Slitterhead lets players hunt monstrous beings across the dark city of Kowlong using unique character-swapping mechanics. Read our review to see what it did well, what it didn't do well, and if it's worth buying.

Slitterhead Review Overview

What is Slitterhead?

Slitterhead is an action-adventure game with slight horror overtones, set in the fictional, sprawling city of Kowlong. The game follows the journey of "Night Owl," a spirit-esque protagonist with the supernatural ability to transfer consciousness between civilians and Rarity characters, each possessing unique powers to fight the deadly creatures known as Slitterheads. As players progress through various missions, they explore the forgotten memories of Night Owl, military ploys, time travelling and the monstrous parasites that infect the city.

Slitterhead features:
　⚫︎　Semi-Linear Mission Progression
　⚫︎　Detailed Urban Environment
　⚫︎　Diverse Cast of Playable Characters
　⚫︎　Skill Improvement
　⚫︎　Engaging Combat

For more gameplay details, read everything we know about Slitterhead's gameplay and story.

Digital Storefront
Steam		PlayStation Store		Microsoft Store		Epic Games Store
Price			$49.99

Slitterhead Pros & Cons

Pros	Cons
Unique Character-Jumping Mechanic Varied Abilities of Rarity Characters Dynamic Health System Visually Rich City	Stiff Controls Limited Enemy Variety Story Progression Feels Disjointed Heavy Reliance on Text Exposition

Slitterhead Overall Score - 72/100

Slitterhead is a game with an ambitious premise and innovative mechanics, but it ultimately falls short of its full potential due to uneven execution. The game’s character-jumping system and combat variety bring fresh energy to the action-horror genre, while the setting of Kowlong provides a richly atmospheric backdrop. Unfortunately, issues with controls, repetitive enemies, and disjointed storytelling hold it back. Slitterhead will appeal to those who enjoy a unique mix of action and light horror, but players looking for a polished experience may find it lacking. Nonetheless, its distinct gameplay and atmospheric world make it a worthwhile, albeit imperfect, journey for fans of genre-bending action games.

Slitterhead Story - 6/10

The story of Slitterhead is intriguing at the outset, with a unique protagonist and a gripping premise of hunting creatures through body-swapping. However, while it opens with promise, the narrative falters as it progresses. Key questions about Night Owl’s identity and purpose are left largely unanswered, and the plot occasionally feels stagnant. Many story beats are delivered through text-based dialogue, reducing emotional engagement. Yet, for fans who appreciate a loose mystery with a focus on worldbuilding, Slitterhead offers some rewarding lore to discover.

Slitterhead Gameplay - 8/10

Gameplay is the standout element in Slitterhead. The core mechanic of jumping between civilians and Rarity characters adds a layer of strategy that keeps combat fresh and engaging. Characters like Julee and Anita bring unique abilities that allow for creative battle tactics. Health is managed through gathering blood, which adds intensity to encounters. Unfortunately, stiff controls can dampen the experience, but overall, the action and variety in playstyles make for an exciting and dynamic gameplay experience.

Slitterhead Visuals - 7/10

Slitterhead presents a dark, detailed depiction of Kowlong that feels alive and immersive. The city’s design, from dimly lit alleys to ominous areas, captures an authentic urban horror aesthetic. However, while the environments are striking, character models often lack polish. The Slitterheads, while grotesque, become predictable over time due to limited design variety. Nevertheless, the city itself provides a strong visual backdrop that complements the tone and setting of the game well.

Slitterhead Audio - 7/10

The audio in Slitterhead hits some high notes, especially with its OST, which establishes a haunting, almost cinematic atmosphere. In cutscenes, voice acting adds to the storytelling but is limited, with most dialogue left to text. The lack of voice acting during missions impacts immersion. Still, ambient sounds throughout Kowlong contribute to the eerie experience, with subtle effects and music creating tension during exploration. Overall, while Slitterhead’s audio design has areas that could be improved, it effectively supports the game’s atmosphere.

Slitterhead Value for Money - 8/10

Given the game’s atmospheric setting, unique character mechanics, and replayable missions, Slitterhead provides solid value for $49.99. Although it stumbles in story delivery and certain gameplay aspects, fans of action-horror will find much to enjoy. The game rewards exploration and mastery, offering players almost 15 hours of content for its $49.99. Despite some rough edges, Slitterhead delivers enough distinctive elements to justify the investment, particularly for those who enjoy experimenting with different characters and playstyles.

Slitterhead Review: Great In Theory

From the very start, Slitterhead sets an intense mood with its powerful opening scene and a soundtrack that grips you. The OST immediately conveys the right kind of energy, feeling both eerie and catchy, setting high expectations for the game’s tone. Exploring Kowlong, a fictional city with its own unsettling atmosphere, captures that horror-action vibe I hoped for. The environment feels immersive and alive, with stunning details and moody lighting that capture the city’s pulse in both subtle and dramatic ways.

Unfortunately, this rich atmosphere doesn’t fully carry over to every aspect of the game. Slitterhead stumbles in its characters’ visual quality, where rendering falls short. Compared to the intricate environments, the characters—outside of cutscenes—look dated, almost out of place amidst the otherwise well-done city. I found this discrepancy broke my immersion at times, making it difficult to feel fully drawn into their experiences or the stakes they represent.

Another major element where Slitterhead struggles is in its voice work. Outside of cutscenes, voice acting is practically nonexistent; characters often rely on grunts and vague mumbling as players piece together the lore through text. This reliance on text-based storytelling is fine in concept, but without full voice performances, it loses some of the weight and fails to flesh out the cast, leaving me somewhat disconnected from the characters I wanted to care about.

That said, the game’s tone and aesthetic clearly had potential to create a haunting, memorable experience. Though the execution was inconsistent, Slitterhead still provides enough atmospheric elements to appeal to fans of horror-action settings, even if it doesn’t always hit the horror mark as Silent Hill once did. Exploring Kowlong and taking in its layered, grim cityscape kept me engaged even when other parts of the game faltered.

Creative but Clunky

One of Slitterhead’s more intriguing mechanics is the ability to switch between characters, each with unique abilities and limitations. This feature reminds me of Parasite Eve: The 3rd Birthday’s Overdive system, allowing me to strategize on the fly and approach battles creatively. Each character—or "Rarity"—has unique skills, such as Alex’s human time bomb and Julee’s mass healing ability. Anita’s power to manipulate human minds, for another example, is refreshing and added a tactical edge that I came to enjoy deeply.

However, the novelty of these skills starts to wear off after repeated use. Over time, characters start to feel less distinctive, as many of their abilities become available to one another. This overlap blurs the line between each Rarity's uniqueness, making it hard to feel truly attached or committed to any one character. My favorites, Julee and Anita, became staples, but the rest of the Rarities often felt like fillers that didn’t contribute much distinctiveness in battle.

Controls also create frustration, especially during battles. They feel somewhat stiff and unresponsive at times, which makes executing precise attacks or blocks difficult. I found myself pressing buttons without immediate response, adding an unnecessary challenge during critical moments. The one-button combat system, while initially straightforward, eventually feels limiting as there’s little opportunity to experiment or improve technique beyond simple combo sequences.

The limited combo options and occasional lack of responsiveness make battles feel clunky, and as a result, I found myself relying more on Rarity abilities than the standard attack and block mechanics. This dependency adds a layer of strategy, but it also underlines how the basic combat could use more refinement and polish.

Despite these mechanical hiccups, the idea of character-switching remains one of Slitterhead’s most creative and memorable aspects. In intense fights, jumping between civilians and Rarities added a dynamic layer to combat, allowing me to catch enemies off-guard or create strategic distractions. While it has its flaws, this mechanic is a standout, adding depth to an otherwise straightforward combat loop.

Repetitive Mission Structure with Limited Rewards

Slitterhead follows a mission-based structure where players send Rarity characters out to complete objectives, often requiring them to locate and defeat a Slitterhead creature. Each mission unfolds with a mix of exploration and combat, with the goal typically ending in a chase sequence that leads to a climactic showdown. I appreciated the intent behind this format, as it gave each mission a clear purpose and allowed for some variety in terms of location and objective.

Unfortunately, the novelty of this structure wears thin quickly. Missions often feel repetitive, with objectives and tasks blending together without significant variation. Once you’ve completed a few missions, the formula becomes predictable, which diminishes the excitement of setting out on new quests. At times, the game introduces time travel mechanics to revisit previous missions, but these rarely add enough to break the cycle of repetition.

Another drawback is the lack of direction. As missions progress, players are expected to piece together objectives with little guidance, which can be frustrating. I found myself stuck on more than one occasion, unclear on the next steps to unlock new content. Additionally, advancing at a later point requires unlocking new Rarity characters by revisiting old missions, making it feel like the game is padding its length rather than adding genuine depth.

Despite this, the mission structure does provide some rewarding moments. Occasionally, I’d unlock a powerful new ability or stumble upon a well-hidden piece of lore that enriched the story. But these rewards are few and far between, and the overall structure left me feeling more exhausted than exhilarated.

Combat is Strategic Yet Limited

The combat in Slitterhead has its own unique flavor, offering players a blend of real-time character-swapping and skill-based attacks. Battles rely heavily on blood as both health and a power source, meaning I had to carefully balance aggression with recovery. Collecting blood from defeated enemies to fuel Rarity abilities is a clever mechanic that kept me engaged, especially during longer fights when conserving resources became essential to survival.

However, the enemy variety leaves much to be desired. Fighting the same types of Slitterheads over and over—the basic worm-like forms, baby forms, and occasional boss transformations—led to a sense of monotony. I often found myself craving more enemy types and variations in attack patterns, especially since the game is from developers with a legacy of crafting iconic monsters. The limited enemy pool makes each encounter feel increasingly routine, reducing the overall tension.

Even with these limitations, I still enjoyed moments of strategizing, swapping characters mid-battle, and catching enemies by surprise. For players who appreciate thinking on their feet, Slitterhead offers a fresh twist on real-time combat, even if its execution doesn’t quite meet the standard set by its predecessors.

That said, there’s a certain charm to Slitterhead’s rough edges. For those who value atmosphere, dark storytelling, and strategic gameplay, there’s enjoyment to be found here. It’s an experience that rewards patience, and players who dive in will find moments of depth and creativity scattered throughout its uneven journey.

Is Slitterhead Worth It?

For Fans of Atmospheric Action

Slitterhead is worth a look for fans of horror-action games who don’t mind a focus on atmosphere and strategy over refined gameplay. It’s an ambitious project from creators of the Silent Hill series, and while it doesn’t fully live up to that legacy, it offers enough unique mechanics and atmospheric appeal to merit a playthrough. Exploring Kowlong, managing Rarity characters, and engaging with the character-swapping combat adds a fresh dimension to the horror-action genre that’s both challenging and engaging.

Yet, it’s important to approach Slitterhead with tempered expectations. The controls and repetitive mission structure can frustrate, and the lack of clear guidance makes progression feel a bit opaque at times. Players who crave fluid controls and enemy variety may find these elements lacking, and the sparse voice acting detracts from the character-driven story. If you’re a fan of horror-action and open to forgiving some imperfections, this is a journey worth embarking on—even if it’s one that leaves you longing for just a bit more.

Digital Storefront
Steam		PlayStation Store		Microsoft Store		Epic Games Store
Price			$49.99

Slitterhead FAQ

Will There be Physical Copies of Slitterhead Available?

Yes, Slitterhead will have a physical release on Amazon, set to launch alongside the digital version on November 8.

Is Keiichiro Toyama Involved in Making Slitterhead?

Yes, Slitterhead is developed by Keiichiro Toyama and his new studio, Bokeh Game Studio.

Game8 Reviews

You may also like...

	Empire of the Ants Review | It'll Crawl Under Your Skin
	ZEPHON Review | Solid Post-Apocalypse, But Not the End of "Civilization"
	Silent Hill 2 Remake Review | The Best SH Game to Date
	Shadows of the Damned: Hella Remastered Review | One Hell Of A Ride
	Slitterhead Probably "Rough Around The Edges" But Will Be Fresh and Original

Slitterhead Product Information

Title	SLITTERHEAD
Release Date	November 8, 2024
Developer	Bokeh Game Studio lnc.
Publisher	Bokeh Game Studio lnc.
Supported Platforms	PC, PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S
Genre	Action, Adventure, Horror
Number of Players	1
ESRB Rating	TBA
Official Website	Slitterhead Website

Allisandra Reyes

I find joy in the adrenaline rush of horror games, but my thrill-seeking doesn't stop there. Beyond the digital realm, I like to take on the role of designated GM in TTRPGs.