Serial Cleaner box art

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Serial Cleaner

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Serial Cleaner

Jul 11, 2017

Main game

2.88 average rating based on 93 ratings

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Serial Cleaner is a story-driven, fast-paced stealth/action game, characterized by a 1970s theme and aesthetics.
Release Dates
Jul 11, 2017 (Worldwide)
PlayStation 4
Jul 14, 2017 (Worldwide)
Linux, Mac, PC (Microsoft Windows), Xbox One
Jul 14, 2017 (North_America)
Xbox One
Nov 30, 2017 (North_America)
Nintendo Switch
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User Stats
1930
In Collection
41
Wish Listed
13
Playing
1302
Backlogged
How Long Is Serial Cleaner?
Main story: 2.0 hours
Total completions: 2
Jevnation
Jevnation gave Sep 6, 2021
Jevnation gave Sep 6, 2021
Quickly in and quickly out
This review is for the PC (Microsoft Windows) version

One day, I watched The Simpsons episode, where Bart, Homer and Skinner's mom pulled a prank on her son; she pretended to be murdered in her house while Homer acts as the clean-up guy. That prompted me to start playing Serial Cleaner, a stealth game with the unique concept of cleaning up bodies and evidence from the crime scenes he's assigned to. That's what the main character makes for a living for both him and his mom during the 70s time period the game's based on. Each mission may seem like a slice-of-life simulation, until the missions start adding up that there's a concerning, overall plot coming around, even helped by the news media if you're a bit explorative enough.

The gameplay mechanics are quite simple enough with just a couple of tools and moves to get around clearing the areas for your mission. By that, each mission can take as quickly as a couple of minutes up to roughly 10 minutes in later stages. The stages also allow you to make use of shortcuts to strategize your moves or alter the routes of the officers you need to avoid. Even if you get caught, you can quickly pick yourself …

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One day, I watched The Simpsons episode, where Bart, Homer and Skinner's mom pulled a prank on her son; she pretended to be murdered in her house while Homer acts as the clean-up guy. That prompted me to start playing Serial Cleaner, a stealth game with the unique concept of cleaning up bodies and evidence from the crime scenes he's assigned to. That's what the main character makes for a living for both him and his mom during the 70s time period the game's based on. Each mission may seem like a slice-of-life simulation, until the missions start adding up that there's a concerning, overall plot coming around, even helped by the news media if you're a bit explorative enough.

The gameplay mechanics are quite simple enough with just a couple of tools and moves to get around clearing the areas for your mission. By that, each mission can take as quickly as a couple of minutes up to roughly 10 minutes in later stages. The stages also allow you to make use of shortcuts to strategize your moves or alter the routes of the officers you need to avoid. Even if you get caught, you can quickly pick yourself back up and try again. Soon enough you might have to readjust your plans because the bodies and evidence will be randomly placed in their respective locations.

Serial Cleaner is a decent game with its literal clear-the-area gameplay concept and levels that can be done during a quick coffee break. The plot is mostly predictable but somewhat satisfying, paving way for its upcoming sequel taking place a couple of decades later. Nothing essential in the overall aspect as a stealth game but I'm curious to what the devs will bring on their next output of the franchise.

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GigaDeathNullGolem
GigaDeathNullGolem gave Apr 20, 2023
GigaDeathNullGolem gave Apr 20, 2023
Okay but not my thing
This review is for the PC (Microsoft Windows) version

Nice looking groovy game with a 70's/taranintoish vibe to it. This game is basically a cut down version of Party Hard that consists solely of sneaking around, hiding bodies, piucking up evidence and cleaning up blood. Enemies have consistent AI logic and patrol routes. Not a bad puzzle game but not that engaging either. Quite challenging i managed to get to the third level then found myself quite frustrated in timing everything.

jared_c
jared_c gave Sep 2, 2024
jared_c gave Sep 2, 2024
Fun, Frustrating, Quick
This review is for the PC (Microsoft Windows) version

Serial Cleaner is an isometric puzzle game where you play as someone hired to clean up crime scenes, hiding bodies and evidence from the police in the 1970s. It has a neat cartoonish art style, and the soundtrack is retro jazzy. The aesthetic of the game is pretty great! Gameplay consists of your character taking a call at their house for their next job, then arriving on scene to dispose of the bodies and evidence. The game requires some patience as there will be police at each of these scenes that have a set path that they follow. Once you figure out what their paths/AI movement is, then it's pretty easy to make your way through the crime scene cleaning everything up. Later levels do get frustrating as new enemies will mix up their patterns from time to time, and running away from one may lead you straight into another. The final level was a bit confusing as to what the objective was, and I actually had to look up online what I was even supposed to do. Apart from that, other than some frustrations the game is relatively easy. There's an overarching story of who you are getting your …

Read More

Serial Cleaner is an isometric puzzle game where you play as someone hired to clean up crime scenes, hiding bodies and evidence from the police in the 1970s. It has a neat cartoonish art style, and the soundtrack is retro jazzy. The aesthetic of the game is pretty great! Gameplay consists of your character taking a call at their house for their next job, then arriving on scene to dispose of the bodies and evidence. The game requires some patience as there will be police at each of these scenes that have a set path that they follow. Once you figure out what their paths/AI movement is, then it's pretty easy to make your way through the crime scene cleaning everything up. Later levels do get frustrating as new enemies will mix up their patterns from time to time, and running away from one may lead you straight into another. The final level was a bit confusing as to what the objective was, and I actually had to look up online what I was even supposed to do. Apart from that, other than some frustrations the game is relatively easy. There's an overarching story of who you are getting your contracts from, but the story isn't anything to write home about. I finished the main game and a few of the side scenarios in probably 5 and a half hours, so it won't take up too much of your time. If you can find it on a pretty good sale, I'd say it's worth a couple evenings!

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anarchistica
anarchistica gave Sep 16, 2020
anarchistica gave Sep 16, 2020
One of those "hardcore" games

This is basically a 2D Viscera Cleanup Detail with some Hotline Miami sprinkled on top. You have to clean crime scenes by pick up evidence, dumping bodies and vacuuming blood. It's mildly amusing but if you get caught you have to completely redo the level. The game just isn't interesting enough to justify that.

Haxiel
Haxiel gave May 17, 2020
Haxiel gave May 17, 2020
Darkly humourous, but frustrating

Serial Cleaner is a game where you are tasked with the 'cleaning up' of crime scenes. You pick up and dispose of bodies, take away evidence, and clean up blood spatters.

What's good about it:

  • Black comedy
  • Cool art and 70s vibe
  • Varying enemy types and behavior
  • Level variety

What's okay about it:

  • Randomized item/body placement
  • Story line
  • Bonus contracts
  • Collectibles (clothes)

What's bad about it:

  • Instant failure - failing a level at any point means a complete restart.
  • Starting a level from the main menu replays the story.

Summary: Serial Cleaner is not a very difficult game, but its insta-fail conditions can be frustrating a little too often. The same condition also punishes experimentation, which goes against the randomized item placement and randomized patrol patterns (for the 'Scout' enemy type). If you enjoy the idea of repeatedly tacking a difficult puzzle, you can find some enjoyment here.

Acheivement stats: Only 2.8% of the players on Steam have the 'Done Cleaning' acheivement for this game, which is awarded for completing the story contracts (20 levels).

El_Diegote
El_Diegote gave Dec 17, 2019
El_Diegote gave Dec 17, 2019
El_Diegote's review of Serial Cleaner

Repetitive fun. Got it for free (thx, Humble bundle), not sure how much i would have paid for it, though. Probably not more than a couple dollars.

Yaru
Yaru updated their status Jan 27, 2021
Yaru updated their status Jan 27, 2021

Either this game is way too hard, or I really, REALLY suck at stealth

ElizabethTheWicked
ElizabethTheWicked updated their status Jun 17, 2020
ElizabethTheWicked updated their status Jun 17, 2020

I got it on sale for 1.50 and I still paid to much for it. There is not an ounce of joy to be found. the stealth mechanics are primitive, sloppy and awkward. the dialogue is canned and unremarkable. the unlocks are pointless and uninspired. This feels like someone's first ever attempt to make a game that failed miserably and they had the nerve to try and sell it anyway

Jeslie
Jeslie updated their status Nov 27, 2019
Jeslie updated their status Nov 27, 2019

This isn't a bad game, but the novelty seems to wear off pretty quickly.

anarchistica
anarchistica updated their status Nov 21, 2019
anarchistica updated their status Nov 21, 2019

Serial Cleaner is free on HumbleBundle for the next 2 days, 19 hours:

https://www.humblebundle.com/store/serial-cleaner-free-game

You get a Steam key.

Cauliflower101
Cauliflower101 updated their status Mar 7, 2018
Cauliflower101 updated their status Mar 7, 2018

Very much enjoying this game. The difficulty curve is well balanced and the level design is quite fun. I'm playing on Switch which makes it a very good pick up and play game. Some the levels I get through quickly, but find myself spending about 20 minutes per stage.

GigaDeathNullGolem
GigaDeathNullGolem updated their status Sep 4, 2017
GigaDeathNullGolem updated their status Sep 4, 2017

any opinions on this? I saw some streamer playing it and gave a very hyped up review. Very much looks similar to Party Hard in theme and game play.