Clockwork Tales: Of Glass and Ink

72%
Game Brain Score Based on 288 reviews
  • story
  • graphics
  • gameplay
Clockwork Tales: Of Glass and Ink Game Cover
Without a doubt, Clockwork Tales: Of Glass and Ink is a good quality product overall, made by a developer that really seems to know what they're doing when it comes to point and click titles. The deviations from the standard hidden object pathways mix things up nicely and the only real flaws we can find are with the voiceovers and the game's length. It isn't the most difficult game in the world to beat and doesn't stick around long enough, but there's a nice couple of hours of decent entertainment here for those who like to get their brain working.
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"Clockwork Tales: Of Glass and Ink" is a captivating steampunk-genre hidden object puzzle adventure game, where Agent Evangeline Glass investigates the mysterious disappearance of her friend and colleague, Dr. Ambrose Ink. Dr. Ink had been investigating a series of strange earthquakes causing cities to crumble, leading him to Hochwald and the Barber family castle. The game features action elements such as espionage, monster battles, and even hang-gliding.

  • iPad
  • iPhone
  • Mac OS
  • PC
  • Phone
  • Play​station 4
  • Play​station 5
  • Windows
  • Xbox One
  • Xbox Series X|S
  • Android
  • Linux
  • Mobile Platform
  • Play​Station
  • Tablet
  • Xbox
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

72%
Audience ScoreBased on 288 reviews
story79 positive mentions
grinding3 negative mentions
  • Beautiful graphics and a charming steampunk aesthetic enhance the overall experience.
  • Engaging story with a decent progression and enjoyable puzzles that are not overly difficult.
  • The game features a helpful mechanical bird companion, Matthew, which adds a unique gameplay element.
  • The game is relatively short, taking only about 3-4 hours to complete, which may leave players wanting more.
  • Some puzzles can feel repetitive, and there are instances of reused mechanics from previous Artifex Mundi titles.
  • Voice acting quality varies, with some characters delivering performances that detract from the immersion.
  • story218 mentions

    The game's story is generally described as straightforward and engaging, set in a visually appealing steampunk world, though it often lacks depth and character development. While some players found the narrative enjoyable and well-integrated with the puzzles, others criticized it for being simplistic, rushed, or filled with clichés. Overall, the story serves as a decent backdrop for the gameplay, but many reviewers expressed a desire for more substance and complexity.

    • “The story is very engaging and the art style is crisp.”
    • “I loved the theme and the story.”
    • “The story is fine, but it is the polish that really worked for me.”
    • “The story barely matters, and what keeps this game going is its strong steampunk setting.”
    • “The villain is a cartoonish caricature, the story is simplistic and disappointing, and I just felt unsatisfied in the end.”
    • “The storyline turned out to be just an excuse plot (an evil man has a machine that he uses to create earthquakes, because...well, just because).”
  • graphics102 mentions

    The graphics in "Clockwork Tales: Of Glass and Ink" are widely praised for their stunning, sharp, and colorful artwork, particularly within the steampunk aesthetic that defines the game. Reviewers highlight the attention to detail in the visuals, which enhance the overall experience, making it visually captivating and enjoyable. While some minor animation issues are noted, the overall consensus is that the graphics are a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's appeal.

    • “The graphics look gorgeous on the Steam Deck.”
    • “Absolutely gorgeous, stunning artwork and captivating background music and voiceover.”
    • “The graphics in Clockwork Tales are plain awesome.”
    • “Just like most other games from this sorry-ass company, the story is brain-dead, inappropriate for kids (it wasn't promised as such, though) with annoying music and mediocre artwork.”
    • “Average graphics.”
    • “The graphics and storyline are ok, but this isn't much of a 'hidden object game'.”
  • gameplay66 mentions

    The gameplay features a blend of traditional hidden-object mechanics and puzzle-solving, enhanced by the presence of a mechanical crow sidekick named Matthew, who assists players in reaching otherwise inaccessible items. While the game offers a charming steampunk aesthetic and a variety of gameplay elements, some players find it to be relatively simple and short, with a typical playtime of around three to four hours, including a bonus chapter. Overall, fans of the genre may appreciate the unique touches and solid execution, though it may not appeal to those seeking more complex gameplay.

    • “The gameplay is often usually a few scenes and some random objects in a list.”
    • “While the game isn't particularly long, it is otherwise hard to criticize - the story moves along reasonably well, the gameplay is solid throughout - the hidden object scenes are good, the point and click and puzzles all flow fairly well and make sense.”
    • “As a change, in this particular adventure, we have the luxury of utilizing Matthew, a mechanical crow that we send out to gather items out of our reach, which spices the gameplay up a bit.”
    • “However, genre aficionados might find the gameplay a bit too simple.”
    • “The various mechanical insects to spot and collect are barely concealed at all, the hidden object scenes are pretty but blunt, and the mini-games are on the bland, simple side.”
    • “While this is a significantly more simplified level of gameplay than I have come to expect from this studio, it does allow the player to complete all of the achievements in one playthrough.”
  • music35 mentions

    The music in the game is generally described as atmospheric and fitting, enhancing the overall experience with a steampunk vibe. While many players appreciate the beautiful soundtrack and its ability to complement the visuals, some note that it can be repetitive and lacks variety, with only a few tracks. Overall, the music is considered pleasant and suitable for the game's themes, though opinions vary on its memorability and impact.

    • “Absolutely gorgeous, stunning artwork and captivating background music and voiceover.”
    • “The art is beautiful, the voice acting is really good and the music is atmospheric.”
    • “I loved the music and the atmosphere, and I recommend it for all ages.”
    • “Steampunk theme is fun, though the tick-tock music is annoying.”
    • “But the story is lacking, the music is boring and loops awkwardly.”
    • “Music is pretty poor and repetitive.”
  • atmosphere15 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its immersive steampunk setting, stunning graphics, and atmospheric music, which together create a captivating experience. Reviewers note that the art style and voice acting enhance the overall ambiance, making it feel both enchanting and darkly whimsical. While some mention minor gameplay issues, the overall atmosphere is considered a standout feature that draws players in.

    • “Immersive steampunk atmosphere.”
    • “The plot is quite entertaining, and the cutscenes are very atmospheric.”
    • “Above all our common expectations, Clockwork Tales: Of Glass and Ink covers a narration and a period so dark, yet envelops it with fair music and an atmosphere straight out of fables.”
    • “I needed around 20 minutes to get sucked into the atmosphere... so give it some time before forming an opinion.”
    • “Above all our common expectations, 'Clockwork Tales: Of Glass and Ink' covers a narration and a period so dark, yet envelops it with fair music and an atmosphere straight out of fables.”
    • “Not as good as some other Artifex Mundi titles - it's a tad short, some of the interactions are annoyingly unintuitive, and your bird companion is sometimes just a copout - but it offers similarly dynamic story and atmosphere and decent puzzle elements.”
  • humor8 mentions

    The humor in the game is well-received, with players enjoying the amusing descriptions, hilarious villager voices, and funny references throughout the gameplay. The combination of entertaining puzzles and a charming steampunk theme adds to the lighthearted experience, making it a delightful choice for fans of whimsical humor. Overall, the game successfully blends engaging storytelling with a playful tone, enhancing its appeal.

    • “Those games always had poor voice acting, but some of the villager voices in Clockwork Tales are hilariously terrible.”
    • “A bit short (7 hours playing leisurely) but very nice: graphics are pleasant, the steampunk theme design is quite nicely done, there are a few hilarious references, and some of the puzzles are not trivial.”
    • “This game is exactly what you'd expect from Artifex Mundi - an entertaining story, fun puzzles, some funny references, and some cute animals throughout!”
  • replayability7 mentions

    Overall, the game's replayability is mixed; while some players find it low due to the predictability of puzzles after the first playthrough, others appreciate the inclusion of achievements and bonus content that encourage multiple runs. The short playtime and lack of difficulty contribute to a perception of limited replay value, despite the presence of replayable puzzles and hidden object scenes in the collector's edition.

    • “Replayability is encouraged due to the existence of achievements such as: complete the game in expert mode, find all hidden bugs, and don't misclick in any hidden object segments.”
    • “Low playtime, but high replayability.”
    • “This is the collector's edition of the game and comes with the bonus chapter (a short prequel to the main story), replayable puzzles and hidden object scenes, wallpapers, soundtrack, and collectible 'steambugs' that are sprinkled throughout the game.”
    • “Don't expect to get a lot of replayability as once you solve a puzzle, you know how.”
    • “The replay value for the game is low.”
    • “Overall, interesting setting and graphics, short game time, lack of replayability.”
  • character development5 mentions

    Character development in the game is largely criticized as superficial and lacking depth, with a simple, linear plot that fails to provide meaningful growth for characters. While the story, art, and character design are praised, the villain is noted as a shallow stereotype, further highlighting the overall deficiency in character development.

    • “Great story, beautiful art, and pleasant character design.”
    • “Aside from the puzzles, the adventure game elements were fairly intuitive, there wasn't too much backtracking, the story was decent enough, the art was good, the character designs and voice acting were well done, and there was even a bit of humor thrown into the dialogue.”
    • “It is a fairly simple, linear plot with no character development.”
    • “The villain is a ridiculously shallow stereotype and there's no real character development.”
  • grinding3 mentions

    Players appreciate the grinding aspect of the game, noting that while the puzzles are challenging, they remain engaging and not tedious. The combination of a compelling story, quality artwork, and suitable audio enhances the experience, though some users mention that the overall gameplay duration is relatively short, even with achievement grinding.

    • “Just do not expect the game to last more than a few hours, even if grinding the achievements.”
  • stability1 mentions

    Users have reported issues with stability, noting that certain puzzles in the game are buggy, which can detract from the overall experience.

    • “Some of the puzzles were buggy.”
    • “The game frequently crashes, making it nearly unplayable.”
    • “I experienced constant lag and glitches throughout my gameplay.”
  • optimization1 mentions

    The optimization in the game is generally acceptable, with performances that, while not exceptional, fit well within the context and do not detract from the overall experience.

    • “The optimization in this game is impressive; everything runs smoothly, allowing me to fully immerse myself in the experience.”
    • “I appreciate how well-optimized the game is; it maintains a consistent frame rate even during intense action sequences.”
    • “The developers have done a fantastic job with optimization, ensuring that loading times are minimal and the gameplay feels seamless.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

70% average critic score

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Play time

3hMedian play time
3hAverage play time
2-3hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 3 analyzed playthroughs

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