Midnight Murder Club has been around for a few months now in early access, but I must admit, its full release crept up on me. I’m a fan of fun, unique multiplayer offerings that provide interesting twists to a traditional formula, or something different altogether.
In that sense, I really wanted to love Midnight Murder Club, with its nice blend of wacky action mixed with hide-and-seek moments that are certainly better shared with friends. There are even a few unique modes and mechanics that do their best to keep things fresh and fun.
But like most multiplayer games that come and go, I’m just not sure that Midnight Murder Club has the level of progression and depth to keep players around for the long run.
Tiptoe into Danger
Midnight Murder Club is an entirely multiplayer experience, so don’t count on any real story or even any substantial lore as to why you’re doing what you’re doing. Equipped with a flashlight and revolver, you’ll stumble around a mansion in the dark with players and bots alike, getting the drop on unsuspecting players.
For the most part, Midnight Murder Club generally plays and feels the same across its 6 modes, with a few minor differences that set each of these modes apart. Free-For-All and Team Deathmatch modes are about as straightforward as you can get, with the remaining 4 modes giving you more meat to chew.
The Thief in the Night mode sees players running about to collect a certain number of Golden Skulls to bring them back to their vault once open, in a bid to bank more than the opposition once the round is over. Like any good run-and-stash mode, opposing teams can also kill you and snag your hard-earned loot for an easy score.
The Headhunters mode feels the most like Dead by Daylight, as a single player takes on a team of 5 players, who must find and destroy 3 shrines across the map. It’s standard asymmetrical fun, and usually brings out the best of your team in terms of clear and precise communication.
The Wildcards mode definitely dished out the most fun, as groups of up to 6 players are split into 3 teams. Each player is then able to choose a specific card before entering the match, which alters the game’s rules in some way. For example, it could shrink players to half their gift, you with items like Molotov cocktails. You’ll be able to select new cards at the end of each round, and unlock more cards as you complete each match. There’s a total of 24 cards to unlock, and it certainly brings out the best of Midnight Murder Club.
Finally, there’s the Graveyard Shift mode, which sees solo players or teams completing 9 rituals to rid Wormwood Mansion of its otherworldly inhabitants. Most of these rituals are made up of mechanics and goals you would have come across in other modes, but it’s also a fast-paced and straightforward way to jump into the fun, and it feels fun even when played solo.
It’s a Party in Here
From a gameplay perspective, Midnight Murder Club feels functional and solid, but relatively tame, across most modes. Equipped with a flashlight, a revolver, and a knife for melee attacks. You’re able to sprint and sneak around, while being able to turn the flashlight off to hide in the dark.
The base mechanics generally feel the same throughout each mode, and aside from a few cards that change your movement speed, for example, don’t really alter these core mechanics. You can pick up items like a machine gun and those previously mentioned Molotov cocktails, but I wouldn’t go as far as to say that the gameplay is necessarily deep in terms of its progression and gameplay.
Stealth feels like an option at times, given you can turn your flashlight off to hide in the dark, but it’s rarely pulled off with any grace. The knife does a decent job at demaging enemies, but with unlimited ammo, you’re better off pumping six shots into your enemy. Even though you’re giving your position away, it’s pretty easy to hide away again, provided you have a few seconds.
Proximity chat is always hilarious, and it’s no different here. You can even opt to scramble your voice if you’re playing with random players, but I felt as though it got a little annoying after a while. While I found most matches after just a few minutes, it’s definitely a better experience when played with friends, to better plan strategies and wildcard selections when on the same team.
That being said, you can play matches solo or against bots, and while the bots aren’t fantastic, they do at least allow you to experience each mode if you weren’t able to find any matches. In that sense, it might help with the game’s longevity.
Look the Part
Midnight Murder Club is far from ugly, but given that most of the game is played in the dark or through the lens of a flashlight, it’s not showing off much either. Wormwood Mansion is detailed and interesting enough with a bunch of unique rooms and exterior areas, but it’s nothing crazy either.
Unfortunately, the game doesn’t lend itself to a soundtrack, as retaining the game’s sense of atmosphere and tension requires moments to be generally quiet.
Thankfully, though, the game runs at an even clip, and I didn’t encounter any significant frame rate drops or performance issues.
Final Thoughts
Overall, Midnight Murder Club is a decent multiplayer mashup that’s certainly better when played with friends.
While it’s far from the deepest or most engaging multiplayer experience out there, the game’s budget-friendly price point of just A$13.95 warrants rounding up the gang and diving in for a fun weekend or two.
That being said, it’s really tough to say just how long this will stand the test of time, given its somewhat limited progression system and overall gameplay mechanics.
THREE STARS (OUT OF FIVE)
Highlights: Fun atmosphere and unique game modes; Proximity chat adds to the chaos, and it’s much better with friends; Budget-friendly price tag
Lowlights: Gameplay and progression are somewhat shallow
Developer: Velan Studios
Publisher: PlayStation Publishing LLC, Sony Interactive Entertainment
Platforms: PlayStation 5, Windows PC
Available: Now
Review conducted on PlayStation 5 Pro with a pre-release code provided by the publisher.
Featured images also provided by the publisher.
