Agatha Christie: Murder on the Orient Express

The mystery in Murder on the Orient Express is compelling, and the gameplay complements its exciting storyline.

81%Game Brain Score

story, gameplay

grinding, stability

84% User Score Based on 431 reviews

Critic Score 78%Based on 11 reviews

Platforms

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About Agatha Christie: Murder on the Orient Express

Agatha Christie: Murder on the Orient Express is a single player simulation game with mystery, thriller and historical themes. It was developed by Microids Studio Lyon and was released on October 19, 2023. It received mostly positive reviews from critics and positive reviews from players.

Step on board the legendary Orient Express and immerse yourself in the most famous detective suit in a race against the clock to unmask the murderer.

Agatha Christie: Murder on the Orient Express screenshot

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Reviews

84%Audience ScoreBased on 431 reviews

story119 positive mentions

grinding10 negative mentions

Engaging and well-crafted retelling of Agatha Christie's classic mystery with modern twists and additional new storylines.
Strong atmosphere with well-designed environments, pleasant graphics, quality voice acting, and immersive soundtrack, especially the jazz music.
Accessible gameplay with varied puzzles and an intuitive mind map system that aids deduction while keeping the story front and center.

Excessive and slow-paced back-and-forth movement on the train without a sprint or fast travel option, causing player frustration.
Gameplay is overly linear and hand-holding, with too-easy puzzles, no penalty for mistakes, and a lack of meaningful player agency or challenge.
Some character animations and facial expressions feel stiff or uncanny, voice acting and accents are inconsistent or exaggerated, and dialogue cannot be skipped.

story
397 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
30% positive mentions, 67% neutral mentions, 3% negative mentions
The game presents a largely linear, modernized retelling of Agatha Christie's "Murder on the Orient Express," praised for its faithful core story, engaging characters, and added twists, including a new detective character expanding the narrative. While many appreciate the fresh perspective and well-executed plot, some critics find the story pacing uneven, with added subplots feeling forced or diluting the original’s tension. Overall, it is considered a compelling mystery experience, especially for fans and newcomers, despite some narrative and integration flaws.
- “The story is excellent, the characters are memorable, and the writing does a great job capturing the atmosphere of the original novel.”
- “You step into the polished shoes of Hercule Poirot, the world’s most meticulous detective, but also spend significant time playing as a newly introduced character, Joanna Locke, a private investigator whose storyline weaves through the events that precede the famous murder. This dual narrative approach is one of the game’s more inspired ideas, allowing the story to unfold from multiple angles. The interplay between their timelines gives the story a broader scope and helps refresh a tale that has been retold countless times.”
- “The story remains the centerpiece, and Microids has wisely chosen to preserve Christie’s central twist—the revelation of how all the passengers on the train are connected to a single, long-buried crime. Setting the story in 2023 adds new dimensions: smartphones replace telegrams, modern policing intersects with old-fashioned intuition, and the updated timeline allows the game to explore how truth-seeking has evolved in a world of instant information. Her perspective, more emotional and contemporary, lends the story a human immediacy that contrasts nicely with Poirot’s cerebral detachment. Nevertheless, the story’s forward momentum always returns as clues converge and the web of deceit tightens.”
- “They tried to go for a 'twist' ending but considering the very famous twist of the original story, it just falls so incredibly flat it's laughable.”
- “The plot being a carbon copy of the original book's story (until the shoehorned additional part at the end), that wouldn't be so bad if the game had some redeeming gameplay mechanics.”
- “The story is packed with twists and turns, and each character is well-written with their own backstory, making every interaction feel meaningful.”
gameplay
99 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
28% positive mentions, 66% neutral mentions, 6% negative mentions
The gameplay is generally straightforward and accessible, offering a blend of investigation, deduction, and light puzzles that are often easy and handholdy, which some find relaxing while others consider unchallenging and overly linear. While the mind-map mechanics and puzzle variety are praised for enhancing engagement, many criticize pacing issues, occasional clunky controls, and lack of player agency or meaningful stakes. Overall, the gameplay balances story and mechanics adequately but tends toward simplicity, appealing mainly to fans of cozy, logic-driven detective adventures.
- “Having played all of the previous Poirot games, this is the one where they finally got it right -- UI, mechanics, story.”
- “They finally found a good balance of story, gameplay, voice acting, length and puzzles.”
- “Unlike many mystery games that rely heavily on point-and-click mechanics or overly simple puzzles, this one offers a more interactive and immersive experience.”
- “The gameplay feels weak and not convenient.”
- “(3) Gameplay wise this was a slog.”
- “Pretty much every part of the game will require you to deal with mundane stuff such as getting a dessert recipe, fixing a juicer, moving boxes (that just happen to form a Hanoi tower), and they're there just to pad out gameplay time.”
graphics
86 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50% positive mentions, 43% neutral mentions, 7% negative mentions
The graphics are generally praised for their pleasant, stylized blend of realistic and cartoonish elements, with detailed environments that enhance immersion and atmosphere. While some find the visuals beautiful and fitting for the story, others note that the graphics feel somewhat outdated or modest compared to modern AAA titles, reflecting the game's low budget. Overall, the art style and graphical polish contribute positively to the game's appeal despite some minor shortcomings.
- “Fantastic game with superb graphics, excellent voice acting, and an excellently told story.”
- “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 boasts nice graphics, with detailed environments that capture the train’s opulence, and solid voice acting that brings the diverse cast to life.”
- “That said, for the price, the graphics could have been more refined.”
- “Graphics are very outdated, even for a point and click game, and animations/physics are close to nonexistent or very bulky.”
- “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.”
music
40 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
57% positive mentions, 35% neutral mentions, 8% negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its relaxing, atmospheric jazz and orchestral soundtracks that perfectly complement the murder mystery setting. Players especially enjoy the soothing mindmap music and seamless transitions that enhance immersion, though a few find certain repetitive tracks less appealing. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a standout element that greatly enriches the game's ambiance.
- “The soundtrack reinforces this mood beautifully, alternating between subdued piano melodies and tense orchestral flourishes that heighten moments of revelation or confrontation.”
- “The voice acting, scene design, music transitions, and the interplay between text and logic are all deeply immersive, creating a rich experience that resonates with the player.”
- “Thank you so much to the musicians in charge because the OST of this game is wonderful.”
- “That wouldn't be so bad except for the fact that on the train the walking is accompanied by what sounds like bad elevator music, very repetitive and a bit grating after a while.”
- “Voice work is decent, music a bit bland but ok.”
- “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.”
atmosphere
20 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
70% positive mentions, 30% neutral mentions, 0% negative mentions
The atmosphere is consistently praised for its strong immersion, capturing the intrigue, elegance, and coziness of the original novel and its setting on the Orient Express. Elements such as writing, voice acting, music, and graphics effectively enhance the mood, creating a sophisticated, nostalgic, and captivating experience, especially appealing to fans of slower-paced, atmospheric detective games.
- “From the opening sequence, the game establishes an atmosphere of intrigue and sophistication.”
- “The writing, voice acting, and atmosphere are all top-notch, and the puzzles are satisfying without feeling frustrating or repetitive.”
- “That said, 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, really do want to catch the culprit and find out what's going on.”
grinding
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
19% positive mentions, 18% neutral mentions, 63% negative mentions
Grinding in the game is widely described as tedious and excessive, with repetitive tasks like slow back-and-forth movement detracting from the experience. This significantly hampers enjoyment, making progression feel laborious rather than engaging or exciting.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “Time for grinding will be required.”
- “You'll be grinding a lot.”
- “Slowly walking the train back and forth dozens of times gets tedious.”
- “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.”
humor
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100% positive mentions, 0% neutral mentions, 0% negative mentions
The humor in the game is notably enhanced by its modern setting, creating amusing contrasts like characters glued to smartphones and quirky tasks such as identifying a banana vape liquid owner. Players find moments of genuine laughter throughout the story, with some appreciating its playful, unpretentious tone. Additionally, lighthearted elements like the golden moustaches add a subtle, humorous touch to the experience.
- “Something about Poirot being set in modern times was really funny to me - in particular the task where you are trying to identify who the banana vape liquid belongs to.”
- “I'm not sure if placing the story in the modern setting added anything of value to the story, but it's hilarious seeing the NPCs glued to their smartphones.”
- “I even burst into laughter at some humorous points in the story.”
stability
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33% positive mentions, 0% neutral mentions, 67% negative mentions
The game generally runs smoothly with minimal glitches, though some users report occasional bugs such as screen freezes and buggy character movement, particularly with sprinting. Overall, stability is better compared to similar titles.
- “The game played smoothly with no glitches.”
- “This game runs great on Steam Deck!”
- “I fix it and then my screen freezes.”
- “A simple yet effective detective game, so far I'm only frustrated by the movement of the character (sprint is buggy) - but so far it is much better than the other Agatha Christie game that I played this year.”
- “I had a few glitches, only one puzzle where it was tricky to move something but I figured it out.”
optimization
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60% positive mentions, 0% neutral mentions, 40% negative mentions
Optimization is generally solid, with smooth performance and good character animations, though PC optimization is somewhat inconsistent and may impact motivation for some players. Overall, no major technical issues were reported.
- “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.”
- “Combine this with questionable PC optimization, and at one point, I nearly lost all motivation to finish the game.”
- “Nothing serious, but don't expect an all-star performance from all the characters.”
character development
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100% positive mentions, 0% neutral mentions, 0% negative mentions
Users praise the game for its excellent character design and development, highlighting especially well-crafted characters like Princess Dragomiroff. The combination of strong visuals and thoughtful character growth enhances the overall experience.
- “I love the character design and development.”
- “The character design was top notch, especially Princess Dragomiroff.”
- “The graphics, soundtrack, character designs are all splendid.”
emotional
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100% positive mentions, 0% neutral mentions, 0% negative mentions
Users found the game emotionally impactful, particularly in portraying Daisy Armstrong's death and the theme of revenge. The humanized, contemporary perspective adds emotional immediacy that contrasts with Poirot’s detached demeanor, while Locke's investigation brings additional emotional depth missing from the original story.
- “Game made me feel emotional about Daisy Armstrong's death and revenge.”
- “Her perspective, more emotional and contemporary, lends the story a human immediacy that contrasts nicely with Poirot’s cerebral detachment.”
- “The addition of Locke's investigation also adds a certain emotional weight to the case, one that I understand was missing in the original.”
replayability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
0% positive mentions, 0% neutral mentions, 100% negative mentions
The game offers minimal replayability due to its linear adventure format and inability to skip dialogue or cutscenes. Additionally, easily obtainable achievements can be earned in a single playthrough, further reducing incentives to replay.
- “Lastly, this is an adventure game, so don't expect any replay value here after your first playthrough.”
- “There is no way to skip lines and cutscenes, which destroys any kind of replayability.”
- “The achievements are rather easy to get; you can probably get them all in one playthrough, which reduces the replay value.”
monetization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
0% positive mentions, 0% neutral mentions, 100% negative mentions
The monetization is criticized as excessively expensive, with users feeling the game is a cash grab and not providing good value for the price.
- “32 pounds for this game is a rip-off and a cash grab.”

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Critic Reviews

78%Critics’ scoreBased on 11 critic reviews

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Play Times

15h Median play time

16h Average play time

13-25h Spent by most gamers

*Based on 5 analyzed playthroughs

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Frequently Asked Questions

Agatha Christie: Murder on the Orient Express is a simulation game with mystery, thriller and historical themes. Common tags for Agatha Christie: Murder on the Orient Express include first-person, 3D, exploration, gaming, based on a novel and others.

Agatha Christie: Murder on the Orient Express is available on Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series X|S, PC, PlayStation 5 and others.

On average players spend around 16 hours playing Agatha Christie: Murder on the Orient Express.

Agatha Christie: Murder on the Orient Express was released on October 19, 2023.

Agatha Christie: Murder on the Orient Express was developed by Microids Studio Lyon.

Agatha Christie: Murder on the Orient Express has received mostly positive reviews from players and mostly positive reviews from critics. Most players liked Agatha Christie: Murder on the Orient Express for its story but disliked it for its grinding.

Agatha Christie: Murder on the Orient Express is a single player game.

Agatha Christie: Murder on the Orient Express

Platforms

Reviews

story

gameplay

graphics

music

atmosphere

grinding

humor

stability

optimization

character development

emotional

replayability

monetization

Critic Reviews