Viking management game gets sci-fi sequel after seven years, you can play now

Game sequels are always tricky to pull off. Whether you're The Witcher 4 trying to live up to millions of fans' lofty expectations or Hades 2 trying to recapture the lightning in a bottle that was the first game, you're never going to please everyone. Some fans will want more of the same, exactly the same. Others will want meaningful iterations, both mechanical and narrative. Others will just wish you'd leave that world behind and try something new. I think Ishtar Games has the right idea with Dead in Antares, where it has transplanted its iconic turn-based management game to a new setting with each sequel.

The original 'Dead in' game was set in modern-day Bermuda, and you played as survivors of a plane crash trying to, well, survive. The 2015 title made its name as a proficient management game, with plenty of strategic decisions and a strong narrative. This was followed three years later by Dead in Vinland, an ostensibly Viking-themed story with familiar mechanics.

Seven years later, Ishtar revealed Dead in Antares, a science-fiction addition to the series. Many fans believed the series was extinct, or at the very least dormant, but this sci-fi sequel has a brand new demo that you can play now.

Dead in Antares promises the same strategic gameplay as its predecessors. You need to procure resources, research technology, and manage food, water, exhaustion, and mental health. Optimize every element of your grounded spaceship or perish.

The sci-fi setting offers something fresh, though. You'll be forced to explore jungles, volcanic deserts, and crystal forests in order to gather supplies and understand the mysteries of Antares Prime. With turn-based strategy, survival, and the deep interpersonal relationships that the previous Dead in games mastered, I've never been more excited to have a near-death experience.

What's more, there's a mega sale on the previous Dead in games. Dead in Vinland is currently on sale for $1.99 / £1.67, and if you're fast, Dead in Bermuda is free to keep on Steam until Friday, August 29.

The new Steam demo for Dead in Antares is live right now. If you want to give it a spin, download it here.

If you've already played the Dead in series, I can recommend a bunch of other survival games that might take your fancy. The best turn-based strategy games might also prepare you for life stranded on an alien planet.

Need survival tips? Head over to our community Discord server, where we're all surviving. Just.