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killer7

Imaginative, beautiful, and utterly strange, but you’ll need to really love the story to endure its idiosyncratic combat.
killer7 Game Cover
86%Game Brain Score
story, gameplay
grinding, replayability
92% User Score Based on 2,987 reviews
Critic Score 74%Based on 4 reviews

Platforms

Playstation 2PCNintendo GamecubeSteam DeckWindowsPlayStation
killer7 Game Cover

About

killer7 is a single player shooter game with horror and anime themes. It was developed by Engine Software BV and was released on November 15, 2018. It received mostly positive reviews from critics and very positive reviews from players.

"Killer7" is a horror shoot single-player game with phenomenal graphics and a stunning soundtrack. As Harman Smith, you'll control his 7 distinct personalities, each with unique appearances, personalities, and weapons, to stop a sinister organization of suicide bombers and their leader. The game offers an intriguing story, outstanding atmosphere, and hilarious moments, but be prepared for lots of grinding and high emotional stakes.

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92%
Audience ScoreBased on 2,987 reviews
story226 positive mentions
grinding24 negative mentions

  • Killer7 is a unique and surreal experience that blends on-rails shooting with puzzle-solving elements, creating a gameplay style unlike any other.
  • The game's art style, music, and voice acting are exceptional, contributing to its overall atmosphere and charm.
  • The story, while complex and often confusing, is deeply engaging and thought-provoking, tackling themes of politics, identity, and the human condition.
  • The controls can be clunky and unintuitive, making it difficult for players to fully enjoy the gameplay experience.
  • The puzzles can feel repetitive and overly simplistic, often relying on backtracking and character-switching without providing much challenge.
  • The narrative can be convoluted and hard to follow, leaving many players confused about the plot and character motivations.
  • story
    826 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The story of *Killer7* is a complex and surreal narrative that blends political commentary, psychological themes, and absurdist elements, often leaving players confused yet intrigued. Many reviews highlight its depth and the need for multiple playthroughs or external analysis to fully grasp its intricacies, with some praising it as a masterpiece of storytelling despite its convoluted nature. Overall, while the gameplay may be polarizing, the unique and engaging story is frequently cited as the game's standout feature, making it a memorable experience for those willing to delve into its bizarre world.

    • “Killer7 is packed with deep, layered lore that only fully reveals itself at the story’s climax, and when it does, it hits hard.”
    • “The story is a hyperactive mesh of political intrigue, government conspiracies, nuclear warfare, child trafficking, and split personality disorder, contextualized into a desolate, purely cel-shaded, neon environment.”
    • “The story continually gets given more and more layers.”
    • “The story is absolutely incoherent and only makes a scrap of sense towards the very end, and everything about this game feels unfinished, besides the combat!”
    • “The story is convoluted beyond any resemblance of sanity, and the gameplay is a bizarre combination of shooting and puzzle shooting.”
    • “The story is very complex and I feel like many people will get bored of its abstractness straight away.”
  • gameplay
    606 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay of *Killer7* is a unique blend of on-rails shooting mechanics and light puzzle-solving, often compared to a mix of classic Resident Evil and arcade shooters. While some players find the controls and mechanics initially confusing or clunky, many appreciate the game's distinctive style and engaging narrative, which ultimately enhances the experience. Overall, the gameplay is polarizing; it may not appeal to everyone, but those who embrace its unconventional design often find it rewarding and memorable.

    • “The gameplay is unique and fun.”
    • “Gameplay-wise, it's an artsy on-rails shooter where you control how you move on those rails, and choose from 7 characters on-the-fly all with different weaponry and mild quirks.”
    • “The gameplay loop flows excellently, the gunplay is genuinely satisfying and there's never a dull moment.”
    • “The gameplay is a drag, but the cinematography, dialogue, visuals, and audio go a long way to make up for it.”
    • “The gameplay is incredibly clunky, but the whole experience clicks in about halfway through the first mission and it'll start to feel like a game.”
    • “The gameplay is hopelessly dated, and consists of running on predetermined on-rails paths, while doing some terrible, consolized shooting.”
  • graphics
    313 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics of *Killer7* are widely praised for their unique cel-shaded art style, which has aged remarkably well since its original release, maintaining a vibrant and atmospheric aesthetic that stands out in the gaming landscape. While some users noted that the recent AI upscaling negatively impacted the visuals, many appreciated the game's distinctive look and the successful transition to HD, enhancing the overall experience without compromising its artistic integrity. Overall, the visuals are considered a highlight of the game, contributing significantly to its cult status and artistic appeal.

    • “The art style and overall presentation of this game are fantastic; I can't stress how cool this looks.”
    • “Despite being somewhat simple compared to other games of its era, the art style of Killer7 is colorful and atmospheric, and still looks incredible nearly twenty years later.”
    • “The remastered graphics look stunning, while maintaining the aesthetic of the original.”
    • “Due to the game being made about 15 years ago, the graphics can be choppy and low resolution.”
    • “The recent update really butchered the aesthetics sadly and under the guise of an improvement with genuinely good ideas for quality of life improvements.”
    • “They completely ruined the visuals with AI upscaled graphics that look objectively worse than the original.”
  • music
    203 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the game has received widespread acclaim, with many reviewers praising its eclectic and memorable soundtrack composed by Masafumi Takada. Players highlight the music's ability to enhance the game's atmosphere, with a mix of genres that includes jazz, electronic, and ambient sounds, making it a standout feature. While some noted that the music snippets during gameplay can be brief, the overall quality and impact of the soundtrack are considered exceptional, contributing significantly to the game's unique experience.

    • “The music is genuinely one of the most banging tracks I've heard; a lot of times you'll have to hear some of the best tracks the game has to offer, but you only get around 5-12 seconds of the snippet, while the actual song is over a minute long.”
    • “The soundtrack is composed by the legend himself, Masafumi Takada, who created some of his best music here, making it a truly unforgettable experience.”
    • “The music is fantastic, be sure to get the soundtrack because you'll hear some songs for such short moments in the game, but they can go on for several minutes!”
    • “The music is genuinely one of the most banging things I've heard; a lot of times you'll have to hear some of the best tracks the game has to offer, but you only get around 5-12 seconds of the snippet, while the actual song is over a minute long.”
    • “The OST in this game is kind of mixed for me, as I think the best songs are really good and the bad songs are really bad.”
    • “While the art style, sound effects, and soundtrack (which is seldom used) are objectively fantastic, the gameplay loop does not warrant trudging through in order to experience the intentionally cryptic and esoteric storyline.”
  • humor
    63 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The humor in "Killer7" is described as dark, absurd, and often surreal, blending black comedy with a complex narrative that challenges players' understanding. Reviewers appreciate the game's unique characters, witty dialogue, and the way it juxtaposes unsettling themes with moments of genuine hilarity, making it a memorable experience. Overall, the humor is seen as a standout feature that enhances the game's artistic and psychological depth, appealing to those who enjoy unconventional storytelling.

    • “It excels in storytelling and lore... in a funny way.”
    • “Killer7 really does have it all; humor, unnerving stuff and genuinely bizarre elements all scored to a brilliant soundtrack that, like the game itself, covers a wide range of sounds and emotions.”
    • “The good: killer7 is incredibly funny, everything in it is funny.”
    • “Is this supposed to be funny?”
    • “The jokes fall flat and feel forced.”
    • “I expected more clever humor, but it just didn't land.”
  • atmosphere
    55 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The atmosphere of Killer7 is widely praised for its surreal, immersive quality, combining unique art direction, exceptional sound design, and a haunting soundtrack that enhances the game's bizarre narrative. Reviewers highlight its ability to evoke feelings of paranoia and intrigue, making it a standout experience in the indie gaming space. Despite some criticisms regarding gameplay mechanics, the overall presentation and atmosphere are considered exceptional and unforgettable.

    • “The presentation and atmosphere cannot be found anywhere else.”
    • “The atmosphere is stellar; it can be creepy, serious, batshit insane, and hilarious.”
    • “Its entire package is successful at evoking an atmosphere of paranoid nihilism, and it is easy to see why this game has been so influential in the indie gaming space.”
    • “It's got on-rails navigation, kinda clunky first-person precision aiming, a stark cel-shaded geometric look dripping with harsh and inky black shadows threatening to swallow everything in negative space, abrasive sound design, eerie atmosphere, a cast of straight-up psycho killers, and incredibly dense and manic storytelling.”
    • “Everything from its gameplay, dark atmosphere and art direction is very unsettling yet interesting.”
  • grinding
    24 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The grinding aspect of the game is frequently described as tedious and repetitive, with players noting that the puzzles are often cryptic and the combat involves mindlessly shooting the same enemies repeatedly. Many reviews highlight the frustration of backtracking and switching characters to solve simple puzzles, while others mention that the respawning enemies contribute to a monotonous experience. Despite these criticisms, some players find value in the game's unique style and character experimentation, suggesting that those who can endure the grind may still enjoy the overall experience.

    • “Way more tedious than it needed to be.”
    • “A strong majority of that is not at all fun as it gets pretty mindless shooting the same enemies at their weak spots over and over again in the same manner despite there being 6-8 characters to use, and the puzzles are just a matter of remembering what you read, remembering what items you have, using common sense, a lot of backtracking, and tediously switching between the correct characters just so you can bypass a wall or door.”
    • “You move along predefined paths within open levels, where you solve tedious puzzles and fend off persistently respawning enemies.”
  • emotional
    20 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Killer7 elicits a profound emotional response from players, often leaving them feeling a mix of discomfort and fascination due to its nihilistic themes and emotional honesty. Many reviewers express a deep investment in the characters and narrative, with some even reporting tears at the game's conclusion, highlighting its ability to provoke a wide spectrum of human emotions. The game's unique blend of horror, absurdity, and poignant storytelling resonates strongly, making it a memorable experience that players find themselves longing to revisit.

    • “Killer7 achieves what all art must strive to do: create an emotional response from the person interacting with it.”
    • “I cried when it ended, which is really not something I do often.”
    • “The ending of the game has been stuck in my mind after all these years; it was truly heart-wrenching and powerful.”
  • optimization
    15 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Overall, the game's optimization is praised, with most users noting smooth performance and stability, particularly in the PC port, which runs well at high refresh rates. However, some animations feel inconsistent due to the original design being intended for 30fps, leading to occasional choppiness. Despite these minor issues, the port is generally considered well-optimized and visually appealing.

    • “This PC port is also really well done; it runs super well and is very well optimized.”
    • “Bottom line, the game is very well optimized.”
    • “Performance is okay-ish (framerate is between 30 and 60fps).”
    • “This game is a real masterpiece, played it on GC years ago and I couldn't keep from buying it again a second time now on PC, the port is amazing, truly fixed those bothering lines and it was really optimized.”
    • “Pretty solid PC port performance-wise.”
  • replayability
    8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Overall, the game's replayability is considered low, with most players viewing it as a one-time experience despite the presence of alternate endings and a killer 8 mode. While some appreciate the charm and story enough to replay it, many agree that the gameplay mechanics, particularly in boss fights, limit the incentive to revisit the game. Ultimately, it may resonate emotionally, but those seeking substantial replay value may be disappointed.

    • “It has replayability, so if you don't understand something yet, that might be intentional.”
    • “Has replay value in the killer 8 mode.”
    • “It's a game that you will always think about and will always be in the back of your mind, and even with not much replay value, I can replay this game a million times with how fantastic the charm, style, and story is.”
    • “The game is fairly average in length and does offer slight replayability with an alternate ending, but mainly this is a one-time experience.”
    • “Also, replayability is considerably low other than to experience the story again.”
    • “It has little to no replay value, and yet I want to keep playing it.”
  • character development
    7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Character development in the game is noted for its complexity, particularly for main characters Garcian and Dan, but many players feel that the supporting cast lacks depth and backstory. While the character design is praised for its uniqueness and style, some reviewers express disappointment in the overall development of the crew, wishing for more exploration of their narratives. The game's blend of violent social commentary and memorable visuals contributes to a distinctive experience, though some aspects of the art may feel dated.

    • “The character design is memorable and, well, unusual.”
    • “Mixing violent social commentary with complex character development.”
    • “Everything from the music to the audio cues to the character design in this game is really fun and really pushed the boundaries for what a game could do back when it originally came out.”
    • “I remember that the art design has been touted as stylish, and I agree when it comes to the character design and some of the scene compositions, but overall I feel that it borders on the lazy.”
    • “The only thing I'd say was lacking was the character development for anyone but Garcian and Dan. I wish we got to know most of the crew more, and the ending is really mind-bending for those who love that sort of thing.”
  • stability
    6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Overall, the game's stability is generally solid, with most players reporting smooth performance and minimal glitches. However, recent updates have introduced some visual issues, particularly with AI upscaling, leading to artifacts and minor framerate drops. The developers are actively addressing concerns, providing timely support through community channels.

    • “Otherwise, it runs great and plays well.”
    • “Still one of my favorite games even almost 20 years removed, but the most recent update included ghoulishly poor AI upscaling for most textures and videos that ruins the aesthetic and adds in a ton of visual glitches and artifacts.”
    • “I experienced some small framerate glitches with reloading guns outside of aiming mode, and the cutscenes seem to cut off a few milliseconds earlier than on GameCube, but straight up?”
    • “I did notice one or two minor glitches in cutscenes regarding things not meant to be seen in the original resolution, but even those are few and far between.”
  • monetization
    3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The monetization strategy has been criticized for relying heavily on advertisements, which some users feel detracts from the overall experience of the game.

    • “The monetization strategy feels more like a cash grab than a fair system.”
    • “It's frustrating to see so many features locked behind paywalls.”
    • “The constant ads and in-game purchases ruin the overall experience.”
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5h Median play time
9h Average play time
14h Main story
24h Completionist
5-16h Spent by most gamers
*Based on 5 analyzed playthroughs
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Frequently Asked Questions

killer7 is a shooter game with horror and anime themes.

killer7 is available on PC, Steam Deck, Windows, PlayStation 2 and others.

The main story can be completed in around 14 hours, while the entire game is estimated to take about 24 hours to finish. On average players spend around 9 hours playing killer7.

killer7 was released on November 15, 2018.

killer7 was developed by Engine Software BV.

killer7 has received mostly positive reviews from players and mostly positive reviews from critics. Most players liked this game for its story but disliked it for its grinding.

killer7 is a single player game.

Similar games include BioShock, Resident Evil 4:, Psychonauts, NieR:Automata™, YIIK: A Postmodern RPG and others.