Killer Frequency is a game made on a unique concept- you play as a radio man serving as a proxy-911 operator trying to save lives from a serial killer. But is the game as good as the concept? Read our Killer Frequency review to know more…
-Robin Bhuyan
Released in 2023 by Team17, Killer Frequency is a bold little indie horror adventure title that punches above its weight in charm, tension, and originality. Don’t be fooled by its cel-shaded cartoon graphics, if you are one of those who due to this kind of artwork, feel that the game will be cartoonish. The game throws you into the shoes of a late-night DJ — Forrest Nash — in a small town named Gallows Creek, where he just arrived newly few days ago. Your mission? To save lives using nothing but your voice and your brain from a serial killer who has left the entire police station decapitated.
But is this stylized audio thriller worth your time? Let’s tune in to this Killer Frequency review and find out.
Killer Frequency Story: Chilling, Clever — But Not Consistent
(Mild Spoilers)
The core premise of the Killer Frequency story is undeniably brilliant. You’re not the one wielding a gun or running through woods. You’re taking phone calls from terrified townsfolk, guiding them through their nightmares over the radio. There’s a killer out there — named The Whistling Man — and he’s out for blood.
While the setup is phenomenal, the execution begins to wobble as the story progresses. The story, despite being interesting is filled with loopholes. Characters trust Forrest — a total outsider — far too quickly. You’re new in town, yet people blindly follow your directions instead of calling a friend or using their own common sense. The killer takes absurdly long to find victims and somehow can’t hear them speaking to you on phones in small buildings.
The biggest question that people are asking is- How do people have a cell phone in 1987? Well, technically they did exist, but they were rare and expensive, and extremely unlikely a rural town in the middle of the Midwest would have them. If they showed the story in 1997 instead, it would make a lot more sense.
Worse, the tone stumbles. Forrest continues cracking RJ-style quips even after someone just died screaming on the phone. This makes the game lack emotional gravity at times — no breakdown, no real fear. It undercuts what should be an intense horror experience.
To top it off, the killer is reduced to a one-dimensional chaotic evil villain. There was real potential to make her morally gray — even sympathetic. Had they given players the choice to either side with her and expose the town’s dirty secrets or side with the police and bring her to justice, the Killer Frequency story would’ve achieved greatness. Sadly, they choose to show us an evil character with cartoonish logic.
Killer Frequency Review: Style, Suspense, and Some Stumbles
Yeah, we know you are reading this Killer Frequency Review to know if the game is worth playing or not? Let’s be clear — the game still does a lot right. The atmosphere is claustrophobic in the best way. You spend most of the game (around 90%?) inside a single room in your radio station, yet it never feels visually stale thanks to excellent lighting, smart camera angles, and tight storytelling. The mix of cel-shaded art and neon-soaked hallways looks gorgeous, despite the limited scope.
The gameplay, though mostly point-and-click puzzle solving, keeps you on your toes. Lives literally depend on how quickly and correctly you interpret clues. A pizza box, a simple map, or an obscure song request — everything can be a lifeline or a death sentence. The storytelling is that clever.
Voice acting is stellar, especially from Forrest and Peggy, who carry majority of the entire experience on their shoulders. But again, tone is inconsistent. Forrest sometime acts like he’s hosting a morning show rather than witnessing murders in real time. You’re not wrong for occasionally wondering, “Why isn’t this guy more horrified?!” Just because a random caller requested, he even agrees to go outside to find the recording of a song, though a killer is on the loose. Even after knowing that the janitor might be the killer and used the basement for his operations, he agrees to go to the basement again and again.
Majority of reviewers have praised the Killer Frequency game, though they admit the game is not perfect.
Visuals and Audio: Cartoon Horror Done Right
At first glance, the visuals in Killer Frequency might seem too playful — almost too cartoonish to deliver real tension. But they absolutely do. Especially when you are walking in the empty radio station all alone. The cel-shaded, comic-book art style is not just stylish, it’s unsettling when it needs to be. Especially during the final segments, when you finally confront the killer, the lighting, shadows, and the intense voice acting come together to make you genuinely uneasy.
Add to that the superb sound design: every phone call crackles with dread, every creaking door and static-filled silence builds the mood. And the killer’s whistling? It’s iconic — and horrifying. The game proves that you don’t need ultra-realistic graphics to create immersive horror. You just need clever design and a great sense of timing.
How Long is Killer Frequency?
One of the most common questions about those considering buying the game is: How long is Killer Frequency?
The answer: around 6 to 7 hours though it might take upto 10 hours if you take your time exploring. It also depends on how many victims you manage to save, and how much you explore the station. Multiple endings add replayability, though some are only slightly different. The game is compact — no filler, no dragging sequences — but that also means it wraps up just when it’s getting really intense.
Killer Frequency Ending: Does It Deliver?
Your ending in Killer Frequency entirely depends on who you manage to save during your DJ shift. The more people you help survive, the better your outcome — at least on paper.
However, the payoff is almost entirely audio based. There’s no cutscene showing survivors together or even a visual indication of the town’s fate. (at least we didn’t see any in our platythrough) While that minimalism fits the radio theme, it might leave you wanting more. The stakes felt high, but the emotional reward? Not quite enough.
Value for Money: Worth $25?
Here’s the tough part. While Killer Frequency is a creative gem, it’s undeniably overpriced at $25.99 (₹2,000). That can be considered high for a short, indie game with limited environments, a mostly linear structure with less than 10 hours of playtime.
It’s best to grab this one on sale — and it often goes down by 70 percent, which feels far fairer for what’s offered. At full price, even with a great Killer Frequency review backing it, you might even feel that the game is like a premium demo stretched into a full release.
You can grab the Killer Frequency game at 70 percent discount during the 2025 Summer Sale, which ends on July 2025.
Final Verdict
Killer Frequency is a game you’ll remember for its concept, not its conclusion. It is stylish, tense, often funny, and filled with brilliant design choices. But inconsistent tone, illogical plot points, and lack of real emotional payoff is what kept it from being a masterpiece
Still, if you can grab it on sale, absolute do it, if you are a slasher fan.
This Killer Frequency review may sound like a mixed bag — but even flawed brilliance is better than polished boredom. And Killer Frequency is anything but boring.
Rating: 7.5/10
Check out some of our other reviews of other indie games such as South of Midnight and The Midnight Walk.
