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1. Fast and simple system - without being overly simple. It's easy to pick up, easy to understand, yet designed well enough you don't feel cheated. Unlike other "simple" systems it doesnt put a lot of work and resolution back on the DM's plate. This leads towards fast action, and a really nice pace overall. Even though it's mechancially simple, a lot is accomplished with those mechanics so don't be fooled!
2. I adore some of the concepts here that are missing in many popular systems (D&D for one). Spellcasting past your limit - at a risk. Retirement - which is death but only after you go out with a bang. It leads towards very player-focused dramatic moments, the kind a lot of players try so hard to get in other systems where it doesnt work well.
3. A neat take on a dark idea. I thought the setting, and spell lists, and classes (combat, sorcerer, investigator) as well as the basic layout of a "case" (i.e. storyline) were a nice refreshing take on how a game could be run. If you like Constantine (movie), you'll love Dread. I also like the fact that there wasn't any portrayal of heaven and it's beings as 'fluffy bunny good' as I like to call it.
4. The writing in this book is fairly solid. At times the very casual tone just really lends towards getting into the frame of mind that the game was intended for.
5. Structure with flexibility. There are enough rules and framework here that you don't feel like you're hanging and having to do a lot of on-the-fly creation, but it's not so stringent that your character is tied down too hard by that structure. Obviously a DM could go more one way or the other, but that would be the DM's choice.
Overall I had a LOT of fun, and found this one of the better systems that I've had the chance to learn in quite some time.
That said, I will confess that Dread is not perfect.
If you dont like horror of any kind, and your players aren't mature enough to handle a dark, and possibly twisted game with a lot of violence and similar themes - this game is not for you.
Some of the artwork is really good, some of it is a little sub-par.
There is no PC coming back from the dead (that I am aware of so far) - I don't see this as a flaw but it's something that other gaming groups I know of would- so here's for mentioning it. DMs who run this should be mindful of how leathal the setting could be (and not over do it), and ensure that their players know that going in.
As a side note- 3/5 of my regular gaming group trooped home with Dread books the same day we first played it.
