NEWS

Dread Delusion has a retro vibe for old school RPG fans

Party like it's 1999!

Written by Jason Venter
Published Apr. 30, 2024

If you haven't been paying attention to everything available on Early Access, there's a good chance you didn't notice one particularly promising game: Dread Delusion. It's a first-person RPG in the old school vein of early Elder Scrolls and King's Quest titles, and it's making its big move on May 14.

During its Early Access run, Dread Delusion has enjoyed enthusiastic reception from those players brave enough to part with coin. It currently has a 92% overall positive rating, and is even slated to take part in this year's LudoNarraCon on Steam (with a 20% discount offered from May 9 through May 16).

Dread Delusion is a retro-inspired, exploration-centric RPG that promises engaging narrative and imaginitive worldbuilding, with open-ended quests that can end in multiple ways. You'll engage in all the usual activities that have always made games in the genre a treat, surrounded by visuals that don't look like they should tax your gaming rig at all (but there's a certain charm to them, and they've lost a lot of that old muddiness).

For a proper list of features, here's the one I cribbed from today's press release:

• A world-spanning quest to decide the fate of the land in a beautiful retro 3D aesthetic and full of unique characters, creatures, challenges, and treasure.
• Build your character to face challenges the way you want. There’s always an alternative to combat: charm NPCs, pick locks, harness forbidden knowledge and more…
• Use Smithing and Alchemy to upgrade equipment - turn a rusty blade into a Master Crafted Clockwork Sword.
• Gameplay inspired by classic RPGs of the 2000s.
• Wield a variety of powerful spells and potions to bend reality to your will.
• Join or Oppose various Factions as they pursue their own goals

Truly, I have no shame. It was just sitting there and I took it! Emboldened by the lack of repercussions for that brazen display, I'm also nabbing a link to the official Dread Delusion release date trailer. If you'd like to see the game in motion, make sure to view it!

Dread Delusion is in development at Lovely Hellplace, a UK-based studio. It's available to buy or wishlist on Steam for $19.99.

Jason Venter (Managing Editor)

Jason Venter has been writing about games since he discovered the medium as a small child, but people didn't start paying him until around 2002. He began by writing online at HonestGamers, the site he founded, and spent a few years writing for Hardcore Gamer Magazine. Since then, he has freelanced for leading outlets such as IGN, GameSpot, Polygon, and numerous others. When he's not playing and writing about video games, he spends what little time is left writing and publishing fantasy novels.