Serial Cleaner
Serial Cleaner is a stealth game developed by Draw Distance and published by Curve Digital/Plug In Digital. Players attempt to remove evidence from crime scenes without being caught. It was followed by Serial Cleaners.
| Serial Cleaner | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Developer | Draw Distance |
| Publishers | |
| Platforms | |
| Release | Windows, PS4, Xbox One July 14, 2017 Nintendo Switch November 30, 2017 iOS June 20, 2019 Android February 11, 2025 |
| Genre | Stealth game |
| Mode | Single-player |
Serial Cleaner is a stealth game developed by Draw Distance and published by Curve Digital/Plug In Digital. Players attempt to remove evidence from crime scenes without being caught. It was followed by Serial Cleaners.
Gameplay
[edit]Players control a cleaner who is hired to remove evidence at crime scenes in the 1970s. Besides moving corpses, this takes a literal aspect as they vacuum up blood. Police are already at the scene, and if they see the cleaner, they chase. Player can hide in various spots on the map, which causes the police to lose interest in them. Being caught forces players to replay the level and randomizes the locations of the objects that need to be cleaned.[1]
Development
[edit]Serial Cleaner was initially released by Curve Digital for PCs, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One on July 14, 2017.[2] The Nintendo Switch version followed on November 30, 2017,[3] and it was released on iOS on June 20, 2019.[4] On February 11th, 2025, the game was rereleased for iOS and Android by Plug In Digital.[5]
Reception
[edit]On Metacritic, Serial Cleaner received positive reviews on the Switch[6] and mixed reviews elsewhere.[7][8][9] Rock Paper Shotgun, NintendoLife, and Vice liked the game's concept but found the idea of restarting randomized levels infuriating.[1][3][10] Conversely, GamesRadar's reviewer found the scenes where he was caught funny, and he enjoyed the level design.[11] Push Square wrote, "Its difficulty and slight release content are offset by a number of options, a great premise, and some uniquely engaging gameplay."[12] NintendoWorldReport praised the gameplay and retro charm but felt that the Switch controls were sometimes inconsistent.[13]
References
[edit]- ^ a b Meer, Alec (2017-07-19). "Wot I Think: Serial Cleaner". Rock Paper Shotgun. Retrieved 2023-04-21.
- ^ Purchese, Robert (2017-07-14). "The murder-scene-tampering Serial Cleaner out today". Eurogamer. Retrieved 2023-04-21.
- ^ a b Cousins, Jon (2017-11-30). "Serial Cleaner Review (Switch eShop)". NintendoLife. Retrieved 2023-04-21.
- ^ Madnani, Mikhail (2019-04-26). "Crime Scene Cleanup Game 'Serial Cleaner' Finally Has a Release Date for iOS from iFun4All and East2West". TouchArcade. Retrieved 2023-04-21.
- ^ Morris, Iwan (2024-11-28). "Serial Cleaner tasks you with cleaning up crime scenes while under the influence of a moustache". www.pocketgamer.com. Retrieved 2025-03-12.
- ^ "Serial Cleaner (NS)". Metacritic. Retrieved 2023-04-21.
- ^ "Serial Cleaner (PC)". Metacritic. Retrieved 2023-04-21.
- ^ "Serial Cleaner (PS4)". Metacritic. Retrieved 2023-04-21.
- ^ "Serial Cleaner (XB1)". Metacritic. Retrieved 2023-04-21.
- ^ Diver, Mike (2017-07-17). "Serial Cleaner Is a Great Idea Wrapped In An Infuriating Game". Vice. Retrieved 2023-04-21.
- ^ Agnello, Anthony John (2017-03-21). "Serial Cleaner's luscious puzzles blend Hotline Miami with clean '70s chic". GamesRadar. Retrieved 2023-04-21.
- ^ Talbot, Ken (2017-07-11). "Serial Cleaner Review (PS4)". Push Square. Retrieved 2023-04-21.
- ^ Burkum, Perry (2017-12-16). "Serial Cleaner (Switch) Review". NintendoWorldReport. Retrieved 2023-04-21.