Summer Game Fest 2025 kicked off with a variety of unexpected announcements and glimpses of some eagerly awaited video games. While it’s exciting to get updates on established titles, one new intellectual property from Square Enix and Tactics Studios really took us by surprise. Killer Inn has emerged as a fresh asymmetrical mystery game in which a covert group of killers—known as the Wolves—tries to eliminate the remaining survivors, dubbed the Lambs, without revealing their identities. The game’s reveal evoked strong Among Us feelings, but deeper insights into its gameplay reveal what makes this social deduction game compelling as it heads toward early access.
What sets Killer Inn apart from other games in its genre is its intense action. Unlike many titles that emphasize stealth and subterfuge, this game is brimming with gunfights and brawls. After each player’s demise, a clue is left behind to aid the Lambs in identifying their killers. These clues represent a significant innovation within the genre, enhancing the experience beyond basic social deduction. Finding strands of hair could suggest the Wolves’ hair color, whereas a scrap of clothing might reveal the color of their coat. However, players must be cautious, as wrongly accusing another Lamb results in their elimination from the game.
In Killer Inn, 24 players can choose between two factions and over 20 distinct characters, each with unique appearances, skills, and abilities for each round. The character classes range from Otaku and Cosplayer to Pirate, Boxer, and Gamer, each possessing two skills linked to their class. Seven players will take on the role of Wolves, while the remaining 16 will be Lambs. In addition to the standard win conditions—Wolves wiping out all the Lambs or Lambs identifying and defeating the Wolves—Lambs can also choose to complete objectives to escape the castle. This involves collecting four keys and raising all the anchors in the harbor.
Loot will be distributed through colored chests, scattered items, and may also be bought from NPCs stationed in safe zones. Players can access a variety of melee weapons, rifles, submachine guns, shotguns, grenades, and traps. NPCs also offer quests that reward players with tokens, which can be used to unlock chests. It’s important to note that safe zones do not prevent attacks; players can still engage in combat within these areas, but any aggressor will be marked for identification by others.
Additionally, Killer Inn will include full 3D audio proximity chat, enabling players to attempt deception and strategic communication. For those without a microphone, emotes provide a means for basic interaction.
A closed beta for Killer Inn is planned to launch on Steam soon, though a specific release date has yet to be announced.
