Midnight Murder Club Review: Ultimate Horror FPS Guide March 2026

When I first booted up Midnight Murder Club on my PS5 this March 2026, I wasn’t sure what to expect from Velan Studios’ latest multiplayer experiment. After spending countless hours sneaking through pitch-black hallways and jumping at every footstep, I can confidently say this horror party FPS delivers a unique experience – though one that comes with some significant caveats.

In this comprehensive review, I’ll share everything I’ve discovered about Midnight Murder Club, from its innovative Guest Pass system to the frustrating matchmaking issues that can dampen the experience. Having tested both the PC and PS5 versions extensively with my regular gaming group, I’ve got plenty of insights to help you decide if this $9.99 experiment is worth your time.

Review Category	Our Score	Key Takeaway
Gameplay Innovation	8/10	Unique darkness mechanic creates genuine tension
Multiplayer Experience	7/10	Fantastic with friends, lacking solo
Value Proposition	9/10	Guest Pass system is incredibly generous
Content Variety	5/10	Single map severely limits longevity
Technical Performance	6/10	Stable gameplay, poor matchmaking

What Is Midnight Murder Club?

Midnight Murder Club is a 2-6 player horror party FPS where you hunt your friends in complete darkness. Developed by Velan Studios (the innovative team behind Knockout City and Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit), this game strips away everything you know about traditional shooters and leaves you fumbling in the dark with only a flashlight and your wits.

The core concept is brilliantly simple: everyone spawns in a Victorian mansion with zero visibility. You can turn on your flashlight to see, but this immediately reveals your position to everyone else. One shot kills anyone, creating an intense game of cat and mouse where every decision matters. After playing dozens of matches, I’ve found the tension between needing to see and wanting to stay hidden creates some of the most heart-pounding moments I’ve experienced in any multiplayer game this year.

The Developer Behind the Darkness

Velan Studios has a track record of creating accessible yet innovative multiplayer experiences. Based in Troy, New York, this independent studio previously gave us Knockout City’s dodgeball combat and the AR magic of Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit. With Midnight Murder Club, they’re continuing their tradition of taking familiar genres and adding unexpected twists. Their focus on social gaming shines through in every aspect of the design, from the proximity chat integration to the brilliant Guest Pass system.

Gameplay Mechanics That Work (And Some That Don’t)

The moment-to-moment gameplay in Midnight Murder Club is where the game truly shines. I’ve never played anything quite like it – the complete darkness isn’t just a gimmick; it fundamentally changes how you approach an FPS. During my first match, I spent five minutes creeping through hallways with my flashlight off, listening for footsteps, only to accidentally bump into another player and fire in panic. We both screamed over proximity chat, and that’s when I knew this game was something special.

The Flashlight Dilemma

The central mechanic revolves around your flashlight. When it’s on, you can see clearly but become a beacon for other players. When it’s off, you’re essentially blind but hidden. I’ve developed several strategies over my playtime:

• Flicker technique: Quick on-off flashes to check corners without exposing yourself
• Wall-hugging: Following walls with the light off to navigate safely
• Bait and switch: Turning on your light to draw enemies, then quickly repositioning in darkness
• Audio hunting: Keeping your light off entirely and relying on sound cues

Playing on PC with mouse and keyboard gives you slightly better precision for those split-second shots, but I actually prefer the PS5’s DualSense controller. The haptic feedback when walking adds an extra layer of immersion – you can literally feel different surfaces under your feet, which helps with navigation in the dark.

All 6 Game Modes Analyzed

Midnight Murder Club launched with six distinct modes, though not all are created equal. Here’s my breakdown after extensive testing:

1. Classic Deathmatch

The purest expression of the game’s concept. Every player for themselves, first to reach the kill limit wins. This mode works best with 4-6 players; with fewer, matches can drag as players struggle to find each other in the massive mansion.

2. Team Deathmatch

Surprisingly tactical when played with coordinated teams. My squad developed callouts for different mansion areas and used synchronized flashlight signals to communicate. The proximity chat adds a layer of strategy – you need to whisper to avoid giving away positions to the enemy team.

3. Wildcards Mode

This is where Midnight Murder Club gets truly chaotic. Random modifiers like “everyone moves at double speed” or “flashlights flicker randomly” keep matches fresh. My personal favorite is the “disco mode” where lights strobe throughout the mansion – it’s absolutely ridiculous but incredibly fun. The Wildcards system gives the game much-needed variety, especially given the single-map limitation.

4. Graveyard Shift (PvE)

Unfortunately, this is where the game stumbles hard. Fighting AI-controlled ghosts sounds interesting in theory, but the execution is painfully dull. The bots move predictably, lack the tension of human opponents, and the mode feels like an afterthought. I’d only recommend this for practicing movement and getting familiar with the mansion layout.

5. Hide and Seek

A surprisingly engaging asymmetric mode where seekers have permanent flashlights while hiders must survive without weapons. The role reversal creates interesting dynamics, though balance feels slightly tilted toward seekers on PC where mouse precision makes tracking easier.

6. Capture the Flag

Traditional CTF with a darkness twist. The flag carrier’s position is always visible, creating a fantastic risk-reward scenario. Do you grab the flag and become a glowing target, or support your carrier from the shadows? This mode benefits most from the Guest Pass system since coordinated teams have a massive advantage.

The Guest Pass System: Gaming’s Most Generous Feature?

I can’t overstate how brilliant the Guest Pass system is. For $9.99, one person can essentially provide the full game experience for their entire friend group. Here’s how it works:

1. Purchase the game on Steam or PlayStation Store
2. Generate Guest Pass codes from the main menu
3. Send codes to up to 5 friends
4. Friends download the free Guest Pass version
5. Everyone plays together with no restrictions

Unlike typical free weekends or limited demos, Guest Pass users get the complete experience as long as they’re playing with the owner. This dramatically lowers the barrier to entry and solves multiplayer gaming’s biggest problem: convincing your friends to buy the same game. During my testing, I easily got my entire regular gaming group playing within minutes.

Cross-Platform Play: PC vs PS5 Experience

Having tested both versions extensively, each platform offers distinct advantages:

PC Version Advantages:

• More precise aiming with mouse control
• Higher frame rates on decent hardware (I maintained 144fps on my RTX 3070)
• Quicker menu navigation
• Text chat option for strategic planning

PS5 Version Advantages:

• DualSense haptic feedback enhances immersion dramatically
• Adaptive triggers provide tension when aiming
• More level playing field (everyone uses controllers)
• Built-in party chat integration

Cross-play between platforms works flawlessly. I never experienced any advantage disparities significant enough to ruin matches, though PC players might have a slight edge in flickshot situations when compared to other FPS games with player freedom.

The Single Map Problem

Here’s where Midnight Murder Club faces its biggest challenge: there’s only one map. The Victorian mansion is beautifully designed with multiple floors, secret passages, and varied room layouts, but after 20+ hours, I know every corner by heart. This familiarity reduces the terror factor significantly – when you know exactly where the creaky floorboard is or which door leads to the wine cellar, much of the tension evaporates.

Velan Studios hasn’t announced additional map plans, which is concerning for long-term viability. The game desperately needs at least 2-3 more environments to maintain player interest. A haunted hospital, abandoned school, or even just a different mansion layout would work wonders for replayability.

Matchmaking Woes and Community Concerns

Finding matches with strangers is currently Midnight Murder Club’s Achilles’ heel. During peak hours, I’ve waited 5-10 minutes for a full lobby. Off-peak times are even worse – I once waited 15 minutes before giving up entirely. The player base seems concentrated around friend groups using the Guest Pass system, which means random matchmaking suffers.

The game offers bot backfill, but AI opponents completely destroy the experience. They don’t use proximity chat, move predictably, and lack the psychological warfare element that makes human opponents terrifying. I’d rather wait longer for real players than dilute matches with bots.

Community Reception and Long-Term Viability

Steam reviews currently sit at “Mixed” with 68% positive ratings from 214 reviews. The community consensus mirrors my experience: fantastic with friends, frustrating alone. The Discord server remains relatively active with around 500 members, though discussion often centers on matchmaking complaints and map variety requests.

For longevity, Midnight Murder Club needs:

• Additional maps (absolutely critical)
• Improved matchmaking or server browser
• Seasonal events or limited-time modes
• Cosmetic progression system for retention
• Creator tools for community maps

Strategic Tips for New Players

After mastering the darkness, here are my top strategies:

1. Sound is everything: Invest in good headphones. Footsteps, door creaks, and breathing are your primary navigation tools
2. Corner camping works: Unlike traditional FPS games with player freedom, camping is viable here since nobody can see you
3. Memorize spawn points: Learn the 6 spawn locations to avoid early confrontations
4. Use furniture: Bumping into objects makes noise but also provides cover from flashlight sweeps
5. Proximity chat psychology: Make false callouts to confuse enemies or stay completely silent for stealth
6. Flashlight discipline: Never leave it on while moving unless actively hunting

Performance and Technical Aspects

Technically, Midnight Murder Club runs smoothly on both platforms. The PC version’s minimum requirements (GTX 1060, 8GB RAM) are reasonable, and I experienced zero crashes during my review period. The PS5 version maintains a locked 60fps with instant loading times. Network performance is generally stable with occasional lag spikes that seem server-side rather than client-related.

The audio design deserves special mention. The spatial audio implementation is superb – you can accurately track players by sound alone. Every surface has distinct footstep sounds, from carpet muffling to hardwood echoing. The mansion’s ambient creaks and groans add atmosphere without obscuring important audio cues.

Comparison With Other Horror Multiplayer Games

While Midnight Murder Club occupies a unique niche, it’s worth comparing to similar experiences. Unlike traditional horror games that rely on jump scares and atmospheric storytelling, this title focuses purely on player-versus-player psychological tension. Games like Phasmophobia offer cooperative horror, while Dead by Daylight provides asymmetric horror gameplay, but neither captures the specific tension of hunting friends in complete darkness.

The closest comparison might be Prop Hunt modes in various games, but even those rely on visual camouflage rather than complete darkness. Midnight Murder Club’s innovation lies in stripping away the visual element entirely, forcing players to rely on audio cues and spatial awareness in ways that feel genuinely fresh in the crowded multiplayer FPS space.

Final Verdict: Worth It for the Right Players

Midnight Murder Club occupies a unique niche in the multiplayer landscape. It’s not trying to compete with Call of Duty or even other horror games directly. Instead, it offers something genuinely different: a social horror experience that prioritizes laughs and screams over competitive rankings.

Who Should Buy This Game:

• Groups of 3-6 friends seeking unique party games
• Players who value innovation over content quantity
• Anyone tired of traditional FPS gameplay
• Budget-conscious gamers (especially with Guest Pass consideration)

Who Should Skip It:

• Solo players without regular gaming groups
• Those expecting extensive single-player content
• Players who need constant progression systems
• Anyone requiring multiple maps for variety

For $9.99, Midnight Murder Club provides an experience you won’t find anywhere else. The Guest Pass system means one purchase can entertain six people, making it exceptional value for friend groups. However, the single map and matchmaking issues significantly limit appeal for solo players.

I’m giving Midnight Murder Club a 6.5/10. With friends, it’s easily an 8/10 experience filled with memorable moments and genuine innovation. Alone, it drops to a 5/10 due to matchmaking frustrations and limited content. Velan Studios has created something special here, but it needs post-launch support to reach its full potential.

The darkness mechanic isn’t just a gimmick – it fundamentally changes how we think about competitive shooters. If Velan Studios can address the content and matchmaking concerns through updates, Midnight Murder Club could evolve from a curious experiment into a party game staple. Until then, it remains a brilliant idea held back by execution limitations.

Looking Forward

As of March 2026, Velan Studios hasn’t announced concrete post-launch plans beyond bug fixes. The game’s success will likely depend on word-of-mouth and streaming adoption. Popular streamers have already created hilarious content with the proximity chat features, which could drive player growth if sustained.

I’ll continue monitoring Midnight Murder Club’s evolution and update this review if significant changes arrive. For now, gather your bravest friends, turn off the lights, and prepare for one of gaming’s most unique multiplayer experiences. Just don’t expect it to hold your attention solo for more than a few sessions.