Murderous Muses
It’s a year to the day since controversial artist Mordechai Grey was murdered.
Now, a new exhibition has opened on the anniversary of his death, featuring six of his most famous portraits - each one a potential suspect in his murder.
You play as the night watch, exploring the gallery in the echoing hours to uncover clues about his death. Solve puzzles and use the Eyes of Mordechai to bring the portraits to life, restoring the past to find his killer…
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Solve a cold-case murder mystery that re-rolls every time you play
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Explore a procedurally-generated 3D gallery with shifting rooms and unexpected twists
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Uncover clues and use deduction to find the killer
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Solve puzzles and unlock secret locations!
From the creators of The Infectious Madness of Doctor Dekker, The Shapeshifting Detective and Dark Nights with Poe and Munro, Murderous Muses is an infinitely replayable supernatural whodunit where choosing how to investigate is an art form…
Read More: Best Mystery Atmospheric Games.
The Beast Within: A Gabriel Knight® Mystery
A game I revisited from my childhood. A FMV classic from the 90s.
It’s an incredible piece of work. Completely engrossing and uncompromising. (It didn’t actually take 152 hours, I left it on the launch screen - but expect a good 25-30 hours if you don’t use a walkthrough)
You play just over half the game as the title character, Gabriel Knight. Knight is a reluctant shadow hunter following the events of the first game, Sins of the Fathers. Living in his ancestral town in Germany, he is asked to investigate the killings of a young girl near Munich. The town folk are convinced it was a werewolf.
– Real player with 152.5 hrs in game
Read More: Best Mystery Classic Games.
GK2 is the ‘Star Wars:Empire Strikes Back’ of the series, a really strong follow up to a fantastic first game, that may actually be even better than the original.
I’m on my 4th or 5th playthrough of this game since it came out many years ago, and it has singularly spawned my interest in topics such as Bavarian/German history, Werewolves and Wagner. It’s a ‘pilgrimage’ type game, which has me coming back and that in itself tells you a lot of about the quality of this game if i’m willing to do it over and over again.
– Real player with 29.1 hrs in game
The Dark Side of the Moon: An Interactive FMV Thriller
Well what I can say. I am one of those who backed Tayanna Studios for a long time and knew he would have a brilliant project to come out and I got to say.
You play as Dean Hamilton who has had his kids Ruby and Andy kipnapped and you have to find them and bring them back home but you find out it is not that simple. Dean Hamilton is played by Darren Hall who is an auteur for this project and got to give him real credit and super love on this.
This is a really good game with a great story. It mixes FMV gameplay and point & click gameplay really well. The game is really basic which could turn off people but I think it is needed especially with this story as the main focus is on the gameplay and acting.
– Real player with 14.0 hrs in game
Read More: Best Mystery Atmospheric Games.
It was a boring Friday night …
I could find nothing to watch on TV.
A friend told me about this so I peeked and then purchased.
I launched it only to make sure it ran properly :-) – it did. Then I looked up, it was two hours later, I was almost halfway through. I was hooked and quite immersed in the story.
Your children are missing:
What would you do and who would you trust?
The game page description is accurate so I won’t repeat it.
GAMEPLAY:
This reminded me of Carol Reed games, but instead of conventional movement you easily click a box to move.
– Real player with 9.0 hrs in game
Death Come True
Coming from the same creator of Danganronpa, Death Come True is a marvelous FMV with a very interesting and genius gameplay. You play as a person who woke up in a hotel room with no memories of what brought him to this place. He’ll meet people who’ll tell him what is his identity, or what they thought he is. I’m not going to give away much about the story because it’ll be more fun for you to discover it yourself.
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2297203710
It has multiple endings, and the most interesting part that if you die, the game will restart but the main character will still have a memory of whatever event happened and the people he met. This will give you a chance to take different choices and decisions.
– Real player with 3.4 hrs in game
I recommend this game, but I’d be lying if I said it didn’t leave me disappointed. Death Come True comes to us from the developer of the Danganronpa series and is a FMV mystery title. As the story plays out, the game will occasionally prompt you to make a choice where you then witness the outcome of your decision; like a Choose Your Own Adventure novel. However, that’s where my primary criticism of the game comes in. Despite the illusion of choice, DCT is actually very linear. Usually you are left with deciding between one of two paths, but making the “incorrect” decision often leads to a quick Game Over and the option to continue the game at the last branch in the story line, so you can make the other choice and advance. It doesn’t always play out like this, but in the interest of avoiding spoilers, I’ll ease up on getting more specific. Also, this game is a lot shorter than I was expecting. In 3.4 hours, I earned all the achievements and witnessed all the branching outcomes. Granted, there is a fast-forward option that I used to bypass scenes that had already played out in a previous playthrough, but I still wanted a little more meat on this bone. So, why do I recommend it? Because it’s not a bad game. The story is interesting, albeit not as mind-blowing as I was hoping. Just know that you’re getting a bite-sized, Black Mirror: Bandersnatch-esque experience and not much else. With experience in the Zero Escape and Danganronpa series' prior to playing this game, it’s conceivable my expectations were too high. Nevertheless, I look forward to the seeing what Too Kyo Games comes up with next. But as it concerns DCT, I recommend waiting for a sale.
– Real player with 3.4 hrs in game
Night Book
Even though I’m average when it comes to keeping up with new games and playing them, I’ve really liked the FMVs/interactive games that Good Gate Media and Wales Interactive have been releasing recently, and Night Book is no exception! Even without knowing that it was filmed remotely in lockdown, it’s an enjoyable game with interesting characters: the beginning feels like a slow burner, but it sets up the story brilliantly and you quickly become fully immersed in the lore. I love the decision points in the game - they really feel like they make an impact and I can’t wait to play it again to go through the other story route now that I’ve completed the first run-through as it feels completely different. I was also really pleased with how the game dealt with the occult elements because I was never frightened out of my skin but I totally bought the creepiness of the story and Loralyn’s urgency, it’s really well done! I really felt for the characters and got very engrossed in the decisions given as Loralyn, and I was never bored while playing. Plus the fact that Night Book was filmed entirely remotely during lockdown is an amazing feat and makes the game even more impressive. Night Book is definitely value for money entertainment-wise even for people who aren’t hardcore gamers/horror fans, and I’d definitely recommend it!
– Real player with 13.8 hrs in game
FMV has some hit or miss titles out there. I’ve gotta say, I really like this one. It’s pretty short and definitely made to play multiple times, but this one is a fun complete in one sitting type of FMV. To give you a clue where my FMV tastes are, here’s a map of my fmvs.
Loved: Five Dates, Late Shift, I Saw Black Clouds, Shapeshifting Detective, Eric.
Disliked: The Complex, The Bunker - I know those are unpopular opinions, but just giving you a rough idea of where I’m at.
Pros:
- Acting really makes or breaks an FMV. The most polished writing and cinematography is useless if everyone acts like they’re putting on a high school play. Loralyn is great, really sells the horror and shock portions well. Pretty much all of the supporting characters nailed it. I’d say there’s some minor hiccups here and there, but that seems to stem from everyone being filmed separately.
– Real player with 4.3 hrs in game
The World After
A short but sweet game. The quality of the film shots is really nice, and the story is well written.
The second half of the game (from after the mansion gate) felt a little too linear, as you can only access one or two screens at a time. If you missed a lore QR-code at some point, you will realise this only in the very last game scene, forcing you to replay the game to get the true ending. A more open approach to the map would have been nice.
The puzzles were simple but consistent with the world, and the day/night mechanic was a great idea. Except for the very last puzzle, the solutions are more or less apparent from the story or available items.
– Real player with 5.2 hrs in game
The World After is an FMV game with gameplay similar to Contradiction: Spot the Liar.
A writer has recurring dreams and the answer to their meaning lies somewhere in the French village where he resides. It’s an interesting set-up, and while there isn’t a great deal to the plot, I liked what there is.
Unlike most modern FMV games, there is only one choice in this game to make. It isn’t the sort of game where you make many choices, and from those choices come many variations in the plot. It’s basically a point-and-click adventure game in FMV form, complete with inventory and a small number of characters to interact with.
– Real player with 4.4 hrs in game
Jessika
A detective story in which you must dig through various files on your laptop to identify the reasons for Jessika’s suicide. If you’re willing to look past the interface issues, you’ll find yourself engaged in a relatable life story about racism.
You might believe this is just another game with full motion video that allows you to browse through a person’s life. And you’d be completely correct. FMV is alive and does provide a truly enjoyable experience when combined with strong gameplay; in other words, when you are not simply watching a movie. “Jessika” is a nice example of the genre, with both positive and negative aspects.
– Real player with 13.0 hrs in game
Don’t expect much. It’s not a mystery to solve.The game just unfolds itself in very expected ways. So this is not much of a puzzle or a mystery game. The game is not quite about what it claims to be about. I expected some psychological stuff. Nah. Also expected some mystery solving. Nah. Boy have I got baited into buying this game or what haha. Somewhat spoiler. Jessika don’t have any nudes on her computer for good reason. It’s the only bit that made most sense about this game in fact. So sorry you won’t be digging into the panty drawer of a hot german blonde instead you will be reading a very boring diary of a boring chick. Which is a bit realistic in a way haha. Anyway. Appreciate the effort buy the game this is a nice genre I believe it is a promising game style.
– Real player with 9.3 hrs in game
Tesla Effect: A Tex Murphy Adventure
I have been a fan of Tex Murphy since Under a Killing Moon – nearly twenty years! That said, I will not do this game or the community a disservice by writing anything less than a fully honest review. The game succeeds far more often than it fails, but is far from perfect, so I will not score it 10 out of nostalgia, or 0 out of disappointment.
First, let me give this game a score out of ten. In my opinion, it falls somewhere around 7.5. I think this game will please Tex fans and newcomers alike, even if it isn’t perfect. If you like a good story or adventure games, then check this one out. If you like it, I highly recommend trying out Tex’s past adventures.
– Real player with 31.4 hrs in game
As a Tex Murphy fan, I was stoked after hearing about the newest installment, and boy was I eager to play! But after playing half-way through, I found myself questioning whether I should even bother finishing the game. It was only through sheer force of will and a weird, nostalgic obligation, that I managed to see it through to the end. sigh So where to begin?
Let’s first talk about the things it did well:
Revisiting Chandler Avenue and reuniting with the old cast was a treat for old Tex Murphy fans like myself. And honestly, I didn’t mind the mediocre graphics, as it felt reminiscent of the old Tex Murphy games. The FMV sequences were well-done for the most part, and I enjoyed exploring areas without running into loading screens or having to change discs. (I know I’m throwing a bone here, but it’s the little things that count, right?) Unfortunately, that’s where the good ends. Now on to my personal gripes:
– Real player with 15.8 hrs in game
The Dame Was Loaded
its a very old game but i really like it. the creators of the games spent a lot of time filming the cut scenes and taking pictures of all the clues or devices used in the game to further the plot. for its time it is A grade game. it can get a little frustrating like any point and click game when the sequence of events or devices are need to get to the next check point so to speak and your not sure what you have missed. but if you can’t figure it out walkthroughs can be found. it is a detective story so it goes with the territory.
– Real player with 16.9 hrs in game
This is a really well done game ruined by a terrible save game system and too restrictive time limit system. Time limits can be fun but it’s too harsh in this game compared to the many other adventure games I’ve played with a time limit. You can only save AND load in one spot on the map, and it takes time to get back there depending on where you go in the world, meaning you can’t realistically save after you do a lot of stuff. Because many things in the game are time dependent, you’ll be redoing things constantly even if you make a small mistake. That said, I still recommend the game because it’s made really well for an adventure game and a classic noir detective story, and is charming as hell on top of that.
– Real player with 16.1 hrs in game
428: Shibuya Scramble
Fans of the visual novel genre have probably heard of Spike Chunsoft (formerly Chunsoft before the merge), the developers of the acclaimed Zero Escape and Danganronpa series. While Spike Chunsoft’s VNs don’t put a focus on cute girls or romantic drama, over the last decade or so they have gained a strong cult following with their intriguing mystery thriller plot and eccentric characters. What if I told you SC made another game that predates those two series and showcases arguably even better mastery of their strong suits? Enter 428: Shibuya Scramble.
– Real player with 60.5 hrs in game
To be honest, I already knew what my conclusion on 428 would be when I had gotten about halfway through it. For the sake of total disclosure, though, I decided I’d best complete the game in its entirety before pushing out a review. In short: 428 is a good game. It’s an exceedingly competent visual novel that stands out with its stylization and user interface. Its choice to use live action models as opposed to animesque sprites may have alienated a good portion of its Western audience, but I found it made the game more distinctive and engaging. Overall, I don’t regret playing it, and I can definitely see the average visual novel fan taking a lot of enjoyment from it, if they’re willing to accept the lack of anime stylization.
– Real player with 56.9 hrs in game