Skip to main content

Criminal Expert

Criminal Expert Game Cover
30%Game Brain Score
story, emotional
gameplay, replayability
50% User Score Based on 10 reviews

Platforms

Nintendo SwitchPCPlaystation 4Xbox OneXboxWindowsPlayStation
Buy Nowfrom $1.25
Buy NowGet on Steam €9.99
Criminal Expert Game Cover

About

Criminal Expert is a single player casual simulation game with drama, mystery and thriller themes. It was developed by Forever Entertainment S. A. and was released on January 13, 2023. It received neutral reviews from players.

As a police investigator, you take on the task of explaining this mysterious event. Who is this person and what was she doing there? Will the circumstances of this case be easy to explain or is there something deeper going on in the story?

Genres & Tags
Play Modes
Criminal Expert screenshot
Criminal Expert screenshot
Criminal Expert screenshot
Criminal Expert screenshot
Criminal Expert screenshot
Criminal Expert screenshot
Criminal Expert screenshot
Criminal Expert screenshot
Criminal Expert screenshot
Skip User Reviews

50%
Audience ScoreBased on 10 reviews
story6 positive mentions
replayability3 negative mentions
  • The game features an interesting story with engaging crime elements and a unique blend of FMV and interactive gameplay that enhances immersion.
  • The sense of urgency created by the time limit adds tension to the investigation, making players feel invested in their decisions.
  • The varied gameplay mechanics, including clue-hunting and dialogue choices, provide multiple avenues for experimentation and can lead to different outcomes.
  • The game suffers from inconsistent presentation, with abrupt shifts between FMV and static images, which disrupts immersion and highlights production limitations.
  • Many gameplay mechanics are poorly explained, leading to confusion and frustration, especially with unforgiving mini-games that allow only a few attempts before forcing a restart.
  • The translation issues, including grammatical errors in subtitles, detract from the overall experience and make critical dialogue difficult to understand.
  • gameplay
    11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay is a mix of varied elements, including puzzle-solving, clue-hunting, and dialogue choices, but suffers from inconsistent mechanics and a lack of clear explanations, leading to confusion and frustration. Players often find themselves facing punishing design choices that can derail progress, and the need for multiple playthroughs to uncover all details can feel tedious. While the creative aspects are appreciated, the overall execution leaves much to be desired, making it a challenging experience for players.

    • “I liked the varied gameplay elements, from the evidence to the documents to the database and the scenes.”
    • “The investigative mechanics combine clue-hunting, dialogue choices, time management, and occasional mini-games.”
    • “I am a sucker for FMV games and creative gameplay, so I enjoyed it overall even though the game part of the game isn't great.”
    • “When I found the right path, I discovered that about 30-45 minutes of gameplay from my first playthrough was completely useless and, in fact, skippable (the game even skips it for you!).”
    • “A single misread detail or poorly explained mechanic can doom the entire run and force a restart from the beginning.”
    • “But the uneven mechanics, inconsistent presentation, and occasionally punishing design prevent it from fully delivering on its promise.”
  • story
    9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's story is engaging and offers a unique take on the mystery genre, allowing players to influence the narrative through their choices and investigative work. While the plot is intriguing and features surprising twists, it is somewhat hindered by poor game design and gameplay elements. Overall, players who enjoy detective and FMV games will find the story enjoyable, despite its lack of groundbreaking elements.

    • “You get to do investigation work and use it to progress the story, which was a ton of fun to use the system based on your own knowledge to find the next thing.”
    • “The concept of Ace Attorney-esque interrogation and investigation alongside the constantly ticking timer to keep me on my toes is why I bought the game the day of its release; and the story is interesting and I was surprised by who the criminal was as well as the depth of the mystery you investigate.”
    • “If you like mystery, detective, or FMV games, you'll likely not mind all the problems with this game because it's an interesting take on the genre (though you might not find the story groundbreaking).”
    • “Also, playing the game again and selecting things in a different order or just selecting one different option dramatically affects how the story unfolds.”
    • “When these scenes unfold, the story gains a level of authenticity that many low-budget detective games lack.”
  • emotional
    3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by strong performances that enhance key moments and create genuine suspense through its time-bound investigation format. However, some users feel that the overall emotional engagement is undermined by unoriginal elements and technical issues, leading to a lack of heartfelt connection.

    • “The performances vary, but at their best they give weight to interrogations and emotional moments, allowing you to read expressions, note reactions, and feel engaged in the process of questioning.”
    • “The FMV approach, when used well, elevates the emotional impact of key scenes, and the concept of a time-bound investigation creates genuine suspense.”
  • replayability
    3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    While the game offers multiple endings that suggest replayability, its trial-and-error structure significantly limits the practical enjoyment of replaying.

    • “Replayability exists in theory due to multiple endings, but in practice it is hampered by the game’s trial-and-error structure.”
    • “Once you’ve experienced the story, there’s little incentive to go back and play again.”
    • “The lack of meaningful choices means that replaying the game feels more like a chore than an adventure.”
  • graphics
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics are noted for their interesting yet inconsistent art style, featuring a mix of FMV, comic elements, and point-and-click 2D screens, along with unusual animations. While the combination may not cohesively blend, it offers a visually intriguing experience.

    • “I was pleasantly surprised at what they put together—while the art style is wildly inconsistent (FMV combined with comic, point-and-click 2D screens, and weird animations like clock hands spinning...none of which go together graphically), it's definitely interesting to look at.”
  • atmosphere
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game strives for an atmospheric detective tone, but struggles to maintain it consistently throughout. While it has moments that hint at a compelling atmosphere, overall execution falls short of creating a fully immersive experience.

    • “Despite its flaws, 'Criminal Expert' offers glimmers of what could have been a compelling and atmospheric detective thriller.”
  • optimization
    1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The optimization of performances is inconsistent, but when executed well, it enhances the emotional depth of interrogations, enabling players to connect with characters through nuanced expressions and reactions.

    • “The performances vary, but at their best they give weight to interrogations and emotional moments, allowing you to read expressions, note reactions, and feel engaged in the process of questioning.”
Skip Game Offers

Buy Criminal Expert

Skip Videos

Videos

Skip Games Like Criminal Expert

Games Like Criminal Expert

Post Mortem ImagePost Mortem ImagePost Mortem Image
49%136reviews

Post Mortem

2002Puzzle
PCWindows
Blacksad: Under the Skin Image
71%3kreviews

Blacksad: Under the Skin

2019Action Adventure
Nintendo SwitchXbox Series X|SPC+7
Sherlock Holmes: Crimes & Punishments ImageSherlock Holmes: Crimes & Punishments ImageSherlock Holmes: Crimes & Punishments Image
83%1.8kreviews

Sherlock Holmes: Crimes & Punishments

2014Open World Action Adventure
Playstation 3Nintendo SwitchXbox 360+7
Interrogation: You will be deceived Image
75%452reviews

Interrogation: You will be deceived

2019Tactical Role Playing
Nintendo SwitchLinuxPC+3
Sherlock Holmes: Crimes and Punishments Image
90%2kreviews

Sherlock Holmes: Crimes and Punishments

2014Action
PCSteam DeckWindows
More games like Criminal Expert
Skip FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

Criminal Expert is a casual simulation game with drama, mystery and thriller themes.

Criminal Expert is available on Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One and others.

Criminal Expert was released on January 13, 2023.

Criminal Expert was developed by Forever Entertainment S. A..

Criminal Expert has received neutral reviews from players. Most players liked this game for its story but disliked it for its gameplay.

Criminal Expert is a single player game.

Similar games include Post Mortem, Blacksad: Under the Skin, Sherlock Holmes: Crimes & Punishments, Interrogation: You will be deceived, Sherlock Holmes: Crimes and Punishments and others.