"Surprising" is a word that effectively defines both the announcement and release of Death Note: Killer Within, a multiplayer game focused on deductive reasoning with a steep learning curve that's a surprisingly clever use of the beloved franchise. Games based on popular anime and manga series typically involve more lasers and punching than Death Note. But here fans have something to play that effectively replicates some exciting mind games the franchise is known for - to some extent.

Publisher Bandai Namco and developer Grounding, Inc. seemingly waited to create a Death Note video game until the right idea came around, with the final product taking cues from runaway indie hit Among Us in a cat-and-mouse multiplayer social deduction experience.

While Death Note: Killer Within does take some time to get the hang of, its limited amount of content offers up a unique challenge that has the potential for fun and exciting matches with friends and strangers online. However, much like the otherworldly Death Note, such fun takes several vital conditions to succeed.

Death Note's Brilliant Story & Character Dynamics Are Woefully Underutilized

Not The First Genre That Springs To Mind

Death Note is one of the world's most popular anime, globally praised and adored for its intense storyline, but there's no story mode or sense of character progression in Death Note: Killer Within. This isn't so bad since it allows nearly anyone to try the multiplayer-only game, even if they are unfamiliar with the source material. Still, DN: KW does implement some elements of its series' lore to create something less straightforward than what players of other popular social deduction games may be used to.

Death Note's plot involves several interesting characters who get zero focus or development in this title as its sole focus is providing a multiplayer game very different from the usual anime-licenced games, like Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero. Still, it feels like a missed opportunity not to have separate game modes that further explore parts of the fascinating storyline, especially the iconic relationship between Light and L. The game strips down the series' relationships into specific gameplay job roles that - despite the lack of character depth - coalesce into a surprisingly engaging game of deduction for four to ten players.

Two of the Death Note series' most interesting characters, the devilishly clever Light Yagami and sweet-toothed super detective L, take center stage in DN: KW as the two play a strange board game filled with deception and murder. Much like the series' plotline, game pieces representing the Death Note-wielding serial killer Kira and one follower work together while pretending to be investigators to steal other players' IDs and stop them from finding out who the killer is. It's an intense premise presented with a display of cutesy humor that clashes with the plot's darker subject material with varying success.

Light Wanted To Play God: Now You Can Play As Light & Those Who Can Stop Him

Death Note: Killer Within's Gameplay Explained

When a match begins, players must choose which of the four roles they prefer: Kira, one Kira Follower, one L, and the rest are Investigators working with L to discover the villains. However, no player knows which role the others are playing at first. Certain activities and observations provide clues that can prove vital between rounds when all players come together to discuss who they believe the killers are. Much like Among Us, the meetings in between rounds can contain heated debates and incredibly sly lies from killers working to divert attention from themselves.

The L and Kira roles both have additional abilities that can quickly turn any round's tide. L can set up surveillance cameras, add pressure during meetings, and even assign tasks to other players to help gather clues on who's working as Kira. Kira can use gained IDs with the Death Note to earn kills and set up Investigator traps to gain more. Since each role can trigger different acts of distraction and surveillance Death Note: Killer Within can be a bit tricky to get the hang of and more rewarding of an experience than other online social deduction games.

Only one player can be the killer, but Kira does not act alone and has one Kira Follower who can also steal IDs and be given the deadly notebook. The killers win if they steal enough IDs to wipe out all Investigators, kill the player assigned the role of L, or earn enough points without being caught throughout several rounds. Crafty players in the Kira and Kira Follower roles have the power to bring matches to a swift conclusion. However, up to eight other players can make things incredibly difficult because each role has its unique challenges.

Players not interested in using voice chat also have a wide selection of text phrases to communicate with during intense meetings.

Death Note: Killer Within provides a wordy tutorial that drops a lot of information at once, but thankfully, the game also allows players to try its one mode out against U players, which is highly recommended before jumping into the game's online servers. One of the game's most annoying issues came when a player left a game or was disconnected from the often unstable servers, causing the entire game to end and revert to the server lobby. Hopefully, future Death Note: Killer Within updates will include an increase in server stability, playable maps, and modes.

Whether players vanquish L or successfully arrest Kira, experience points unlock new player skins, customization accessories, voice lines, and more in Death Note: Killer Within's battle -like progression system. The strange bug-eyed finger puppet characters that were featured very briefly in the anime are what the game's playable avatars start as, but thankfully, with experience points earned with both wins and losses, it doesn't take long to unlock more skins like the adorable Misa or the fan-favorite L sitting oddly in his chair. But it does feel lacking that cosmetics are the only unlockable feature in DN: KW.

Final Thoughts & Review Score

Screen Rant Gives Death Note: Killer Within A 6/10

Death Note: Killer Within is a unique, strangely engaging product, and it really shines when you're paired with good teammates. It may not be the first genre players had in mind for the IP, but the result is engaging enough, despite issues with a lack of maps at launch and some server instability.

While Death Note: Killer Within is a creative use of the property, the game doesn't use enough elements of the rich source material and has a good chance of leaving fans wanting more.

Screen Rant was provided a PSN code from Death Note: Killer Within's publisher, Bandai Namco, for the purpose of this review.