Sega’s The Typing of the Dead is a classic for many Dreamcast fans, even if you still have to call it “edutainment”. Mike Monroe and Belief Engine’s DEAD LETTER DEPT., while not carrying the humour of Sega’s title, still aims to entertain through its psychological horror, as well as its unorthodox feature of typing.
Launching on Steam on January 30, DEAD LETTER DEPT. currently has a demo available to get your feet wet. This slow-burn voyeuristic journey sees you taking a temp job while you get situated in a new city. You are tasked with data-entry-like work, typing up the words and addresses on mail & letters that were not deliverable due to the composers’ bad handwriting or other odd reasons. As the days pass, strange stories begin to emerge from the mail, you can’t ever shake this feeling you’re being watched.
Working in a dingy warehouse, isolated from anyone and everyone, your only connection to the outside world are glimpses of letters that couldn’t reach their destination. Working conditions become questionable and dreamlike. Oddities and cracks begin to appear. Making money for rent is important, but at what cost?
As you expect, in DEAD LETTER DEPT., you’ll be using your keyboard to type in various prompts, and attempt to decipher damaged images. No two playthroughs are the same, as your progress will lead you to one of many endings, with plenty of secrets to uncover. You’ve got a massive amount of mail to wade through, where you’ll be catching glimpses into other lives. It’s all accompanied by a an atmosphere designed to get in under your skin.