Following their recent acquisition of the publishing rights to Japanese PC game developer FairyTale’s catalog, Fakku, a publisher of English-language adult manga and games, has launched the Steam page for Dead of the Brain, a standout title from FairyTale’s lineup.
Initially introduced on NEC’s PC-98 computer system, Dead of the Brain marked FairyTale’s first exploration into the horror genre, a shift from their prior focus on adult-only erotic games. In the wake of a widely publicized and contentious 1991 incident involving a middle schooler who shoplifted one of their more extreme titles, Saori: Bishojo-tachi no Yakata, the company temporarily shifted its focus to horror until the surrounding controversy subsided.
With character designs by Ryuichi Makino, known for his work on anime series such as Wandering Son and Re:CREATORS, Dead of the Brain was crafted as a tribute to 1980s American splatter films like The Evil Dead and Re-Animator. The narrative unfolds as the protagonist, Cole, a relatable everyman, is invited by his scientist friend Dr. Cooger to observe the effects of a new serum designed to resurrect the dead. While the experiment succeeds, it inadvertently brings the deceased back as zombies devoid of their former selves and driven by an insatiable craving for human brains. Chaos ensues rapidly, and Cole soon finds himself battling for survival in the midst of a full-scale zombie outbreak.
The gameplay of Dead of the Brain aligns with the conventions of Japanese adventure games from its era, blending visual novel–style dialogue segments with interactive phases where players must utilize commands like Look, Use, and Get to navigate the game’s environments and advance the plot. A distinctive element is the inclusion of quick time events, which demand swift reactions to on-screen hazards—primarily zombies—by clicking on their weak points before being overwhelmed, or worse.
Fakku’s version of the game will maintain the original striking pixel art, though it has been enhanced for modern high-definition displays. The game’s FM soundtrack remains unaltered and is even slated to be offered as a downloadable content option for those who wish to enjoy it independently of the game. A few optional quality-of-life enhancements are also in the works, including more lenient checkpoints and hints that appear when hovering over interactive elements during gameplay. Nevertheless, a disclaimer on the game’s Steam page clarifies that the core experience has largely been preserved as it was in 1992, and may require some adaptation from players accustomed to more contemporary, streamlined games.
Dead of the Brain is set to debut on PC (Steam) on October 30, coinciding with Halloween. Fakku’s initial announcement regarding their acquisition of FairyTale’s catalog also hinted at upcoming English versions of this game’s sequel, Dead of the Brain 2, along with other horror titles from the developer.