DEATH NOTE Killer Within

About

"DEATH NOTE Killer Within" is a strategy game that lets you step into the world of the popular manga and anime series. Experience the intense cat-and-mouse game between the justice-seeking L and the manipulativeKira, as you formulate strategies and make decisions that will determine the outcome. With engaging gameplay, stunning graphics, and faithful recreation of the source material, this game offers a unique and immersive experience for both fans and newcomers. Explore, make choices, and uncover the truth in this thrilling adventure.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

92%

Audience ScoreBased on 2,241 reviews

gameplay73 positive mentions

monetization4 negative mentions

gameplay
208 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
35%
60%
5%
The gameplay is immersive and engaging, combining elements of deception and deduction in a way that feels fresh compared to similar titles like Among Us. Players appreciate the complexity of the mechanics, which allow for strategic play and creative interactions, particularly in roles like Kira and L. However, some issues, such as abrupt game endings when players leave and a challenging community environment, detract from the overall experience.
- “The game's core mechanics revolve around deception, deduction, and outsmarting your opponents, which makes every match thrilling and unpredictable.”
- “Game is a lot of fun, especially with friends; it's a lot better than other social deduction games because the mechanics actively incentivize suspicion and a necessity to do suspicious actions.”
- “Takes the foundational gameplay loop from Among Us and adds lots of super thematic Death Note mechanics which lead to fascinating scenarios with lots of deduction and counter-play.”
- “Decent gameplay but however everything else is horrible.”
- “Sick gameplay only trash thing is if someone leaves it ends the match, no xp no nothing, if that got fixed it would be 10/10.”
- “This is genuinely unacceptable and feels like nobody put even an ounce of thought into the online gameplay.”
humor
58 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is widely praised, with players enjoying the comedic moments that arise from voice chat interactions, unexpected gameplay twists, and the absurdity of in-game scenarios. Many find the combination of strategic gameplay and hilarious player dynamics, especially in online lobbies, to be a key highlight, making it a fun experience whether playing with friends or randoms. Overall, the game's humor is described as entertaining and addictive, contributing significantly to its appeal.
- “The experience is often thrilling, with moments of surprising humor, and a built-in voice chat adds a whole new layer to the gameplay.”
- “Voice chat is so funny, the tasks are more fun, and the customization and characters are hilarious.”
- “A lot of funny stuff happens either by someone pulling a 1000 IQ move or by the whole lobby crashing out because they're accusing each other.”
graphics
50 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
36%
58%
6%
The graphics of the game are generally praised for their unique art style, which effectively captures the aesthetics of the anime, featuring a mix of 3D models and 2D cut-ins. While many players find the visuals appealing and easy on the eyes, some express concerns about performance issues and the disparity between free and premium character designs. Overall, the graphics contribute positively to the game's atmosphere, although there are suggestions for enhancements like ultrawide support and a third-person view for improved immersion.
- “The art style, voice acting, and sound design feel like a seamless extension of the anime.”
- “The game managed to capture the aesthetics and atmosphere of the anime, while introducing new mechanics to the established formula.”
- “The gorgeous visuals for L and Kira are stunning.”
- “Very obvious design choice to make the base game/'free' cosmetics in a starkly worse aesthetic/style than the overpriced premium options; it feels like the base characters are placeholder assets and we are being sold the actual character assets separately.”
- “Like...with these graphics, and this simple gameplay, I shouldn't have to be turning everything down to the lowest levels just to keep it from crashing.”
- “- graphics limitation: while the current graphics are decent, switching to a 3rd-person view could make the game more immersive.”
story
32 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
13%
78%
9%
The story in "Death Note: Killer Within" is praised for its faithful adaptation of the original manga, allowing players to immerse themselves in the Death Note universe and create their own narratives through strategic gameplay. Many players feel a deep connection to the protagonist, Light Yagami, and appreciate the game's blend of strategy and social deduction, although some note that the online experience can be marred by player disconnects. Overall, it is considered a must-try for fans of the series, offering a unique and engaging storytelling experience.
- “Death Note: Killer Within is a faithful adaptation of the famous manga story, with the ever so popular social party game deduction format spin.”
- “I love that anime; I relate deeply to the protagonist Light Yagami. We both have very high IQs, and his nihilistic view of the world in the first episode was on point. It felt like the story was about me, as if the authors were making a manga out of my life.”
- “Death Note: Killer Within is a very enjoyable social deduction experience that every fan of the story should try at the very least once.”
- “☑ no story”
- “☐ no story”
- “The online experience can be rough with players disconnecting, and you have to be ready for the 'cod lobby experience' that any internet game with voice chat creates, but once you sift out the crybabies and find a good room of people, this is a veritable true crime story generator.”
music
31 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
61%
10%
The game's original soundtrack is well-received, effectively capturing the atmosphere and thematic elements reminiscent of the anime, despite the absence of licensed music. While players appreciate the quality of the music, some express a desire for a greater variety of tracks and improved audio balance. Overall, the music enhances the gaming experience, aligning closely with the show's vibe.
- “Even the most minute details, like the eerie atmosphere and thematic music, add to the authenticity of the experience.”
- “The game has great soundtracks.”
- “Outside of that, including the music, it nails the vibe of the show really well.”
- “Good, but the game disconnecting whenever anyone leaves a match is annoying. I also wish the anime's OST was in the game so I didn't have to play it through Spotify.”
- “If you manage to get a group of people who aren't playing loud music or breathing heavily, you will end up in a party where people do not discuss and just vote at random.”
- “Music options, rarer rewards, or a random queue would also be a nice addition in the future, even though I'm glad they aren't in there now.”
monetization
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
13%
63%
25%
The game is a paid title that includes numerous cosmetic microtransactions, which some players feel are excessive. However, many reviewers appreciate that these microtransactions do not affect gameplay balance, as there is no pay-to-win element. Overall, while the monetization model has drawn criticism, it is largely seen as acceptable within the context of the game's genre.
- “Seriously, I am extremely relieved to see that the microtransactions in a Bandai Namco published game are purely cosmetic, and given this genre, I don't see any room for them to introduce monetized power creep.”
- “tl;dr very fun twist on the Among Us genre, unfortunately riddled with cosmetic microtransactions (thankfully no pay to win).”
- “A paid game with microtransactions.”
- “Only problem is the many microtransactions.”
- “Like make it free when it has so much monetization.”
replayability
15 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
40%
20%
Players highlight the game's exceptional replayability, primarily driven by the unpredictable dynamics of competing against human opponents, which keeps each match feeling unique. Despite some concerns about limited content, such as having only one map and a few command cards, the engaging gameplay and strategic depth ensure that players remain invested. Overall, the experience is enriched by the recent addition of new content, further enhancing its replay value.
- “It has endless replayability; in really good lobbies, you have to think about each one of your steps when stealing IDs and/or killing players/criminals and see how each player is playing in order to find L.”
- “The replayability is insane!”
- “Another thing to remember is the lack of content; there is only one map and 5 command cards total across both teams, but I wouldn't consider that a major problem since the replayability is still there with each match being unique.”
- “I also wish there would be more content, but the replayability, as well as the recently added new toy town map, make up for it.”
- “Playing against other cunning minds raises the stakes significantly, and the unpredictable nature of human opponents creates endless replayability.”
stability
15 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
13%
87%
The game is reported to be quite unstable, with numerous bugs and glitches causing significant issues for players, particularly on PC. While some users find the gameplay enjoyable and balanced, the recurring technical problems, such as false notifications and lobby resets, detract from the overall experience.
- “Very fun, very balanced, not buggy, hours of fun, and all roles are easy to understand.”
- “Very buggy, causing major issues.”
- “I join, boom, I have glitches where it says that I have a friend request or an invite only to not receive any.”
- “Edit: also a lot of glitches, especially in the train.”
emotional
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players report a mixed emotional experience with the game, feeling both stimulated and distressed. While some aspects, like death animations and arrests, evoke a sense of emotional engagement, the overall sentiment leans towards negativity, with frustrations about teammate dynamics contributing to a less favorable emotional impact.
- “Various death animations, arrests that are potentially emotional and pleasing to the eye.”
grinding
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
Players express that grinding in the game is excessively time-consuming, often requiring an unrealistic commitment akin to having a second life. Additionally, there is a desire for premium skins to be attainable through grinding, even if it demands significant effort.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “Lastly, it would be making premium skins obtainable somehow, even if it means them grinding their hearts out.”
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
atmosphere
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its authenticity, effectively capturing the aesthetics of the anime while incorporating new mechanics. The eerie ambiance and thematic music enhance the overall experience, contributing to a deeply immersive environment.
- “Even the most minute details, like the eerie atmosphere and thematic music, add to the authenticity of the experience.”
- “The game managed to capture the aesthetics and atmosphere of the anime, while introducing new mechanics to the established formula.”
optimization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The optimization of the Steam Deck has received mixed reviews, with some users praising its ability to run games smoothly at lower settings, while others report performance issues and inconsistent frame rates. Overall, the device shows potential but may require further updates to enhance its performance across a wider range of titles.