dead Reset is developed by Wales Interactive, known for other FMV titles like The Complex, Maid of Sker, I Saw Black Clouds, and Sker Ritual. They specialize in interactive narrative experiences.