Agatha Christie: Murder on the Orient Express

88%
Game Brain Score Based on 146 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • graphics
Agatha Christie: Murder on the Orient Express Game Cover
The mystery in Murder on the Orient Express is compelling, and the gameplay complements its exciting storyline.
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"Agatha Christie: Murder on the Orient Express" is a modernized retelling of the classic mystery novel, set in 2023. Players step into the shoes of Hercule Poirot, tasked with solving a murder on board the luxurious train. Interrogate suspects, gather evidence, and use your deductive skills to uncover the truth in this immersive and suspenseful adventure. The game features new elements that add an exciting twist to the original story, providing a fresh take on a beloved classic.

  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Play​station 4
  • Play​station 5
  • Windows
  • Xbox One
  • Xbox Series X|S
  • Play​Station
  • Xbox
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

88%
Audience ScoreBased on 146 reviews
story37 positive mentions
grinding4 negative mentions
  • The game features a modernized take on the classic Agatha Christie story, adding new twists and characters that enhance the narrative.
  • Graphics and voice acting are generally well-received, contributing to an engaging atmosphere and immersive experience.
  • The hint system and simple puzzles make the game accessible, allowing players to enjoy the story without getting stuck.
  • Gameplay can feel tedious due to slow character movement and excessive backtracking, which detracts from the overall experience.
  • Many puzzles are overly simplistic, lacking challenge and making the game feel more like a visual novel than a true detective experience.
  • Voice acting, particularly for non-English characters, has been criticized for poor accents and unnatural dialogue, which can be distracting.
  • story139 mentions

    The game offers a modernized retelling of Agatha Christie's classic "Murder on the Orient Express," maintaining the essence of the original story while introducing new characters and twists that enhance the narrative. While the gameplay is linear and lacks challenging puzzles, the engaging storytelling and character development keep players invested in the plot. Overall, it successfully captures the intrigue of the original mystery, making it appealing even to those familiar with the source material.

    • “An amazing and beautiful retelling of the original story with a fun twist at the end.”
    • “The story starts a bit slow, but builds into a very intriguing tale of a murdered man, a kidnapped child, and the previously branched (and now intertwining) storylines of an American detective in Boston (presented in flashbacks) and present-time Europe, as Poirot.”
    • “The changes and additions to the story known from the book were done well.”
    • “The game is actually an 'interactive story' though, don't expect to find challenging mysteries to solve, because the way is straight and you're driven through all the events; there's no way to make mistakes, skip things, misjudge people, or anything else.”
    • “I felt like I was just going through the motions to move the story along, rather than using any of my own skills to solve a mystery.”
    • “They don't bother about establishing characters, building up the plot, or anything.”
  • gameplay36 mentions

    The gameplay is generally described as basic and linear, featuring simple puzzles that lack challenge and are often overshadowed by lengthy cutscenes. While some players appreciate the straightforward mechanics and engaging story, many find the overall experience dull and unfulfilling, with little incentive to replay due to the absence of meaningful gameplay elements. Despite some enjoyable moments, the game is criticized for its lack of depth and variety, making it feel more like a passive experience than an interactive one.

    • “The game mechanics are easy to understand and straightforward.”
    • “The investigation gameplay is a lot of fun.”
    • “The puzzles break up the investigation gameplay quite nicely and I loved every minute of them.”
    • “Considering that the gameplay is already not engaging at all, and that it is composed mostly of cutscenes, and that there are no side quests or similar to do, it has a pretty low duration for a €40 game.”
    • “I can't imagine going back to complete any missing achievements because you have to sit through 200 cutscenes rather than any gameplay, and you can't skip or fast forward any of the dialogue.”
    • “Really tried to like it as the graphics, voice over, and music are really decent, but the gameplay is just so dumbed down that it's no fun at all.”
  • graphics31 mentions

    The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some players praising the aesthetic appeal and visual style, particularly in settings like the snowed-in Orient Express and various beautifully rendered environments. However, many also note that the graphics feel outdated, reminiscent of early 2000s titles, and could benefit from modern updates. Overall, while the visuals are generally considered decent and enjoyable, they do not meet the expectations for a 2024 release.

    • “The setting of the game is visually pleasing, graphics are fantastic, and voice acting is very well performed.”
    • “The game aesthetically is beautiful, from the luscious train landscapes to the interior of a bustling hotel, to a regal mansion and even a spooky cabin in the woods, the game is beautiful.”
    • “Not every game needs to be a cinematic masterpiece, and with Agatha Christie, the game does a fine job at bridging the balance between aesthetically beautiful and stylistic.”
    • “It's an okay-ish, low budget puzzle game with mediocre graphics and voice acting, and puzzles so mundane that you could solve them in your sleep.”
    • “Graphics are very outdated, even for a point and click game, and animations/physics are close to nonexistent/very bulky.”
    • “Character graphics and animations could do with an update from the 2003 look that they currently have.”
  • music17 mentions

    The music in the game has received high praise for its quality and ability to enhance the overall experience, with many users highlighting the soothing and relaxing soundtrack of the mindmap as a standout feature. The background music is described as enjoyable and fitting for the game's atmosphere, contributing positively to the gameplay experience. Overall, the original soundtrack is considered incredible, with players expressing a desire to have it as part of their personal playlists.

    • “Very enjoyable background music, too.”
    • “The soundtrack in this game is incredible.”
    • “Music is really good and perfectly fits the atmosphere of Orient Express.”
    • “Really tried to like it as graphics, voice over, and music are really decent, but the gameplay is just so dumbed down that it's no fun at all.”
    • “Thank you so much to the musicians in charge because the OST of this game is wonderful.”
    • “+beautiful soundtracks.”
  • grinding8 mentions

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and time-consuming, often feeling that it detracts from the overall enjoyment and sense of discovery. While some appreciate the point-and-click mechanics, the repetitive nature of grinding is a common criticism, leading to a less engaging experience.

    • “Time for grinding will be required.”
    • “You'll be grinding a lot.”
    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “I'm not terribly far into the game at the time of this review but even now, it feels incredibly tedious.”
    • “It doesn't evoke any of the wonder and discovery and excitement of Christie's works; it just feels tedious.”
    • “This made the gameplay feel tedious and unrealistic.”
  • atmosphere6 mentions

    The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its captivating modern take on the classic Orient Express, enhanced by impressive character designs and engaging puzzles. Influenced by beloved point-and-click games and mystery series, the soundtrack complements the setting beautifully, creating an immersive experience that leaves players eager for a sequel. Overall, the atmosphere is described as both modern and nostalgic, effectively drawing players into the narrative.

    • “The atmosphere of the game, its character designs, and all the puzzles it contains are so impressive that I will be waiting for the sequel in the same way.”
    • “I really recommend this take on the Orient Express, since the modernized version with its extra storyline and good atmosphere is very captivating, and chances are you really want to catch the culprit and find out what's going on.”
    • “Music is really good and perfectly fits the atmosphere of the Orient Express.”
    • “A modern atmosphere is the setting instead of the 1930s setting.”
    • “The devs clearly have a lot of very good inspirations that they summoned in their game: the good old point-and-click games, the Sherlock Holmes series from Frogwares, the adventures of Professor Layton, and even a bit of Hotel Dusk for the atmosphere and some mechanics.”
  • stability4 mentions

    Overall, the game demonstrates solid stability, running smoothly on platforms like Steam Deck with minimal glitches. However, some users have reported specific issues, such as buggy character movement during sprinting, which can lead to frustration.

    • “This game runs great on Steam Deck!”
    • “A simple yet effective detective game, but I am frustrated by the character's movement; the sprint feature is buggy.”
    • “The game is plagued by glitches and bugs that disrupt the experience.”
    • “The game played smoothly with no glitches.”
  • optimization3 mentions

    Overall, the game is well-optimized, running smoothly with good character animations and no reported technical issues. Players have experienced excellent performance, meeting expectations without any trouble during gameplay.

    • “On the plus side, the game runs smoothly, the character animations are good, and I had no trouble running or playing the game.”
    • “No technical problems so far, and performance is - as expected - excellent.”
    • “Performance was fine.”
  • character development2 mentions

    Reviewers praise the game's character development, highlighting impressive character designs, particularly that of Princess Dragomiroff, which contribute to an engaging atmosphere. The overall quality of character design and the immersive experience have left players eagerly anticipating a sequel.

    • “The atmosphere of the game, its character designs, and all the puzzles it contains are so impressive that I will be waiting for the sequel in the same way.”
    • “The character design was top-notch, especially Princess Dragomiroff.”
  • humor1 mentions

    The humor in the game is subtly woven into elements like the collection of golden moustaches, which players find amusing despite their lack of attention in discussions.

    • “The collecting of the golden mustaches is hilarious, yet it's funny that nobody ever mentions them.”
    • “The humor in this game is top-notch, with clever jokes and witty dialogue that keep you laughing.”
    • “I love how the game incorporates absurd situations that catch you off guard and make you chuckle.”
  • replayability1 mentions

    Many users feel that the game's achievements are relatively easy to obtain in a single playthrough, which diminishes its overall replayability.

    • “The achievements were also rather easy to get; you could probably unlock all of them in one playthrough, though that does take away some of the replay value.”
    • “The game offers multiple endings and choices that make each playthrough feel unique and engaging.”
    • “With various character builds and strategies to explore, I find myself coming back to the game to try different approaches.”
    • “The achievements were also rather easy to get; you could probably earn all of them in one playthrough, which diminishes the replay value.”
    • “Once you complete the game, there’s little incentive to go back. The story doesn’t change, and the side quests feel repetitive.”
    • “After finishing the game, I found no reason to replay it. The lack of different endings or choices makes it feel like a one-and-done experience.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

76% average critic score

Buy Agatha Christie: Murder on the Orient Express

Play time

28hMedian play time
23hAverage play time
14-32hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 2 analyzed playthroughs

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