Slitterhead

Slitterhead can be a slow-burn to begin with, but once its combat clicks, this is an action horror game like few others.

Slitterhead won’t be for everyone due to its quirks, it’s a bit clunky and reuses content frequently. But behind its issues lies one of the most unique titles of the past few years. With a great mystery story, impressive world-building for a debut, and a possession mechanic that adds an extra strategic layer to combat. Slitterhead lives up to its pedigree.

Slitterhead is a unique horror experience with some intriguing combat that helps get through the stiffer parts of the game, and it is playable on Steam Deck.

Slitterhead's unique premise and experimental mechanics make it a compelling experience, even if it can feel a bit too rough and low-budget from time to time.

There will be blood.

Bokeh Game Studio's Slitterhead shows a lot of promise in terms of its unique possession action gameplay, direction, music and overall plot. It’s fun, electric and unlike any other game. New IPs are the lifeblood of the industry and the game is a key example of keeping that saying alive. The reliance on narrative tropes, graphical inconsistencies and dialogue-heavy exposition, however, do keep the title from reaching the heights it seemed destined to climb.

Slitterhead takes an innovative concept and places it at the forefront of the adventure. The possession mechanic leads to a frantic combat system that encourages you to quickly switch between characters to fight formidable foes. This bleeds throughout acting as a method of traversal and stealth. Although a little clunky and lacking polish, the game manages to deliver a truly unique experience that will resonate with fans of action and horror.

Slitterhead – directed by Japan Studio veteran Keiichiro Toyama – feels like a spiritual successor to Siren, Gravity Rush, and Soul Sacrifice all at the same time. This inventive, unusual survival horror is far from perfect, with inconsistent visuals, repetition, and some unrefined gameplay systems. But if you’ve been lamenting the loss of PlayStation’s oddball first-party output, this is the closest you’re going to get to it.

"I must eliminate them...ALL..." The bodiless "Hyoki" hunts down the brain-devouring "Slitterheads", lurking in the alleys of a neon-lit city. PS4 version reviewed. Review copy provided by company for testing purposes.

“Slitterhead is the most creative action game that I've played this year, but it's also deeply flawed.”

Though it can be strange and fascinating, Slitterhead ultimately feels empty thanks to dull and frustrating combat and repetitive missions.

Slitterhead isn't very good, but it is very interesting. In an age of remakes, sequels and safe bets, it's heart-warming to see something that's so clearly such a singular vision. We're disappointed that vision is sold short by basic combat and a focus on the game's ugly characters, but we're glad it exists and would welcome more attempts like it.