Friday the 13th: Killer Puzzle
Quirky, violent puzzler scares up fun for horror fans.
Friday the 13th: Killer Puzzle
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A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this app.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that Friday the 13th: Killer Puzzle is set in the Friday the 13th film universe. Players act as mass murderer Jason, but they can only reach their victims by solving a sliding puzzle. The violence is gory, with Jason killing characters with machetes, meat cleavers, and more, but players do have the option to choose a "PG" version, which is slightly less graphic. A few salty words pop up as descriptions, such as "pissed" or "lit AF." Also, the push to watch video ads can be a bit heavy at times, although players can pay to eliminate these interruptions and get access to hints and items. Finally, while its never explicitly stated that characters are drinking beer, it's heavily implied that they're knocking back something alcoholic around the campfire. Learn more about what the game maker does with your personal information by reading their privacy policy.
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What’s It About?
FRIDAY THE 13TH: KILLER PUZZLE casts players as the psychopathic killer Jason from the slasher movie franchiser, hunting down and murdering other nearby characters. But it's not an action game: Players can only attack people by sliding Jason across a grid until he bumps into his next victim. Yup -- it's a bloody version of a slider puzzle game, with obstacles (such as not running into a police officer or Jason's inability to survive water) that add to the challenge of a level. If you get stuck, a rewind button lets you undo a move. After all the victims are dispatched, a final target will appear. Once you've eliminated that person, a mini-game starts in which you'll have to tap the screen at the right time to kill the victim. Doing so will fill your bloodlust meter, which (when topped off) opens up new weapons to use, including odd ones like a coffee pot and acoustic guitar.
Is It Any Good?
This combination of a puzzle game and one of the most infamous onscreen killers shouldn't work, yet somehow, this mature game is actually a lot better than it sounds on paper. Yes, the violence in Friday the 13th: Killer Puzzle isn't appropriate for young players. (Little kids don't need to see a cleaver going through someone's chest and a beating heart sticking out of a victim's back, even if the characters do resemble Funko pop dolls.) But there's a winking humor to it all. (A coffee pot as a murder weapon? Really?) The puzzles are challenging, but the floating head of Jason's mother in the upper right corner of the screen will offer help when you ask for it (usually at the price of watching a video ad).
This is a bloody game, but it's well done, even if the violence is cartoonish. And it treats its players fairly, not penalizing them when they're stuck or forcing them to buy in-game items to win, which older players will greatly appreciate. Friday the 13th: Killer Puzzle might not be for younger players, but it could easily scare up fun if you want to pass the time away.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Familes can talk about violence in video games. Friday the 13th: Killer Puzzle is based on a violent movie franchise, but is the impact lessened because this is a puzzle game, particularly if you play the PG version?
Talk about tactics and planning. Friday the 13th: Killer Puzzle requires players to think ahead to accomplish their goals, but how can these tactics be used in real life (without the violent ends, that is)?
App Details
- Devices: iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad, Android
- Pricing structure: Free
- Release date: April 26, 2018
- Category: Puzzle Games
- Publisher: Blue Wizard Digital LP
- Version: 1.6.2
- Minimum software requirements: Requires iOS 9.0 or later; Requires Android 4.4 and up
- Last updated: October 31, 2018
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