There are a lot of things it’s possible for you to do in eight minutes.

Reply to a couple of emails.

Pop to the loo.

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Because ultimately, it doesn’t matter how good this game is and it is very good!

if you could’t bloody play it.

Texas Chain Saw Massacre is, at least, exactly what it says on the tin.

Cover image for YouTube video

And it absolutely works.

Not so in Texas Chain Saw Massacre, though.

The Victims' job is to escape the Family’s job is to ensure that they never do.

Leatherface stares at the bloodied corpse of a poor Victim who hangs from a meat hook. Blood splatters the wood, the torso, and Bubba’s chainsaw.

Interestingly, I found the infamous Leatherface the least exciting Family member to roleplay.

hands, Bubba can be deadly.

There’s a sentence I never thought I’d write.)

The Hitchhiker looks into the engine of a dilapidated truck. A quick-time button tells the player to hold X to switch on the power and electrify the exit gate

You’re not explicitly told that you become essentially invisible in the long grass because you’re not toldanything.

Perks and attributes aren’t properly explained, nor how they can be upgraded.

Sadly, you might only access them via the top menu, though.

A Victim hangs from a hook, hands bound with rope. You see her bruised back, a loud red warning encasing her body. The words “YOUR CONDITION IS DETERIORATING. YOU MUST ESCAPE!” are emblazoned on-screen

It’s a vicious cycle that hampers progress and breeds contempt.

But oh my, Texas Chain Saw Massacre is gorgeous.

This means that muscle-memory and endless replays are the only way to learn your way around.

The Victim cowers behind a doorway, through which the red outline of a door suggests it has been recently slammed. The edges of the screen are red-orange, intimating an enemy is close.

You may wait up to five minutes to find a match, and another three to populate the lobby.

The Texas Chain Saw Massacre accessibility options

Subtitles are available, but not customisable.

you might adjust SFX and music levels separately.

The Victim struggles with the lockpick mini-game that requires you to slowly and carefully pick a lock without alerting enemies.

Alternate keybindings are not available, but there is full controller support.

you’re able to adjust some video effects and sensitivity for aiming, including X/Y inversion.

There are no difficulty options and no specific accessibility section in the options menu.

The same cinematic plays at the beginning of every match. This one remains Victims to “stay quiet and hidden” as Connie huddles in the foreground, watching Leatherface walk away in the background.

There is no option to enter a game with just five or six of you.

There are no bots to fill the gaps.

There’s no chance to rejoin if the server throws a wobbler and you’re disconnected.

Another Victim attempts to get a lockpick through the search mini-game. The yellow glow suggests Leatherface is close.

This means you’re endlessly fighting the server, instead of the opponents you want to take on.

I can’t even muster the energy to blame them for that, either.

A Victim limps towards freedom. This road is safety, and means you’ve escaped the Family. Still, the victim is reminded to keep still to avoid detection from Grandpa.

Sissy takes out Julie with a violent slash to her throat. Blood splatters both killer and the victim.

Sissy “feeds” Grandpa to improve his detection by tipping blood down his throat.

An example of a character’s Skill Tree. Players can unlock both perks and attribute points through this tree.

Get used to this screen - you’ll be seeing it a lot. It’s the “Finding match” Matchmaking screen with the timer on 4 mins 57 seconds. The hint “Leatherface’s chainsaw will overheat if it is revved for too long” is displayed beneath.