Summary
Serial killershave been a hugely popular staple in horror films for decades, but they’re just as popular inhorror video gamesas well. Players of horror games often take on an investigative role, either as a detective or someone else hunting a serial killer; but sometimes they play the role of a victim trying to survive, or even the killer themselves.
There are countlessvideo games about serial killers– some that are based on real history and some that are completely fictional. These games tend to be very story-focused and offer a brilliantly sinister atmosphere, but they’re all different and each brings something new to the table.
Dead By Daylightis perhaps more of a horror game than a game exclusively about serial killers. However, it’s a popular title that most gamers have probably heard of, and it featuresplenty of famous killers– not to mention an achievement literally called “Serial Killer.”
Dead By Daylightis a multiplayer horror game in which four players play as Survivors trying to escape another player who takes the role of the Killer. Although some players complain that the game can be unbalanced and challenging for newcomers, it has nevertheless developed a devoted fan base. The best part of the game by far is its range of content and amazing licensed characters, with well-known serial killers like Michael Myers fromHalloween, Ghostface fromScream, and even Chucky, making appearances.
The Devil In Meis more than just a survival horror. Like other horror titles by Supermassive Games, it’s an interactive narrative drama where the player decides the choices and actions that the game’s characters make, from quick-time events to dialogue options that determine the fates of various characters. It follows a string of other games inThe Dark Pictures Anthology, again boasting an excellent cast, including Oscar-nominee Jessie Buckley.
Inspired by films likeSawandHalloween, this game is based on real-life serial killer H.H. Holmes and his “Murder Castle,” which he disguised as a hotel to lure his victims. The game follows a documentary crew as they visit a replica of this hotel, but they soon discover that it’s more authentic than they ever dared imagine. There are some genuinely tense scenes and hard decisions for players to make, all the while being stalked by a vicious serial killer.
10Still Life
Metascore: 70
Still Lifeis a game that follows both FBI agent Victoria McPherson in 2004s Chicago, as well as her grandfather, Gustav McPherson, in 1920s Prague, as they investigate a series of murders that may be connected. The serial killer in question is clearly inspired by popular depictions of Jack the Ripper, targeting sex workers while wearing a cloak, top hat, and mask.
Still Lifeis a point-and-click gamethat gives players a chance to interact with environments and persons of interest to search for clues and take part in various conversations. There are loads puzzles that players need to solve to push the story forward, encouraging them to explore everything and sometimes even to backtrack to previous stages.
9Sherlock Holmes Versus Jack The Ripper
Metascore: 73
Sherlock Holmes might not have been a real detective, but Jack the Ripper certainly was a real serial killer. However,although set at the same time as the Ripper attacks, author Arthur Conan Doyle never had his world-famous detective investigate these killings. Nevertheless, Sherlock has done so since in films likeMurder By Decree(1979) andA Study In Terror(1965)and even in games likeSherlock Holmes Versus Jack The Ripper.
This is the fifth game in theSherlock Holmesvideo game series. Set in 1888, players control Sherlock and Watson as they navigate the sinister environment of Whitechapel to solve one of the greatest mysteries in history. It’s hugely satisfying for Sherlock Holmes fans, but it’s also a must-play for amateur “Ripperologists” who get to control Sherlock as he investigates, searches for clues, and makes brilliant deductions.
Silent Hill 4: The Roomis the fourth installmentin the popularSilent Hillfranchise, this time taking players outside the titular town and instead dropping them in the fictional city of Ashfield. Players follow Henry Townshend as he tries to escape his apartment, which he has been trapped in for five days. Tormented by nightmares, he soon discovers portals to alternate dimensions where he witnesses several victims murdered by serial killer Walter Sullivan. Henry soon discovers that Walter is determined to commit twenty-one murders to perform a ritual – and Henry is his target for the final murder.
The apartment serves as a much-needed safe space for the first half of the game, but it later becomes possessed, truly making it feel as though Henry isn’t safe anywhere. The player guides Henry in third-person as he seeks out items to progress through the story, and battles against several different enemies, such as ghosts, hummers, sniffer dogs, and even serial killer Walter Sullivan himself.
7Killer Frequency
Metascore: 78
Killer Frequencyisn’t like most games about serial killers; players don’t take the role of a killer, detective, or even a victim trying to escape. Instead, they play as a humble radio DJ. The 1987 setting feels pleasantly nostalgic as players take the role of local DJ Forrest Nash. However, Nash soon finds himself acting as a radio dispatcher for the town’s citizens when they discover that the Whistling Man, an infamous serial killer long thought to be dead, is on the loose.
Killer Frequencyis a first-person game in which the player takes calls and solves puzzles tohelp various victims escape the rampaging murderer. Whether these callers survive or not is entirely down to the player. It’s not all grizzly though, often seeming more like a comedy horror. It received widespread praise from critics and players alike, especially those who like to shout at the TV screen when they watch horror films, wishing they could help the victims escape.
AI: The Somnium Filesis a sci-fi gameset in Tokyo in the near future. The story follows Detective Kaname Date as he investigates a series of murders similar to the Cyclops Serial Killings, in which the killer removes the victims’ right eyes. Part of the game is a point-and-click adventure where players select specific items in an environment in order to analyze crime scenes, and interact with NPCs to gather more evidence.
The sci-fi element becomes really obvious when Date enters the suspects' memories to gather information. These parts of the game are more distinct, shifting the player into third-person and giving them puzzles to solve. Throughout the game, players can make various choices that lead them down different branches toward several possible endings. In fact, players are actually encouraged to explore various branches to witness all the endings and fully solve the mystery.
5Detective Di: The Silk Rose Murders
Metascore: 80
As with many games that focus on serial killers,Detective Di: The Silk Rose Murdersis a point-and-click game that makes the player a detective. However, unlike other serial killer games, this one is set in ancient China, giving players a chance to take on the role of Di Renjie as he tracks down a serial killer.
Detective Di: The Silk Rose Murdersis set during the reign of China’s one and only Empress, Wu Zeitan, a time in which many schemed and plotted against her. It’s against this important historical backdrop that Di Renjie is tasked with solving a series of brutal murders. With plenty of cultural and historical references, the game’s full of twists and turns as players explore environments, interact with NPCs, investigate objects, and solve puzzles in a beautiful 2D-pixel world.
Although it’s full of characters from children’s stories,The Wolf Among Usis actually one of the best serial killer games around. Set in Fabletown, a secretive enclave of fairy tale characters hidden within New York City, gamers play as the sheriff Bigby Wolf, more commonly known as the Big Bad Wolf. When Bigby and Snow White discover a sex worker’s decapitated head, Bigby begins investigating a series of murders as he tracks down Fabletown’s serial killer. Throughout the story, he interacts with several famous fairy tale characters, including Mr. Toad, Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum, Ichabod Crane, the Magic Mirror, and even both Beauty and the Beast.
Serving as a prequel to theFablescomic series,this game is similar to previous Telltale Games titles. It’s comprised of five episodes, each with similar gameplay. The player explores various environments and investigates their surroundings, as well as interacting with a huge roster of characters. How Bigby responds to these characters is entirely down to the player; they can pick whichever dialogue option they want, often completely altering the outcome of the story.The Wolf Among Ushas amassed a large cult following, with fans eagerly awaiting a long-anticipated sequel.
Condemned: Criminal Originsis a psychological thrillerinspired by the likes ofThe Silence Of The LambsandSe7en,combined with some survival horror and action elements. The story follows FBI agent Ethan Thomas as he investigates the link between a series of killings and assaults in the fictional city of Metro. As he’s hot on the heels of the Match Maker killer, he suddenly finds himself framed for the murders, and is soon being chased by his own colleagues.
The developers at Monolith Productions used their previous experience with first-person shooters to create a first-person game that instead focuses on brutal melee combat with a intense and sinister atmosphere. There is a range of melee weapons available, each with their own damage, range, and blocking abilities. This is still a detective game at heart though, and players spend much of the game investigating crime scenes. Although plans for aCondemnedfilm to expand the franchise never came to fruition, this is still an excellent serial killer game, with a well-liked sequel to boot.
