Noir: Dead On Arrival is the first episode in the NOIR interactive adventure series.
The NOIR series is a collection of adventures set in the same dystopian world, each installment gradually uncovering its dark secrets. In NOIR: Dead On Arrival, inspired by the 1950s classic D.O.A, the story centers on the murder of Frank Bigelow, a government employee caught in a deadly web of intrigue.
Delve into the abysses of a unique dystopian world
The year is 2084. Seventy-five years since the Big Crash kicked in, flipped everything, and left us in this hellhole.
What’s left of humanity? Shackled. Crushed under the boot of the transhumanist elite—ancient bastards stretching their years way past natural, running the show from their steel-and-glass thrones.
Meanwhile, we’re packed in like rats in a handful of megacities, sweating through the short, brutal grind they have the nerve to call life these days.
Squalor, crime, promiscuity—the crack of skulls shattered by truncheons whenever anyone dares challenge our new masters. It’s the only sound louder than the constant buzz of screens pouring out their propaganda without interruption. That’s the new flavor of the Land of the Free, Home of the Brave, for ages to come.
Outside the walls? No one goes unless drafted into the Reclamation, the government’s pipe dream of reclaiming the Earth.
Only the damned get pulled in. It’s suicide dressed in pretty lies.
Nothing out there but wasteland—scorched, dead, crawling with The Others. No one’s lived to tell what they are, and no one dares even whisper their name. The ultimate taboo—the damn elephant in the room. The sword of Damocles hanging over us, dripping fear into our hearts like a slow infusion.
Then there are the Unliving. Poor souls snagged by a scouting assignment during Reclamation duty. They vanish for days, maybe longer. When they finally drag themselves back, they’re not the same. Death crept in and took over. No signs of how or why—just flesh and bone on autopilot. No heartbeat, no brain, no soul—only a relentless drive.
They seem to want one thing, and one thing only: to come home.
And maybe, just maybe, there are worse things lurking out there...
Did anybody say "Zombies"?
Don’t expect your typical flesh-eating, limb-gnawing, brain-hungry zombies coming at you in endless waves. Think Village of the Damned, not World War Z.
Sure, the Unliving are technically undead—they don’t have a pulse. But they’re not the aggressive, relentless predators you’d expect. Their decay is subtle, likely from wandering the wastelands, and their bodily functions have stopped. No rotting bodies. No flesh-craving, no manic pursuit either. They're not braindead, just... absent. They’re driven by one thing—an obsession to return to their loved ones. It’s not a strong drive either; the slightest obstacle can stop them in their tracks, leaving them in a sort of standby mode. Then, some unseen force calls them away, only to see them wander back days or even weeks later.
The real question is: what happens if they actually make it home?
An interactive adventure unlike anything you've ever experienced.
The NOIR series stands out for its multifaceted and dynamic storytelling. The overarching narrative is punctuated by key events that can be replayed from the perspective of multiple characters—whether they’re actors or witnesses. Each viewpoint offers its own version of the same events. As the player, it’s your job to piece together the full story by combining and comparing these accounts, some of which may be biased, incomplete, or distorted.
Your interpretation of the truth shapes how the story unfolds, putting you in control of the reality that emerges.
Solo game
Main character
You take on the role of Winston Smith, a former detective in the Special Affairs department, the police unit specialized in high-profile cases involving the Party—the only political faction remaining, directly appointed by mega-corporations. Winston’s life spiraled after his daughter was drafted into the controversial Reclamation program, only to return as one of the Unliving, leading his wife to take her own life.
Sinking into alcoholism and drug abuse, Winston became dysfunctional and openly critical of the Reclamation program. He obsessed over the truth behind his daughter’s disappearance, dismissing the official account that she was sent on a field assignment to audit operations at a forward base. Allegedly, she left the base perimeter for unknown reasons, returning days later as one of the Unliving—a version that is shady at best, given the uniformity of the witness statements from her co-workers.
Despite his rebellious behavior, Winston remains alive and free because the elite fear the secrets he possesses from his days as a detective. Rather than risk exposure, they let him self-destruct under the weight of his addictions, keeping him under discreet surveillance after forcing him into an early retirement from the force.
Party-based RPG elements
Throughout the game, you'll encounter various NPCs that can be added to your roster of playable characters. This allows you to switch out Winston for someone better suited or more skilled for certain situations as they arise.
Each such character will have a unique relationship with Winston, expressing approval or disapproval of his choices and actions. They may also form opinions about other members of Winston's circle, either appreciating or resenting their presence.
Co-op campaign
In this multiplayer co-op experience, you’ll step into the shoes of characters from the solo game's world: a street-hardened former urchin, a government worker grappling with newfound conscience, a disgruntled mega-corporation security contractor, or an ordinary citizen seeking the truth about a missing friend.
Banded together by chance, you’ll explore the depths of New Washington, from its towering halls of power to its shadowy back-alleys. Uncover dark secrets in a dystopian world where every corner hides corruption, conspiracy, and danger. Collaboration is key, but as the mystery unfolds, the secrets you uncover may pit you against one another, forcing tough choices between loyalty to the group and the pursuit of your own goals.
Inspiration and art direction
NOIR: Dead On Arrival draws from a rich tapestry of dystopian, horror, and noir influences to create its striking visual universe. Paying tribute to creators like Philip K. Dick, Orson Welles, George Orwell, Fritz Lang, John Carpenter or George Romero, the game plunges players into a dark, brooding world where every shadow holds a secret.
The game’s aesthetic blends real-life photography, iconic imagery from classic films, AI-generated content, hand-drawn artwork, cutting-edge graphics—all fused into a highly stylized visual language.
Inspired by the eponym 1950s noir classic Dead on Arrival, this first instalment of the NOIR series distills the grim, fatalistic atmosphere of noir cinema with dystopian and horror elements. Its visuals evoke the expressionism of Metropolis, the paranoia of Blade Runner, and the haunting decay of Romero’s apocalyptic landscapes. Stark contrasts between light and shadow, angular lines, and a mix of futuristic cityscapes and decaying urban environments create a cinematic backdrop that complements the game’s deep, story-driven narrative.
This fusion of mediums gives NOIR an immersive, surreal style that underscores the tension, mystery, and dread at the heart of the game.
