Texas Chain Saw Massacre Review: Faithful & Terrifying

Texas Chain Saw Massacre is one of the most iconic films in horror history. With as much of a mark as it’s left on the world of horror in the past several decades, few other media have managed to mimic its success, much less match up to its unique, dark atmosphere.

Gun Media’s Texas Chain Saw Massacre game, though, manages to do just that, allowing players to experience Texas Chain Saw Massacre in a new, yet terrifying and faithful way. 

Texas Chain Saw Massacre Review: Faithful & Terrifying

This game sweeps players away into the world of Texas Chain Saw Massacre, featuring both famous, familiar characters from the franchise and several new characters that fit seamlessly into the universe. On the Slaughter family side of things, players can take on the role of Leatherface, The Cook, The Hitchhiker, Johnny, or Sissy. As the Victim, your options are Leland, Connie, Ana, Sonny, and Julie. 

From the moment you step into your first match, the gameplay is immersive and intense on both sides. Whether you’re a Slaughter family member or a Victim, every game plays out almost like a horror movie; it’s one of the most immersive asymmetrical horror games I’ve played by far. The game’s atmosphere is mimicked by no other asymmetrical horror game; Dead by Daylight’s chases can be intense, especially against some of the more terrifying killers, but they don’t feel nearly as immersive as finding yourself against Leatherface in TCSM. The impeccable sound design adds to the terror, with the sound of Bubba’s infamous chainsaw letting you know you need to run. 

With each character offering their own unique abilities but also able to share some aspects through skill trees, it’s easy to pick a favorite character yet equally simple to swap between them and find new ones that fit your playstyle. If you prefer to take a more stealthy approach, you can always do that as both a Victim and a Slaughter family member, playing Connie or Johnny respectively; or if you prefer to be more aggressive, you might play Ana as Victim and Leatherface in the Slaughter family. You can then develop their skill trees and attribute your skill points to the areas where you'd like to enhance your abilities.

Multiple different playstyles pay off, especially because teamwork is so important in TCSM. That said, Texas Chain Saw Massacre is a great game to play with a couple of friends; communication is key to winning matches as both a Victim or as the Slaughter family, and this game makes for a great opportunity to work together for the escape or the kills. Because skill trees are so easily adjustable and customizable, you can also work with your team to optimize your builds and take down opponents more effortlessly or make your escape. For example, if you’re playing The Cook, who specializes in tracking, you can hone those abilities even further through perks and gain even more information to communicate information to your teammates, who may allocate their skill points to other areas like direct attacks. 

Overall, Gun Media’s Texas Chain Saw Massacre shines in its unique yet faithful and genuinely scary adaptation of the Texas Chain Saw Massacre film. Honoring fan-favorite characters (like, of course, the ever-iconic Leatherface) and brand-new introductions that don't at all feel out of place, TCSM seems like it might be a mainstay in the asymmetrical horror game world.

Score: 4/5