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Agatha Christie: Murder on the Orient Express

The mystery in Murder on the Orient Express is compelling, and the gameplay complements its exciting storyline.
Agatha Christie: Murder on the Orient Express Game Cover
81%Game Brain Score
story, graphics
grinding, stability
86% User Score Based on 349 reviews
Critic Score 79%Based on 10 reviews

Platforms

Nintendo SwitchXbox Series X|SPCXbox Game PassPlaystation 5CloudPlaystation 4Xbox OneXbox Cloud GamingXboxWindowsPlayStation
Agatha Christie: Murder on the Orient Express Game Cover

About

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

"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.

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86%
Audience ScoreBased on 349 reviews
story97 positive mentions
grinding10 negative mentions

  • The game offers a fun and engaging modern twist on the classic Agatha Christie story, keeping it fresh for both new players and fans of the original.
  • The graphics and voice acting are well done, creating an immersive atmosphere that enhances the storytelling experience.
  • The puzzles are enjoyable and varied, providing a good balance of challenge without being overly difficult, making it accessible for a wider audience.
  • The game can feel overly simplistic and linear, with little room for player agency or meaningful choices, making it less engaging for seasoned mystery fans.
  • There are instances of tedious backtracking and slow character movement, which can detract from the overall pacing and enjoyment of the game.
  • Some voice acting and character portrayals may come off as awkward or inconsistent, which can break immersion and affect the overall quality of the experience.
  • story
    325 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's story is a modern adaptation of Agatha Christie's classic "Murder on the Orient Express," featuring familiar plot elements alongside new characters and twists that aim to refresh the narrative. While some players appreciate the updated setting and additional layers of intrigue, others feel that the changes detract from the original's depth and tension, leading to a mixed reception regarding its execution. Overall, the storytelling is engaging, with strong voice acting and a cinematic feel, though it may not satisfy purists of the original tale.

    • “The game is a beautiful homage to the original story and adds a modern take, respecting the source material.”
    • “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.”
    • “The story is interesting even for someone who knows it from the books or films as a new twist is added and extends the story in a new direction.”
    • “There was no point whatsoever for it, and every time I sank into the story and the characters, there would suddenly be a flat screen TV or a smartphone.”
    • “The changes to the story make no sense at all.”
    • “The story seems watered down too, being less interesting than any of the movies or the original book.”
  • graphics
    76 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Overall, the graphics of the game received mixed reviews, with many praising the beautiful and stylized visuals that enhance the immersive experience, while others noted that some character models and animations felt outdated or lacked refinement for a 2023 release. The art style was appreciated for its aesthetic appeal, though some players felt it could have been more polished. Despite the criticisms, the graphics were generally considered a strong point, contributing positively to the game's atmosphere and storytelling.

    • “Incredible game with beautiful graphics and a great storyline!”
    • “The graphics are beautiful and satisfying, the story is well written and puts a few twists and turns on the original Agatha Christie story to keep it interesting!”
    • “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/very bulky.”
    • “I would really love to play more games like this, but in 2023 I would expect slightly better graphics/gameplay.”
  • gameplay
    73 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay is a blend of traditional detective mechanics, emphasizing observation, deduction, and dialogue, which some players find engaging and immersive. While the puzzles are generally easy and the interface can be awkward, the overall experience is enhanced by a compelling story and character interactions, making it a solid choice for fans of the genre. However, some reviewers criticize the gameplay for being overly simplistic and linear, with a reliance on cutscenes that detracts from the overall engagement.

    • “The gameplay adheres closely to the logic-driven design of a traditional detective adventure, emphasizing observation, deduction, and dialogue over action.”
    • “It’s an intuitive mechanic that helps maintain a sense of progression, ensuring that players always have a clear understanding of how discoveries fit into the larger picture.”
    • “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.”
    • “Poirot’s gameplay often involves walking from the front of the train to the back, then back again to the front just to solve a puzzle.”
    • “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.”
    • “Considering that the gameplay is already not engaging at all, and that it is composed mostly in cutscenes, and that there are no side quests or similar to do, it has a pretty low duration for a 40€ game.”
  • music
    36 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the game has received widespread acclaim for its ability to enhance the atmosphere, with a diverse range of soundtracks that include soothing piano melodies, tense orchestral pieces, and enjoyable background tunes that fit various settings. Players particularly praised the mindmap's soundtrack as a standout feature, describing it as relaxing and perfect for focus. However, some noted that certain tracks, like the elevator music on the train, could become repetitive and detract from the overall experience.

    • “The soundtrack reinforces this mood beautifully, alternating between subdued piano melodies and tense orchestral flourishes that heighten moments of revelation or confrontation.”
    • “The relaxing music of the bar is my personal favorite, and had me lingering on more than one occasion to bask in the ambiance.”
    • “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.”
    • “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.”
    • “I want this soundtrack badly.”
  • grinding
    15 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Overall, players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and repetitive, with many expressing frustration over the lengthy dialogues, slow-paced exploration, and lack of engaging content. While some enjoy the point-and-click mechanics, the grinding required to progress detracts from the overall enjoyment and excitement of the experience. Many reviewers wish for options to skip tedious segments to alleviate the monotony.

    • “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.”
    • “It doesn't evoke any of the wonder and discovery and excitement of Christie's works; it just feels tedious.”
    • “The mystery makes little sense, the new characters are not interesting, and the puzzles are tedious.”
  • atmosphere
    15 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's atmosphere is consistently praised for its blend of intrigue, elegance, and unease, effectively immersing players in a cozy yet sophisticated detective experience. The high-quality graphics, music, and voice acting further enhance this ambiance, making it a captivating homage to classic crime novels and point-and-click adventures. Overall, players appreciate the game's ability to create a nostalgic and atmospheric setting that complements its engaging narrative and puzzles.

    • “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.”
    • “The graphics and the atmosphere enhance the immersive experience.”
    • “Still, the overall presentation captures the intended atmosphere, blending elegance with unease.”
    • “A cozy atmosphere and the classic structure of a Poirot novel.”
    • “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.”
  • humor
    6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The humor in the game is well-received, with players finding the modern setting and NPCs glued to their smartphones particularly amusing. Characters like Hercule contribute to the comedic moments, and the overall lightheartedness of the story, including quirky elements like collecting golden mustaches, adds to the fun. While some aspects may seem cheap, the humor effectively enhances the gameplay experience.

    • “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.”
    • “It's hilarious to me, the ABC Murders was practically the perfect video game adaptation; it barely changed anything and every change felt necessary.”
  • stability
    6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Overall, the game's stability is mixed; while some players report smooth performance with no glitches, others experience occasional freezing and buggy character movement. Notably, it runs well on the Steam Deck, but issues with specific puzzles and sprint mechanics have been highlighted.

    • “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
    4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Overall, the game's optimization received mixed feedback; while some users experienced smooth performance and good character animations without technical issues, others noted questionable PC optimization that affected their motivation to continue playing.

    • “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.”
    • “Combine this with questionable PC optimization, and at one point, I nearly lost all motivation to finish the game.”
    • “Performance was fine.”
  • replayability
    3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game offers minimal replayability, as players cannot skip lines or cutscenes, making subsequent playthroughs tedious. Additionally, the ease of obtaining achievements in a single run further diminishes the incentive to replay the game.

    • “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 were also rather easy to get; you could probably get all in one playthrough, though that does take away some of the replay value.”
  • monetization
    3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Many users feel that the game's price of 32 pounds is excessive and perceive it as a cash grab, indicating dissatisfaction with its monetization strategy.

    • “32 pounds for this game is a rip-off and a cash grab.”
    • “The in-game purchases are way too expensive and feel exploitative.”
    • “It seems like the developers are more interested in making money than providing a fair gaming experience.”
  • emotional
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The emotional aspect of the story is enhanced by a contemporary perspective that brings a human immediacy, contrasting with the protagonist's cerebral detachment. Additionally, the inclusion of Locke's investigation introduces significant emotional weight that was lacking in the original narrative.

    • “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.”
  • character development
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Reviewers praise the character development, highlighting exceptional character design, particularly noting the standout design of Princess Dragomiroff. Overall, the characters are well-crafted and contribute positively to the game's appeal.

    • “I love the character design and development.”
    • “The character design was top-notch, especially Princess Dragomiroff.”
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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.

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 this game for its story but disliked it for its grinding.

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

Similar games include Agatha Christie: The ABC Murders, Agatha Christie Hercule Poirot: The First Cases, Sherlock Holmes: Crimes and Punishments, Sherlock Holmes: Crimes & Punishments, Sherlock Holmes The Devil's Daughter and others.