Square Enix Debuts Killer Inn: Team-Based Mystery Game at Summer Game Fest

At today's Summer Game Fest, Square Enix introduced Killer Inn, an engaging new social deduction game.

Developed by Tactics Studio, Killer Inn is a murder mystery where players split into two teams—lambs and wolves—and navigate a sprawling mansion. Wolves aim to eliminate all lambs, while lambs must uncover the wolves' identities to halt their deadly rampage, with no one knowing their teammates at the outset.

Players roam the mansion, gathering survival tools, gear, and weapons from chests and merchants. Completing quests earns tokens, which unlock premium chests for superior equipment. With over 20 unique characters, each boasting distinct abilities that evolve during matches, players can wield an array of weapons—from firearms to knives to grenades—to confront opponents.

When a player is killed, their body holds a clue—such as hair, skin, fingerprints, blood, or clothing—pointing to the killer’s identity. These clues help players pinpoint wolves, with the game’s UI tracking suspicions and highlighting likely culprits.

Once a lamb identifies a wolf, they must eliminate them before more lives are lost. Mistakenly killing another lamb results in automatic elimination, discouraging reckless attacks. Safe zones throughout the mansion prevent wolves from striking, as nearby staff reveal their identities to lambs. Alternatively, lambs can unlock a boat at the harbor for a challenging escape to secure victory.

Killer Inn is set for a closed beta on Steam in the near future, with no confirmed release date yet.