We Love It's Guide to…
Build your deck and try to survive in The Dead Await, a deck-building RPG set during a zombie apocalypse.
Released 18 May 2026
Build your deck and try to survive in The Dead Await, a deck-building RPG set during a zombie apocalypse. As one of many survivors, set out across the desolate world, discover the truth about the outbreak, and rebuild human civilization - or die trying.
Developed by Shotx · Published by indie.io









The Dead Await has about 110 positive and 49 negative player reviews out of a total 159. We'll add a detailed breakdown here when there are more reviews.

The Dead Await is a deck-building open world survival RPG set in a zombie apocalypse. The world as we know it ended, torn apart by hordes of ravenous monsters. Humanity still clings on in the sea of blackened ruins, cold ashes, and man-eating creatures.
You're the leader of a caravan of survivalists whose goal is to figure out the truth behind the zombie apocalypse and, if possible, build the foundations for a new civilization! But be careful: Zombies might want to feast on your brains, but humans may very well prove the greatest obstacles during your long drive...

Explore a vast world torn apart by a zombie apocalypse, from derelict cities full of loot and zombies to new settlements founded by survivors with opportunity and backstabbing abound.
Gather food, water, fuel, and gear to survive the drive. Manage your resources to ensure everyone gets to the destination safely.
Manage your team's sanity! Manage the impact of trauma, long-term effects of injuries, and, of course, resource scarcity. Zombies might turn out to be the least of your problems...

Build the survivor you want using a robust attribute, skill, and perk system. Experiment with combinations and character builds, from a suave lockpicker to a mindless berserker and everything in-between.
Paired with the character system is sophisticated card-based combat. Build up your deck during your travels, taking a team of rag-tag survivors to veterans with incredibly rare cards at their disposal!
Gear matters: Give your survivors an edge with weapon and equipment mods - plus a good meal - and watch them conquer the wasteland!
Build your group of survivalists to work as a team in combat!

The caravan is at the heart of your journey to discover the truth. Upgrade it with workbenches, storage, and other features to turn it into a true mobile base.
Swap out vehicle components to modify the caravan's performance. Engine, suspension, tires, all affect how you traverse the world - and your chances of surviving!
Craft everything you need to survive, including the classic nail-mounted baseball bat. They don't make them like they used to, after all!
With what you find in the wild, cook meals to give yourself permanent bonuses or a quick fix before a fight!
| Platforms | Windows |
|---|---|
| Achievements | 25 |
| Age ratings |
|
| Controller required | No |
| AI disclosure | We use AI as a tool to support our art pipeline. All outputs are based on our original direction and are reviewed, edited, and refined by our team before being included in the game. |
| AI disclosure categories |
|
| Website | Official website |