Serial Cleaner

66%
Game Brain Score Based on 610 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • music
Serial Cleaner Game Cover
As a straight, old-school stealth experience Serial Cleaners certainly delivers. There's very little fluff or filler, with compact mission areas, clear objectives and little reason to deviate from the plan.
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"Serial Cleaner" is a story-driven stealth/action game set in the 1970s where you play as a professional cleaner tasked with cleaning up murder scenes. Your job includes disposing of bodies, cleaning up blood stains, and hiding evidence, all while avoiding detection by the police. The game features a 70s-inspired setting and soundtrack, real-world data to modify levels, a full story-driven campaign, and challenge modes.

  • Mac OS
  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Play​station 4
  • Play​station 5
  • Windows
  • Xbox One
  • Xbox Series X|S
  • Cloud
  • Linux
  • NVIDIA GeForce NOW
  • Play​Station
  • Xbox
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

66%
Audience ScoreBased on 610 reviews
story78 positive mentions
grinding6 negative mentions
  • Unique concept and gameplay that offers a fresh take on the stealth genre.
  • Stylish visuals and a captivating atmosphere inspired by the 1970s, complemented by a great soundtrack.
  • Challenging gameplay that encourages strategic thinking and planning.
  • Repetitive gameplay elements that can lead to monotony over extended play sessions.
  • Limited control customization options and imprecise controls that can frustrate players.
  • Punishing difficulty with instant restarts upon failure, which can detract from the overall enjoyment.
  • story279 mentions

    The story in "Serial Cleaner" is generally regarded as simple and straightforward, serving primarily to provide context for the gameplay rather than to engage players deeply. While some players appreciate the nostalgic 70s setting and find the narrative elements charming, many criticize the lack of depth and character development, often feeling that the story detracts from the fun of the gameplay. Overall, the narrative is seen as a minor aspect of the game, with players often preferring the mechanics and challenges over the plot itself.

    • “The story that unfolds is pretty amazing as well and is definitely not something you'd expect to see from a 'simple-looking' game like this.”
    • “The storyline is a lot more engaging than it needs to be, creating a protagonist who is sympathetic despite the gruesomeness of their profession without excessive melodrama.”
    • “What makes Serial Cleaner unique though is the setting and story.”
    • “My one gripe with this game is that the story rather obnoxiously gets in the way of the fun gameplay.”
    • “It has a story but to be quite honest it might as well not have been there; it feels forcibly tacked-on.”
    • “The story is almost nonexistent, and I quickly found myself skipping all of the dialogue until the last 3-4 contracts where finally something sort-of interesting happens.”
  • gameplay210 mentions

    The gameplay of *Serial Cleaner* presents a unique twist on the stealth genre, tasking players with cleaning up crime scenes rather than committing crimes. While the game features a fun and engaging loop with simple mechanics, it suffers from repetitiveness and a lack of depth, leading to a sense of monotony over extended play sessions. Overall, the stylish visuals and immersive atmosphere can make for an enjoyable experience, but the gameplay may not appeal to everyone due to its basic mechanics and frustrating elements.

    • “Overall, this game uses a simple set of stealth mechanics, but it’s actually quite a fun gameplay loop.”
    • “The gameplay involves dodging guards' vision cones, hiding in plants, and using clever tactics to avoid detection.”
    • “While yes, the difficulty could absolutely use a tweak, or even a full rework on some levels, the funky music and art style, as well as the strong core gameplay, truly make for a fantastic experience regardless.”
    • “Between its price and mechanics that set you up to fail, don't bother unless you're fine with a game you can't finish.”
    • “The core mechanics of cleaning up crime scenes may become predictable, leading to a sense of monotony for some players.”
    • “I wanted to like it but the poor performance, control response, and relatively simple and easy gameplay left me unsatisfied.”
  • music163 mentions

    The music in the game has received widespread praise for its catchy and fitting soundtrack, which enhances the overall atmosphere and complements the game's 70s aesthetic. However, some players have noted that the limited selection can become repetitive over time, detracting from the experience. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's appeal despite some concerns about its variety.

    • “The music is outstanding and the levels are just challenging enough so you can get the right amount of frustration and relief with each one.”
    • “An interesting idea of cleaning a crime scene with jazzy music that perfectly fits the game.”
    • “With its striking retro art style and soundtrack, not to mention the phone-call introduction for each level, it's clear from the first minute that Serial Cleaner wants to be the Hotline Miami of stealth games.”
    • “The music was extremely repetitive; I had to mute it and turn something else on in the background.”
    • “God, the music played while cleaning doesn't work whatsoever.”
    • “Music is also a bad fit.”
  • graphics139 mentions

    The graphics of "Serial Cleaner" are characterized by a vibrant 1970s retro aesthetic that effectively immerses players in a stylish world reminiscent of classic crime films. While the art style is praised for its charm and attention to detail, it can sometimes obscure gameplay elements, making it difficult to discern walls from walkable paths. Overall, the visuals are considered a strong point of the game, contributing to its unique atmosphere despite some minor visibility issues.

    • “The attention to detail in the environments and character designs enhances the overall immersion and aesthetic appeal.”
    • “With a gorgeous 70's aesthetic firmly grasped in one hand, and an innovative concept clutched in the other, Serial Cleaner makes for one of the most unique games I've ever played, and is definitely a hell of a lot of fun.”
    • “A fun and stylish stealth game, set in the early 1970s, where graphics style and soundtrack fit perfectly.”
    • “However, while the art style is one of its strengths, it's also a weakness when it obscures the visibility of gameplay.”
    • “Due to the camera angle being 'straight-on isometric' instead of 'diagonally isometric', and due to the 2D art style, it can be hard to read the level layout, understand what is considered a wall or an opening, and to see blood that might be hiding behind a wall.”
    • “The puzzles are, for the most part, quite easy to figure out, but you will still fail repeatedly, largely due to poor graphic design choices ('oh, I see, that's supposed to be a wall') and annoying game physics.”
  • humor34 mentions

    The humor in "Serial Cleaner" is characterized by its light-hearted, quirky, and often silly elements, such as the amusing mechanic of slipping on blood to move faster. The game's retro theme and 1970s vibe enhance its comedic appeal, making it an entertaining experience despite some repetitive gameplay. Overall, players appreciate the blend of dark humor and stealth mechanics, finding it a refreshing twist in the genre.

    • “The unique setting of having to clean up a crime scene combined with the fun art style and quirky retro humor really adds to the enjoyment of the experience.”
    • “While some levels may feel repetitive, the game's unique premise and humor add an entertaining twist to the stealth genre.”
    • “The 70’s vibe is funny, quirky, enjoyable, and straightforward.”
  • replayability22 mentions

    Overall, the game exhibits limited replayability, with many players noting that once all content is completed, there is little incentive to return. While some features, like finding collectibles and slightly randomized elements, offer a degree of replay value, the predictability of the gameplay and frustrating mechanics detract from the experience. Players suggest it may be enjoyable as a time killer, but it's best to purchase on sale rather than at full price.

    • “This game is honestly surprisingly fun and there's a lot of replayability since there's the option to find vinyls and outfits that get unlocked when you find them.”
    • “Strongly recommend for a time killer, great replayability.”
    • “Good amount of progression and replay value – keeps things from getting stale.”
    • “Limited replay value once all content is completed.”
    • “Slightly randomized map elements (e.g. body locations) make replayability a bit less tedious, but all the unexpected, random deaths and restarts make it beyond annoying.”
    • “Though, unless you're speed running this game, there is really no replay value in this game at all since you kind of know what happens. I'd say it's worth full price, but get it on sale if you can.”
  • atmosphere16 mentions

    The atmosphere of "Serial Cleaner" is a standout feature, characterized by its stylish 1970s-inspired visuals that evoke classic crime films, creating an engaging and zany world for players. While the game offers an enjoyable ambiance and art style, some players note that the soundtrack and audio design can become repetitive over time. Overall, the immersive atmosphere enhances the stealth gameplay, making it a compelling experience for fans of the genre.

    • “Overall, Serial Cleaner provides an enjoyable atmosphere and style to the stealth genre that brings you into a zany little world for a fun time.”
    • “The game features stylish visuals inspired by the 1970s setting, creating a captivating atmosphere reminiscent of classic crime films.”
    • “While it may suffer from some repetitive elements and lack of depth in storytelling, its challenging gameplay and immersive atmosphere make it a worthwhile experience for fans of stealth games.”
    • “While the game's soundtrack and audio design contribute to its atmosphere, some players may find the selection of music and sound effects repetitive over time.”
    • “Stylish visuals and atmosphere inspired by classic crime films.”
    • “This is where Serial Cleaner sets itself apart from other stealth games.”
  • grinding8 mentions

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be excessively tedious, often requiring multiple attempts due to frustrating controls and unclear mechanics. While some randomized elements offer slight replayability, the frequent random deaths and mission restarts contribute to an overall sense of annoyance rather than enjoyment.

    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “Slightly randomized map elements (e.g. body locations) make replayability a bit less tedious, but all the unexpected, random deaths and restarts make it beyond annoying.”
    • “Re-doing entire missions would be okay if doing them didn't feel as tedious, but part of the challenge comes from the controls and unclear area of effects/finicky moving, which just was not enjoyable for me.”
  • character development6 mentions

    Reviews indicate that while the game's environments and character designs are immersive and visually appealing, the narrative suffers from a lack of depth, leaving players desiring more substantial character development and plot complexity.

    • “The attention to detail in the environments and character designs enhances the overall immersion and aesthetic appeal.”
    • “While the premise is intriguing, the execution of the narrative may leave some players wanting more character development and plot complexity.”
    • “Lack of depth in storytelling and character development.”
    • “Lack of depth in storytelling and character development.”
  • optimization6 mentions

    The game's optimization has been widely criticized, with users reporting poor performance and uneven gameplay despite its simplicity. Many expressed dissatisfaction with control recognition and responsiveness, leading to an overall negative experience.

    • “Sadly, this game runs really unevenly for me with poor performance and control recognition.”
    • “I wanted to like it, but the poor performance, control response, and relatively simple and easy gameplay left me unsatisfied.”
    • “Bad performance for such a simple game.”
  • stability4 mentions

    The game suffers from significant stability issues, particularly with buggy achievements that require players to repeatedly delete their save files to achieve 100%. Users report frequent glitches, making it stand out negatively compared to other titles in their libraries.

    • “No other game in my Steam library glitches like that.”
    • “Achievements are buggy (had to remove my save three times to get 100% achievements).”
  • emotional4 mentions

    Players highlight the game's strong emotional impact, particularly noting that the final level in the bonus contracts evokes deep feelings, with some expressing that it nearly brought them to tears. The game is also praised for allowing players to engage at their own pace, enhancing the overall emotional experience.

    • “The last level in the bonus contracts almost made me want to cry. It's a good game to play at your own pace.”
    • “It has a great emotional payoff, I think.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

55% average critic score

Buy Serial Cleaner

Play time

4hMedian play time
4hAverage play time
4-4hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 2 analyzed playthroughs

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