Chiller (version 3.0)

Chiller is a single-player shooter released by Exidy in 1986 that challenges players to dispatch targets across four distinct and unsettling screens. Using a fixed light gun, players must systematically eliminate human figures and various gruesome elements found within each environment, from a torture chamber with chained victims to a haunted hallway filled with ghosts and body parts. Successful completion of a screen involves targeting specific body parts on the displayed characters, leading to increasingly graphic results. The game’s structure encourages thorough exploration; hidden targets exist on each screen and discovering them provides clues for future play. Clearing all targets on a single screen triggers a slot machine bonus, while uncovering every secret across all screens unlocks a shooting gallery challenge and awards an additional free game. The gameplay loop repeats until all secrets are revealed, offering a macabre test of aim and observation. Built using Exidy 440 hardware, Chiller features a unique presentation with its monitor obscured within the cabinet and displayed via a mirror for the player. Its graphic content, depicting violence in vivid detail, was notable even for the time of its release.