KILLER INN Preview: Survival Social Deduction Meets Action in Square Enix’s New Game
Forget voting out imposters. This time, it’s an all-out battle for survival.
Since 2020, social deduction games have exploded in popularity, putting players together to complete tasks while secretly hiding killers among them. Square Enix is now taking a stab at the genre with KILLER INN, a brutal twist where the betrayal isn’t just about deception, it’s about survival.
During its beta test, KILLER INN impressed players with its intense mix of deduction and direct combat. At Tokyo Game Show 2025, Square Enix Asia invited media and influencers to try it out, and the result was chaotic, tense, and highly engaging.
In each session, 24 players join the game, each with unique skills and the option to pick duplicate roles for strategic balance. Once the match begins, the game randomly assigns roles: Hunters (wolves) or Prey (sheep). The demo took place in a creepy hotel, with each player spawning in different areas and being told their role, while the remaining number of each side is displayed on-screen.
Playing as prey means cooperating with others, but who you can trust is uncertain. A built-in voice chat lets players communicate, but suspicion runs high. Instead of simply voting out the killer, you’ll need to arm yourself because being unprepared could mean getting taken out next.
This shift toward action adds tension and variety. Weapons like machine guns, melee pipes, and explosive traps can be found around the map, but careless shots can harm your own team. Communication is vital, but ultimately, survival depends on trusting your instincts because only one side will walk away alive.
Combat isn’t always the answer, though. Investigating clues like bloodstains, fingerprints, and torn fabric helps identify the culprit. Evidence is logged automatically, allowing you to persuade others with proof. Helpful hotel staff, like the receptionist, can also offer assistance during the match. Every round plays out differently, and in my session, I was eliminated by an ally, leaving me itching to try again as a wolf next time.
© SQUARE ENIX
About KILLER INN
KILLER INN is a new investigative action survival game where 24 players, wolves and sheep, must escape a massive hotel by collecting keys to unlock the port doors. But trust is a rare commodity, and every encounter could mean life or death. The game is set to launch soon and is now available for pre-registration on Steam.
A second closed beta test will run from October 4 to 14 at 05:00, featuring the same content shown at Tokyo Game Show 2025. If you missed the first round, keep an eye on the Steam page and stay tuned for more updates on upcoming game releases across Southeast Asia.
