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Best Serial Killer Games for PS5 & PS4

The best serial killer games on PS5 and PS4 are Heavy Rain, Alan Wake 2 and L.A. Noire: three different ways to hunt one killer, as four desperate leads, an FBI agent and a 1947 homicide detective. I split this shelf by which side of the knife you are on. Most picks put you on the killer's trail or in his path, while Dead by Daylight and The Texas Chain Saw Massacre hand you the mask instead. Ten games, each weighed against what players actually say, not just critic scores.

Dex Okafor avatarDex OkaforAI author personaReviewed by Ugur Saritepe
How we rank games

Updated Oct 23, 2026

Top Picks

HEAVY RAIN™
#1 Pick

HEAVY RAIN™

★ 4.4Mixed
Alan Wake 2
#2

Alan Wake 2

★ 4.6Mixed
L.A. Noire
#3

L.A. Noire

★ 4.7Mixed

Discover Games

10 games found

1HEAVY RAIN™
Best overall

HEAVY RAIN™

4.4(50,341)Metacritic 802010~5 h playtime
PS4PCAction · Adventure
PS+ Premiumcrime
MixedReview analysis

Player feedback on Heavy Rain is highly polarized, showcasing a passionate divide between praise for its gripping narrative and substantial criticism of its control mechanics. While many players celebrate the story and emotional depth, frustrations with gameplay execution and technical issues create significant dissatisfaction. Overall, the sentiment reveals that while the story leaves a lasting impression, the experience is often marred by control-related frustrations.

Why it's here: Heavy Rain is the one I would start with: a four-day hunt for the Origami Killer split across four leads, where any of them can die for good and the story carries on without them. It is the purest version of the chase on this list. Steam reviewers keep flagging stiff, prompt-driven controls and plot holes around the reveal. 4.44 from 50,341 PlayStation players, rated Mature, and included with PS Plus Premium. Play it first, and play it blind.

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2Alan Wake 2
Best horror investigation

Alan Wake 2

4.6(66,509)2023
PS5PCHorror
PS+ Trialhorror
MixedReview analysis

Overall, players express a high level of enjoyment and appreciation for the storytelling, atmosphere, and unique gameplay mechanics of Alan Wake 2, despite some frustrations regarding its pacing and navigation. However, a significant minority of reviewers have voiced strong dissatisfaction, particularly around the game's structure and backtracking elements.

Why it's here: Alan Wake 2 treats a string of ritual killings as a horror game: FBI agent Saga Anderson works the murders in a Pacific Northwest town, pinning clues to a case board in her Mind Place while a missing writer's story bleeds into hers. That case board is the system worth tracking, because it is where the investigation actually happens. PlayStation Store reviewers single out confusing navigation and backtracking. 4.62 from 66,509 players, rated Mature. Pick it if you want the case to get scarier the closer you look.

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3L.A. Noire
Best police procedural

L.A. Noire

4.7(10,550)Metacritic 832011~7 h playtime
PS4PCAction · Adventure
MixedReview analysis

Overall, player feedback on L.A. Noire is highly polarized, with many praising its unique storytelling, engaging gameplay mechanics, and atmospheric setting; yet, numerous players express frustration over its technical issues and the requirement of third-party DRM. Despite the criticisms, a significant number of players regard it as a masterpiece in detective gaming.

Why it's here: L.A. Noire is the serial killer case done as police work. Cole Phelps's Homicide desk turns a run of separate 1947 murders into one pattern you read across cases, with interrogations decided by watching a suspect's face. Steam reviewers find those interrogations frustrating at times and the case structure repetitive. 4.66 from 10,550 PlayStation players, the top score on this list, rated Mature. If you want deduction over jump scares, this is the pick.

Guide

L.A. Noire vs JudgmentL.A. Noire vs Judgment compared on investigation depth, combat, side content and player ratings, with a clear pick for which detective game to play first.

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4Nobody Wants to Die
Best sci-fi investigation

Nobody Wants to Die

4.4(4,100)2024~4 h playtime
PS5PCAdventure
GoodReview analysis

Overall, player feedback for "Nobody Wants to Die" is largely positive, highlighting the game's stunning visuals, engaging story, and atmospheric sound design. However, critiques center around its linear gameplay and disappointing endings, leading to a divide in player satisfaction.

Why it's here: Nobody Wants to Die puts a serial killer in a New York of 2329, where death is optional for anyone who can pay, and detective James Karra rewinds each crime scene with time-bending tech to rebuild how the victim died. The reconstruction is the reason to play, and no other pick here investigates this way. Steam reviewers single out a linear structure and endings that feel rushed. 4.44 from 4,100 PlayStation players, rated Mature. Take it if you want the hunt to look as good as it plays.

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5The Dark Pictures Anthology: The Devil In Me
Best for co-op

The Dark Pictures Anthology: The Devil In Me

3.9(9,603)2022~6 h playtime
PS5PS4PCHorror · Adventure
Co-op: 2horror
MixedReview analysis

The overall player feedback on "The Dark Pictures Anthology: The Devil In Me" is deeply divided, with many players praising its atmosphere and horror elements, while a significant number criticize its controls, pacing, and numerous bugs. While a minority of reviews express strong enjoyment, citing improvement in certain gameplay aspects, the overwhelming sentiment highlights disappointment stemming from technical issues and shallow character development.

Why it's here: A documentary crew walks into a working replica of H.H. Holmes's murder castle and gets hunted through its traps: the only game here built on a real killer's legend. Two can play the full story online, or up to five pass one controller on the couch. Steam reviews are blunt about bugs and a co-op mode that often breaks. 3.9 from 9,603 PlayStation players, rated Mature 17+. Bring friends, and bring patience.

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6Killer Frequency
Best short game

Killer Frequency

4.6(8,834)2023~3 h playtime
PS5PS4PCAdventure · Horror
PS+ Extrahorror
GreatReview analysis

Overall, player feedback for Killer Frequency is overwhelmingly positive, with many praising its engaging story, voice acting, and unique gameplay mechanics that keep players immersed in its 80s horror theme. Despite some criticisms regarding the simplicity of puzzles and dialogue, the majority of players found it a fun and entertaining experience.

Why it's here: Killer Frequency sits you behind a 1987 small-town radio desk while a masked killer called the Whistling Man works through your callers, and the only way to save them is talking them through it on air. It is the shortest night on this list, about six hours by the catalogue's estimate, and the funniest. Steam reviewers note the puzzles run easy and long dialogue cannot always be skipped. 4.6 from 8,834 PlayStation players, rated Teen, included with PS Plus Extra. The one to play tonight.

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7INDIGO PROPHECY

INDIGO PROPHECY

4.4(2,900)Metacritic 682015~4 h playtime
PS4PCAction · Adventure
MixedReview analysis

Overall, player feedback on Indigo Prophecy is highly polarized. Many reviewers appreciate the engaging narrative and nostalgic value of the game, while numerous criticisms focus on the frustrating gameplay mechanics, particularly the quick-time events and controls, which detract from the experience.

Why it's here: Indigo Prophecy flips the chase: you play a man who comes to over a body in a diner restroom and the two detectives hunting him, switching sides scene by scene. It is the 2005 Quantic Dream game Heavy Rain grew out of, and the cult pick on this list. Steam reviews split hard on its quick-time events and a story that loses the thread late. 4.41 from 2,900 PlayStation players, rated Mature. Play it after Heavy Rain, not before.

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8Dead by Daylight
Best for playing the killer

Dead by Daylight

4.1(144,492)Metacritic 722016~10 h playtime
PS5PS4PCHorror · Action
PS+ Extrahorror
MixedReview analysis

Players have mixed feelings about Dead by Daylight, with many praising the game's thrilling horror aspects and enjoyable gameplay while criticizing issues such as balance problems, toxic community interactions, and performance issues related to the new anti-cheat system. Despite its fun elements, many reviewers expressed frustration over the game's mechanics and player behavior.

Why it's here: Dead by Daylight is where you stop hunting the killer and become one. Matches put one killer against four survivors, with a roster of licensed horror icons and originals, plus a 2v8 mode on top. Steam reviews keep returning to killer and survivor balance and a toxic community. 4.1 from 144,492 PlayStation players, the largest player base on this list, rated Mature, included with PS Plus Extra. If you want to play the slasher rather than survive one, start here.

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9The Texas Chain Saw Massacre

The Texas Chain Saw Massacre

3.9(15,000)2023~6 h playtime
PS5PS4PCHorror
horror
MixedReview analysis

Overall, player feedback for 'The Texas Chain Saw Massacre' is highly polarized, with many expressing frustration over the game's lack of ongoing support and bugs, while others praise its gameplay mechanics and fun factor. The sentiment is largely mixed, with significant enjoyment reported during play but discontent regarding developer issues and community experience.

Why it's here: The Texas Chain Saw Massacre is the asymmetric pick with a whole family of killers: three of them, Leatherface included, against four victims trying to get out of the Slaughter house alive. Horror movie fans in Steam reviews rate the mood highly, but the same reviewers worry about thin developer support and long lobby waits. 3.94 from 15,000 PlayStation players, rated Mature 17+. Worth it with a regular group; solo matchmaking is the risk.

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10The Casting of Frank Stone™

The Casting of Frank Stone™

3.9(4,600)2024~13 h playtime
PS5PCHorror
MixedReview analysis

Player feedback on 'The Casting of Frank Stone' reveals a significant divide, with many praising the engaging story and Dead by Daylight (DBD) lore, while numerous others criticize the game's poor optimization, buggy performance, and pacing issues. Overall, fans of DBD tend to appreciate the game more than those who are not familiar with the franchise.

Why it's here: The Casting of Frank Stone is the story mode Dead by Daylight never had: a branching Supermassive drama about the 1980 Cedar Hills killer and the teenagers who filmed where he killed, told across decades. Choices change who survives, and local pass-the-controller play is supported. Steam reviews note poor optimization and a slow first half, and Dead by Daylight fans rate it highest. 3.9 from 4,600 PlayStation players, rated Mature. I would play Dead by Daylight first, then this.

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About Serial killer games ps5

A serial killer game here means the killer is the story, not a side quest: a run of linked murders you investigate, survive or commit. That rules out open worlds where you can kill anyone, and contract killers like Hitman, which the forum threads on this topic keep suggesting. The roster runs from Indigo Prophecy, first released in 2005, to Nobody Wants to Die and The Casting of Frank Stone from 2024, and three picks are included with PS Plus: Heavy Rain on Premium, Killer Frequency and Dead by Daylight on Extra. For every game on this list, we read and summarized player reviews from Steam into what players consistently praise and consistently complain about; Alan Wake 2 is not sold on Steam, so its read comes from the PlayStation Store. The first decision is which side you want: the investigator's case board or the killer's mask.

Curated by Ugur Saritepe. Rankings weigh aggregated player ratings and review sentiment collected from the stores each game is sold on — Steam and the PlayStation Store — with catalogue data from RAWG. How we rankPlayStation StoreSteamRAWG

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Best Serial Killer Games for PS5 & PS4 Compared

  • HEAVY RAIN™
    Best overall★ 4.44 / 5PS Plus Premium

    Four playable leads chase the Origami Killer over four days, and any of them can die for good.

  • Alan Wake 2
    Best horror investigation★ 4.62 / 5PS Plus Premium

    An FBI agent sorts ritual murder clues on a mental case board while a missing writer's story runs alongside.

  • L.A. Noire
    Best police procedural★ 4.66 / 5

    A 1947 Homicide desk where linked murders are solved by searching scenes and reading suspects' faces.

  • Nobody Wants to Die
    Best sci-fi investigation★ 4.44 / 5

    A detective in the New York of 2329 rewinds crime scenes with time-bending tech to rebuild each murder.

  • The Dark Pictures Anthology: The Devil In Me
    Best for co-op★ 3.9 / 5

    A film crew trapped in a replica of H.H. Holmes's murder castle, playable by two online or five locally.

  • Killer Frequency
    Best short game★ 4.6 / 5PS Plus Extra

    A 1987 late-night radio host talks callers away from a masked killer in one short first-person night.

  • INDIGO PROPHECY
    ★ 4.41 / 5

    You play both the man who wakes over a body and the two detectives hunting him.

  • Dead by Daylight
    Best for playing the killer★ 4.1 / 5PS Plus Extra

    One killer against four survivors online, with a long roster of licensed and original horror killers.

  • The Texas Chain Saw Massacre
    ★ 3.94 / 5

    Three members of the Slaughter family, Leatherface included, hunt four victims through their house online.

  • The Casting of Frank Stone™
    ★ 3.9 / 5

    A branching Supermassive story in the Dead by Daylight universe about teens who filmed where a killer struck.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the best serial killer games on PS5?
Heavy Rain, Alan Wake 2 and L.A. Noire. Heavy Rain follows four leads hunting the Origami Killer, Alan Wake 2 has FBI agent Saga Anderson working a string of ritual killings, and L.A. Noire links a run of 1947 murders on its Homicide desk. PlayStation players rate them 4.44, 4.62 and 4.66. Heavy Rain and L.A. Noire are PS4 releases that play on PS5 through backward compatibility, and Heavy Rain is included with PS Plus Premium.
Are there games where you play as a serial killer on PS5?
Yes. Dead by Daylight puts you in the killer's role against four survivors and is included with PS Plus Extra, and The Texas Chain Saw Massacre lets three players take the Slaughter family, Leatherface included, against four victims. Both are online multiplayer games rated Mature, and Dead by Daylight has the largest player base on this list at 144,492 ratings.
What are good crime scene games for PS5?
Nobody Wants to Die, Alan Wake 2 and L.A. Noire. Nobody Wants to Die rewinds each crime scene with time-bending tech to rebuild the murder, Alan Wake 2 sorts the evidence on a case board in Saga Anderson's Mind Place, and L.A. Noire has you search every scene for clues before the interrogation. All three are rated Mature.
Is there a serial killer game based on a real killer?
The Dark Pictures Anthology: The Devil in Me is built on the legend of H.H. Holmes: a documentary crew is lured to a working replica of his murder castle and hunted through its traps. It is rated Mature 17+ and supports two players online or up to five passing one controller on the couch.
What is a short serial killer game I can finish in one night?
Killer Frequency, at about six hours by our catalogue's estimate. You play a 1987 late-night radio host talking callers away from a masked killer called the Whistling Man. It is rated Teen, the only pick on this list that is not rated Mature, and it is included with PS Plus Extra.
Which serial killer games can you play with friends?
The Devil in Me supports two players online or up to five locally, and The Casting of Frank Stone supports local pass-the-controller play. For online multiplayer, Dead by Daylight and The Texas Chain Saw Massacre both pit a team of survivors against the killer side.

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