Dread Not

Puzzle· Time Management· Runner· Capitalism

Early access since Jun 2025

Avoid your watery grave in this asymmetrical co-op horror game where you and a friend take the roles of a submarine Pilot and Mechanic. Work together to repair the ship, solve puzzles, avoid a deadly creature, and make it back to the surface before time runs out! It's time to Sync or Swim

47% positive · 551 reviews

Not yet

In early access, content planned but development status unclear

Low confidence

Content Planned

Development Uncertain

Not yet

In early access, content planned but development status unclear

Low confidence

Content Planned

Development Uncertain

Where to get it

Free on Steam

Steam Free

Evaluation

Dread Not is a free-to-play asymmetric co-op horror game created by a 15-person student team at UW-Stout for their senior capstone project. It launched into Early Access on June 14, 2025. Shortly after launch, the team was active with rapid patching and published a roadmap on June 25, 2025 outlining planned updates through version 1.0, including new puzzles, a single-player survival horror mode, accessibility features, and a full tutorial rework, with a target of reaching 1.0 by late November or early December 2025. However, on August 19, 2026 — the same day as today's assessment — the lead developer ("Programmer Ben") published a candid post acknowledging that development had stalled for "nearly over a year." He explained that the negative critical reception nearly extinguished his motivation, and that most of the original team has moved on to other ventures. He states his spark has returned and that he intends to stabilize the game and bring it to a full 1.0 release, but provides no timeline or specific roadmap for doing so. The game remains in Early Access with content additions still promised, but the extended development gap and the reduced team (now effectively a solo developer) make the timing and scope of the planned 1.0 release genuinely uncertain. The developer's intentions appear sincere, but there is no concrete schedule backing them up.

Evidence

Lead developer admits to roughly a year of inactivity due to lost motivation, says most teammates have moved on, but expresses intent to stabilize the game and release it as 1.0 with no specific timeline given

news post · Aug 19, 2026 source ambiguous

high

Developer stated 'Dread Not is far from finished,' published a roadmap targeting updates 0.2–0.3 through July/August 2025, a 1.0 release by late November or early December 2025, and future content including a single-player horror mode and reworked tutorial

news post · Jun 25, 2025 source content planned

high

Media

Details

Developer

Leviathan Interactive

Publisher

Leviathan Interactive

Achievements

—

Platform

Windows

Controller

—

Steam Deck

Not rated

Players

Multiplayer · Co-op

Puzzle Time Management Runner Capitalism Cold War Submarine Underwater 3D Horror Dark Humor Dialogue Heavy Linear Simulation Action Realistic

About this game

The water is dark and incredibly cold. The pressure is intense, and the stakes couldn’t be higher...

After being attacked by a colossal sea creature, a small nuclear submarine is thrown into a high-stakes battle and must reach the surface before air runs out. Players take on the role of either Pilot or Mechanic and must work together to keep the submarine stable by communicating with each other, fixing failing systems, and navigating through perilous waters. Survival depends on the pair’s ability to work together under immense pressure. Failure is not an option.

Dread Not is an asymmetric co-op game created by Leviathan Interactive, a studio comprised of 15 UW-Stout students, that will leave players wanting more! Play as a pair of marine researchers aboard a doomed vessel that has suffered severe damage and only has 10 minutes before running out of oxygen. The only chance of reaching the surface is by making repairs, which are completed through cooperative and individual puzzles scattered throughout the system rooms of the submarine. The Pilot is constrained to a single room and is in charge of navigation while simultaneously communicating with the Mechanic in order to keep necessary systems up and running. The Mechanic is able to move between all other rooms and must repair systems under the Pilot's guidance. With inspirations taken from real 1960’s Navy Nuclear Ballistic Missile submarines of the George Washington Class combined with the 80's vibes found in cinematic classics such as The Hunt for Red October and Jaws, Dread Not is sure to be an absolute blast. Will you sync or swim?

Last evaluated Aug 19, 2026