Officially revealed at this year's Gamescom, Killer Klowns From Outer Space: The Game is a quirky horror title that few could have seen coming. Born from the 80s cult classic of the same name, Killer Klowns From Outer Space: The Game evokes the same kind of nostalgia that Friday The 13th: The Game had when it was released. It's unsurprising then for audiences to learn from Gamescom's trailer of the upcoming title that it shares Friday The 13th's executive director Randy Greenback, giving fans of both horror classics an idea of what they can expect from Killer Klowns From Outer Space.
However, as bizarre a choice as it might be to pick up a franchise that was first on the big screen in 1988, Killer Klowns From Outer Space might actually be the ideal source material to adapt into video game format. With the rising popularity of asymmetrical multiplayer games, especially within the horror genre, Killer Klowns From Outer Space could be the perfect blend of zany gamer high jinks with surreal, heart-pounding terror. But out of all possible choices for a 80s horror adaptation, many players are wondering just why exactly Killer Klowns beat out the competition.
The History of Killer Klowns From Outer Space
Out of all the horror movie villains and monsters developer Teravision Games could have chosen, Killer Klowns was not the most obvious choice. While considered a cult classic nowadays, the franchise hasn't seen much activity beyond industry talk of possible reboots, sequels, and possible spin-offs every couple of years. However, away from the big screen, Killer Klowns appears to perform well to general audiences, cropping up at special events such as Universal Orlando's Halloween Horror Nights in the years prior to the pandemic. So despite a lack of presence on-screen, the Killer Klowns have a strong foothold in pop culture.
This could help explain why out of all possible choices, Killer Klowns was the franchise picked by Teravision Games to adapt. Rather than the choice being motivated by the quality of the source material, instead, the choice could have been influenced by how easy it was to obtain the rights. Realistically, though the franchise was clearly marketable, it seems businesses struggled to find the right angle for new movies with weird alien clowns. A game then, one that could easily be dismissed as non-canon but still bear the Killer Klown brand, is therefore the best option, as it bears little risk but all the reward.
Killer Klowns And Growing Surreal Horror
Though the concept of Killer Klowns in general, regardless of whether it's a game or movie, seems weird and unusual, this title would actually be joining the gaming industry at an ideal time when more surreal horror concepts are being welcomed. Following the success of the Five Nights At Freddy's franchise and recent titles like Poppy's Playtime and Hello Neighbor, it seems gaming audiences have an expanded taste beyond just zombies, vampires, werewolves, and others. As a concept that already preys on people's innate fear of clowns, Killer Klowns would be an ideal fit alongside these other titles.
Additionally, with the unusual concept behind the Killer Klowns From Outer Space franchise, a game adaptation has equally unusual content to draw from, ranging from cotton candy cocoons and popcorn-shooting bazookas all the way to the toy-like rayguns showcased in the reveal trailer. Blended with the asymmetrical multiplayer design that's since been popularized by games like Dead By Daylight and Friday The 13th, the potential for the upcoming game is uniquely high. Whether Teravision Games can capitalize on the nostalgia of the Killer Klown cult following while also delivering engaging, balanced gameplay for both humans and Klowns will remain to be seen.
Killer Klowns From Outer Space: The Game is still in development and expected to release in early 2023.