Dead in Antares is the third instalment in Ishtar Games' Dead In series. This survival management game, which incorporates RPG and adventure elements, once again provides a coherent overall experience set on an alien planet.
The first game in the series, Dead in Bermuda (2015), was a survival management game with RPG and adventure elements. Players led a team of eight survivors from a plane crash on a strange island. The second game, Dead in Vinland (2018), changed the setting to a mysterious island and revolved around a Viking family trying to survive. The third game, Dead in Antares, is set in a sci-fi scenario and is still a turn-based survival management game with RPG elements, but this time it is set on an alien planet.
In the game, Earth is dying. In an attempt to save it, ten specialists are sent into space to find new resources that could save humanity. However, they are unexpectedly pulled into a wormhole and their ship crashes on an unknown planet. Players must take charge of this group of survivors, meeting their needs, creating a shelter and fostering teamwork as they explore this world and try to find a way home.
Dead in Antares © Ishtar Games / Nacon
Players must manage resources such as food and water, assign tasks to crew members (e.g. setting up camp or exploring) and maintain a balance between fatigue and mental health - all of which are interconnected systems. They must also repair and repurpose advanced equipment, optimise energy use and make the most of the available resources. In this way, the spaceship wreck is transformed into an exoplanet outpost equipped with workstations. There are up to 20 workstations to manage, as well as more than 130 upgrades to craft. However, decisions must still be made here, as each station consumes power from a finite pool.
Players must simultaneously explore the planet to find new resources, while also encountering enemies and two factions that have been at war for generations. Exploration of Antares Prime's hand-drawn landscapes takes place on a tile-based grid, featuring turn-based tactical combat with front and rear rows, and over 60 battle skills.
Dead in Antares © Ishtar Games / Nacon
The RPG systems, featuring traits, levels and skills (including the ultimate skill, 'Power Surge'), influence not only combat and the effectiveness of various actions, but also the relationships between survivors and the group's morale. After all, each of the ten playable characters has their own past, ambitions and secrets, and there are over 135 unique dialogue options for relationships. Interactions between characters are presented in the style of a visual novel.
Essentially, the game builds on the strengths and experiences of its two predecessors, offering more quality-of-life features. However, it lacks some innovation. The variety of systems may overwhelm new players, as some aspects later become routine, while the pacing could also be quicker, particularly in the middle section.
Dead in Antares © Ishtar Games / Nacon
"Dead in Antares is a very special project for us, as it's the third episode of the "Dead in" series which celebrated its tenth year anniversary just last year. We can proudly say that we've managed to take advantage of all the experience we acquired during our 20+ years of existence at Ishtar Games, and especially since the release of The Last Spell. We hope players will enjoy this "nice" trip on Antares Prime!" - Benjamin Coquelle, Producer on Dead in Antares
Dead in Antares is the third instalment in the 'Dead in' series, following Dead in Bermuda (2015) and Dead in Vinland (2018). While all three games are standalone, it is possible to find common threads between them. The game was developed by Ishtar Games, a game studio founded in 2005 and based in Lille and Bordeaux, France. Formerly known as CCCP. On 7 October 2021, the studio was fully acquired by Nacon, a French publisher and subsidiary of Bigben Interactive, which is currently facing insolvency. Since then, they have also been working on their own games, such as Lakeburg Legacies, as well as Nacon's 'indie publishing branch'. In this capacity, they have formed partnerships with other independent studios to develop and promote a catalogue of games, including Spirited Thief from Koi Snowman Games, Forgotten Mines from Cannibal Goose, and Worlds of Aria from Ludogram. Ishtar Games has around 20 employees.
Dead in Antares was released on 19 February 2026 for PC at a price of €19.99.
Dead in Antares continues the Dead in series skilfully, featuring its signature blend of management, exploration and turn-based combat, as well as meaningful choices. Although it struggles with pacing at times, it remains a compelling addition to the series.
