Serial Cleaners is developed by Draw Distance and published by 505 Games, the game is available on Xbox Series X/S and One, PS5/4, Nintendo Switch, PC and iOS. Reviewed on Xbox Series X.
Serial Cleaners is available now on your chosen consoles.
Synopsis
Serial Cleaners is a top-down stealth-action game, where you get to experience being a murder scene cleaner for the mob in 1990s New York. Get rid of the bodies, make the place spotless, and don’t get caught. Plan every step and move like a ghost or trust your reflexes and thrive in chaos. The choice is yours. Alternate between four characters, each with a unique skill set opening up new possibilities. Serial Cleaners’ setting—inspired by cult ‘90s movies—will bring back fond memories of the more carefree decade, full of brightly colored optimism… and the grime underneath it all.
Review
Anything Mob or Mafia related peaks my interest but you get tired of seeing or playing the same story over again, when a new concept comes up it’s even more interesting for me and that’s what Serial Cleaners is something completely different, with the story focused more on what happens after the gruesome events.
You play as a gang of scene cleaners in 1990’s underground New York, being cleaners for hire means you are at the end of the line at any point when a situation needs shall we say a little more than Demestos, you alternate between the four rogue cleaners as you quickly go about cleaning various scenes before the cops gather the evidence, but it isn’t as easy as throwing a feather duster about you must have your wits about you as you go about your clean up as the cops are on the look out for you also as you gather and destroy the evidence. I personally love the over the top retro view of the game and feel that it gives a more immersive game experience, the controls are relatively straight forward and are easy to get to grips with.
The stealth side of the game can be on the tricky side as the cops are unforgiving but this adds to the overall challenge of the game as you use your skills and the environments around you to help you achieve your goal and wipe all trace of the guilty parties. The game is a good length (around 6-10 hours roughly) and there is enough to keep you entertained throughout, the concept of a stealth mob cleaner is an ingenious way of reinventing the stealth genre and I really enjoyed playing through it
For me the only downside of the game is the lack of co-op, I just felt the game would be fun played out with friends, although it does play well as a single player also.
Graphically I think the developers have done well recreating the dark underworld of New York, the over the top retro style view looks great and immensely detailed, I feel the game makes the most of the next gen power.
Verdict
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Overall a good take on the stealth genre, an immersive gameplay experience with a retro look to it. If you like Mafia related stories or games then you’ll enjoy playing through this.