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Hunt a serial killer through Carrion City as a weary detective and his targets, investigating crime scenes and completing everyday tasks.
Released 06 Aug 2026
Investigate Grisly Crime Scenes
Search for Hidden Clues
Play as the Victims
The Skin Stapler is a retro-styled PSX grindhouse horror adventure set in the rotting, crime-soaked sprawl of Carrion City. Players follow jaded detective Dick Slater and his eager rookie partner Robbie Knox as they hunt a mysterious serial killer known only as The Skin Stapler.
Developed by Tainted Pact · Published by Assemble Entertainment
In the crime-ridden sprawl of Carrion City, burned-out detective Dick Slater and rookie Robbie Knox pursue a serial killer known as The Skin Stapler. The story also shifts to people around the city as they go about their daily lives under the killer’s threat.
As Slater, explore crime scenes, talk to characters, search for clues, and solve puzzles. Distorted audio tapes and evidence found around the city help move the investigation forward.
Other chapters put you in the shoes of potential victims, with simple work tasks and minigames in places such as shops and a bowling alley. The chapters alternate between these routines and the investigation in a linear, first-person horror adventure with retro, low-poly visuals and fully voiced characters.
Players who enjoy the game often praise its grimy retro visuals, atmospheric city, soundtrack, voice work, and mix of horror with absurd black comedy. The shifts between victims’ routines and detective investigations also appeal to some. Reviews are divided on the humor: many find the recurring sexual and toilet jokes tiresome, while others enjoy the deliberately crude tone. Other common criticisms include the repetitive chapter structure, limited hands-on gameplay, and the prominence of streamer cameos.
A serial killer stalks the streets, and you’re on their trail. Investigate the murders, descend into the city’s rotten underbelly, and uncover its buried secrets. Will you find the truth before The Skin Stapler finds you?Play as burned-out detective Dick Slater, hunting a serial killer known as the Skin Stapler. Take control of other characters as they are stalked through homes, workplaces, and dark city streets.
Victims are skinned, their flesh stapled to nearby walls. Distorted audio tapes taunt police and point to something darker beneath the city. You will scream. You might die. Maybe even from laugther.
Handmade horror, with no shortcuts and plenty of sharp objects. Built as an XXL horror feature night, The Skin Stapler delivers a night of atmosphere, story, and bloody good fun.
Investigate crime scenes as Detective Dick Slater, solve grisly puzzles, or survive a not-so-ordinary shift. Every character brings a different way to experience Carrion City’s nightmare.
Every character is fully voiced, bringing Carrion City’s killers, victims, and burned-out cops to life.
Inspired by 1980s VHS horror and exploitation films, the game features stylized violence, neon-lit decay, and an unapologetically grim aesthetic that blends horror and humor.
From the creator of Suffer the Night, Terror at Oakheart, Massacre at the Mirage, and Flesh Made Fear, Tainted Pact Games invites you into a grimy, neon-lit nightmare with The Skin Stapler. Experience handcrafted indie horror made with support from some of your favourite content creators.
| Platforms | Windows |
|---|---|
| Achievements | 16 |
| Age ratings |
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| Controller required | No |
| Demo | View demo on Steam |
| DLC / extras | 2 listed on Steam |
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