Sometimes the best kind of horror doesn’t try to reinvent the wheel. Sometimes it just throws you into a dark house, hands you a weapon, and unleashes wave after wave of the undead. That’s exactly the kind of retro-fueled chaos players can expect from Living Dead House, a new arcade-style zombie shooter arriving on the Nintendo Switch on April 2, 2026.
Developed by Deprecated Games and published by Flynn’s Arcade, Living Dead House is built to capture the spirit of classic arcade cabinets while adding just enough modern polish to keep things fresh. The premise is simple but deliciously tense. Darkness falls, the dead rise, and you’re trapped inside an abandoned house with limited supplies and a growing horde outside the doors.
Your goal is straightforward: survive until sunrise.
Of course, surviving the night is easier said than done. The undead arrive in relentless waves, and each moment becomes a frantic scramble to manage weapons, supplies, and your own nerves. Whether you’re playing solo or teaming up with a friend in local co-op, every second feels like a fight for survival.
The game leans heavily into its retro roots, featuring vibrant 16-bit pixel art that bursts with personality. The visuals feel like a love letter to the golden age of arcade gaming, where bright sprites and exaggerated animations turned even terrifying monsters into something strangely charming.
Backing it all up is a spooky chiptune soundtrack that keeps the tension high while tapping directly into that nostalgic arcade vibe. It’s the kind of music that feels equally at home in a haunted mansion and a dimly lit arcade packed with humming cabinets.
Gameplay offers both Arcade and Survival modes, giving players different ways to test their skills against the undead onslaught. Across 20 stages of escalating chaos, you’ll gain access to six unique weapons and survival items designed to help you hold the line.
But there’s more to discover than just bullets and barricades.
Hidden throughout the game are collectible letters that spell out a devastating super weapon. Finding them all can mean the difference between barely scraping through the night and turning the undead hordes into pixelated dust.
Competitive players will also find plenty to chase thanks to global leaderboards. Whether you’re going solo or playing co-op, every run is a chance to climb the rankings and prove you’re the ultimate survivor.
For players who truly want to lean into the retro horror aesthetic, Living Dead House includes optional Black and White and CRT filters. These visual tweaks recreate the look of old televisions and vintage horror films, adding an extra layer of atmosphere to the undead invasion.
The game launches worldwide on Nintendo Switch across North America, Europe, Japan, Korea, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and South Asia. It will be available for $4.99, with a 20 percent discount during its first week on the Nintendo eShop.
For a game that proudly wears its arcade inspirations on its sleeve, the price tag feels like a throwback too.
If you’ve ever wanted to lock the doors, grab a weapon, and see how long you can last against the undead, Living Dead House is ready to test your nerves this April. The question isn’t whether the zombies are coming.
It’s whether you’ll still be standing when the sun finally rises.