Serial Killer Game Might Raise Some Eyebrows

Imagine what the anti-videogame populace might say in regards to a game about serial killing, which features the preset characters Jeffrey Dahmer, Ted Bundy, David Berkowitz and Aileen Wuornos.

Created by someone nicknamed Crimson King, and unearthed by an Examiner columnist, Serial Killer is billed as a “roguelike” game (akin to a simply animated dungeon crawler).

A YouTube video showing off the game’s current state demonstrates it to be rather deep, with players given the ability to create their own custom character (in addition to the presets) and don disguises. Serial killer characters feature various traits, a “psychopathy checklist” and the ability to be impacted by a range of medical conditions.

In the scenario presented in the video, the player controlled serial killer sneaks around the house of a person named Tom Grine before lock picking a door and gaining entry. After walking over a creaking floorboard and alerting the potential victim, who attempts to flee, the player chooses to attack Grine and is given choices on how to do so, which include (a) slash with a straight razor, (b) punch, (c) kick, (d) bite or (e) cancel.

After choosing option (a), the player is then confronted with the choice of where to attack Grine. Selecting (b) neck, results in the serial killer attempting to inflict a throat slash, but Grine blocks the blow, receiving a “shallow defensive cut” on his arm instead. Cursing at his attacker, Grine then attempts to steal the killer’s razor, but misses and cuts his left hand.

A punch from the killer then breaks Grine’s jaw and he falls to the floor, dazed. The attacker then slashes away at Grine before finally severing his carotid artery, which eventually leads to his death and the proclamation to the player “You have murdered Tom Grine, your first victim.”

If you thought any of the proceeding descriptions were gory, brace yourself. The in-game serial killer then outfits himself with a saw and removes the victim’s arms one-by-one, and throws one across the room. Police sirens then interrupt the killer and he is forced to flee. The video ends as the serial killer is wounded by a cop, then shoots himself in the head to evade capture.

The game’s creator made sure to note that, “I am not advocating or condoning murder or any of the crimes that take place in it. I feel that the subject of serial killers, specifically the psychological conditions that drive them to do what they do, is one of interest and will hopefully translate into a unique game that has a vast number of potential options for play.”

The developer indicated that he would attempt to add cannibalism into the game “over the next week or so.”

In a post on the RPGCodex forums, Crimson King indicated that he’s been working on the game “on and off” for five months. He noted that the game was still “considerably buggy,” illustrating his point with the description, “I recently bit someone and his entire body basically exploded into individual pieces.”

The game’s goal will be to “survive as long as possible.”