BROK the InvestiGator

About

In "BROK the InvestiGator," play as a hard-boiled detective who's also a sentient alligator. Solve crimes, interrogate suspects, and navigate a film noir-inspired world in this unique blend of adventure and beat 'em up gameplay. With rich storytelling and a variety of challenges, uncover the truth and uphold justice in a city full of corruption and danger.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Local Multi-Player Play with friends in the same physical space using split-screen or multiple screens
2-Players Play with one other player, either online or locally, in a cooperative or competitive game mode
Multi-Player Compete or cooperate with other players online
Co-Op Team up with friends to complete levels or missions together
Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo
Split Screen Play with multiple players on the same screen, often with divided or shared screen real estate

98%

Audience ScoreBased on 347 reviews

story105 positive mentions

monetization8 negative mentions

The game features a unique blend of point-and-click adventure and beat 'em up mechanics, allowing players to solve puzzles through both brains and brawn.
The story is engaging and emotionally impactful, with well-developed characters and multiple endings that encourage replayability.
The art style is charming and reminiscent of 90s cartoons, complemented by excellent voice acting and a fitting soundtrack.

Some puzzles can be frustratingly obtuse, and the combat mechanics may feel simplistic or repetitive at times.
The game can have pacing issues, particularly in the early chapters where dialogue and cutscenes may drag on.
Certain endings may feel unsatisfying or leave players with unresolved plot points, leading to a sense of disappointment.

story
297 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
35%
63%
2%
The story of "Brok the Investigator" is widely praised for its emotional depth, engaging characters, and intricate world-building, often surprising players with its darker themes despite its cartoonish art style. Many reviewers highlight the game's ability to offer multiple endings based on player choices, enhancing replayability and making each decision feel impactful. However, some critiques mention plot inconsistencies and a desire for a more streamlined narrative, suggesting that while the story is compelling, it could benefit from tighter focus.
- “The story is quite nice and it is possible to obtain different endings based on your choices.”
- “Brok the investigator is an absolute gem that immerses players in a world teeming with emotions, captivating storytelling, and a stunning art style.”
- “The story, oh the story!”
- “It's not just a beat'em'up and a point-and-click adventure; there's a claw game mechanic featured from the very start, XP to grind, money to grind, collectible hidden objects, collectible death scenes, a series of items that apparently serve no storyline purpose and can only be found by literally walking your character to every corner of every room with your scanner out. It would have been a much better game if all that junk had been left out and the developer had focused on tightening the main storyline.”
- “The plot felt disjointed, like the writers are jumping between different sub-plots without making them flow well.”
- “Unfortunately, there aren't many story branches, and despite having a few different endings, they are not incredibly dissimilar, and choices can sometimes feel pointless.”
gameplay
86 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
31%
65%
3%
The gameplay in "Brok the Investigator" is a unique blend of point-and-click adventure mechanics and beat 'em-up action, offering players a diverse experience that keeps them engaged with enjoyable puzzles and combat sequences. While the integration of these mechanics is generally well-received, some players find the beat 'em-up elements to be simplistic and repetitive. Overall, the game is praised for its compelling story, character depth, and the ability to toggle gameplay styles, making it accessible for various player preferences.
- “The gameplay is both familiar and somewhat new with the addition of a beat 'em up combat mode that is cleverly used to solve some puzzles throughout the game, the story is compelling and very memorable, as are the cast of characters and their own personalities.”
- “The gameplay is a delightful blend of enjoyable puzzles and engaging action sequences, catering to both point-and-click adventure enthusiasts and those seeking a more interactive experience.”
- “An excellent game that has a perfect mix of point-and-click detective gameplay and beat-em-up mechanics.”
- “It's not just a beat 'em up and a point and click adventure; there's a claw game mechanic featured from the very start, XP to grind, money to grind, collectible hidden objects, collectible death scenes, a series of items that apparently serve no storyline purpose and can only be found by literally walking your character to every corner of every room with your scanner out, a half dozen different endings, various annoying failure modes including an obnoxious timed section... it would have been a much better game if all that junk had been left out and the developer had focused on tightening the main storyline.”
- “The combat mechanic is meh, basically spamming the same knock down move.”
- “On the other hand, the fact you can avoid almost one half of the game mechanics for a vast majority of the game doesn't sit well with me.”
music
75 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
45%
51%
4%
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim for its emotional depth and ability to enhance the overall experience, with many praising the diverse and well-composed soundtrack that fits various gameplay moments, from intense battles to reflective story beats. Composed by Pythonblue, the soundtrack features unique tracks for different areas, creating a nostalgic and immersive atmosphere that resonates with players long after finishing the game. Overall, the music is described as phenomenal, stylish, and integral to the game's emotional impact and storytelling.
- “Python's music served as nostalgic, ambient, thrilling, action-packed, and... what else can I say?”
- “And not to mention the music, the slower songs are well made and capture the moment perfectly, and the fighting songs feel perfect and completely match each fight's theme.”
- “The music is phenomenal, the voice acting is phenomenal, the characters are really fun to interact with and it's very easy to feel for them.”
- “Though at times I can't help but want to play Streets of Rage music during the combat.”
- “I wouldn't play it too much, but if there's a big update to it (whether it's an April Fools update which I missed or a bonus gameplay one) I would replay it... but for now, the only reason I would play this game is to either hear the soundtrack, re-hear the story or to speedrun the game.”
- “Only the soundtrack could have been a bit better, but even that is solid.”
graphics
70 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
53%
43%
4%
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their charming, colorful art style reminiscent of 80s and 90s cartoons, which adds a nostalgic touch to the overall experience. Players appreciate the detailed character designs and vibrant environments, noting that the visuals effectively complement the game's emotionally rich storytelling, despite some contrasting darker themes. Overall, the art style is considered a standout feature, enhancing both the gameplay and narrative depth.
- “The cute and colorful art style, the fascinating worldbuilding, the lovable yet flawed characters, the emotionally deep story, and the various choices it offers, plus the top-notch voice acting all make this game a true hidden gem!”
- “Brok the investigator is an absolute gem that immerses players in a world teeming with emotions, captivating storytelling, and a stunning art style.”
- “Everything about this game is insanely polished; from the puzzles to the fantastic voice acting to the high-quality backgrounds and the character design, this game just oozes with polish.”
- “The art aesthetic won't be to everyone's taste.”
- “When the game first started, the art style threw me off.”
- “Especially with the full screen illustrations, but some character portraits also almost seem to be in a different art style.”
emotional
39 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of "Brok the Investigator" is highly praised, with players noting its heartwarming yet dark narrative that explores deep themes of trauma and relationships, particularly the father/son dynamic. The game effectively balances humor and emotional depth, featuring memorable moments that resonate with players, often leading to tears and reflection. While some emotional sequences may feel forced or corny, the overall storytelling, character development, and impactful voice acting contribute to a rich and engaging emotional experience.
- “It has decent characters and the core emotional weight of the father/son relationship is touching.”
- “Prepare yourself for a heartfelt journey filled with tear jerkers that will tug at your heartstrings and keep you invested from start to finish.”
- “For me, playing Brok was like riding a roller coaster of emotions; I’ve cried thinking about what this game means to me (and that’s a lot, considering I’m not an emotional person).”
replayability
22 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
41%
45%
14%
"Brok the Investigator" offers significant replayability through its multitude of endings, diverse choices, and engaging story, appealing to completionists and players who enjoy exploring different narrative outcomes. While some players may find revisiting certain endings tedious, the game’s blend of puzzle-solving and action, along with its charming characters and vibrant aesthetic, ensures a rewarding experience for those willing to replay. Overall, it stands out as a highly replayable indie title, providing ample content for both casual and dedicated gamers.
- “First of all, it tells a wonderful and exciting story, offers different endings, and real replay value.”
- “Brok the Investigator excels in replayability with its multitude of endings, presenting a tantalizing challenge for completionists.”
- “Despite having a relatively small but tight cast of characters and just as many places to explore, this is a surprisingly meaty game, taking me exactly 18 hours with 23 minutes to finish my first playthrough and there's plenty of replayability with the absurd amount of different endings and story outcomes accounted for.”
- “Replayability (there are various endings and game-overs that you can collect for some extras... but doing the other endings can be annoying and boring despite that you get more emotional moments...)”
- “Despite having a relatively small but tight cast of characters and just as many places to explore, this is a surprisingly meaty game, taking me exactly 18 hours with 23 minutes to finish my first playthrough and there's plenty of replayability with the absurd amount of different endings and story outcomes accounted for, not to mention the silly achievements and probably the higher difficulty for those who can't get enough of the beat 'em up sections.”
- “But more often than not, you can completely avoid it, which on one hand, is pretty cool that you can logic and puzzle solve your way from fights, allowing replayability and options depending on what you want to do.”
humor
19 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is skillfully balanced with serious themes, providing a mix of lightheartedness and emotional depth. Players appreciate the well-written character lines and comedic moments that enhance both the storytelling and gameplay, making for memorable and impactful experiences. Overall, the humor complements the game's narrative, allowing for both laughter and poignant moments.
- “The character lines are funny when it counts and serious and heavy when it needs to be, a very good mix and executed very well.”
- “Characters are incredibly well done, there's a lot of great humor, there's emotional stakes and genuine real-world nuance to the story and setting, and (most importantly) the puzzles are great!”
- “Definitely worth the asking price, it's a fantastic little game with a great strength in storytelling, the voice acting is fully on point bringing so much more life to the setting, and the game knows when to be humorous, and when to be serious, and when to be somewhat in between.”
character development
13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
54%
23%
23%
Character development in "Brok the Investigator" is highly praised for its depth and emotional resonance, with players noting the rich personalities and complex relationships that evolve throughout the game. The narrative's branching paths lead to significant consequences, enhancing the sense of a living world filled with history and vibrant character designs reminiscent of 90s cartoons. Overall, the game successfully balances humor with profound themes, resulting in a satisfying and bittersweet experience that resonates with players.
- “The character designs are great, the story's pretty good, and the narrative branches in very impressive ways that have major consequences throughout, but it all feels natural regardless of what you choose.”
- “The result is a vast world that really feels alive, with rich character development, a complex society, and a sense of history.”
- “What Brok does excel in is its character development.”
- “With the kind of character development you experience throughout the game, I think it's wild seeing an ending as bittersweet as that.”
- “And like I said, while the ending I ultimately got for that, 'slummers,' while leaving a number of loose ends untied, was ultimately nonetheless satisfying for the emotional bonds between the characters and the character development they go through.”
- “With character development, this game made me laugh and tear up at times.”
monetization
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization strategy in the game primarily revolves around in-game ads that serve as a clue system, helping players navigate challenging puzzles without detracting from the overall experience. Players appreciate the balance between difficulty and the availability of hints through ads, which enhances gameplay rather than hindering it. Overall, the integration of ads is seen as a clever way to support the game while maintaining player engagement.
- “The ads system didn't ruin any puzzles unless I insisted.”
- “Use one of these ads to unstuck yourself!”
- “The ads you discover hidden in the levels can be used for hints!”
optimization
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
50%
13%
Overall, the game's optimization is commendable, as it runs smoothly even on average hardware. The voice acting is a standout feature, with high-quality performances and impressive lip-syncing that enhance the narrative experience. While some performances vary in quality, the overall execution contributes positively to the game's immersive atmosphere.
- “The voice performances are top-notch, delivering genuine emotions and adding a layer of authenticity to the game's narrative.”
- “The game is even fully voice acted, with great performances from just about all the characters, and they're even lip-synced, which is quite ambitious for an indie game.”
- “The game runs smoothly on an average computer.”
- “Overall impressions & performance: as you'd probably expect from a game like this, performance isn't a huge concern.”
grinding
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players generally find the grinding in the game to be a mixed experience; while some enjoy the leisurely exploration and sense of accomplishment from RPG-style grinding, others feel that certain sections can become tedious and frustrating, particularly during difficult fights. The combat is described as simple yet enjoyable, though it can also become repetitive over time. Overall, the grinding aspect contributes to both the enjoyment and the occasional frustration of the gameplay.
- “I played around 10 hours, of which 4-5 were decently fun, but there is so much tedious stuff to grind through along the way.”
- “Some sections could become slow and tedious, but it felt like a leisurely exploration of the world, and surely it was all building toward some grand mystery to solve, right?”
- “The beat 'em up is fun at times, but mostly simplistic, and can get tedious after a while (thankfully there is the option to skip fight scenes).”
atmosphere
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
150%
The atmosphere of the game is enhanced by its suitable music and a charming cartoony art style, making it particularly appealing to fans of adventure games. Overall, players find the atmosphere engaging and immersive.
- “The controls are fine, and the music is suitably atmospheric.”
- “If you like adventure games or a cartoony art style and/or atmosphere, you'll adore it too.”
- “The atmosphere feels flat and uninspired, lacking the depth that would draw players into the world.”
- “Despite the vibrant art style, the overall ambiance fails to create any sense of immersion or tension.”
- “The game’s atmosphere is inconsistent, swinging between dull and chaotic without any real cohesion.”
stability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Overall, users report that while there are minor glitches and errors present, they are generally considered forgivable and do not significantly detract from the overall experience.
- “The game crashes frequently, making it nearly unplayable.”
- “I experienced constant lag and frame drops, which ruined the immersion.”
- “There are too many bugs that disrupt the gameplay experience.”