Velan Studios has delivered something a little different with Midnight Murder Club, a multiplayer shooter that thrives on darkness. Released under PlayStation Publishing, this online-focused title is available now on PC and PlayStation 5 for a budget-friendly price. It keeps things simple at first glance, yet its unusual setup makes for matches filled with laughs, chaos, and paranoia.
The game takes place in Wormwood Manor, a sprawling and shadowy mansion where you and up to five others fight to survive. Armed with nothing more than a revolver and a flashlight, you’ll quickly learn that every decision counts. Accessibility is also built into its approach to multiplayer. With the Guest Pass system, only one person needs to purchase the game, while up to five friends can join for free.
Midnight Murder Club isn’t a blockbuster, but it’s all about quick, unpredictable fun. The question is whether the limited content and online focus give it staying power.
A Party Invitation You Won’t Forget
Midnight Murder Club skips the long cutscenes and keeps things simple. You’re invited to Wormwood Manor, and the welcome is anything but friendly. Sitting on the table are two items: a revolver and a flashlight. That’s it. No introductions, no explanation, just those tools and a house full of danger.
It’s the kind of setup that feels familiar but still works. Think murder mystery dinner, except everyone’s out to get you. The mansion itself does most of the storytelling. You’ll notice the tall ceilings, the creaky doors, and the uncomfortable silence when you turn your flashlight off. It doesn’t need much more than that.
Honestly, I prefer it this way. There’s no heavy story slowing things down, just pure chaos every time a match begins. Each round makes its own story. Sometimes it’s a close call, other times it’s a laugh when someone whispers too loud over proximity chat and gives themselves away. The house feels like it soaks up all those ridiculous moments.
If you came in hoping for a proper campaign, you won’t find it. This is a backdrop, not a full plot. Wormwood Manor sets the stage, the torch sets the rules, and the rest is pure player drama.
Gameplay in the Dark
At its core, Midnight Murder Club is simple: survive inside Wormwood Manor using a revolver, a flashlight, and your wits. The mansion is pitch-black, and every choice to switch your light on or off becomes a gamble. Keep it on and you can see the ornate hallways. Keep it off and you might stumble into someone waiting around the corner.
The flashlight mechanic defines everything. It’s both a tool and a trap. Using it makes navigation easier but instantly reveals your position. That push and pull creates paranoia as you creep around, waiting for the sound of footsteps or a door creak to give someone away.
Weapons and items are scattered around the manor, giving matches more variety. Vendors let you pick up things like healing potions or stronger gear if you can reach them safely. Traps also add chaos, as you can spring one on an opponent or accidentally trigger it yourself.
What really stuck with me was a match in Wildcards mode. I found a card that made everyone leave glowing trails, so sneaking around wasn’t an option anymore. I thought I had the upper hand, following a bright line right into a library. Instead of catching my target off guard, I walked straight into two others fighting. Within seconds it was a three-way shootout, and I was the first one down. It was frustrating, but I couldn’t stop laughing.
Modes like Free-for-All, Team Deathmatch, Thief in the Night, and Headhunters keep things varied. The unpredictability, especially with Wildcards, ensures no two matches feel the same.
Sights and Sounds Inside Wormwood Manor
Midnight Murder Club’s visuals aren’t flashy, but they do the job. The mansion is dimly lit, with most detail hidden in the shadows. This actually plays in the game’s favor, since the darkness is both atmosphere and gameplay mechanic. You don’t notice the simpler textures when your focus is on surviving another round.
Sound is where the game really shines. Every creak of a door, every footstep on the floor, and every gunshot echoes through the mansion. The audio becomes your guide in the dark, often more reliable than the flashlight. Proximity chat mixes into this perfectly, blending player voices with the environmental sounds. It makes matches feel alive in ways visuals alone couldn’t manage.
Performance is stable, though I did experience some occasional connection drops. Matches usually ran smoothly, and the dark setting meant the hardware wasn’t pushed too hard. The DualSense controller adds something extra. Adaptive triggers give weight to pulling the revolver’s trigger, while haptics provide small jolts when bumping into walls or doors.
One of my favourite moments came when I was hiding in the dining hall with the lights off. I couldn’t see anyone, but I heard slow footsteps and the faint sound of someone whispering over proximity chat. The DualSense buzzed lightly as I backed into a chair, giving me away. A second later, the torch beam cut across the room and I was done for. The combo of audio and haptics sold the moment, and I couldn’t stop laughing afterward.
Multiplayer Chaos
The real fun in Midnight Murder Club kicks in once you’re playing with others. The Guest Pass system makes it easy to bring friends along. Only one person needs to own the game, and up to five others can join for free. For a budget-priced title, that’s a huge win and keeps the community more accessible.
Proximity chat is the best part of the online play. You’ll hear whispers, background noises, and random laughter echoing through the dark. Those little moments make every match feel different. In one round, I was sneaking through the study, convinced I had the place to myself. Out of nowhere, someone started humming into their mic. Before I could even process it, they flashed their light and took me out. I just started laughing.
Of course, not everything goes smoothly. Matchmaking can be messy, with randoms often dropping out mid-game. Voting for game modes means Wildcards usually dominates, leaving less variety unless you’ve got a full group. The mansion’s size doesn’t help either, sometimes turning rounds into long stretches of wandering.
Graveyard Shift, the co-op PvE mode, doesn’t add much. Tasks feel repetitive, and without a strong story, it falls flat. Bot support is limited too, so filling lobbies outside of Wildcards can be frustrating.
Midnight Murder Club Thrives on Chaos With Friends
Midnight Murder Club is one of those games that sticks in your head because of its simple but clever idea. The flashlight mechanic makes every decision feel risky, turning something as small as flicking on a light into a gamble. That tension, mixed with sudden bursts of laughter from proximity chat, is where the game finds its charm.
The Guest Pass system also deserves credit. Only one person needs to own the game, which makes it much easier to pull together a full group. For a budget price, it’s an easy way to spend a night causing chaos with friends. In the right company, it’s unforgettable.
But it isn’t perfect. Wormwood Manor is the only map, and while it’s atmospheric, it feels too big at times. Matches can drag when you’re wandering around searching for someone to shoot. Online matchmaking doesn’t help, with randoms often leaving mid-round and mode voting that leans heavily toward Wildcards. And while Graveyard Shift tries to mix things up with co-op, it quickly grows repetitive.
Personally, I’d call this a game I’d bring out on a weekend night when everyone’s looking for something silly to play together. I wouldn’t log in alone for hours, but with a group, it delivers laughs and unexpected moments I’ll remember long after the match ends.
For all its flaws, Midnight Murder Club still offers something fresh in the crowded multiplayer space. It’s not about grinding levels or chasing unlocks. It’s about creeping through a mansion, hearing a friend’s nervous laugh in the dark, and realizing the scare is just as fun as the victory.
Midnight Murder Club
Summary
Midnight Murder Club is all about flashlight duels and laughs in the dark. It’s a blast with friends, especially using proximity chat, but the single map and shaky matchmaking keep it from lasting too long. The sound design steals the show, while Graveyard Shift doesn’t add much. Still, at a budget price, it’s the kind of game you’ll want to break out for late-night chaos with your crew.
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