Art of Murder: The Secret Files

About

Art of Murder: The Secret Files is a single player action game with a mystery theme. It was developed by City Interactive S.A. and was released on July 13, 2018. It received negative reviews from players.

While working in Mexico and aiding in the fight against the Mexican drug cartels, DEA Specialist Professor J. Brenner was kidnapped by the cartel after an undercover Special Agent was murdered. Help Nicole Bonnet to uncover the clues and solve the case behind the terrible murder and kidnapping.

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Play Modes

Single-Player

Art of Murder: The Secret Files screenshot

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13%

Audience ScoreBased on 45 reviews

music2 positive mentions

gameplay4 negative mentions

The game features a female lead character, Nicole Bonnet, who is portrayed as intelligent and practical-minded.
The episodic structure allows for short gaming sessions, making it accessible for casual players.
Some hidden objects are cleverly hidden, providing a sense of satisfaction when found.

The gameplay is primarily focused on repetitive hidden object sequences, lacking depth in puzzle design and detective work.
Many players experienced game-breaking bugs, particularly with hidden object scenes not registering clicks, rendering the game unplayable.
The overall presentation feels dated, with minimal animation, no voice acting, and a lack of engaging storytelling.

story
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
21%
58%
21%
The story revolves around an undercover agent's murder and the abduction of a DEA operative, set against a backdrop of corruption and intrigue in Mexico. While it features some engaging elements typical of a procedural thriller, the narrative often feels like a mere framework for puzzles rather than a fully realized experience, lacking depth and immersion. Although the plot is coherent and has moments of interest, it ultimately falls short of being truly engaging, with a simplistic ending and limited character development.
- “The story begins with Bonnet being called to Mexico after an undercover agent is murdered and a key DEA operative, Professor Brenner, is abducted.”
- “+ The story was very interesting; it kept the mystery until the end. It ended very simply, but I somehow wasn't disappointed by the ending.”
- “Overall, it's not the worst hidden object game I've ever played; it at least worked from start to finish and had a coherent storyline.”
- “There are flashes of intrigue—the exotic settings, the sense of pursuit, and the thematic focus on corruption—but these are often overshadowed by the limited storytelling format.”
- “As with many casual mystery games of its era, the storytelling serves primarily as a vehicle to string together puzzles rather than to build genuine suspense.”
- “It captures some of the aesthetic trappings of a procedural thriller—the exotic settings, the crime scenes, the hints of danger—but never fully commits to using them for storytelling or immersion.”
gameplay
11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
18%
46%
36%
The gameplay is characterized by a blend of hidden object sequences and logic-based mini-games, aiming to create a crime-themed investigative experience. However, it suffers from repetitiveness, superficial mechanics, and a lack of variety in puzzle design, leading to a routine experience that fails to engage players fully. Overall, the execution does not live up to the intriguing premise, resulting in a mixed and often frustrating gameplay experience.
- “The core gameplay loop revolves around a series of hidden object sequences and logic-based mini-games.”
- “These mechanics might have been intended to inject energy into the gameplay, but they instead highlight the lack of variety in puzzle design.”
- “Unfortunately, while the concept suggests a gripping procedural thriller, the execution leans far more toward routine hidden object gameplay than true detective work, resulting in a mixed experience that alternates between moments of atmosphere and long stretches of repetition.”
- “The inclusion of investigative mechanics—like using lab equipment or collecting trace materials—gives the illusion of detective work, but the depth of these activities remains superficial.”
- “Its repetitive gameplay, minimal presentation, and lack of narrative weight hold it back from standing out even among other casual mystery titles.”
graphics
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
30%
40%
30%
The graphics in the game show improvement over previous installments, featuring decent visuals and exotic settings, but they often suffer from issues such as grainy artwork and hidden object items that blend too well into the background, making them difficult to see. Additionally, the game struggles on lower-end hardware, particularly Intel onboard graphics, and requires a high-performance NVIDIA processor for optimal performance. Overall, while some players appreciate the aesthetic, many find the execution lacking in terms of immersion and clarity.
- “While the graphics are improved after the first 2 games in the series, there is no voice acting in this one and it looks more like a hidden object game play than the previous ones.”
- “The graphic is good.”
- “Graphics: 7”
- “Hidden object graphics are impossible to see.”
- “Darn near invisible items to be found in ultra grainy 'stylized' artwork because they blend too bloody well into the picture.”
- “While the graphics are improved after the first 2 games in the series, there is no voice acting in this one and it looks more like a hidden object game than the previous ones.”
optimization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
67%
The game features still portraits for characters and text-based dialogue, contributing to its lightweight design. It runs smoothly on a wide range of systems, making it accessible for casual players with less powerful hardware. Additionally, users recommend selecting the high-performance NVIDIA processor for optimal performance.
- “It also runs smoothly on virtually any system, making it accessible to casual players who might not have the hardware for more complex titles.”
- “Characters are represented by still portraits, and dialogue plays out in text rather than voiced performances.”
- “-on 'selected the preferred graphics processor for this program' change it to 'high performance NVIDIA processor'.”
replayability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The replayability of the Art of Murder games is significantly hindered by technical issues, particularly with hidden object segments that fail to register clicks on certain items, leading to frustration and limiting the overall experience.
- “Sadly, none of the Art of Murder games are replayable due to the hidden object mechanics not registering clicks on some items.”
- “The lack of variety in gameplay makes it hard to find motivation to replay the game.”
- “Once you've completed the game, there's little incentive to go back, as the story and puzzles don't change.”
atmosphere
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The atmosphere of the game is characterized by well-drawn pre-rendered backgrounds that evoke settings like laboratories and dusty streets, contributing to a sense of immersion. However, the overall experience is marred by repetitive gameplay that detracts from the intended thrilling atmosphere, leading to a mixed reception.
- “Unfortunately, while the concept suggests a gripping procedural thriller, the execution leans far more toward routine hidden object gameplay than true detective work, resulting in a mixed experience that alternates between moments of atmosphere and long stretches of repetition.”
- “The pre-rendered backgrounds are competently drawn, depicting laboratories, safe houses, and dusty streets with a touch of atmosphere.”
music
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The music and sound design in the game receive mixed reviews; while some users find it functional and unremarkable, others appreciate it as good, indicating a lack of consensus on its impact on the overall experience.
- “+ the music was good.”
stability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game suffers from significant stability issues, including frequent freezing and bugs, leading many users to recommend avoiding it. The low-quality graphics and fixed resolution further detract from the overall experience, prompting some players to uninstall it in favor of other titles in the bundle.
- “It's old, it's buggy; fixed resolution and low-quality art assets make this one worth missing.”
- “I bought the bundle of Art of Murder games, but so far this game freezes, so I uninstalled it. Not worth buying; I'll try the next one and see how it works.”
character development
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Character development in the game is perceived as lacking depth, with players feeling that the narrative and character arcs do not offer the complexity or innovation they desire.
- “However, anyone seeking narrative depth, character development, or innovative puzzle design will likely find the experience shallow.”

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4h Median play time

4h Average play time

4-4h Spent by most gamers

*Based on 1 analyzed playthroughs

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Frequently Asked Questions

Art of Murder: The Secret Files is a action game with mystery theme.

Art of Murder: The Secret Files is available on PC and Windows.

On average players spend around 4 hours playing Art of Murder: The Secret Files.

Art of Murder: The Secret Files was released on July 13, 2018.

Art of Murder: The Secret Files was developed by City Interactive S.A..

Art of Murder: The Secret Files has received negative reviews from players. Most players liked this game for its music but disliked it for its story.

Art of Murder: The Secret Files is a single player game.

Similar games include Crystals of Time, Hope Lake, Sherlock Holmes: The Mystery of the Persian Carpet, Art of Murder: Cards of Destiny, Art of Murder: Deadly Secrets and others.

Art of Murder: The Secret Files

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