Like it or loathe it, it seems as though the Stranger Things-led 1980s nostalgia is still going strong. Although some might be growing a little tired of the tropes by now, when done effectively the neon-tinged settings and synth-led ephemeral soundtracks can really resonate. This is where Killer Frequency aims to land, with Team17 turning its eye to the 1980s through the lens of a slasher horror story.

Killer Frequency casts the player as late night radio show host Forrest Nash, who is roped in to help with saving the inhabitants of a sleepy town from a masked serial killer on the loose. It's far from the only game with a slasher focus - and The Quarry even has some 1980s outfits for its characters - but where Killer Frequency differs is that the player has the restriction of remaining in the studio at all times. How much can they help at a distance, and can they solve the mystery of the killer's identity?

Creativity Through Limitation

The self-imposed limitation of the player's role as a radio host is a fantastic gimmick for a game. Killer Frequency sees the player taking 911 calls that have been diverted to the studio, and must help people who are being chased by the killer as well as try to solve the wider reasons as to why the killings are taking place. It takes cues from the Orson Welles-inspired Pontypool, creating tension without showing things directly to the player.

From a gameplay perspective, this means finding materials from around the station that can help give the would-be victims an upper hand. This could be guiding someone through a maize maze away from the killer, giving guidance on how to hotwire a car, or even giving instructions to get an outside party to come and help. It's a fun and creative way to run this kind of story, although occasionally the charm of this structure does run out a little.

What it means is that Killer Frequency ends up feeling a little like an extremely high stakes puzzle game. It's ing logic and memory to give the potential victims of the killer a fighting chance of escaping. There are occasional time-sensitive answers here and there where the player will have to think on their feet, but overall it's far more about putting together the pieces to make sure each person gets out alive.

Excellent & Nostalgic Genre Familiarity

Another area where Killer Frequency finds success is with its story. It's a game that understands the cliches of the slasher horror, from the small town setting through to characters that give a nod and a wink to the classic films of the genre. It's worth noting that Killer Frequency is also a rather funny game, a comedy horror that really manages to shine through some conversations and through the adverts that the player sometimes has to play on air.

At the center of it all is the core mystery of the plot, and this is again a well-trodden but well-crafted yarn. It's an interesting whodunnit, with the new killer running parallel to a former slasher who stalked the neighborhood decades before. Along the way more threads begin to come together, painting something that nods to the likes of Friday the 13th and I Know What You Did Last Summer.

The player isn't going it alone, either, as producer Peggy is on hand to discuss things with Forrest at all times. This relationship is the real driving emotional core of Killer Frequency, and in general the light-hearted banter and idea sharing comes across a little like a Firewatch-lite dynamic. It's not entirely successful, with some of the transitions between dialogue moments feeling a little jarring, but overall it's authentic.

Platform Problems?

Where Killer Frequency stumbles a little is with the application of some of its gameplay mechanics. Sometimes movement and view changes can feel stilted, particularly when trying to select smaller buttons on bits of equipment. However, this may well be to do with the Switch version of the game, as this is hardly a lone example of games feeling a little fiddly using the Nintendo console's JoyCon controllers.

This also feeds through to the occasional graphical glitch that Killer Frequency suffers from. Sometimes the player may notice a bit of strange artefacting here and there, which can take the player out of the moment. Meanwhile, some items within the game do look a little basic, although generally the more cel shaded aesthetic approach covers this well.

All in all, these are minor issues that do little to diminish the quality of the experience. The odd bit of awkward control or visual glitch doesn't stop Killer Frequency from being enjoyable, as the game is rarely based around needing to react quickly and relies on its writing over top-of-the-line graphical fidelity. Even so, it could be frustrating for those who want something very fluid.

Our Review Score & Final Thoughts

All in all, Killer Frequency is a clever slasher puzzler that is well worth the time. Horror fans will get a lot out of its knowledge of the genre as a whole, and its fresh take on telling a slasher story means that even within its tropes there's still something to find. It doesn't always land, and the Switch version does have the odd issue, but Killer Frequency is bloody good fun.

Source: YouTube/Team 17

Killer Frequency is out now for PC, PS4, PS5, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S. Screen Rant was provided with a Switch code for the purposes of this review.