The Painscreek Killings

You play as Janet, a journalist sent to the abandoned town of Painscreek to investigate its history and the murder of Vivian Roberts. As you explore, you uncover accounts of the people who lived there and the events that preceded the town’s decline.

Search streets, homes, and other locations for evidence. Read letters, diaries, and newspapers, inspect objects, and use a camera to record clues you may need to revisit.

Painscreek is semi-open and lets you follow leads in different orders, without quest markers or a hint system. Progress comes from finding keys and codes, solving logical puzzles, and connecting details; keeping your own notes can help you track people, dates, and unresolved leads.

Players who enjoy the game often praise the eerie, detailed town and the gradual discovery of its stories. Many appreciate being left to explore, read, take notes, and follow clues at their own pace, and find solving locks and puzzles rewarding. Other reviewers feel that searching for keys and retracing routes can overshadow deduction, and some dislike how the mystery is explained or how the final sequence shifts the pace.