10 Dead Doves - Old school horror vibes in your hands

XPN Network
Aug 4
3 min read

I’m absolutely hooked on those classic survival horror titles. There’s something magnetic about slow tank-style controls, eerie fixed camera angles, and just enough pixelated graininess to make every shadow feel alive. Diving into a retro PSone aesthetic isn’t just nostalgia; it cranks the tension up to eleven, turning every creak in the floorboards and distant howl into a pulse-pounding event. I love the way those chunky polygons leave just enough to the imagination, forcing you to lean forward and squint at the screen as if you’re trespassing into a forbidden realm. Inventory management feels like a desperate puzzle, and scarce resources mean every shotgun shell stings when you waste one.

10 Dead Doves officially launched on Steam on December 13, 2024 from developer Duonix Studios. As someone who loves classic psone survival horror games, I couldn't wait to try it out!

The story of the game sees you playing as Mark, who proudly calls himself “the Most Pathetic Man on Earth” and his buddy Sean on what’s supposed to be their last epic road trip down a foggy Appalachian highway in 2004. They’re chasing rumours of the Ant Farm, a creepy roadside relic that’s said to grant desperate wishes. At first it’s just birds dropping dead from the sky and weird symbols scrawled on old signs, but before you know it the forest itself starts feeling alive. One minute you’re joking about snacks, the next you’re squinting at half-glimpsed shadows and wondering why every rustle sounds like danger.

As you push deeper into those woods, you stumble across the wreckage of some secret Appalachian experiment which is basically a mad-scientist setup that blasts otherworldly energy into your brain and dares you to create something “great.” Instead of cheap jump scares, the game flings you into stark white dreamscapes whenever Mark’s narcolepsy kicks in: picture a creepy bird-thing banging away at a typewriter in the void, and you get the vibe. Reality starts to warp, forcing both guys to face their regrets (hello, Mark’s broken relationship with his daughter), while unseen forces toy with your mind. At the end you stare down a staircase or a ladder, and whichever you pick sends you toward one of several trippy, open-ended finales sacrifice, rebirth, or handing the Ant Farm’s bizarre legacy off to someone new.

This isn't a survival horror game in the traditional sense as there's no combat, no inventory management, and no typical genre tropes. Instead, 10 Dead Doves thrives on immersive exploration, environmental storytelling, and eerie puzzle-solving. Players navigate unsettling forests, decipher cryptic messages, and uncover fragments of memories that hint at deeper truths.

A looming, unnatural entity lurks in the shadows, forcing players into moments of quiet dread rather than outright terror. The low-poly art style contributes to the game’s unnerving atmosphere, making the world feel dreamlike and distorted.

10 Dead Doves employs a deliberate tank-control scheme borrowed from classic PSone horror titles, pairing fixed camera angles with character-relative movement. Gameplay hinges on slow, methodical exploration and puzzle-solving rather than combat. You’ll forage through misty forests, abandoned roadside stops, and surreal white voids, collecting keys, notes, and odd artifacts that unlock the next story beat or environmental challenge. Limited inventory slots force you to decide which items to carry, and fixed perspectives turn every corridor into a potential ambush zone. Enemies are unseen until they strike in close quarters, pushing you to memorize layouts and learn when to hide or sprint.

Pros

Evocative PSone-style presentation with modern lighting touches
Deeply human character interactions that anchor the horror
Rich ambient audio design that sustains unease
Multiple endings and collectibles reward repeat playthroughs

Cons

Tank controls and fixed cameras can feel cumbersome during long sections
Repetitive environmental layouts mid-game slow pacing
Sparse in-game guidance may frustrate puzzle newcomers
Occasional technical hitches (texture pop-in, uneven frame rate)

10 Dead Doves isn’t flawless, but its blend of retro mechanics and heartfelt storytelling creates a uniquely unsettling journey. Fans of PSone-era survival horror will find its slow-burn tension and emotional core particularly satisfying. If you’re ready to brave an Appalachian nightmare where every creak and whisper keeps you guessing, this indie gem is worth the trek.

XPN Rating: 3.5 out of 5 (GOLD)