Kumitantei: Old-School Slaughter

About Kumitantei: Old-School Slaughter

Kumitantei: Old-School Slaughter is a murder-mystery adventure with card-battler mechanics, set in a decaying school where 16 students are forced to kill or be killed. Developed by Mango Factory and published by Akupara Games, it released in 2028 for PC. The game blends visual novel storytelling with investigative gameplay and strategic card battles. You play as Himari, an honor student trapped in a bunker by a two-faced cat, tasked with solving murders while navigating social dynamics. The retro anime-inspired narrative unfolds in episodes, mixing crime-solving with chaotic trials. It’s a niche pick for fans of social deduction and procedural gameplay, though its pacing and genre-hopping may divide players.

Gameplay

The core loop cycles between exploration, investigation, and combat. You scour bunker rooms for clues, interrogate classmates to build trust, and use discovered evidence in “Clinical Trials” to expose killers. Each trial is a card-based battle where you play Skill cards (like “Barista’s Brew” to confuse foes) and counterattacks using Evidence. Battles are fast and chaotic, requiring quick decisions. Between sessions, you gather resources, bond with characters, and uncover secrets about the school’s dark past. The single-player story spans 15 classmates, each with distinct backstories and death scenarios. While the card mechanics shine in the middle game, the investigative side can feel slow without clear objectives, and combat sometimes derails the mystery.

What Players Think

On PlayPile, 78% of players rated it a 7.5/10, with 85% completing the base story in 25 hours. Average playtime is 18 hours, but 15% of players abandoned it early, citing a jarring mix of genres. Community moods: 40% curious, 30% tense, 20% anxious, 10% bored. Review snippets: “The mysteries are intricate but pacing stutters” and “Card battles are chaotic fun but overpowered.” Achievement completion is 45% for 50 total, with the “True Culprit” ending unlocked by 28%. The $19.99 price point is seen as fair for the niche appeal, though some note the game feels unfinished, with 22% of players skipping later episodes.

PlayPile's Take

Old-School Slaughter is a polarizing but ambitious mix of genres. It rewards patience in the first 10 hours but falters in execution. Fans of deduction games like Danganronpa or murder mystery visual novels will appreciate the layered puzzles and character arcs. The card battles add a unique twist, though they often prioritize luck over strategy. At $19.99, it’s worth a try for its creativity and replayable endings, but skip if you prefer linear narratives. With 45% average achievement completion, it’s a grind for collectors. Stick with it past the midpoint for a rewarding but flawed experience.

Storyline

Himari Sanada is an ordinary girl who's had the greatest Imperial honor for students thrust upon her: an Absolute title and admission to the prestigious military research academy Janus Institute. The morning of her first day however, she does not wake up in her bedroom, instead finding herself trapped alongside 15 other Absolute students within a decaying old bunker seemingly built by their new school. Confronted by a strange two-faced cat, the class learns they've been brought here as test subjects in a kill-or-be-killed Apathy Experiment designed to fracture and drain their very humanity. Himari, the Absolute Barista, desires to overcome the eccentricities of her fellow participants and make friends, but is often instead forced to investigate and solve their grisly murders. Bond with the others to learn their Skills, scour diverse crime scenes for Evidence, and then leverage it all in the stylish and frantic Clinical Trial. Will they band together to uncover secrets of the past, or lose their humanity and lives in the present?