Death Note Killer Within’s Among Us-Like Gameplay Could Be Perfect Match

Death Note Killer Within is officially confirmed as the latest video game entry in the Death Note franchise. Developed by Grounding, Inc. and published by Bandai Namco Entertainment, the game is set to launch on November 5. While there were ongoing rumors and leaks about a Death Note game as far back as June 2024, its scope and genre remained largely a mystery. Some fans hoped that a new protagonist, or “Kira,” would be introduced, but based on the recent announcement, it seems that the project is going in an entirely different direction.

Published on October 30 on Bandai Namco’s official YouTube channel, it’s been revealed that the latest Death Note video game will be an online social deduction game featuring cross-play support for PC and PlayStation users. While several video games have been created in this universe, this marks the first social deduction title based on the 2007 anime series. Although the price tag has not yet been disclosed, it has been confirmed that PlayStation Plus members will be able to access the game for free.

Death Note Killer Within Is Capitalizing On a Popular Genre

Bandai Namco Returning to The World of Death Note Makes Complete Sense

Death Note is one of the most recognizable animes of all time. This can be attributed to a variety of reasons, but it’s likely the memorable characters, motifs, and soundtrack all greatly contributed to its ongoing success. Given this enduring popularity, continually expanding the Death Note franchise is a clear opportunity for financial success.

While some fans had hoped that the forthcoming Death Note game would be like Life is Strange or the Telltale games, with a focus on player choices and narrative, the social deduction aspect aligns well with the psychological thriller’s story. It would have been intriguing to explore a scenario where players become the new owner of the Death Note in a modern setting, but there was a wide variety of inspiration available that the developers could have pulled from. As such, the chosen course with Among Us-style mechanics, offers several unique advantages.

These advantages enhance the core gameplay experience, which reportedly consists of the following:

• Two teams: Kira and their followers versus L and his investigators
• Unique characteristics for each assigned role
• Support for up to 10 players
• Cross-play and voice chat

Social Deduction Features Perfectly Suit A Death Note Game

Based on the Death Note Killer Within Announcement Trailer, parts of the UI are very reminiscent of Innersloth’s viral hit game Among Us. Specifically, the screen where players call a meeting to determine who “Kira” might be is very clearly inspired by the 2018 game. Regardless of its influences, the excitement of discovering who holds the Death Note and uncovering each other’s identities is sure to be thrilling as teams strategize against one another.

For those unfamiliar, Kira is the alias given to Light by the public.

Gameplay-wise, much like Among Us, Kira and their followers in this game must carefully judge and kill others, similar to how Impostors work to eliminate crewmates. L and the investigators take on a role akin to crewmates, though instead of completing tasks, they gather clues by talking to NPCs and investigating suspicious incidents. In addition to this, both teams will need to complete objectives around the town, and if they manage to finish the progress bar, they automatically win the round.

“Kira and their followers in this game must carefully judge and kill others. L and the investigators take on a role akin to crewmates.”

Notably, the player acting as L has access to surveillance systems and can influence discussions during meetings, so Kira and their followers will need to be stealthy. Of course, this interaction is bound to be a two-way street as L may be caught using the security system and eliminated before he can reveal the owner of the Death Note. If players begin as Kira, they will start with the Death Note and must use it to eliminate NPCs and other players. However, like Light in the manga and anime, to do this they need an ID with the player’s real name. This can be obtained by staying close to a target for a short amount of time, but if they do it suspiciously, they may be uncovered during the Meeting Phase. Fortunately, when in meetings, there is a feature for players to give testimonies wherein they can try to prove their innocence.

Although the game has yet to be released, it already seems that combining Death Note with Among Us mechanics is a perfect match. Complete with various customization options and high-stakes gameplay, several factors are sure to boost its replayability. As a bonus, due to it being the newest addition to the social deduction genre, the Death Note game is likely to attract fans of games like Project Winter, Town of Salem, and First Class Trouble, appealing not only to anime enthusiasts but also to social deduction fans.