When it comes to horror cinema, the only avenues to thrill and chill audiences are either streaming or movies… right? Well, some would say otherwise, with the rise of the FMV (Full Motion Video) video game in the ’80s, the gaming industry bet on the cross-section of the two media being the next big thing. This did not really pan out, even with big names like Robert De Niro investing in the genre. Today, only a few oddities exist that have developed a cult following, while modern-day FMV has a similar fandom around it.
One can argue that the technology was not yet there to create the kind of interactive movies that many were looking for when the FMV first rose to prominence; some of the early attempts are laughably awkward. However, the recent sci-fi horror release, Dead Reset, is an ambitious project that shows the medium can still deliver an unforgettable experience.
‘Dead Reset’ Is a “Choose Your Own Adventure” Sci-Fi Spectacle
Dead Reset opens with quite a bang, introducing the audience to its protagonist, Cole Mason, a surgeon who finds himself trapped in a bizarre time loop. Cole has no memory and is immediately forced to perform on a patient who has an alien lodged inside her. Players first experience several gory deaths as they learn the game mechanics. Primarily a “pick-a-path” approach to advancing the narrative, players can still deepen allegiances with certain characters and complete the game with four different endings. Besides the ample amount of gore and alien attacks, Dead Reset also offers up some legit moments of psychological dread and otherworldly horror, which is best left as spoiler-free as possible.
To bring it all together, the project was a joint effort between Dark Rift Horror, who previously worked on The Creature Below and the underrated homage to ’80s/’90s monster madness in Book of Monsters, alongside Wales Interactive, who have been at the forefront of re-inventing FMV with other releases like 2016’s The Bunker, and 2020’s The Complex. While both teams have achieved success in establishing a reputation in their respective mediums, Dark Rift Horror’s skill in crafting uproarious B-grade horror and Wales Interactive’s continued refinement of the FMV format have marked the most successful project to date for both.
‘Dead Reset’ Is Different by Design but Still Delivers One Hell of a Horror Experience
To make Dead Reset work, 339 unique scenes had to be shot (including four alternative endings). This affects the flow of the movie; those who played Black Mirror: Bandersnatch on Netflix will know how everything becomes slightly disjointed in delivery. Still, Dead Reset is the closest fans of practical-effect B-horror films will come to experiencing an interactive version of the genre. The passion for the genre is evident in its subtle nods to sci-fi horror classics like Alien and The Thing. To make the most of the experience and the apparent love for horror from the cast and crew, the multiple-choice format will often prompt players to make deliberate mistakes to see how it leads to Cole’s death, even if it compromises his sanity and the ending they receive.
Dead Reset is also a match for its cinematic counterparts in one of the most important ways: it is utterly fun to watch with a crowd. This is like a movie where you can actually yell at the screen and influence the outcome as one person takes the room vote and guides Cole through a series of ghastly events. The cast, while lacking name-value talent one might expect from a theatrical or streaming release, does a phenomenal job at immersing viewers in the dark confines of the ship facing an alien threat. Notably, Daniel Thrace as Cole does an exceptional job of running the gamut of emotions and deaths, and players will find themselves rooting for him pretty early after booting up the game.
Is it perfect? No, FMV will always have its limits when comparing beat for beat with a movie planned from start to finish. Among 2025 releases, Dead Reset stands out as one of the best experiences for horror fans. The game on Steam has “Very Positive” feedback, and you can pop into one of multiple streams of the game to see how much fun streamers are having with it as well (though you really want to play it for yourself first).
Dead Reset is currently available on PC (including Steam and Epic Games Store), PlayStation 4 & 5, Xbox One and Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, and on iOS and Android devices.
