Texas, 1980. Walton City has collapsed due to a zombie outbreak, and honestly, it feels like you’ve been dropped straight into the opening sequence of every horror film you’ve ever screamed at. It feels like you’ve been dropped straight into the opening sequence of every horror film you’ve ever screamed at. Except this time, you’re the one making the choices.
The current Into the Dead review explores My True Darkest Days, its gameplay experience, and what makes it stand out.
I spent the weekend with Into the Dead: Our Darkest Days, and let me just say—survival has never felt this gritty, stressful, or addictive.
This is a survival game that truly captures the essence of survival.
This game makes every bullet count, unlike some zombie titles, such as Resident Evil 5, that throw endless ammo at players. Scavenging becomes less about “What cool weapon can I craft?” and more about “Can I actually feed my group tonight?”
The crafting system had me duct-taping pipes and broken tools into weapons that looked one step away from falling apart. But when a horde is on your heels, a shaky hammer is better than nothing.
If you’ve played other survival games like Project Zomboid, you’ll know the drill: every choice matters. However, in this game, the storytelling makes you acutely aware of every mistake.
Meet your band of misfits
What kept me hooked wasn’t just the zombies, but the survivors I ended up guiding through this chaos. Each character has a backstory that makes it impossible not to get attached. This is cruel because permadeath means that one wrong move can result in a character being lost forever.
This experience strongly evoked the emotional impact of games such as This War of Mine. Only here, the 1980s Texas setting makes everything feel more cinematic: dusty streets, flickering neon lights, and that eerie quiet just before a horde comes tearing through.
Stress, strategy, and satisfaction
Every run felt like a gamble. Do I risk splitting the group to scavenge more supplies? Do I save ammo or go all out now? The tension is constant, but when you actually make it to the next safehouse, the relief is unreal.
It’s not just about reflexes either. You need to think, plan, and accept that sometimes, bad luck will get you. But that’s part of what makes it so addictive.
If you’re into strategy-heavy horror experiences, you might also like my guide to the best survival horror games, where this title will definitely earn a spot.
What works and what doesn’t
What I loved
- The 1980s Texas setting is surprisingly fresh in a zombie game.
- The emotional weight of keeping survivors alive makes every decision matter.
- The crafting system feels raw and realistic.
What I didn’t love
- RNG can be brutal — sometimes you just get unlucky.
- Permadeath can make progress feel punishing if you get attached (which you will).
Should you play it?
If you want a zombie game that actually makes you sweat over your choices, Into the Dead: Our Darkest Days is the one to try. It’s not flashy or easy, but it’s the kind of game that keeps you saying “just one more run” until you realise it’s 2 a.m.
Right now, the game is available on Steam with a launch discount, so if survival horror is your thing, I’d grab it while it’s hot.
