Dead Secret Circle

About

Dead Secret Circle is a single player puzzle game with horror and mystery themes. It was developed by Robot Invader and was released on May 1, 2018. It received mostly positive reviews from players.

DEAD SECRET CIRCLE is a horror mystery set in Chicago in 1971. In this sequel to the critically acclaimed DEAD SECRET, reality and dreams collide as investigative reporter Patricia Gable sees beyond the flesh to chase a killer with a grisly M.O. Track the killer, narrow the suspects, and above all, stay alive.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

68%

Audience ScoreBased on 62 reviews

story19 positive mentions

stability15 negative mentions

Engaging story with a nostalgic feel, reminiscent of classic mystery games, and improved voice acting and character interactions.
The game features a spooky atmosphere and well-designed environments that enhance the overall experience.
The transition to WASD movement allows for more exploration and immersion compared to the original point-and-click style.

The game is plagued by numerous bugs and technical issues, including game-breaking glitches that can hinder progress.
The pacing is slow, and the movement feels cumbersome, which detracts from the overall gameplay experience.
The ending is abrupt and unsatisfying, leaving many players feeling disappointed after investing time in the story.

story
54 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
35%
59%
6%
The story aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players praising its engaging narrative, intriguing characters, and atmospheric setting, while others criticize it for pacing issues, nonsensical elements, and reliance on diary entries for exposition. Many found the sequel to build on the original's charm, offering a more straightforward mystery, though some felt the resolution was less satisfying. Overall, while the story captivates and keeps players thinking, it is marred by technical issues and inconsistencies that detract from the experience.
- “The story held my interest and I would love to see Patricia back solving another mystery in a third game now that she is able to begin writing again.”
- “Absolutely, this is an excellent detective story with paranormal elements.”
- “It carries a lot of the same charm: enticing story, interesting characters, encouraging you to explore and read everything.”
- “And then there are issues with story and pacing.”
- “That's where the cracks in the story start to show, too; and it stops making sense.”
- “95% of all story is delivered via random diary pages you find everywhere.”
stability
15 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's stability is heavily criticized, with numerous reports of bugs, visual glitches, and technical issues that significantly detract from the experience. Players have encountered frequent freezing, black screens, and game-breaking bugs, particularly in the VR adaptation and during critical moments, leading to frustration and the need to restart. Overall, the game is described as a "buggy mess," undermining its otherwise engaging story and setting.
- “Vr adaptation rears its ugly head yet again, with an inventory and interaction system that is somehow even more clunky and buggy than in the first game.”
- “There are loads and loads of visual glitches, especially with textures and shading; many assets look charred with baking errors, and the shadows of the characters seem to have a life of their own.”
- “Good story and setting plagued by visual, control, and quest glitches, culminating in a game-breaking quest bug leaving me unable to finish the game right before the end with no option other than to erase the playthrough (and probably get the same bug again in case I retry).”
graphics
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
30%
40%
30%
The graphics in the game have received mixed reviews, with many users noting significant graphical bugs and a lack of adjustable settings. While some appreciate the simple visuals and find them acceptable in light of the engaging story and gameplay, others criticize the overall quality, describing them as "absolutely horrible" and plagued by issues like misplaced shadows. Overall, the graphics seem to be a weak point, but they do not detract significantly from the overall enjoyment of the game.
- “With improved graphics and voice acting, wonderfully creepy NPCs, and a solid story to tie it all together, Dead Secret Circle is a great choice for a thriller with plenty of lore and scares to bounce between.”
- “Dead Secret was a pleasant surprise, a solid murder mystery that managed to ramp up the creeps despite a touchy interface and simple graphics.”
- “But I'm the world's biggest graphics snob and I don't care - I'm having a real blast with the story, the investigation, the puzzles, and the psychological intrigue.”
- “There are no graphical settings, and you can't force the settings dialog window to appear anymore.”
- “It's not a perfect facade though, mainly because of some major graphical issues that pop up from time to time.”
- “One real downside, which doesn't truly affect your enjoyment, is the absolutely horrible graphics.”
atmosphere
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
63%
24%
13%
The atmosphere of the game is highly praised for its spooky and tense qualities, enhanced by memorable characters, immersive music, and effective voice acting. Reviewers note that it creates a stylish and thought-provoking experience, with many scenes contributing to a rich and engaging ambiance. Overall, the atmosphere is considered a standout feature, making it a compelling aspect of the gameplay.
- “Thumbs up for spooky atmosphere, memorable characters, and a lot of wonderfully creepy moments.”
- “The atmosphere is incredible.”
- “It builds a really tense atmosphere and is seldom cheap with it.”
gameplay
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
28%
43%
Gameplay is primarily a point-and-click adventure with simple puzzles, but it suffers from significant mechanical issues, including poor functionality and bizarre VR-tailored interactions. Players may find the thematic elements intriguing, such as the protagonist's subconscious hints, but the overall execution is marred by glitches and inconsistencies.
- “The first dead secret revolved around the heroine's subconscious, partly for thematic reasons and partly as a way to allow the developers to insert gameplay hints without breaking the setting; Gable has bizarre dreams and sees waking visions which help her navigate the mystery.”
- “I would have been able to look over some of the flaws, particularly the obvious VR-tailored gameplay, such as walking, interacting with objects, and the random black squares appearing on the ceiling and the floor, or even whole objects disappearing while interacting.”
- “Gameplay is mostly the same, point-and-click adventure-esque mystery with simple puzzles.”
- “Just be prepared for ropey mechanics.”
- “I would have been able to overlook some of the flaws, particularly the obvious VR-tailored gameplay, such as walking, interacting with objects, and the random black squares appearing on the ceiling and floor, or even whole objects disappearing while interacting.”
music
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
20%
20%
The music in the game is highly praised for evoking nostalgia and enhancing the overall atmosphere, with many reviewers noting its effectiveness in creating a beautifully sinister ambiance. It serves as a strong callback to previous titles, contributing significantly to the immersive experience. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a standout element that many hope will be made available for purchase.
- “It makes me nostalgic for a type of game in the past that just isn't really made anymore... I honestly really hope the devs make another game in this universe; I'll definitely purchase for sure and hopefully maybe they'll upload the soundtrack to the Steam page as well.”
- “[b][u]Pros: story, music and ambience, voice acting, atmosphere[/u][/b]”
- “Music was more prevalent and I enjoyed the callbacks to the first title.”
- “The music, Jesus, is terrible.”
humor
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is highlighted by its uncanny facial animations and strong voice acting, which significantly enhance the comedic experience. Players find themselves laughing at the quirky characters and absurd situations, particularly the protagonist's interactions with the eccentric cast involved in the mystery of the "laughing man" serial killer. Overall, the blend of humor and mystery creates an engaging and entertaining atmosphere.
- “Their facial animation is hilariously uncanny, and their (and the protagonist's) voice acting is really good, a vast improvement from the original.”
- “She made me laugh (audibly) on a number of occasions.”
- “Though both games involve solving a mystery, Dead Secret Circle is more of a whodunnit and has an oddball cast of characters that you will meet and investigate in order to solve the case of the laughing man serial murders.”
emotional
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is characterized by a blend of heartbreak and intrigue, engaging players on a deep, reflective level.
- “It's simultaneously heartbreaking and intriguing.”
replayability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game offers high replayability, particularly for VR headset users, as it is designed to enhance the immersive experience and encourage repeated playthroughs through its tailored features.