Dead Plate

The story

A new job should be a fresh start, but in Dead Plate, even an ordinary restaurant shift can feel strangely uncomfortable.

Set in 1960s France, this short narrative horror game follows Rody, an energetic young waiter who wants to earn as much money as possible during a single week of work. His workplace is an upscale bistro called La Gueule de Saturne, owned by Vince, a charismatic and successful chef.

At first, the situation appears straightforward. Rody has customers to serve, tables to manage, and a demanding workplace to navigate. Yet the contrast between the restaurant's polished appearance and its increasingly unsettling atmosphere gradually introduces a different kind of story.

Rody and Vince form the central character dynamic. Their roles as employee and employer establish an immediate contrast between Rody's lively personality and Vince's authority over the restaurant. Their conversations and interactions are important to the narrative, making the relationship between these two characters a central reason to keep playing.

Rather than presenting its horror through constant confrontation, Dead Plate builds tension around everyday routines, character behavior, and the feeling that something about the restaurant is not quite right.

The story combines workplace drama with psychological unease while leaving its most important discoveries for players to uncover themselves.

The reading experience

Dead Plate is not a conventional visual novel built entirely around reading dialogue and selecting responses. Its creators describe it as a 2D restaurant-tycoon-themed horror RPG with visual novel and point-and-click elements.

That combination creates two connected parts of the experience.

During restaurant gameplay, players move Rody around the environment and perform service-related tasks. This gives the story an interactive rhythm, making the restaurant feel like a workplace rather than simply a backdrop for conversations.

Outside those routines, exploration, character dialogue, and illustrated story scenes become increasingly important. The contrast between practical restaurant work and developing narrative tension is one of the game's defining characteristics.

The official release describes more than 70 illustrated CGs, eight maps, an original soundtrack, and over 8,000 words of character dialogue. These elements support a compact story that emphasizes visual atmosphere and character interactions.

The game's presentation moves between stylized restaurant environments, expressive character artwork, and disturbing horror imagery. Its sound design also contributes to the uneasy mood.

Player actions matter, but not necessarily in the way they would in a traditional romance visual novel. Progress involves navigation, interactions with objects, restaurant activities, and attention to events and conversations. Different decisions and interactions can contribute to different narrative outcomes.

The creators confirm four endings, alongside additional dialogue and hidden details. This makes replaying worthwhile for readers interested in discovering how different actions affect the story, without requiring knowledge of those outcomes before starting.

The official estimated duration is approximately 80–90 minutes to reach an ending, with up to three hours for completion. These are developer estimates rather than guaranteed reading times.

Although interpersonal relationships are important, Dead Plate should not be mistaken for a conventional dating simulator. Its primary appeal is the combination of character-driven storytelling, restaurant gameplay, mystery, and horror.

Who it is for

Dead Plate is a particularly strong match for readers who enjoy atmospheric indie horror, compact character-focused stories, and visual novels that include exploration or gameplay beyond dialogue selections.

It is also suitable for players who appreciate stories set in ordinary environments that gradually become threatening. The restaurant setting provides a distinctive contrast between daily responsibilities and psychological tension.

Readers who enjoy examining character motivations and returning to a story to discover alternative outcomes may appreciate its multiple endings and additional dialogue.

However, players looking for a relaxing restaurant simulator, a gentle relationship story, or a predominantly text-based visual novel should approach it with different expectations. Restaurant tasks require active participation, and the narrative is firmly rooted in horror rather than cozy workplace storytelling.

Content sensitivity is especially important. The creators explicitly warn about graphic death, blood, gore, violence, cannibalism, eyestrain, and disturbing imagery and audio. Players who prefer to avoid these elements should consider another title.

Dead Plate is a standalone work, so no earlier game is required to begin its story. The developers also create other narrative horror games under STUDIO INVESTIGRAVE, but those titles are separate works rather than chapters included in this release.

Official availability

Dead Plate is available through the creators' official itch.io page:

Dead Plate on itch.io

The official listing provides downloadable editions for Windows and macOS. Both are presented as complete game downloads rather than a demo.

The itch.io checkout confirms that the game can be downloaded without payment, while allowing optional contributions to support its developers. This is a name-your-own-price release with zero payment permitted.

The primary download is in English. The official page also links separately distributed translations, including Simplified Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Spanish, Brazilian Portuguese, and Russian. Players interested in a translated version should follow the relevant links and check that translation's own installation instructions and compatibility. These separate translations should not be assumed to be included in the primary English downloads.

The verified official listing identifies Windows and macOS as its supported platforms. It does not advertise an official browser or native mobile edition.

For the most reliable version, current downloads, and creator announcements, use the official itch.io page rather than an unofficial browser port or redistributed installer.