4 Penny Coffins Blends Investigation, Horror and Dark Humor

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Up to eight players investigate murders in 1888, while one takes on the role of the Ripper and can become a three-meter demon.

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4 Penny Coffins sends up to eight players onto the streets of 1888 London, a city shaped by lies, ever-changing alibis and evidence that is hard to ignore. The game blends social deduction, horror and dark humor: one participant is secretly the Ripper, described as a demon hiding beneath a human appearance.

The multiplayer “Ripper” mode divides players into classes, each with different forensic abilities. While seven investigators hunt for the killer, the eighth attempts to derail the investigation and can transform into a three-meter demon capable of tearing people apart. The team can work together to uncover the Ripper’s identity, but there is also room for those who would rather mess with their friends.

Investigations involve analyzing fingerprints and bloodstains, photographs, witness statements and trails left behind by suspects. The humor accompanies the stylized violence, an approach Jared Petty, marketing manager at Other Ocean Interactive, links to the historical relationship between comedy and horror.

For those who prefer playing alone, 4 Penny Coffins includes “Magistrate” mode, which has a structure closer to Sherlock Holmes. The player finds a group of suspects locked in a jail and knows one of them is the Ripper, but must determine which one before time runs out. The tools of the different classes are available during the investigation. After gathering the clues, the player must choose someone to hang. A wrong decision results in a penalty, and there are three chances to accumulate demerits.

The visual direction relies primarily on black-and-white imagery, with red appearing when violence takes over the scene. The team also cites the influence of the graphic novel From Hell and the idea of bringing an old newspaper engraving or a grainy photograph to life.

A gameplay teaser for 4 Penny Coffins will be shown during gamescom 2026.

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