Sony Interactive Entertainment, partnering with Velan Studios, has rolled out its latest offering, Midnight Murder Club, in Early Access for the PlayStation 5. Here’s a glimpse of what you can expect in our preview of this captivating new game.
Midnight Murder Club offers a unique experience where you’re thrust into a mysterious mansion with just a gun and a flashlight. As a member of this exclusive club, your identity stays hidden behind a mask, as you navigate the shadows and make every shot count. A missed shot could reveal your location to your enemies, so precision is crucial. Whether playing with friends from around the world, setting up private matches, or filling slots with AI bots, this game accommodates various play styles.
Last year, I had the chance to check out another first-person shooter, Blindside, also in Early Access on Sony’s console. Blindside tested players with its pitch-black environments, forcing reliance on your weapon’s light or a sonar-like ability to detect nearby enemies. Fast forward to 2025, and Midnight Murder Club presents similar challenges but with a twist. Midnight Murder Club is not just about surviving; it’s about the prestige that comes with being part of this elusive group. Purchasing the game lets you invite up to five friends with the Midnight Murder Club Guest Pass Edition at no extra charge, making the offer even more enticing.
Once you step into this eerie world, you’ll control your character using the left stick to move and the right stick to aim. Sprinting is as simple as clicking the left stick, while crouching requires the right. Flashlights, toggled with L2, are both your best friend and worst enemy, revealing your surroundings but also signaling your position. Weapons are fired with the R2 button, and if you get up close, the R1 button allows for a knife attack. Doorways can be opened or closed, and unique game contraptions can be accessed with the Square button, delivering helpful power-ups referred to as toys. Toys range from molotovs to machine guns, and even useful gadgets like a pinging tool that highlights all players briefly, or vests that offer limited bulletproof protection.
The Early Access release doesn’t exclude achievements, boasting a full trophy list with the coveted Platinum trophy up for grabs. This list includes 16 Bronze, 8 Silver, and 6 Gold trophies, demanding you complete a variety of challenges. These include taking down an opponent while your flashlight is off, catching an enemy in the act of unlocking a safe or crate, or surviving teammate mishaps. You might also find yourself challenged to eliminate an opponent while they’re reviving another, successfully land the last bullet in your chamber on an enemy, win a Team Deathmatch, finish five Free For All matches, or see who can achieve the first kill. Additionally, you’ll aim to defeat 500 opponents, revive 100 teammates, knife 50 foes, and endure 100 deaths.
Having stepped into Early Access on the PlayStation 5, Midnight Murder Club extends an invitation into its world of mystery and precision. With only a gun and a flashlight at your disposal, you’ll cloak your identity in a mask, trying to survive in the enigmatic mansion. Using the Midnight Murder Club Guest Pass Edition, you can join a friend’s session, available for $19.99, to test your skills in this engaging adventure.
This review is based on a PlayStation 5 copy of Midnight Murder Club offered by Sony Interactive Entertainment.
