Slitterhead

Slitterhead is a bold and inventive addition to the action-horror genre, but it offers a flawed journey in its strange universe.

83%Game Brain Score

story, gameplay

optimization, monetization

89% User Score Based on 224 reviews

Critic Score 68%Based on 4 reviews

Platforms

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About

Slitterhead is a single player survival action adventure game with horror, mystery and violence themes. It was developed by Bokeh Game Studio lnc. and was released on June 26, 2024. It received mostly positive reviews from critics and positive reviews from players.

Set in the densely cluttered streets of Kowlong, filled with obscurity and chaos, this battle action-adventure game casts players as the Hyoki, an entity devoid of memory and physical form. His only motive is to eradicate the monstrous beings known as Slitterheads crawling around the city, disguising themselves as humans. Roaming the vibrant neon-lit cityscape, players must seek out allies among h…

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89%

Audience ScoreBased on 224 reviews

story30 positive mentions

optimization2 negative mentions

Slitterhead offers a unique and refreshing gameplay experience, combining body horror with action mechanics that encourage strategic possession of characters.
The game features a captivating atmosphere and art direction reminiscent of classic PS2 titles, with a strong soundtrack by Akira Yamaoka that enhances the overall experience.
Despite its rough edges, the game demonstrates a clear passion from its developers, making it a worthwhile experience for fans of experimental and niche titles.

The combat system is often criticized for being clunky and unsatisfying, with issues such as poor hit detection and a lack of enemy variety leading to repetitive gameplay.
Graphics and animations are considered outdated, resembling those of older generation games, which detracts from the overall visual experience.
The game suffers from pacing issues, with some players feeling that the story is stretched thin and the mission structure leads to excessive repetition.

story
98 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
31%
65%
4%
The story of the game is described as intriguing and complex, with a unique atmosphere reminiscent of Asian horror films, though opinions vary on its execution. While some players find the narrative captivating and immersive, others criticize it for being stretched out with repetitive dialogue and forced character development. Overall, the game presents a compelling concept that, despite its rough edges and linear mission structure, has the potential to engage players who appreciate its unique storytelling approach.
- “Incredibly fun game with a complex and fulfilling story and very enjoyable and unique combat and gameplay.”
- “The story is brought to life with a super immersive environment built with great detail and filled with a vibe that you can find in those Asian horror movies.”
- “Fantastic atmosphere, unique gameplay, music that nails the tone, and an interesting story.”
- “The story is stretched out via dialogue that is boring to read.”
- “I will finish the game but it's really annoying that such a great concept gets muddied by poor story and forced character-building dialogue.”
- “The story was heavily disappointing for me, for multiple reasons that go into spoiler territory.”
gameplay
82 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
37%
53%
10%
The gameplay is characterized by unique mechanics such as body swapping and a "blood time" feature that slows down time for strategic attacks, though it suffers from clunky controls and repetitive combat. While some players appreciate the nostalgic, janky feel reminiscent of older titles, others criticize the finicky parry system and lack of polish. Overall, the game offers a fun and challenging experience with a distinct atmosphere, but opinions on its execution and depth vary widely.
- “Incredibly fun game with a complex and fulfilling story and very enjoyable and unique combat and gameplay.”
- “Over-the-top action, amusing and stylish gameplay, and full of heart from the developers.”
- “The gameplay mixes exciting combat with spooky exploration.”
- “Way too expensive for the quality of gameplay.”
- “My biggest complaint is that I feel like the parry/deflect mechanic is too finicky.”
- “Could've been a sleeper hit or at least an exciting action game; however, the game, as far as mechanics go, is very bland.”
graphics
68 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
47%
24%
The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with many players noting that while the art direction and stylistic choices can be appealing, the overall visual quality often feels dated and reminiscent of older generation titles. Some appreciate the unique aesthetic and atmospheric elements, while others criticize the lack of detailed graphics settings and technical limitations. Overall, the visuals are described as decent but not groundbreaking, with a blend of charm and roughness that may not satisfy all players.
- “Visuals are amazing, can't help but stop and adore the neon-lit streets of fictional Kowloon.”
- “This is such a freshly bizarre and unique experience oozing with style and artistic visuals.”
- “The graphics team did a good job making the most out of every hardware.”
- “I'm not a stickler for graphics; I prefer things to be stylized and pretty over hyper-realism and the like, but I can't stress enough there's a difference between stylized appeal and just being plain old ugly.”
- “Like, Xbox 360 marketplace tier graphics, and even that feels a bit too generous at times.”
- “The graphics are somewhat underwhelming (almost old-gen), the combat and controls are far from smooth, and you can see all the technical limitations of a game that’s almost indie-level.”
music
58 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
41%
54%
5%
The music in the game, primarily composed by Akira Yamaoka, has received widespread acclaim for its unique and atmospheric qualities, effectively enhancing the overall experience. Reviewers highlight the soundtrack as a standout feature, describing it as bizarre yet captivating, with a blend of creepiness and originality that complements the game's tone. Despite some criticisms regarding graphics and gameplay, the music is consistently praised as superb and integral to the game's identity.
- “The soundtrack is amazing too and I'm loving the story so far.”
- “Akira Yamaoka absolutely nailed this soundtrack as well, but he always does.”
- “The music is superb, and considering the dated graphics, it does the heavy lifting to build the atmosphere.”
- “The music, the menus, the sound effects, the vibes, the gameplay... it's like a lost Dreamcast/PS2 era game got a remaster.”
- “Replay various missions over and over until you can finally progress, bombastic OST by Akira himself, almost little to no enemy variety, janky gameplay, visually amazing body horror, and a mechanic where you see things from the enemy's POV called sight jacking.”
- “What is also interesting is that it doesn't sound much like previous soundtracks composed by Yamaoka.”
atmosphere
22 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
27%
59%
14%
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its unique and immersive qualities, featuring a haunting soundtrack by Akira Yamaoka and exceptional art design that enhances the eerie, Lovecraftian vibe. Reviewers highlight the game's ability to create a living city filled with creepy creature designs, despite its dated visuals and some gameplay criticisms. Overall, the atmosphere is considered a standout element that sets the game apart from modern titles with higher fidelity graphics.
- “Fantastic atmosphere, unique gameplay, music that nails the tone and interesting story.”
- “Meanwhile, all the innovations and the game’s incredibly powerful atmosphere are completely ignored—an atmosphere that modern games with 'high-quality' NPC models can’t even come close to.”
- “The city oozes atmosphere, and while this game won't win any awards for fidelity, the actual art design here is stellar.”
- “With an eerie atmosphere, creepy creature designs, and a city that feels alive, it’s unforgettable.”
character development
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
Character development is praised for its engaging designs and intriguing details, sparking curiosity about team dynamics and weapon choices. While the writing provides a solid understanding of each character, it lacks the depth typically found in RPGs. Overall, the character designs are fun and contribute positively to the game's appeal.
- “The character design is fun and honestly exciting. I constantly found myself wondering who would join the team and what they'd play like—what about their character informs their weapon choice? There's enough writing here to get a strong sense of each host, but it isn't RPG levels of deep or anything like that.”
optimization
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
Users report initial stuttering issues but find that adjusting the settings significantly improves performance, leading to a smoother gaming experience.
replayability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the game enjoyable and engaging, highlighting its strong replayability due to its appealing environments, such as the visually impressive nightclub.
- “The game is still fun to play, encourages replayability, and manages to create pretty sceneries (the nightclub looks pretty cool).”
stability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Users report that the game runs smoothly on the Steam Deck, indicating strong stability and performance.
- “Amazing soundtrack and runs great on deck!”
monetization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization strategy of the game has received mixed feedback, with some users feeling that the previews and ads fail to accurately represent its value and potential. Overall, while the concept is praised, there seems to be a disconnect between marketing and the actual gameplay experience.
grinding
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players note that while the late-game grinding can become tedious, it doesn't detract significantly from their overall enjoyment, with many still considering the game a strong contender for Game of the Year.
humor
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is noted for its clever use of repetition, which is intricately tied to the storyline, enhancing both comedic effect and narrative coherence.
- “The funny thing is, the repetition directly correlates with the story.”