Bucket Detective

About

Bucket Detective is a single player simulation game with horror and comedy themes. It was developed by thewhalehusband and was released on January 23, 2017. It received positive reviews from players.

"Bucket Detective" is a dark comedy/horror game where you assist a cult in completing a ritual to gain inspiration for your novel. The choices you make determine one of the five unique endings. With nearly an hour of audio commentary, the game provides insight into its creation. It takes around 45-65 minutes to complete and encourages multiple playthroughs to unlock the full story.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

87%

Audience ScoreBased on 374 reviews

humor106 positive mentions

grinding3 negative mentions

Bucket Detective offers a bizarre and darkly humorous experience that can be both engaging and thought-provoking.
The game features unique puzzles and multiple endings, providing replayability and a sense of exploration.
The art style and sound design contribute to a creepy atmosphere that enhances the overall experience.

The game is very short, with some players feeling it doesn't justify its price given the limited content.
The humor can be hit or miss, with many finding the dark comedy forced or not funny enough.
Gameplay is simplistic, often described as a walking simulator with very basic puzzles that may not captivate all players.

humor
108 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
98%
2%
The humor in the game is predominantly dark and crass, appealing to those with a taste for the bizarre and macabre, though it may alienate others who find it forced or lacking in genuine wit. While some players appreciate the shock value and clever moments, others criticize it for being overly reliant on taboo subjects without delivering substantial jokes. Overall, enjoyment of the humor largely depends on individual preferences, with many noting that it can be both funny and unsettling, creating a unique blend of revulsion and laughter.
- “A very spoopy, bizarre, and funny game; definitely recommended if you've got a dark sense of humor and an hour to spare!”
- “With an excellent track record already, these two have come along and crafted one of the most guttural and hilarious experiences I've ever had during my time as a gamer.”
- “The tone is dark and disturbing but also laugh-out-loud funny, and challenging in a way that will make you question your own moral values.”
- “The humor is short and relies on dark comedy, but it's just not funny enough; it comes off as more disgusting than amusing.”
- “The humor is short and relies on dark comedy, but it's just not funny enough; it comes off as more disgusting than amusing.”
story
82 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
22%
74%
4%
The game's story is characterized by its absurdity and dark humor, offering a unique and intriguing narrative that diverges from conventional storytelling. While some players may find the content offensive or the humor off-putting, many appreciate the quirky plot and the multiple endings that enhance replayability. Overall, it is a short but memorable experience that blends exploration with a bizarre and mature storyline, appealing to those who enjoy unconventional narratives.
- “In a market saturated with cliché storylines, this is a breath of fresh air.”
- “I was completely absorbed into the plot and the absolute quirk.”
- “A humorous, weird, dark story with even some replayability due to multiple endings.”
- “This game is too short and not deep enough story-wise for me to recommend.”
- “The story is weird and a bit offensive, but it's intriguing to say the least.”
- “A tragic story of a child raised in abandonment as a servant to a deranged cult.”
graphics
40 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
67%
8%
The graphics of the game are described as simplistic yet charming, with a cohesive art style that evokes a dark, quirky atmosphere reminiscent of adult swim cartoons. While some players find the visuals nice and appreciate the attention to detail, others note that the overall aesthetic can feel unsettling or inappropriate at times. Despite the mixed feelings about the graphics, many agree that they contribute to the game's unique narrative experience.
- “The writing, visuals, music, and pacing are all great.”
- “Great atmosphere, attention to detail in visuals.”
- “I also love the art style in the intro and ending cutscenes that give me vibes of an Adult Swim cartoon.”
- “The graphics in Bucket Detective are really simplistic as all you do is explore a building and walk around rooms that give off the feel like the building was abandoned.”
- “Apart from that, the graphics are simplistic so don't expect anything crazy.”
- “With these graphics, I can only suspect this thing literally runs a miner on your PC without your notice while you're playing.”
music
20 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
80%
20%
The music in the game is consistently praised for its quality and perfect timing, enhancing the overall atmosphere and experience. While there are limited tracks, each one is well-received, and unique moments, such as interactive musical cues, add to the enjoyment. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a standout element, contributing significantly to the game's cohesive art and sound design.
- “The music is also great; while there's not much music throughout the game, all the tracks you hear are fantastic.”
- “On all the technical points, it works well: the art style is cohesive, the game runs smoothly, and the soundtrack is perfect.”
- “The music is perfect and perfectly timed too.”
atmosphere
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
56%
27%
17%
The atmosphere in the game is widely praised for its exceptional attention to detail in visuals, art design, and sound, creating an immersive experience that enhances the overall gameplay. While some players find it less horror-oriented, the eerie ambiance, characterized by subtle sound effects and a carefully crafted environment, effectively contributes to the game's unsettling tone. However, a few critiques mention a lack of depth compared to other titles, suggesting that some elements may rely on cheap shocks rather than a cohesive atmosphere.
- “Great atmosphere, great art design, great sounds and music... I just have nothing to complain about.”
- “Definitely an interesting game with a great atmosphere to it.”
- “Unlike the static 'Speaks My Name', which drew its horror from the mysterious and depressing situation of the main character and its frightening aesthetic, I feel that 'Bucket Detective' draws its horror from the sheer absurdity and uncanniness of the world in which the story takes place.”
- “Stand still in the mansion, and you will first hear it - flies buzzing around your left ear (or is your right counterpart?), a faint but steady air conditioner hum, the yawn of floorboards that stretch, ominous yet crisp footsteps in the distance, and door creaks -- all manifest into an effective pot of eerie house atmosphere.”
- “I enjoy when an artist takes the time to hide jokes or craft the atmosphere even through seemingly unimportant props like books.”
gameplay
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
43%
19%
The gameplay is primarily a basic walking simulator with minimal interactive elements, focusing more on narrative and exploration than traditional mechanics. While some players found the dark humor and unique premise engaging, others felt the gameplay lacked depth and captivation. Overall, it offers a simple experience with multiple endings, appealing mainly to fans of the creator's previous work.
- “Didn't disappoint, simple game with an interesting premise, puzzles, and easy gameplay.”
- “A quick, weird first-person narrative game, similar in length to the creator's previous game, The Static Speaks My Name, but with some enhanced gameplay and multiple endings.”
- “If you enjoyed the gameplay and writing style of The Static Speaks My Name, you're sure to enjoy this title; I know I did.”
- “The visuals are nice, the themes are more sexual than anything, which was a bit weird sometimes, but above all, the gameplay is not captivating at all.”
- “It consists of very basic walking simulator gameplay; the selling point is that it is supposed to be a bizarre game with dark comedy.”
- “A quick, weird first-person narrative game, similar in length to the creator's previous game, but with some enhanced gameplay and multiple endings.”
optimization
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is praised for its strong optimization, featuring a cohesive art style and smooth performance across all technical aspects, including an excellent soundtrack.
- “On all the technical points, it works well: the art style is cohesive, the game runs smoothly, the soundtrack is perfect.”
- “It runs smoothly.”
- “On all the technical points, it works well: the art style is cohesive, the game runs smoothly, the soundtrack is perfect.”
replayability
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
25%
The game offers notable replayability thanks to its multiple endings, allowing players to explore different narrative paths. Its blend of humor and dark themes enhances the experience, making it both engaging and worth revisiting.
- “A humorous, weird, dark story with multiple endings that adds to its replayability.”
- “Brilliant, funny, deeply creepy, and highly replayable.”
- “A humorous, weird, dark story with multiple endings that enhances its replayability.”
- “The game has a humorous, weird, dark story, but the replayability is limited despite the multiple endings.”
grinding
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
150%
Players find the grinding elements, particularly the tedious puzzle aspects, to detract from the overall experience, suggesting that the game would benefit from more engaging content and meaningful decorations instead.
- “The grinding in this game feels endless and tedious, making it hard to stay engaged.”
- “The repetitive nature of grinding takes away from the overall enjoyment of the game.”
- “If the developers had focused more on meaningful content instead of mindless grinding, the game could have been much more enjoyable.”