Dahlia View

70%
Game Brain Score Based on 153 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • graphics
Dahlia View Game Cover
What would you do if you knew your neighbours had done something terrible? Would you sit back, and let important evidence go unnoticed, or would you take matters into your own hands?
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"Conway: Disappearance at Dahlia View" is a first-person detective game set in 1950s England. As retired detective Robert Conway, players investigate the sudden disappearance of a local child and uncover a series of suspicious activities in the quiet town of Dahlia View. Through observing neighborhood activities, solving puzzles, and engaging in conversations, players help Conway unravel the mystery and reveal the dark secrets hidden beneath the surface.

  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Play​station 4
  • Play​station 5
  • Windows
  • Xbox One
  • Xbox Series X|S
  • Play​Station
  • Xbox
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

70%
Audience ScoreBased on 153 reviews
story59 positive mentions
stability17 negative mentions
  • Top-notch voice acting that enhances the overall experience.
  • Visually appealing with great design of the neighborhood and characters.
  • Puzzles and evidence gathering are challenging yet enjoyable, contributing to a solid narrative.
  • Controls can be tedious and slow, which may frustrate players.
  • Camera angles can be frustrating, making navigation difficult at times.
  • Encountered minor bugs that can disrupt gameplay, such as missing prompts and character glitches.
  • story159 mentions

    The game's story is a well-crafted, engaging narrative that draws players into a mystery reminiscent of classic detective tales, featuring strong voice acting and character development. However, it is criticized for being overly linear and predictable, with some players feeling that the plot twists lack proper setup, leading to a somewhat anticlimactic conclusion. Overall, while the story captivates many, it also leaves some feeling disappointed due to its reliance on clichés and a lack of meaningful player choices.

    • “The story is almost entirely on rails and it encourages a replay for minor achievements, though I'm not the target audience for that.”
    • “The story was super engaging, even if I guessed the ending about halfway through the third chapter.”
    • “The story telling in this game is phenomenal, with environmental storytelling and great level design showing unique ways to go about finding a piece towards the puzzle of who's the suspect of missing Charlotte May.”
    • “The story is actually a bunch of clichés; there's nothing original to it, and I must say I was disappointed watching the final scenes.”
    • “The story gives the illusion of complexity when there is none, or maybe the writers couldn't find a way to close all the interrogations that the game opens in a way that they really have some weight and relevance.”
    • “The story is not that interesting for the beginning of the game, and everything falls apart at the end.”
  • gameplay59 mentions

    The gameplay of "Conway: Disappearance at Dahlia View" is characterized by solid performance and intriguing mechanics, such as a unique movement system for the wheelchair-bound protagonist and clever puzzle designs. However, it suffers from linearity, clunky controls, and a lack of engaging dialogue mechanics, which can detract from the overall experience. While the game offers a compelling story and some innovative features, many players feel it could benefit from more depth and refinement to elevate it to a higher standard.

    • “The gameplay is fine - it is mostly a traditional adventure game, but this is okay; the assembly of proofs is surprisingly clever and sometimes difficult.”
    • “It's got great puzzles, a well-narrated story, and some fun gameplay mechanics.”
    • “The gameplay itself is simple: you're one wheelchair-bound man on a mission to solve a mystery, something you would think is impossible to do, but great thought and clever design has been implemented in order to allow you to solve the case.”
    • “Gameplay is somewhere between the Frogwares Sherlock Holmes games and the Telltale graphic adventures, and leans into the frailty and two-dimensional limited mobility of the protagonist.”
    • “It's nothing groundbreaking in terms of gameplay and doesn't especially make you feel like a detective.”
    • “At no point does the protagonist himself drive the plot forward, combined with the lack of choices mechanic it can lead to the player being disconnected from the story towards the end.”
  • graphics32 mentions

    The game's graphics are widely praised for their charming and atmospheric art style, which blends realism with a refined comic book aesthetic. While some players noted minor issues with 3D model lighting, the overall visuals are considered beautiful and consistent, enhancing the immersive experience of the detective narrative. The combination of detailed environments, solid voice acting, and a pleasing aesthetic contributes to a captivating atmosphere, making it a visually appealing choice for fans of slower-paced games.

    • “It's got a charming art style that is well executed, and the game is really atmospheric.”
    • “A great mystery game with a beautiful art style, excellent voice acting, and dark atmosphere.”
    • “The good: it is a beautifully put together game with detailed visuals, a 3D environment, solid voice acting, and a quality soundtrack of ambient noise that backs up the story.”
    • “The graphics were stylistic, but the 3D models had a problem I have seen before where the tongues and the teeth are over-lit, so when they talked, the bright white teeth and pink tongue looked odd.”
    • “Not the best I've ever seen graphics-wise, but certainly far from the worst.”
    • “This is not a game about graphics, despite them being overall stylistically pretty and consistent.”
  • stability18 mentions

    Overall, the game's stability is a mixed bag; while many players report solid performance with no significant crashes or frame rate drops, there are recurring issues with camera glitches and character movement that can lead to frustrating situations. Most glitches appear to be minor and can often be resolved by restarting the game or reloading checkpoints, but some players still experience occasional stuck positions that hinder gameplay. Recent patches have improved stability, but a few players still encounter bugs that affect their experience.

    • “The performance was rock solid, with no FPS dips, no crashes, and aside from the wonky physics, no glitches or bugs that inhibit progress or gameplay.”
    • “The game runs smoothly without any interruptions, providing a stable experience that keeps you immersed.”
    • “I experienced consistent performance throughout my playtime, which made for a seamless gaming experience.”
    • “The problem is the camera glitches into stuck positions where you cannot actually see your character, and you cannot fix this unless you are able to finagle your way out of one room and into another to 'reset' the camera.”
    • “I'd give it about a 6/10 due to some glitches with perspective (I got stuck in a room off camera, by accident and could not maneuver out) and feeling like the game was a bit too linear.”
    • “Occasional glitches with game mechanics (character stuck where movement is impossible) - requiring a 'reload last (auto)save'.”
  • atmosphere13 mentions

    The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its charming art style, gripping tension, and haunting elements, creating an immersive experience that enhances the narrative. Players appreciate the slow pacing and the effective use of sound and visuals to build suspense, making it a compelling choice for fans of atmospheric storytelling and mystery. Despite some flaws, the overall ambiance contributes significantly to the enjoyment of the game.

    • “It's got a charming art style that is well executed, and the game is really atmospheric.”
    • “Wonderful game, the atmosphere and the soundtrack really builds tension and gets you to question everyone's motives and who the perpetrator might have been.”
    • “The atmosphere is gripping and chilling, and the style is haunting.”
    • “The setting, the atmosphere, and the whole look/feel of the game was great.”
    • “[Interesting mechanics, decent detective story, Agatha Christie-like visuals and atmosphere].”
  • music10 mentions

    The music in the game is highly praised for its ability to enhance the atmosphere and complement the action without being distracting. Reviewers note the high production quality of the soundtrack, which effectively builds tension and immerses players in the story. Overall, the combination of music, sound, and visuals creates a captivating experience that draws players into the game's world.

    • “The music fits wonderfully and always accompanies the action appropriately.”
    • “The background ambiance is spot on and the music plays gently, creating a mood without being distracting.”
    • “Wonderful game, the atmosphere and the soundtrack really build tension and get you to question everyone's motives and who the perpetrator might have been.”
    • “The music in the game feels repetitive and lacks variety, making it hard to stay engaged.”
    • “While the ambient sounds are well done, the music itself is forgettable and doesn't enhance the experience.”
    • “The soundtrack is underwhelming and fails to capture the emotional depth of the game's narrative.”
  • grinding6 mentions

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and frustrating, primarily due to the slow and cumbersome controls associated with navigating as a character in a wheelchair. The gameplay, while appreciated for its intent, suffers from a lack of fluidity, particularly in cluttered environments and during minigames like lockpicking, leading to an overall experience that feels overly repetitive and challenging.

    • “Overall, the gameplay is pretty good... but it's also quite tedious, mostly due to the bad controls and camera.”
    • “It's tedious at best, needlessly frustrating at worst.”
    • “The lockpicking minigame is tedious as well.”
  • replayability5 mentions

    Overall, the game is criticized for its short length and lack of replayability, with some players feeling it is overpriced at full price. However, a few users noted that it offers a decent experience and potential for replay value, particularly within its genre, suggesting that it may still be worth purchasing at a discount.

    • “The game has a fairly lengthy playtime, and even after the mystery has been solved and the game beaten, it is one of the few games of this genre with replay value in my mind.”
    • “Even if it only provides around 10 hours of gameplay and no real replay value, I'd say it's still worth getting, and hopefully we'll see more games from the same developers in the future.”
    • “It's painfully short; my gameplay time was 11.5 hours to finish the story, which has no replayability. I'm glad that I bought the game on discount because I cannot, in good faith, recommend that game at full price, rather at a discount.”
    • “Tldr: overall a good polished game but short with no replayability.”
    • “If I'm being honest, the short length and lack of replayability means I think it's a tad overpriced at full price, but I'd like to see these guys get the investment for the future.”
  • optimization4 mentions

    The game's optimization is praised for its solid performance, with no frame rate drops or crashes, and minimal glitches that do not hinder gameplay. However, players expressed a desire for a practice mode to better understand the questioning mechanics, which could enhance the overall experience.

    • “Performance was rock solid, with no FPS dips, no crashes, and aside from the wonky physics, no glitches or bugs that inhibit progress or gameplay.”
    • “The optimization of the game ensures a smooth experience, allowing players to fully immerse themselves without technical distractions.”
    • “The game runs flawlessly, providing a seamless experience that enhances overall enjoyment.”
    • “A 'practice run' of the questioning process would have been really helpful, as it's not really 'fair' to judge a performance of a player when they don't even know they are supposed to be doing something.”
    • “Performance was rock solid, no FPS dips, no crashes, and aside from the wonky physics, no glitches or bugs that inhibit progress or gameplay.”
  • humor2 mentions

    The humor in the game is noted for its self-deprecating wit, particularly highlighted by the irony of non-functional achievements that contribute to a sense of mediocrity. Additionally, some players find specific characters, like Harold Levy, to be amusing and add to the overall comedic tone.

    • “It's funny because the Steam achievements also don't work, so we can all feel like less than adequately mediocre.”
    • “I found Harold Levy to be quite a funny personality.”
  • emotional2 mentions

    Players find the game emotionally engaging, as the intriguing setup fosters excitement and investment in the investigation, while the puzzles strike a balance that keeps frustration at bay.

    • “On paper, this sounds like a very interesting setup that should get players excited from the beginning and emotionally invested in the investigation.”
  • character development2 mentions

    Reviewers praise the character development for its fantastic and stylish design, noting that the characters become more appealing over time.

    • “The character design is fantastic and has a wonderful style.”
    • “The character designs grew on me as well.”
  • monetization1 mentions

    The monetization strategy of the game appears to be misleading, as it heavily emphasizes narrative elements rather than the deduction gameplay suggested in its advertising.

Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

65% average critic score

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Play time

10hMedian play time
9hAverage play time
3-13hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 3 analyzed playthroughs

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