Clue/Cluedo
- August 23, 2023
- Marmalade Game Studio Ltd
- 39h median play time
Clue/Cluedo is a single-player and multiplayer strategy game that offers a fresh take on the classic crime-solving board game. Experience the iconic murder mystery in stunning 3D, interrogating suspects and unlocking motives as you go. With exclusive features like interrogating multiple suspects at once, Clue/Cluedo offers a new level of freedom and creativity for crime enthusiasts.
Reviews
- Faithful adaptation of the classic board game Clue, providing a nostalgic experience.
- Fun to play with friends online or against AI, with a variety of characters and boards available.
- The automated note-taking feature enhances gameplay by helping players keep track of clues.
- Multiplayer functionality is often buggy, with frequent disconnections and issues starting games.
- The base game only includes one board and a limited set of characters, with most additional content locked behind expensive DLC.
- The game can feel repetitive and lacks depth without the additional maps and characters.
- graphics117 mentions
- 55 % positive mentions
- 44 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received widespread praise for their beauty and detail, with many users highlighting the vibrant art style and smooth visuals. While some players experienced performance issues on older PCs, adjusting the settings resolved these concerns, allowing them to enjoy the appealing aesthetics. Overall, the graphics are considered a strong point of the game, enhancing the overall experience despite some criticism regarding the cost and nature of DLC content, which primarily offers aesthetic changes rather than gameplay enhancements.
“The graphics are breathtakingly beautiful, especially with the DLC that opens up even more characters and places!”
“The graphics are clean and smooth, and it's prettier than I expected.”
“One of the best board game adaptations I've ever played - the developers put a lot of love and thought into the whole game, the graphics, the sound, the music, the characters in each setting, and the game mechanics.”
“The DLC only changes the visuals; the gameplay is identical with the artwork changing.”
“Too bad this last patch has made it unplayable... loss of graphics big time.”
“The season pass is good for new maps and characters, but at the end of the day, it's just aesthetics and to find a match fast, you might as well stick to the base game.”
- gameplay88 mentions
- 19 % positive mentions
- 80 % neutral mentions
- 1 % negative mentions
The gameplay of the game is generally praised for its faithful adaptation of the classic Clue board game, featuring straightforward mechanics and a well-implemented automated notes system that enhances the experience. While the DLC offers cosmetic changes without impacting gameplay, some users have reported issues such as glitches and slow turn times, which detract from the overall enjoyment. Overall, the game is considered fun and engaging, especially for fans of the original, but players are advised to be cautious of potential bugs and the necessity of in-game purchases.
“The gameplay was excellent and the plot development with each game is phenomenal.”
“One of the best board game adaptations I've ever played - the developers put a lot of love and thought into the whole game, the graphics, the sound, the music, the characters in each setting, and the game mechanics.”
“The gameplay adapted the classic Cluedo rules, and the difficulty level is well-suited.”
“The DLC is way overpriced and doesn't impact gameplay at all - you just get different boards and portraits, so it's not worth the money and not necessary to enjoy the game at all.”
“Do not buy this game unless you like frequent crashes, extremely slow gameplay, and the game even putting you in with bots instead of the friends you thought you were gaming with!”
“The whole dice-rolling mechanic also didn't work very well, and they could have come up with something better.”
- music71 mentions
- 49 % positive mentions
- 48 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its ability to create an immersive and atmospheric experience, enhancing the overall gameplay with its eerie and suspenseful tones. While many players appreciate the soundtrack and sound effects, some note that the music can be repetitive and occasionally too loud, which may detract from the experience during extended play sessions. Overall, the combination of music and visuals contributes to a nostalgic and engaging ambiance that resonates well with players.
“The soundtrack adds an eerie and suspenseful ambiance to the gameplay, enhancing the overall experience.”
“The music really sets the tone for the game, and the realistic elements make it feel very immersive and enjoyable.”
“The music is catchy and suits the murder mystery mood.”
“Music is too loud even on the lowest setting, and only ever repeats itself.”
“After losing over 10 hours on this thing, and suffering the short music loop a zillion times, I got very bored rather quickly and it would have been nice to change things up by downloading one or two of the new themes, but nope...you've got to pay top dollar for the entire season, and it just ain't worth it.”
“However, the graphics and soundtrack are repetitive in an annoying way; the original classic characters are not available - only the modernized version of them which made them ugly; the game is greedily designed to drain money out of users.”
- stability34 mentions
- 6 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 94 % negative mentions
The game's stability is widely criticized, with numerous reports of frequent bugs, glitches, and freezing issues, particularly in online multiplayer modes. While some players find enjoyment in the game when it functions properly, many express frustration over the persistent technical problems that hinder gameplay. Overall, the game is described as a "buggy mess," making it difficult to recommend for reliable play.
“The game runs great, and very light laptops can run this game.”
“The one saving grace is that it is still smooth and it's pleasingly bug-free.”
“The constant glitches in the lobby and delays in the middle of matches happen every game and every time the game is first launched.”
“Unfortunately, this game is so glitchy/buggy that it was impossible to get through a single session successfully without some sort of bug breaking the game or otherwise preventing us from moving forward.”
“This game works fine, single player offline, but when you try to play online either with friends or random people, it is so buggy that it just doesn't even load up with the buttons you need to be able to click to play the game.”
- replayability22 mentions
- 41 % positive mentions
- 59 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game boasts high replayability, with users highlighting the inclusion of diverse themes, characters, and optional DLC that enhance the experience. While the base game offers hours of enjoyment, additional content and variations in gameplay provide even more opportunities for replay. Overall, players find it to be a fun and engaging experience that encourages multiple playthroughs.
“One standout feature is the inclusion of different themes, such as Sherlock Holmes and The Princess Bride, which give the classic formula a fresh twist and provide extra replayability.”
“Clue/Cluedo: the classic mystery game offers near-endless replayability.”
“Nevertheless, the base game has hours and hours of replay value, and I would still heartily recommend picking this game up.”
“One standout feature is the inclusion of different themes, such as Sherlock Holmes and The Princess Bride, which give the classic formula a fresh twist and provide extra replayability.”
“Nevertheless, the base game has hours and hours of replay value, and I would still heartily recommend picking this game up.”
“The DLC is optional but does add some replayability in different characters, costumes, boards, and weapons.”
- story22 mentions
- 18 % positive mentions
- 73 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The reviews indicate a mixed reception regarding the story aspect, with many players noting a lack of significant narrative or character development. While some appreciate the minimal plot as a backdrop to gameplay, others express a desire for deeper storylines and character backstories to enhance the overall experience. Overall, the consensus leans towards the story being either unimportant or underdeveloped.
“The gameplay was excellent and the plot development with each game is phenomenal.”
“Suggestions... to have a backstory on the characters, and to have a storyline game involving each character's journey.”
“The fact that each character had a backstory made this one only slightly interesting.”
“✅ none/not important in this game (the murder but it's not really story)”
“🔲 this game has no story”
“Not too much of a storyline.”
- monetization18 mentions
- 6 % positive mentions
- 61 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The monetization strategy of the game has received largely negative feedback, with many players labeling it a cash grab due to the prevalence of in-game purchases and intrusive advertisements. While some cosmetic purchases do not impact gameplay, the overall sentiment is that the pricing is excessive and the presence of microtransactions detracts from the experience. Additionally, players have expressed frustration over refund policies and the inability to access previously purchased content on new devices.
“In-game purchase offers are not that intrusive.”
“There are in-game purchases if you want to use some other artwork/names but there's no pay-to-win exploits, so that's good; I still wish I wouldn't have to read a pop-up now and then that is asking me to buy cosmetics though.”
“The in-game purchases are cosmetic to player only - it does not affect other people's gameplay.”
“Launched and within 5 minutes you can tell this is a cash grab as they are constantly advertising all the maps you are missing (you only get one, there are like 30) and the characters you don't own as you are trying to set up the game.”
“It is my humble opinion that the season pass is unnecessary & a blatant cash grab.”
“Absolutely obnoxious monetization.”
- atmosphere12 mentions
- 83 % positive mentions
- 17 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its beautiful design, immersive sound effects, and engaging music, which collectively create a captivating experience in a mysterious setting. While the visuals and overall ambiance are highlighted as superb, some players note that the musical variety is limited, which can detract from long play sessions. Overall, the game is considered atmospheric and enjoyable, especially in a social setting.
“The rooms, characters, and weapons are all beautifully designed, immersing players in the atmosphere of a mysterious mansion.”
“Love the music as well; creates a really nice atmosphere/ambience.”
“Secondly, the atmosphere is superb: this game has clearly been made by Cluedo experts.”
“The additional packs mainly give you more choices in atmosphere and avatars.”
- humor10 mentions
- 90 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
Overall, the humor in the game is appreciated for its light-hearted aesthetic, funny sound effects, and amusing details, particularly for fans of the associated movie. However, some players feel that certain aspects, like pricing and technical issues, detract from the overall comedic experience. Despite these criticisms, many find the artwork and character gestures to be genuinely entertaining.
“I would definitely recommend this to people who enjoy playing these types of games and/or if you've seen the hilarious movie.”
“The artwork is hilarious so I don't regret it.”
“Cluedo tcmmg has a light-hearted aesthetic and tone to it as it uses a cartoon art style with the settings and characters being brightly colored and having humorous gestures upon solving the murder.”
“I don't know if it's a server problem or what, but it's absolutely not funny, and unjustifiable for a game that is being sold for real money.”
- grinding6 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be excessive, particularly for achievements related to clue collections, with many expressing that it requires an unrealistic time commitment. The consensus suggests that achieving the 1k and 2k roll milestones is particularly tedious, making it feel like players would need to dedicate an inordinate amount of time to succeed.
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“The achievements are super grindy for those who aren't die-hard clue fans though.”
“The 1k and 2k roll achievements are way too grindy.”
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- character development5 mentions
- 80 % positive mentions
- 20 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is highlighted by its engaging character designs, which bear resemblance to celebrities, and the ability to mix and match these designs adds a layer of customization. Players appreciate the nostalgic atmosphere and sound effects, although there is some disappointment regarding the client-side nature of DLC maps. Overall, the character designs contribute positively to the game's appeal.
“I find it so interesting how multiple character designs look so similar to celebrities.”
“I did buy the season ticket to get all the other locals and character designs; I really like the fact you can mix them up too.”
“It's the clue game I've known and loved, with a variety of boards and interesting character designs.”
- optimization5 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- 40 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Overall, the game is praised for its smooth performance and stunning visuals, though some players report occasional performance issues and unfair AI behavior. Despite updates from the developers, there are mixed feelings about their effectiveness, with some users noting a decline in performance over time.
“It runs smoothly.”
“Fun game to play with family members; enjoy the stunning manor and the characters; game runs smoothly and we rarely encounter glitches.”
“It looks amazing and runs smoothly.”
“The game has slight performance issues, and the AI can feel very unfair at times.”
“Years later, the company issued a few 'updates' that not only left players confused about their impact, but many have complained about the game's performance.”
- emotional1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game is praised for its wholesome nature, enhanced by impressive graphics and stunning sound design, which collectively contribute to an emotionally uplifting experience.