I remember the first time I entered Wormwood Manor in Midnight Murder Club.
I tiptoed through pitch‑black halls with only a flickering flashlight, trying not to become someone’s next target.
As a gamer who enjoys multiplayer experiences that lean on atmosphere and tension, I wanted to see how this game holds up on PS5:
- whether the concept works in practice,
- how well the PS5 version feels, and
- whether crossplay truly bridges PC and console.
In this review, I’ll walk you through what Midnight Murder Club offers and whether it’s worth your time.
What is Midnight Murder Club?
Midnight Murder Club is a multiplayer shooter‑in-the-dark party game developed by Velan Studios and published by Sony Interactive Entertainment. It’s available on PS5 and PC (Steam).
The idea is deceptively simple: in each match, up to six players (or fewer with bots) navigate a mansion that is mostly in total darkness. You have a flashlight and a revolver. Turning on your flashlight helps you see your surroundings but also reveals your position to others.
You can locate enemies or allies with:
- Footsteps
- Voices
- Door creaks
Matches are chaotic, tense, and often hilarious (when things go wrong). This is a game that’s easy enough to pick up, but has layers you discover as you play more.
PS5 Version: Technical & feature highlights
On PS5, Midnight Murder Club supports DualSense haptics and adaptive triggers.
The game is labeled PS5 Pro Enhanced and also supports Remote Play capabilities. Because everything is so visual-light (pun intended), performance and smooth frame rate are important. I found the PS5 build to be stable in my sessions, with responsive controls and little to no noticeable lag.
To play online, you need PlayStation Plus. But with Guest Pass, you can invite up to five friends who can join you without needing to purchase their own copy.
All told, the PS5 version does a good job of harnessing console strengths and making the experience smooth and playable.
This is the heart of what you’ll spend time with, so let me walk through how the game feels and what kinds of matches you can expect.
- Matches are mostly pitch-black. The flashlight is your friend but also your enemy. If you leave it off, you run into walls. If you turn it on, you might reveal your location to others.
- Sound becomes important because vision is limited. Footsteps, doors, gunshots help you deduce where others are. The game uses positional audio and proximity voice chat: if someone is behind a wall or above you, their voice is muffled or echoing.
- “Whispers in the Dark” / Scrambled Voices might put you off. When you talk and others are not your teammates, voices may be scrambled so full sentences aren’t intelligible, just tones and inflections.
- Scattered around the mansion are vending machines offering “toys” like night vision pills, bear traps, molotovs, bulletproof vests, decoys, etc. Using them can help but at the risk of drawing attention.
Also, in many modes, when a teammate gets downed, you get a chance to revive them. This adds a bit more depth and strategy rather than pure kill-or-be-killed matches.
Game Modes
Here’s a breakdown of the main modes you’ll encounter:
Wildcards is the standout mode. At the start of each match, you can pick “modifier cards” that can twist the rule. For instance, everyone shrinks when shot, or doors vanish, or players get buffs/nerfs. It keeps every round unpredictable. There are no teams in this mode.
Team Deathmatch has two teams that compete for kills. Strategy and coordination matter more here.
Thief in the Night also has two-player teams. You have to collect and deposit skulls or treasures around the map. Meanwhile, in Headhunters, one team hunts to destroy totems, while others defend.
You can also try the Graveyard Shift (PvE/Co-op), which is a co‑op mode against supernatural enemies. Here you collect relics while fending off waves of demons and shadows.
Each mode has its own flavor, but Wildcards tends to offer the best mix of tension and variety. I found that team modes and objective modes were more enjoyable once I had a feel for the darkness mechanic.
Crossplay and multiplayer
Can PC and PS5 players play together? The answer is yes. Midnight Murder Club supports crossplay between PS5 and PC (Steam).
Players on both platforms can join the same lobbies, regardless of who owns the game. However, PC users need to link their PlayStation Network account. Meaning, you will need a PSN login on PC to play crossplay.
Guest Pass is a big win here. With a single purchase, you can invite up to five friends to join you freely.
But here’s where reality bites, matchmaking and lobby population are inconsistent. Offline, bots fill gaps, but online, I often found waits before matches or uneven teams when people dropped out. Fans of story-driven games can now grab Midnight Murder Club on PS5 for the lowest price yet.
Because there’s no massive player base yet, you’ll likely have a better time when queued with friends.
What works and what doesn’t
From my time playing, here’s what I think Midnight Murder Club does well, and where it needs improvement.
What Works
The fresh concept of the darkness with limited light and sound cues something unique in the shooter space. The way voices echo, doors creak, and sounds carry through walls adds tension and atmosphere. I had many moments where sound alone told the story.
It is also easy to share with friends. Guest Pass is a generous feature and makes it easier to fill your lobby. There is also no heavy monetization. It doesn’t feel like you’re being pushed into extra purchases or seasonal grind.
However, right now, there is effectively a single mansion map. There is no deep progression or customization.
What Needs Work
Because the audience is still small, waiting times and uneven matches can hurt the experience. In nearly every session I played online, someone would abandon the lobby mid‑match, which drained the fun.
As for Graveyard Shift, its promise of co‑op PvE is mostly unfulfilled. The mode has you fight waves of enemies and collect relics. It is fun for a session or two but lacks depth to sustain long-term interest.
In short, Midnight Murder Club makes for a fun sitting with friends. But it might get boring paying alone after a while.
Verdict
Midnight Murder Club is a cleverly designed multiplayer game. It leans hard into audio, and surprise. On PS5, it delivers a smooth experience with DualSense support and Guest Pass sharing.
This game can lead to thrilling nights of chaotic fun with friends. But if you are hoping to drop into solo sessions and find full lobbies, the current limitations will frustrate you.
It is not perfect, and it’s clear there’s room to grow, especially with content and population. Still, it is definitely worth giving a shot for its modest asking price and unique concept.
