The IncastroPC test
Mike Abbondandolo · November 2026 · updated on 12 November 2026Martha is Dead is a psychological thriller that stays with you. An oppressive atmosphere, a layered story and a setting in 1944 Tuscany that has no rivals in the genre. On Linux it runs with GE-Proton 11-1, but it needs the amdgpu.gpu_recovery=1 parameter to avoid crashes on the Radeon 780M.
What we liked
- +Unique atmosphere, reminiscent of Project Zero at its best
- +Mystery-heavy story with an evocative ending
- +Well-crafted, original historical setting
Less convincing
- −Stiff, clunky protagonist movement
- −Frame rate drops in some sections
- −Crashes on Radeon 780M without a specific parameter
How we tested it
Performance
Average FPS over 9 min 58 s of gameplay, measured with MangoHud. The line marks 60 FPS. Average FPS: how many frames per second on average. 1% low: the FPS in the worst moments (the slowest 1% of frames). The closer the 1% low is to the average, the smoother the game, without stutters.
Also applies to other mini PCs with the same Radeon 780M graphics: Ryzen 7 7840HS, Ryzen 7 8845HS, Ryzen 9 7940HS Same integrated graphics, so similar FPS. They can vary a bit with RAM (speed and dual channel) and with the power limit set by the manufacturer.
Test timeline
Power is the processor's (CPU and graphics) as read by MangoHud: at the wall it's a few watts more.
Launch and tweaks
RADV_DEBUG=novrsfeedback %command%On Steam: right-click the game → Properties → Launch options, and paste the line. These are instructions Steam passes to the game when it starts: they enable fixes or features (e.g. gamemoderun puts the PC in performance mode). %command% is the game itself: leave it as is.
Solution: Add amdgpu.gpu_recovery=1 to the kernel parameters in /etc/kernel/cmdline
Recommended settings
Mini PC NiPoGi AM21
- Preset
- medio
- Resolution
- 1600p
- Upscaling
- none
- FPS limit
- 60
Result: 55 FPS average, occasional drops in the busiest scenes
Martha is Dead is one of those games that leaves a mark. Developed by LKA, it's a psychological thriller set in the Tuscan countryside in 1944, during the final months of World War II. Playing as Giulia, twin sister of the titular Martha, you investigate your sister's death while the partisan war rages in the background.
The atmosphere is the game's real strength. If you've played Project Zero/Fatal Frame, some of these feelings will be familiar: the oppressive silence, the dim light, the constant sense that something dark is about to surface. Jumpscares aren't overused — the dread here is built slowly, brick by brick, through carefully crafted environments and a soundtrack that supports the mood without ever overpowering it.
The story is layered and full of mystery: documents, phone calls and a personal diary build the narrative without ever spelling everything out. The ending is evocative and leaves room for interpretation. If you love psychological horror, it's practically a must-buy.
On the NiPoGi AM21 with Radeon 780M, the game runs at 1600p on the Medium preset via GE-Proton 11-1 at 55 FPS average. The drops are noticeable in some sections — the game isn't exactly well optimized and the stiff movement is noticeable. Nothing that ruins the experience, but it's a limitation worth keeping in mind.
