The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: PS5 Review

Developed by Sumo Nottingham
Published by Gun Interactive
Platform: PS5

The Texas Chainsaw Massacre is of course an iconic horror.

The Texas Chainsaw Massacre game leans heavily into the basics of the 1974 movie and the simplicity of a horror film - escape the boogeyman.

This time, the game focuses the action on three distinct maps as Ana Flores and her college friends go searching for her missing sister Maria near Newt, Texas. Ultimately captured, it becomes a 4 vs 3 multiplayer game as either the victims try to escape, or the bad guys try to take down the victims and save the family.

If you're a fan of the asymmetrical horror genre, then this game will squarely fit in your wheelhouse. While the maps are too few to offer surprises after a few games in each, the ability to unlock skills and build up XP as the games play out prove to be too compelling a proposition to simply ignore.

Quicktime events, various side quests within the game will all keep you engaged but also distracted enough to forget what your primary objective is - death and destruction or freedom. (Depending on which side you're on.)

Graphically the game hits the grimy levels you'd expect for the horror and Leatherface certainly looks the part. But it's technically where the game falls apart under too much examination. 

Issues with matchmaking have plagued this reviewer's attempts to master the genre and with players dropping out mid-game, the fluidity of what transpires is more than hard enough to keep you engaged.

When it works though, it's good fun, particularly with mates on either side of the Family or Victims. There's just something about the gaming genre that works, much like Friday the 13th's horror mechanics have previously worked on the platform.

Ultimately, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre has a killer premise and offers a horrific proposition to players - but whether with only 3 maps and blighted technical aspects that will be enough to keep you coming back time and time again remains to be seen.