I’ll Kill Her

I’ll Kill Her is a third-person visual novel adventure game that follows a woman experiencing an emotional breakdown after a painful breakup with her boyfriend. Set in a contemporary, introspective environment, the game explores themes of trauma, responsibility, and revenge through its narrative-driven gameplay. Despite its striking art and atmospheric presentation, the story is criticized for its nonsensical plot, poor editing, and broken English, which detract from the overall experience.

I’ll Kill Her: A Flawed Yet Fascinating Glimpse into the Dark Side of Love and Art

Introduction: A Visual Novel That Cuts Deep—But Not Always Cleanly

I’ll Kill Her is a game that lingers in the mind long after its brief runtime, not because of its polished execution, but because of its raw, unfiltered exploration of emotional turmoil. Developed by the small indie studio DillyFrame, this visual novel-style interactive comic book tells the story of Stephanie, a young photography student whose obsession with her art and her deteriorating relationship with her boyfriend, Brandon, spirals into a dark, psychological descent. Released in June 2023 across multiple platforms, including PC, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, and PlayStation 5, I’ll Kill Her is a game that defies easy categorization. It’s equal parts romance, psychological thriller, and character study, wrapped in a package that is as visually striking as it is narratively confusing.

At its core, I’ll Kill Her is a game about the cost of ambition, the fragility of mental health, and the destructive power of love gone wrong. It’s a story that doesn’t shy away from difficult themes, including depression, trauma, and the pressures of artistic validation. Yet, for all its boldness, the game is held back by significant flaws—poor translation, inconsistent editing, and a narrative structure that often feels more confusing than profound. This review will delve deep into every aspect of I’ll Kill Her, from its development history to its thematic ambitions, its gameplay mechanics, and its lasting impact on players. By the end, we’ll determine whether this game is a hidden gem worth uncovering or a cautionary tale about the pitfalls of indie development.

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Development History & Context: The Birth of a Dark Romance

I’ll Kill Her was developed by DillyFrame, a small indie studio with a modest portfolio. The game was released on June 29, 2023, and was met with a mixed reception, reflecting both its ambitious themes and its technical shortcomings. The studio’s previous works include titles like A Matter of Principle and Alpaca Wonders Why, but I’ll Kill Her stands out as their most ambitious project to date, both in terms of its narrative scope and its emotional depth.

The game’s development was likely constrained by the studio’s limited resources. With only 17 people credited on the project, including writers, artists, and programmers, I’ll Kill Her is very much an indie labor of love. The game’s art direction, handled by Adele Gromova, is one of its strongest aspects, featuring a distinctive comic-book style that blends realism with abstract, emotional imagery. The music, composed by Kevin MacLeod, is atmospheric and moody, though it leans heavily on stock tracks that are familiar to anyone who has listened to royalty-free music libraries.

The gaming landscape in 2023 was dominated by high-budget AAA titles and polished indie darlings, making I’ll Kill Her something of an outlier. Its release on multiple platforms, including the Nintendo Switch eShop, positioned it as a niche title for fans of visual novels and interactive storytelling. However, its low price point—just $3.99 at launch—also signaled that it was not aiming for mainstream success. Instead, I’ll Kill Her seems to have been created for a very specific audience: those who appreciate dark, emotionally complex stories and are willing to overlook technical imperfections for the sake of raw, unfiltered storytelling.

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Narrative & Thematic Deep Dive: Love, Obsession, and the Cost of Art

I’ll Kill Her follows Stephanie, a young photography student whose life is defined by her ambition and her tumultuous relationship with Brandon. The story is divided into ten short chapters, each exploring a different phase of their relationship, from the initial spark of romance to the eventual breakdown. The narrative is non-linear, jumping back and forth in time, which adds to the sense of disorientation and emotional instability that Stephanie experiences.

Themes of Mental Health and Artistic Struggle

One of the game’s most compelling themes is the exploration of mental health, particularly depression and anxiety. Stephanie’s obsession with her photography—her desire to be recognized as a true artist rather than just a commercial photographer—drives her to neglect her relationships, her studies, and even her own well-being. The game does not shy away from depicting the darker aspects of this struggle, including moments of self-doubt, emotional breakdowns, and even self-destructive behavior.

The narrative also critiques the pressures of artistic validation. Stephanie’s university prioritizes “selling shots” over creative expression, a conflict that mirrors real-world tensions in the art world. Her frustration with this system is palpable, and her eventual breakdown feels like a natural, if tragic, conclusion to her journey.

The Relationship Between Stephanie and Brandon

The relationship between Stephanie and Brandon is the emotional core of the game. Their love story begins with promise—Stephanie’s mother even encourages her to flirt with Brandon for practical reasons—but it quickly devolves into something darker. Brandon’s eventual decision to leave Stephanie is the catalyst for her emotional unraveling, and the game’s title, I’ll Kill Her, takes on a metaphorical meaning. It’s not just about physical violence; it’s about the emotional destruction that comes from love, obsession, and betrayal.

Narrative Flaws: Translation and Editing Issues

While the themes of I’ll Kill Her are ambitious and often affecting, the execution leaves much to be desired. The game’s biggest flaw is its poor translation and editing. The dialogue is riddled with grammatical errors, awkward phrasing, and even nonsensical words that appear to be mistranslations or typos. Phrases like “Everyone around are getting in your way” and made-up words like “tovrop” and “albab” disrupt the flow of the story and make it difficult to fully immerse oneself in Stephanie’s journey.

The non-linear storytelling, while thematically appropriate, is also poorly executed. Scenes often cut abruptly, leaving the player confused about the timeline and the context of certain events. This lack of clarity makes it difficult to fully grasp the narrative’s emotional beats, and the ending—while bleak and impactful—feels rushed and underdeveloped.

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Gameplay Mechanics & Systems: A Visual Novel with Minimal Interaction

I’ll Kill Her is, at its core, a visual novel, and its gameplay reflects this. The majority of the experience involves reading through the story, with occasional interactive elements to break up the narrative.

The Comic-Book Presentation

The game is presented as an interactive comic book, with panels that the player can click through at their own pace. The art style is one of the game’s strongest aspects, featuring expressive character designs, moody lighting, and abstract visuals that enhance the emotional tone of the story. Some panels include subtle animations, such as raindrops falling during a stormy scene or a character’s finger pointing accusatorily, which add a layer of dynamism to the otherwise static presentation.

The Dress-Up Minigame

In addition to the main story, I’ll Kill Her includes a dress-up minigame, where players can customize Stephanie’s outfits. This feature is extremely basic—players simply click on different clothing items to dress or undress Stephanie—and serves little purpose beyond unlocking achievements. It feels like a half-hearted attempt to add replayability, but it ultimately detracts from the game’s focus on storytelling.

The Art Gallery

The game also includes an art gallery, where players can view bonus illustrations of Stephanie. While the artwork is well-done, the gallery feels like an afterthought, offering little in the way of additional narrative context or emotional depth.

Lack of Meaningful Choices

Unlike many visual novels, I’ll Kill Her does not include branching pathways or meaningful player choices. The story is linear, and the player’s only interaction is to advance the narrative. This lack of agency makes the experience feel more like reading a comic book than playing a game, which may disappoint players expecting a more interactive experience.

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World-Building, Art & Sound: A Moody, Atmospheric Experience

Despite its narrative and technical flaws, I’ll Kill Her excels in creating a moody, atmospheric world that draws the player into Stephanie’s emotional turmoil.

Art Direction: A Comic Book with Emotional Depth

The game’s art style is one of its strongest assets. Adele Gromova’s illustrations are expressive and evocative, using color, lighting, and composition to convey Stephanie’s emotional state. The comic-book presentation is enhanced by subtle animations and sound effects, such as the sound of rain during a stormy scene or the flickering of a neon sign in a dimly lit alley. These details add depth to the visuals and help immerse the player in the story.

Sound Design: Atmospheric and Moody

The sound design in I’ll Kill Her is minimal but effective. The game uses ambient noise—such as rain, wind, and distant city sounds—to create a sense of atmosphere. The music, composed by Kevin MacLeod, is moody and atmospheric, though it relies heavily on stock tracks that may feel familiar to players who have heard them in other indie games. The voice acting is limited to occasional grunts and sighs, which adds to the game’s cinematic feel but does little to enhance the emotional impact of the story.

World-Building: A Gritty, Urban Setting

The game’s setting is a gritty, urban environment that reflects Stephanie’s emotional state. The city is depicted as a cold, unforgiving place, filled with neon lights, rain-slicked streets, and shadowy alleyways. This setting enhances the game’s themes of isolation and despair, making Stephanie’s struggles feel even more poignant.

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Reception & Legacy: A Mixed Response and a Niche Appeal

I’ll Kill Her received a mixed reception upon its release. Critics and players alike praised the game’s art direction and atmospheric presentation, but many were put off by its poor translation, inconsistent editing, and confusing narrative structure.

Critical Reception: A Flawed but Ambitious Effort

The game’s only professional review, from eShopper Reviews, gave it a score of 33%, citing its “nonsensical” story and “terrible editing” as major flaws. However, the review also acknowledged the game’s strong art direction and atmospheric presentation, suggesting that it might appeal to players who are willing to overlook its technical shortcomings.

On Steam, I’ll Kill Her has a “Mixed” rating, with 63% of user reviews being positive. Many players praised the game’s emotional depth and visual style, while others criticized its lack of polish and confusing storytelling. The game’s low price point—often discounted to less than $2—has made it a popular impulse buy, but its niche appeal means that it has not achieved widespread success.

Legacy: A Cult Following Among Visual Novel Fans

Despite its flaws, I’ll Kill Her has developed a small but dedicated following among fans of visual novels and dark, emotionally complex stories. Its themes of mental health, artistic struggle, and toxic relationships resonate with players who appreciate raw, unfiltered storytelling. The game’s short runtime—just 5 to 30 minutes, depending on the player’s reading speed—makes it an easy recommendation for those looking for a quick but impactful experience.

However, I’ll Kill Her is unlikely to be remembered as a classic of the visual novel genre. Its technical flaws and narrative inconsistencies prevent it from reaching the heights of games like Danganronpa or Steins;Gate, which balance emotional depth with polished execution. Instead, I’ll Kill Her will likely be remembered as a flawed but fascinating experiment—a game that dared to explore difficult themes but ultimately fell short of its ambitions.

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Conclusion: A Game Worth Experiencing, Despite Its Flaws

I’ll Kill Her is a game that defies easy categorization. It’s a visual novel that feels more like an interactive comic book, a love story that spirals into psychological horror, and a character study that explores the darkest corners of the human psyche. Its strengths—its striking art direction, its moody atmosphere, and its ambitious themes—are undeniable. However, its flaws—its poor translation, its inconsistent editing, and its confusing narrative structure—are equally difficult to ignore.

For players who are willing to overlook these flaws, I’ll Kill Her offers a brief but impactful experience. Its exploration of mental health, artistic struggle, and toxic relationships is raw and unfiltered, and its emotional beats—when they land—are powerful. The game’s low price point makes it an easy recommendation for fans of visual novels and dark storytelling, but it’s not a game that will appeal to everyone.

In the end, I’ll Kill Her is a game that lingers in the mind not because of its polish, but because of its boldness. It’s a reminder that even flawed art can be meaningful, and that sometimes the most powerful stories are the ones that aren’t afraid to show their rough edges.

Final Verdict: 6/10 – A Flawed but Fascinating Experiment in Dark Storytelling

I’ll Kill Her is not a perfect game, but it’s one that deserves to be experienced by those who appreciate raw, emotionally complex narratives. Its technical flaws are significant, but its ambition and atmospheric presentation make it a memorable, if imperfect, addition to the visual novel genre.