Before starting this review, I want to thank the authors Michele Dal Bo, Andrea Sbragia, Luca Mulazzani, and Giovanni Poli for sending us a copy of Modus Operandi – American Serial Killers. An economics professor, a geologist, a psychologist, and a criminal lawyer meet and bring to life this independent Italian roleplaying game under the Coleman Piskins Roleplay Games© label. This project was presented at Play Festival del Gioco 2025 in Bologna.

Dossier 1, which is the rulebook, consists of 228 pages and costs €7.90. If this product interests you, I suggest you to visit the project’s Facebook page by clicking here.

The Weight of the Setting

Inspired by TV series such as Mind Hunter, C.S.I., White Collar and N.C.I.S., Modus Operandi – American Serial Killers takes us to the 1970s. To an America deeply marked by the strong presence of true crime and a growing number of serial killers who became famous worldwide. Just think of Ted Bundy, Jeffrey Dahmer, Billy Milligan, or John Wayne Gacy, capable of horrifying and at the same time fascinating global public opinion.

Certainly, true crime enthusiasts (like myself) will find the intent of Modus Operandi – American Serial Killers, which we will analyze in this review, stimulating. It does not present itself as a roleplaying game where you frantically chase the killer through dark alleys, perhaps with the aid of mystical or alien elements. Modus Operandi – American Serial Killers wants to focus on the investigation and understanding of evidence, emphasizing the psychological and behavioral aspects of the serial killer. The narrative and interpretative part takes on a fundamental role.

In preparing this review, I immediately found the game’s focus fascinating. It concentrates, in fact, on the “motivations of the villain”, on understanding and interpreting the killer’s language through their actions and their modus operandi.

Given the themes addressed in Modus Operandi – American Serial Killers, it is wise to warn players about the presence of elements that could be disturbing, without ever becoming splatter. On the cover of Modus Operandi – American Serial Killers, a Warning Notice advises that the topics covered may offend the player’s sensitivity.

Characters

In Modus Operandi – American Serial Killers, we find a game system specifically designed for this product. It aligns well with the authors’ intention to focus on the investigation of clues and the understanding of the killer’s urges, with particular attention to the psychological aspect.

Interestingly, on a mechanical level, there is a management of time and how the characters use it during the investigations. This can lead them to states of relaxation, stress, or tension, translated into Pressure Points that alter their Mental Health Status. This dynamic modifies the way they act or the outcome of tests and allows players to actively perceive the weight of the investigations. For example, if a character accumulates 50 or more Pressure Points, they are in Burnout and are removed from the investigations and Unit K.

The psychological aspect becomes twofold, within the game as a mechanical element, and at the table as an element of tension that aims to push the player to act before it’s too late.

Players take on the roles of professionals within Special Unit K, born within the F.B.I. You interpret police officers, federal agents, detectives, but also journalists, marines, psychologists, or informants, specifically trained in the investigation of serial killers.

Each Profession is associated with specific exclusive skills, called Primary Requirement, in addition to other Skills among Professional, General, and Basic. Once the Profession is chosen, you gain the specific Primary Requirement and some automatic points in Skills.

Players can then distribute additional points to customize their character’s skills. They can assign 12 points to Basic Skills, 10 to Professional Skills, and a significant 40 to General Skills. However, be careful not to further increase Professional Skills of other classes to avoid diminishing the usefulness of other characters’ presence.

Game Mechanics

The character creation mechanics in Modus Operandi – American Serial Killers establish dependencies within the group, thus encouraging collaboration among its members.

Precisely by preferring a streamlined mechanical system, Modus Operandi – American Serial Killers uses a simple 10-sided die to determine success or failure in tests. It’s different for the Primary Requirement which, when used correctly, grants automatic access to the information the character is seeking. This is unless their Mental State is altered, in which case a die roll is also required.

Furthermore, there is a substantial number of investigation sheets that players can fill out to keep track of the information acquired. We have a sheet for suspects, one for the crime scene, and one for the serial killer, in which to note their profile, psychological traits, family members, home inspections, and data emerging from interrogations.

In Modus Operandi – American Serial Killers, there is certainly the opportunity to eliminate Pressure Points and relieve stress, but always with a careful eye on the time. The serial killer is ready to strike again. Will you bear the weight of another death you could have prevented?

The game master in Modus Operandi – American Serial Killers is called the Prosecutor. As usual, it is their responsibility to outline the events, occurrences, evidence, and the assignment of Pressure Points, as well as to play the NPCs. Furthermore, the Prosecutor is the only one who knows the behind-the-scenes of the events and the adventure that the characters will face.

Dossier: The Tutorial Case and the First Investigation

In reading Modus Operandi – American Serial Killers to write this review, it immediately seemed clear to me that it is less effective in one-shots, but rather lends itself more to adventures of 2 or more sessions, even in the simplest cases. The characters will have to face multiple murders before they begin to sketch a profile of the Serial Killer. But also find consistencies or differences, interact with different people, await laboratory analyses, or rediscover old documentation.

The Tutorial Case and the First Investigation, which respectively make up Dossier 2 and Dossier 3, consist of 134 pages and 167 pages, and cost €5.90 each. In addition to the adventure, various handouts and a considerable number of non-player characters are included. In the Tutorial Case, there are also pre-generated character sheets and various tips that accompany and help the Prosecutor.

Review of the Aesthetics of Modus Operandi – American Serial Killers

Holding Modus Operandi – American Serial Killers in my hands, with its cardboard document folder (which can be used as a game master’s screen) and the envelopes containing various handouts, immediately made me perceive the “weight” of the investigation. For a moment, I imagined myself as an agent of Unit K receiving a new mission. The dedication in realizing this aspect is remarkable.

I admit that I struggled a bit to appreciate the layout and the graphic design in general. Although it complements the style of the game well, the reading feels heavy with this entirely grayscale graphic, with the exception of the colored cover and some handouts. The A4-sized volumes are presented as F.B.I. files in full 1970s style, strictly typewritten on slightly grayed letterhead.

I find that the style, which permeates the entire manual, makes it less fluid to read, potentially straining the eyes. Without wanting to judge this choice too harshly (especially since it is conceptually fitting), I would have preferred this style to be reserved for the introduction only, leaving space for cleaner pages afterward. I also wouldn’t have disliked more color, perhaps in the titles or boxes, or a slightly yellowed page background, which would have caused fewer reading problems.

In general, the images used in Modus Operandi – American Serial Killers vary, from photo-like, to pen sketches, to simple line art. They provide variety, but at times they could have been integrated with more care. The text is justified across the full page, while the images often extend beyond the layout, creating a certain dynamism that I nevertheless find somewhat heavy at times. The use of images with sheets attached by adhesive tape, used as boxes, is interesting.

Conclusions of the Review of Modus Operandi – American Serial Killers

As I mentioned at the beginning, this project comes from independent authors, and this justifies the aesthetic imperfections that arise from the desire to make even the game materials immersive.

The entire project and the developed idea are captivating, although, in some parts, there are redundant text sections aimed at thoroughly explaining concepts. The introduction of certain psychological dynamics and mechanics are the most valuable elements of this game.

Obviously, the narrative hook is always the same. As members of a specialized team, you will rarely stumble upon a mystery. Whether you receive a phone call or are on duty, the case will be presented to you immediately. It’s a bit like the saying “it’s a dirty job but someone has to do it”, bringing the characters involvement to a professional rather than a personal level.

In preparing this review of Modus Operandi – American Serial Killers, I found Dossier 2 and 3, namely the Tutorial Case and the First Investigation, not particularly straightforward to propose as introductory adventures. The complexity and the multitude of elements present could severely test a game master, requiring an adequate study phase. After all, the proposed themes are not at all trivial. The gaming experience that wants to recreate is that of a mysterious and complicated case.

Whether you are fans of true crime, behavioral psychology, criminology, or pure investigations, this game might be for you, provided you have the time to prepare adequately.

If you enjoyed this review of Modus Operandi – American Serial Killers, remember to follow us to stay updated on other interesting roleplaying games!