Based on the 1998 rail shooter, the story focuses on James Taylor and Gary Stewart of AMS, who venture into a city overrun by zombies. The remake promises “modern graphics” and remastered music, though the original is still available. Co-op is available, and there are multiple endings to unlock. You can also take on the various bosses in a separate mode.

Unfortunately, the overall quality of the remake leaves something to be desired. On Steam, it’s currently rated “Mostly Negative” with only 39 percent of the 383 user reviews giving it a thumbs-up. Complaints range from choppy movement and frame rate issues to bugged-out bosses. Whether developer MegaPixel Studio addresses this in the console versions remains to be seen, so stay tuned.

Like its predecessor, players can take up arms solo or in co-op to battle hordes of the undead. This time, you’ll run through a city nearly two years after the first game’s events, seeking to understand the zombie outbreak. The campaign includes branching paths, and depending on your performance, you can unlock different endings.

The remake features modernized visuals and remastered music, though the original soundtrack remains available. You can also enter Boss Rush mode to take on the game’s biggest threats or Training Mode to polish up your skills in various scenarios.

Stay tuned for more details, and check out our interview with the developer here or read our review for The House of the Dead: Remake.

Going into further details, Ginter has also confirmed that the PS5 and Xbox Series X/S versions of the game will be targetting resolutions closer to 4K in practice. For the base PS5 and Xbox Series S, developer MegaPixel is targeting a stable frame rate of 60 FPS. The PS5 Pro and the Xbox Series X, on the other hand, are targeting 120 FPS.

“Our base target resolution across all platforms is 1080p, though both standard versions of PS5 and Xbox Series consoles consistently push closer to native 4K in practice,” explained Ginter. “In terms of performance, we’re aiming for a stable 60 FPS on the base versions of each platform. For PS5 Pro and Xbox Series X, the game will support up to 120 FPS, offering an even smoother experience for players with compatible displays.”

Ginter also provided details about what the studio thinks about technologies like Sony’s PSSR. In the interview, she said that the developers appreciate any technology that can ultimately help in offering smoother gameplay. Ginter also spoke about how having access to technologies like PSSR allows a studio to have more flexibility.

“Any technology that helps us achieve smoother gameplay is clearly an advantage, and that’s especially true for a game like The House of the Dead 2: Remake, where frame pacing and responsiveness are critical,” said Ginter when asked about PSSR. “While we’ve already aimed for high frame rates even without relying on PSSR, having access to such upscaling techniques gives us additional flexibility. It allows us to maintain visual quality while optimizing performance, ensuring the experience remains fast and fluid across supported hardware.”

The House of the Dead 2: Remake was announced for release on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S and Nintendo Switch back in June. While a release date still hasn’t been confirmed yet, we do know that the game will feature modernised visuals and a remastered soundtrack. Players will also have the ability to go back to the visuals and remastered audio (with the original still selectable).

Following up on the events of The House of the Dead, The House of the Dead 2 puts players in the shoes of James and Gary who venture into a town that has been overrun by zombies. The duo – members of AMS – are tasked with fighting their way through zombie hordes and investigating what caused the dead to rise again.

Originally an arcade game that made use of light guns, The House of the Dead 2: Remake will make use of completely revamped controls to provide players with fun gameplay that doesn’t feel too overpowered on controllers. In the meantime, also check out our coverage of The House of the Dead: Remake.

How much of a market are you seeing for remakes of old light-gun shooters like House of the Dead?

The remakes of the original House of the Dead and Panzer Dragoon clearly showed us that there’s strong demand in the gaming market for retro remakes, including on-rail shooters. We’re seeing interest not only from longtime fans who remember the golden days of gaming with nostalgia, but also from a younger audience that appreciates retro gameplay in a modernized format.

How has the response to bringing back old games like this been with regards to fans of the original and a brand new audience?

This next entry in such a legendary series, essentially a reimagining of the original game, has sparked a broad and enthusiastic response from both long-time fans and new players discovering The House of the Dead for the first time. From the moment we announced the project, we’ve been receiving a steady stream of messages from people eagerly awaiting the release. That kind of support is deeply motivating for our team.

"From the moment we announced the project, we’ve been receiving a steady stream of messages from people eagerly awaiting the release."

How challenging has it been to translate old light-gun shooter mechanics from House of the Dead 2 into the remake?

The bulk of the technical groundwork was done during development of the first remake, which helped us refine the gameplay system and made the process smoother for the sequel. That said, we’re still continuously improving the control system, which is a critical element for any on-rail shooter, and exploring new ways to adapt it for both consoles and PC platforms.

Aside from the visual overhaul, will we see any new content in The House of the Dead 2: Remake in the form of new bonus missions or mini-games?

Absolutely. The House of the Dead 2: Remake builds on the groundwork established by the first remake, and we’re committed to expanding the experience beyond just a visual update. Players can expect a variety of new content, including additional weapons, a broad range of unlockable achievements, and an expanded in-game gallery. This gallery will showcase enemy types, weapons, collectibles, and other elements. While we’re staying true to the core on-rails gameplay, we’re also looking into new ways to offer extra challenges and layers of replayability that weren’t present in the original.

Has it been a challenge to keep some of the cheesiness of the original House of the Dead 2 with the remake?

The early House of the Dead titles carry a unique kind of nostalgia: an over-the-top, campy charm that defined that era. We’re doing our best to preserve that cheesy atmosphere in the remake, adapting it to fit the updated visuals. It’s definitely a challenge, especially given how iconic the original voice acting in The House of the Dead 2 has become.

What do you see as being the most challenging part of House of the Dead 2 to play, and how will this carry over into the remake?

The House of the Dead 2: Remake, like any on-rail shooter, is heavily dependent on rhythm and pacing. Maintaining a tempo that closely mirrors the original, while integrating it smoothly with music, cutscenes, and enemy encounters, is a critical challenge. It’s something that has to be executed precisely.

"The early House of the Dead titles carry a unique kind of nostalgia: an over-the-top, campy charm that defined that era."

As a developer, what are your thoughts on the PS5 Pro? How does boost in GPU help in developing your game compared to the base PS5?

The increased GPU power of the PS5 Pro has certainly been helpful, particularly when it comes to bringing the High Definition Render Pipeline (HDRP) version of the game to the console, something that was previously exclusive to PC.

What are your thoughts on PSSR? What kind of opportunities will this open for the game?

Any technology that helps us achieve smoother gameplay is clearly an advantage, and that’s especially true for a game like The House of the Dead 2: Remake, where frame pacing and responsiveness are critical. While we’ve already aimed for high frame rates even without relying on PSSR, having access to such upscaling techniques gives us additional flexibility. It allows us to maintain visual quality while optimizing performance, ensuring the experience remains fast and fluid across supported hardware.

What resolution and frame rates will the game target on PS5, Xbox Series S, Xbox Series X, and PS5 Pro?

Our base target resolution across all platforms is 1080p, though both standard versions of PS5 and Xbox Series consoles consistently push closer to native 4K in practice. In terms of performance, we’re aiming for a stable 60 FPS on the base versions of each platform. For PS5 Pro and Xbox Series X, the game will support up to 120 FPS, offering an even smoother experience for players with compatible displays.

As the name denotes, this is a remake of the second title of the light gun rail shooter featuring two playable characters – James and Gary. As part of the AMS, they venture into a town overrun by zombies and must battle through to investigate the cause. You can either play solo or in co-op with another person.

Alongside modernized visuals and a remastered soundtrack (though you can always revert to the original), players can tackle the game’s bosses in Boss Mode or enter Training Mode. The Campaign also features branching paths and multiple endings. Stay tuned for more details and gameplay footage in the coming months. You can also read our review of the first game’s remake.