The Painscreek Killings
Genres: Puzzle, Horror, Mystery, Story Rich, Atmospheric, Adventure
Play modes: singleplayer
Release Date: 27-9-2017
Developer: EQ Studios
Our verdict
8/10
- Difficulty: Hard
- Players: 1
- Playtime: 10–15 h
The Painscreek Killings is a first-person murder mystery from EQ Studios. As Janet, a young journalist, you roam the abandoned town of Painscreek to solve the cold case of Vivian Roberts, hunting keys, codes, diaries and news clippings across a semi-open world. There are no quest markers or hints, and you are encouraged to photograph clues and take notes. It suits patient solo players who want to feel like a real detective.
Players rate it Very Positive, with about 89 percent of over 3,000 reviews in favour. Fans praise the freedom to follow leads in almost any order, the eerie empty town and a well-written story told through letters; several compare it to Obra Dinn and Outer Wilds and urge you to keep a paper notebook. Most finishing times fall between eight and twenty hours.
The complaints are consistent. Many found the last stretch spoon-feeds the killer's identity and then switches to an unexpected chase sequence that surprised those who did not expect horror. Others mention slow walking, clunky controls and interface, pixel hunting for tiny interactables, and lots of reading. Buy it if you love slow, note-heavy investigation, ideally on sale; skip it if you want quick escape room puzzles.
Pros
- No markers or hints; you follow leads through the town yourself
- Cold-case story pieced together from letters and diaries
- Eerie, empty town rewards careful note-taking
Cons
- Ending hands you the answer and switches to a chase sequence
- Slow movement, clunky controls and some pixel hunting
- Unmarked horror elements surprise some players
About
The Painscreek Killings is a story-rich, murder mystery investigation game.
As Janet, a young and upcoming journalist, you have been asked by your editor to investigate the mysterious abandonment of a once lively town. Based on the information released by the media about the deaths of the townspeople, you set foot into the town thinking you would find an interesting story to publish, only to uncover secrets that were meant to stay hidden forever.
Can you expose the truth behind this town’s dark secrets?GAMEPLAY
The Painscreek Killings borrows mechanics from a walking simulator but goes beyond it by making the players think. It mimics real world investigations with logical puzzles that do not hold your hand, allow you to explore wherever your investigation lead, and a captivating story waiting to be discovered. The game encourages you to explore the surroundings carefully, collect clues and hints to help your investigation, and find evidence to expose the truth about the killings. There are no quest markers or hint systems to aid in your journey. You will be forced to think, to connect the dots and to piece things together, making you feel like a real investigator.KEY FEATURES
- Free-Roaming, Semi-Open World:
Explore wherever you want based on the clues and hints gathered during your investigation.
- Mimics Real World Investigation:
Take notes and photograph important clues. No handholding, and no quest marker or hint system is provided.
- Logical Puzzles:
Use your powers of observation and deduction to solve all that stands in your way.
- Rich and Captivating Storyline:
Uncover the conspiracies, heartaches, jealousy and hidden secrets that were meant to be buried with the abandoned town.
