I Am Dead

The simplistic gameplay can be underwhelming, but I Am Dead is a beautiful, well-written adventure that approaches the subject of death with warmth and compassion in what is really a celebration of life.

I Am Dead is an incredibly cute little puzzle game where you get to go around an island you once lived on in order to try and prevent a volcano from erupting and destroying your home. Of course, you’re dead, but you’ll get to do all of this alongside the ghost of your dog Sparky. It’s cute, and the puzzles in the game are simple enough to not cause frustrating while still providing a satisfying challenge overall. This is definitely one to pick up if you’re hankering for something a bit different.

I Am Dead is a little wonderful tale which goes beyond the concept of death embracing love and the wonderful mementos of the persons who left us. The core mechanics are smart and well executed and despite the lack of a well needed variety this is another unique game from Annapurna Interactive.

I Am Dead is a deceptively charming and emotionally potent experience. It’s hard not to be won over by its good spirit and intricate, lovingly crafted world. Despite its simple gameplay and heavy dose of eccentricity, it's a tender reflection on ordinary lives, death and the power of memory. A game that will linger in the memory.

Like Morris Lupton himself, it feels like I Am Dead doesn’t quite know what it is. It’s simultaneously an easygoing puzzle game, a gorgeously gentle but affecting set of homespun stories, and an intricate, experimental exploration experience. The beauty of this is that it never feels the need to commit to one focus – I ended up pivoting between all three ideas organically; playing, toying and learning by turn as I sifted through Shelmerston’s array of explorable still life objects. Neither Morris nor I Am Dead are perfect – but I sort of love them anyway.

I Am Dead is a delightfully quirky game about the afterlife, presenting a unique world with a rich history inside of it, all with a tone that’s a perfect level of light-hearted. While you may be able to breeze through certain parts of it, the whole game makes for a memorable experience, filled with enjoyable puzzles to solve, colorful tidbits to uncover and interesting characters to learn about. Certain parts of the story have Morris worried if he’ll actually be remembered now that he’s gone, and ironically, his story taking place from his death onward makes for a tale you likely won’t forget.

I Am Dead has a very interesting story to tell, a colorful and varied environment in which to tell it, and a very cool way of going about the telling. The use of ghostly powers to explore, but never directly interact with the world, yet still solve puzzles was quite fun and unique. The more I unraveled of the mystery, the more intrigued I was and the more I wanted to know about each of the people presented to me, their lives, their connections, and the island they lived on.

Even if the treasure-hunting gameplay underpinning the narrative progression doesn't evolve beyond its simple beginnings, it's hard not to be entranced by I Am Dead's colorful characters and engaging tales and come away from your getaway to Shelmerston with a smile on your face.