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Imagine being thrown into the heart of an old school horror movie, you’re lost in the woods with no supplies and every choice you make could be your last. Survival in this card game means outsmarting both the killer and your friends… After all, better them than you!
Psycho Killer satirises retro horror and slasher films and if you’re a fan of the classics, this one’s for you. The game is designed for 2-6 players and offers a good mix of strategy, luck, and humour - at least, if your friends don’t mind a bit of light hearted betrayal.
The aim of the game is simple: avoid the killer, watch your injury points, and use every horror cliche in the book to outwit the other players.
Grab your popcorn and settle in (the set up)
One of my favourite things about Psycho Killer is that it’s ready to play within a minute. To set up, all you need to do is shuffle the deck and split it in two, leaving enough room in between for a discard pile. You start the game with no cards, so you’re all set - you just need to see who’s brave enough to go first.
Time for the horror reel (the gameplay)
In the deck there are five psycho killers and the weapons they use to attack you, along with supplies that might just save you… Players take turns drawing from the deck, all while hoping you’re lucky enough to avoid an attack.
During your turn, you can play as many or as few cards as you like from your hand (that includes playing no cards at all), but you must always end by drawing a card from the top of either deck, unless you play a card that says otherwise.
Some of the cards have VHS symbols on them that indicate how you play them. For example, a play symbol means you can play the card at any time, even if it isn’t your turn, while the eject symbol means you must play the card immediately after drawing it.
When a player draws a psycho killer, all players holding a weapon get attacked - these become your injury points. The game ends when the last psycho killer is drawn and the player with the lowest amount of injury points wins.
There is no limit to the number of cards in your hand, and even a push your luck element where you can draw more cards following a weapon pull, or ‘restock’ when your hand is empty, but with a killer on the loose, you’ll need to balance evading an attack, while keeping the right cards up your sleeve to survive.
Twists and turns (the pros and cons)
No horror movie is complete without some twists and turns. There’s a lot to love about Psycho Killer, and some things I’d love to have seen incorporated to really play on the theme but regardless it’s brought so much fun to my game nights.
Killer highlights:
● The easy to learn rules makes this a game for everyone and if you find yourself wanting more, the publishers Escape Tabletop Games have some alternative rules on their website making it simple to bring variety to the next playthrough.
● The addition of blank ‘make your own’ cards just gives another layer of freedom to play your own way - either by adding that perfect horror movie trope or an extra layer of complexity.
● And as simple as it is, there’s a really nice balance between strategy and pushing your luck. It's light hearted and fun, and even has a horror themed playlist to listen to as you play. What could be better!
Chilling disappointments:
● I love the theme, but there are so many missed opportunities to play into classic horror movie tropes that would really add to how immersive the game is.
● The artwork captures the essence of the theme, but it would be great to see some variety. For example five Psycho Killers cards? Where’s my Freddie Krueger, Michael Myers, Ghost Face, Jigsaw and Hannibal Lecter.
All that said, I can’t really fault this game. I only want more of it! Luckily for me, they have three expansion packs (Gratuitous Violence, Psycho Killer Z, and Bloody Mary - a drinking game variant) that are all on the list.
Time for the finale (my closing thoughts)
If you’re considering Psycho Killer, it’s perfect for horror fans and casual gamers alike. It’s a fun and interactive card game with lots of replay value. Simple to learn, set up, and offers a lot of flexibility to keep things interesting.
Psycho Killer is even suitable for families (yes, even given the topic - though I would maybe avoid the Bloody Mary expansion with the kids). If you're looking for a game to add to your night that is a nice blend of humour and strategy, this one’s for you.
