Better Than Dead: Bodycam FPS in Hong Kong Arrives on Steam, New Shooter Sequences

Better Than Dead, a first-person shooter from developer Monte Gallo and published by MicroProse, will launch into Early Access on Steam for PC on May 12, 2026. The game adopts a bodycam perspective, a format gaining popularity with titles like Bodycam and Unrecord, to enhance player immersion and provide a visceral sense of action. The game draws heavily from 1980s and 1990s Hong Kong action cinema, evident in its aesthetic, pacing, and shootout choreography. This is further enhanced by photogrammetry-based rendering, which lends a documentary-like quality to its visuals, set within a photorealistic Hong Kong cityscape. Players step into the role of a survivor, a former sex slave left for dead, who embarks on a revenge mission. The narrative focuses on a linear, story-driven experience where the protagonist wields only a pistol and a body camera that captures all violent encounters. The game emphasizes immediacy and tension, stripping away anything unnecessary to focus on movement, reaction, and execution. Combat encounters are designed to be short, brutal, and decisive. Mistakes can be costly, but success is earned.

Hong Kong Action Thriller: Better Than Dead Arrives in Early Access with Unreal Engine 5 Graphics

Better Than Dead joins a growing subgenre of bodycam FPS games, including Unrecord, Bodycam, Ready or Not, and Red Light On, all of which focus on realistic gameplay, fluid movement, and close-up camera angles. This style gained significant attention when Unrecord went viral for its incredibly lifelike graphics, leading some to question its authenticity. This event set a new standard for visual realism in FPS games using Unreal Engine 5. What sets Better Than Dead apart is its classic Hong Kong action thriller theme, drawing inspiration from directors like John Woo and Yuen Wooping. This approach, combined with its noir film-inspired style, gives the game a distinctive flavor compared to typical tactical shooters. The Early Access period is planned to last between six to twelve months, during which the development team will incorporate player feedback for improvements and new features. Upon its full launch, Better Than Dead will introduce a harder difficulty mode called For Heaven, along with additional levels and the game's true ending. A new trailer for the game has also been released.