The Deadseat is a story-driven horror game set entirely in the backseat of a moving car. The player takes the role of a child, trapped between two parents whose arguments grow louder as the drive continues. The only distraction is a hand-held game system, which begins as a typical retro adventure but slowly starts to reflect the disturbing reality outside the screen. What begins as a harmless drive turns into a struggle for survival, both inside the game and outside of it.
Two Worlds, One Fight
The hand-held game serves as more than a toy—it becomes a link between two worlds. Players collect supplies inside the game world, then use them in real life to defend against the unknown force threatening the backseat. Switching focus between gameplay and real-world threats becomes central to survival. Timing, resource use, and attention to sound cues are all necessary as the boundaries between game and reality fade.
Main Mechanics and Features
- Interact with a retro hand-held game in real time
- Collect in-game items that transfer to the real world
- Manage resources while defending against a hidden threat
- Dual-layered storytelling across digital and physical spaces
- Two modes: a short main campaign and a brutal hard mode
The balance between progress in the game and monitoring the real environment is constant. Ignoring one side leads to failure in the other. Players must decide how long to stay in the comfort of the game and when to face what’s crawling in from outside.
Escapism and Confrontation
The Deadseat is not only about horror but also about emotional distance and helplessness. The player cannot stop the car or calm their parents. The only control comes from the game in their hands, yet even that begins to fall apart. Themes of avoidance and the impact of a chaotic home are present throughout the story. The tension rises as the character is forced to face both emotional and physical threats from a space with no escape.
Hard Mode expands on this foundation, offering a remixed experience where players have one chance to survive. The monster becomes more aggressive, resources are scarcer, and every mistake is punished. The experience becomes less about escape and more about endurance. The Deadseat leaves players with the question of whether surviving the night is enough when the morning brings the same drive all over again.
