DAEMON MASQUERADE
- October 22, 2024
- Callum Page
- 10h median play time
Get on SteamMidnight, September 5th, 1997. The reclusive Detective Lambda and the Daemon of Records, Biblios, are the 7th and final pair of contestants in the 93rd Daemon Masquerade. Charged with uncovering the names and Daemonic powers of the other six competitors, they have only 7 days to unmask their opponents, or else they will be erased from existence. To make matters worse, it seems their adversaries ar…
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Reviews
- The game features engaging puzzles that are both interesting and varied, providing satisfying 'Eureka!' moments as players connect the dots.
- The writing and world-building are compelling, with a rich lore that enhances the narrative and keeps players immersed in the story.
- The unique gameplay mechanics, such as organizing evidence on corkboards and the intriguing premise of the Daemon Masquerade, set it apart from other detective games.
- The final puzzle felt anticlimactic and could have benefited from more complexity, leaving some players unsatisfied with the conclusion.
- The game is relatively short, which may leave players wanting more content and depth in the story and character development.
- Some players experienced technical issues, such as lag and glitches, which detracted from the overall gameplay experience.
- story25 mentions
- 44 % positive mentions
- 44 % neutral mentions
- 12 % negative mentions
The story aspect of the game receives mixed reviews, with many praising its engaging characters and intriguing narrative, particularly in the context of a detective game. While some players found the plot and ending lacking or underdeveloped, others appreciated the depth of world-building and the clever integration of puzzles into the storytelling. Overall, the game is noted for its captivating narrative and inventive mechanics, though some players wished for a longer experience to fully flesh out the story.
“Overall a pretty fun and story-rich detective game with compelling characters.”
“Absolutely phenomenal blend of deductive reasoning puzzles with incredibly compelling evidence-based storytelling.”
“The story was intriguing and the clues were very nicely paced.”
“The overall story is... there?”
“I really liked the characters and the way they behaved with their godlike powers, but the overall plot and the ending especially feel weak.”
“I just didn't walk away satisfied with the story.”
- gameplay14 mentions
- 36 % positive mentions
- 43 % neutral mentions
- 21 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by a solid and engaging detective mechanic that allows players to piece together evidence on corkboards, making for a satisfying puzzle-solving experience. While the core mechanics may not be groundbreaking, they are accessible and inventive, providing a fun challenge with intriguing mysteries. Overall, the game delivers a compelling narrative and enjoyable gameplay within a reasonable playtime, though some players wished for more puzzles.
“The actual gameplay of spreading out all your evidence on the corkboards and drawing the connections between things was so engaging for me.”
“Very fun central mechanic, with some excellent red herrings thrown in to keep things interesting.”
“It manages to squeeze a lot of inventive puzzles out of its straightforward mechanics and does a great job at telling a story through bits of second-hand evidence.”
“The core gameplay is nothing you haven’t seen before if you’ve played your fair share of detective games, though it is solid nonetheless.”
“It's not as long, complicated, or mechanically unique that I would consider it an equal to them.”
“Only wish there were more puzzles, but I think 7-10 hours of gameplay delivers a solid story and is definitely worth the price in this case.”
- graphics13 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 38 % neutral mentions
- 23 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with many praising the unique art style that evokes nostalgia for old point-and-click games, while others find it unattractive. Some players appreciate the emotional depth conveyed through simpler sketches, particularly in the dreamer's section, while others note that the visuals add an eerie layer to the overall experience. Despite differing opinions on aesthetics, the game runs smoothly and is technically sound, contributing to an engaging detective experience.
“I really liked the art style, and the overall vibe and characters were also great.”
“An incredibly engaging detective game with challenging puzzles, depth, and a unique art style.”
“With an amazing art style, this point and click detective game is an absolute joy to play!”
“The art style is unforgivably ugly but please push past it.”
“Visually I can see how the art style is a turn off to some but it does add an eerie layer to everything, almost that it's a kid-friendly look but the game betrays that well.”
“Though I will admit that I was more of a fan of another art style seen in-game (for those that played, I really liked the sketches in the dreamer's section. Not the full paintings, mind you. The simpler art style of the notes conveyed emotions much better in my opinion).”
- humor5 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's humor is characterized by a blend of crude and cynical wit, complemented by clever character writing that balances self-awareness with authenticity. Players appreciate the creative and humorous lore, though some narratives may feel disjointed or rushed. Overall, the humor enhances the experience, making it a worthwhile investment.
“Crude and cynical humor with interesting puzzles.”
“Excellent little deduction game, the clues are useful without handing you the answers. The character writing is funny and self-aware but not trying too hard, and overall I find it well worth the buy-in.”
“There's a lot of lore and references in the auxiliary text that are both funny and creative.”
- emotional3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is characterized by a wholesome narrative interspersed with darker, bittersweet elements, though some players feel that the pacing and structure may leave them feeling incomplete or unfulfilled. The juxtaposition of different character stories adds depth, but some comparisons made in the conclusion are perceived as unearned, impacting the overall emotional resonance.
“The story has a genuinely wholesome quality to it.”
“The tyrant's story is darkly funny, and the dreamer's is emotionally bittersweet.”
- music2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- -100 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
The music in the game features a limited selection of tracks that can become repetitive and dull over time, leading some players to mute the game. While it complements the overall experience, its lack of variety detracts from the enjoyment for some users.
“Writing, art, music, and puzzles are all enjoyable.”
“The music is limited to a few tracks that became dull after repeated listening; I even muted the game at times because it was discomforting.”
“The soundtrack lacks variety and quickly becomes repetitive, making it hard to enjoy the game fully.”
“I found the music to be uninspired and forgettable, which detracted from the overall experience.”
- stability2 mentions
- 150 % positive mentions
- -100 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
Overall, the game demonstrates solid stability with no reported crashes or major bugs. However, players have noted visual glitches, particularly in windowed mode, where flickering occurs when examining clues on the board.
“Technically speaking, the game runs great (not that it's very graphics heavy), and I report no crashes or bugs.”
“The stability of the game is impressive; I've experienced no lag or performance issues during my playtime.”
“I appreciate how smooth the gameplay is; it feels very stable and reliable throughout.”
“When I play the game in windowed mode, I get weird visual glitches when I'm looking at the clues on the board, with lots of flickering.”
- monetization1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The monetization aspect is positively received, with users appreciating the detailed writing and creative elements, such as the humorous advertisements related to the game's daemons, which enhance the overall experience without feeling intrusive.
- replayability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game offers a short playtime of around 8 hours and, like many in its genre, lacks significant replayability. However, it introduces unique ideas and clever twists on familiar conventions, which may enhance the initial experience.
“It's short, only took about 8 or so hours, and like most other games in the genre, it's not really replayable. However, it brings some unique ideas and cheeky spins on the conventions you'd expect in these types of games.”
