Detective Grimoire

About

Detective Grimoire is a puzzle-based detective game with a fully voiced and animated cast. Players explore beautiful digitally painted environments, interview suspects, and solve puzzles to uncover the secret of a murder at a mythical creature tourist attraction. Indie Statik praises it for its focus on enjoyable gameplay and superior design compared to other crime games.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

95%

Audience ScoreBased on 1,675 reviews

story362 positive mentions

replayability13 negative mentions

Great characterization and engaging story.
Challenging but not impossible puzzles that encourage logical thinking.
Beautiful art style and excellent voice acting enhance the overall experience.

Game is quite short, taking only about 2-3 hours to complete.
Puzzles may be too easy for experienced players, lacking significant challenge.
Some mechanics feel underdeveloped or unnecessary, such as the suspicious/not suspicious system.

story
719 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
48%
2%
The story of "Detective Grimoire" is characterized by its charming characters, engaging narrative, and light-hearted humor, making it accessible for a younger audience. While the plot is straightforward and often predictable, it is well-presented with delightful voice acting and a whimsical art style that enhances the overall experience. Despite its simplicity and short length, the game successfully captivates players with its fun detective mechanics and intriguing storyline, leaving room for potential sequels.
- “The story is captivating, the conversations are short and fun, the mystery is not overly complicated and hard to guess, but it manages to keep you in the dark long enough to remain interesting.”
- “The story is intriguing and mysterious, the characters are well voice-acted and the whole game runs quite smoothly thanks to the screen layout.”
- “The story is enjoyable and the characters are memorable and well written.”
- “If you're expecting this game to feature a complex, unpredictable story with unexpected plot twists and whatnot, this won't be the game for you.”
- “The story isn't really remarkable but I think this game functions more as a proof of concept to SFB's next game, Tangle Tower.”
- “The story is too short.... :(”
graphics
432 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
39%
1%
The graphics of the game are generally praised for their charming and unique art style, which combines colorful, cartoonish visuals with smooth animations. While some players found the graphics to be simple or reminiscent of older flash games, many appreciated the overall aesthetic and how it complements the game's narrative and characters. The voice acting and music further enhance the visual experience, making it an engaging and enjoyable adventure.
- “The art style is beautiful and the voice acting and soundtrack help liven up an already vibrant world.”
- “The graphics in Detective Grimoire are fantastic; the game literally looks and feels like a playable cartoon.”
- “The art style and animation are smooth and charming, making it a very nice game to look at.”
- “I don't get at all how there are companies that put ultra-compressed static graphics in commercial games.”
- “However, even if we judge Detective Grimoire as a whole, it still does not measure up to the current standard of games being published by Artifex Mundi -- the story is simple and cartoonish, the puzzles are absurdly easy, the sound design is lacking, and the artwork is crude and unappealing (at least to my eye).”
- “The graphics are crude and artsy, so whether or not you like that style of graphics is an entirely subjective matter.”
gameplay
319 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
35%
62%
3%
The gameplay of "Detective Grimoire" is characterized by its engaging point-and-click mechanics, which involve exploring environments, collecting clues, and interrogating suspects. While many players appreciate the unique deduction mechanics and charming art style, some find the puzzles overly simplistic and lacking in challenge, leading to a somewhat linear experience. Overall, the game offers a fun, albeit short, detective adventure that balances humor and storytelling with straightforward gameplay.
- “The gameplay is great, but those trying to go through the game fast will really struggle without having hint sparkles on because there are some things that are very difficult to spot.”
- “What makes this game so enjoyable is the clever and unusual detective mechanics, the well-written and interesting story, and it's fully voice acted.”
- “The gameplay is fun and easy at times, can be challenging!”
- “Some mechanics feel underdeveloped or just completely pointless, such as being forced to analyze the same liquid over and over for no reason, or drawing in the notebook which was cute but felt obvious every time.”
- “It's a missed opportunity to be a pleasant adventure game, marred by gimmicks and overly simplified gameplay.”
- “The gameplay and puzzles offer little challenge, but I could see this being quite enjoyable for a younger audience.”
music
295 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
69%
30%
1%
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim for its quality and ability to enhance the overall atmosphere, with many players describing it as beautiful, whimsical, and fitting for the game's themes. The soundtrack is noted for being memorable and immersive, often complementing the narrative and character interactions effectively. While some players found the music occasionally repetitive, the majority appreciated its charm and the high production values associated with the sound design and voice acting.
- “The music fits the game well; I particularly liked the track that plays when you get the option to interrogate suspects.”
- “The soundtrack is a phenomenon.”
- “The music is absolutely beautiful, the art style is very clear, and the puzzles themselves were immersive.”
- “On top of that, I disliked all of the voice acting and thought the music sucked to the point of nearly just muting it.”
- “The music quickly gets repetitive (though you can turn it down if you like, which is great).”
- “The graphics are kid-friendly but still do not lose the mysterious atmosphere in the game, while the music only serves to complement the stated aspects of the game.”
humor
212 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is widely praised for its clever writing, quirky characters, and engaging voice acting, making it a delightful experience for players of all ages. Many reviews highlight the light-hearted, family-friendly nature of the humor, with witty dialogue and amusing interactions that keep the gameplay enjoyable. Overall, the game's charm lies in its ability to blend humor with mystery, creating a fun and entertaining atmosphere throughout.
- “A lot of light, inoffensive humor and something the whole family can play together.”
- “The plot is well written, comprehensive, and the dialogues are absolutely hilarious sometimes.”
- “The voice acting, humor, and acting is all spot on.”
atmosphere
62 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
61%
34%
5%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its rich, immersive qualities, combining whimsical and eerie elements that enhance the detective experience. Players appreciate the captivating art style, engaging soundtrack, and well-crafted characters, all of which contribute to a unique and enchanting environment. Overall, the game's atmosphere effectively balances charm and mystery, making it a standout feature that keeps players invested.
- “The atmosphere and the art style are gorgeous.”
- “With a mysterious atmosphere, unique characters, vivid visuals, well-written dialogues, and fantastic music, it manages to offer an entertaining experience.”
- “The atmosphere is fantastic: the music, the voices, the dialogues... once you play for a while, it's really hard to put it down, and it also has some interesting game mechanics.”
- “Wish that there was a version with a more creepy atmosphere and perhaps more geared towards adults.”
- “There were even times where the atmosphere was so creepy I got chills up my spine.”
- “This game confuses me because on paper I should dislike the game because it is incredibly easy and ultimately requires no real problem solving... yet I actually like the game because of its atmosphere, voice acting, and world building as well as the characters that inhabit it.”
character development
46 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
52%
41%
7%
Character development in the game is highlighted by its vibrant and quirky character designs, which are often compared to classic animated styles, and are complemented by excellent voice acting. While the game excels in visual appeal and personality, some players feel that the depth of character development could be improved, as the short playtime limits the exploration of character arcs. Overall, the combination of charming visuals, engaging dialogue, and strong voice performances creates a memorable experience, despite some critiques regarding the lack of depth in character growth.
- “The character designs and animations are wonderful - the game has so much personality put into it, with a nice sound design and lovely music pieces. I gotta say, sometimes the purposeful music cutouts during some dialogues made me so happy, seeing how much care the creators put into this work.”
- “The visual design, most notably character design, is the most apparent selling point of this game and really gives it a special flair.”
- “Absolutely loved it! Beautiful artwork, character design, brilliant writing, and game design.”
- “Although, it is kind of lacking in the character development.”
- “I just don't like the character design.”
- “Extremely short (2-3 hours to finish) and with pretty much 0 replayability if you collect all the clues on the first playthrough, even so its also extremely charming, the character designs and animations truly give life to this little game, the voice acting is also really good, and I really like its sound design.”
replayability
37 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
8%
57%
35%
Overall, the game has very low to no replayability, as players typically complete it in 2-4 hours and already know the story and puzzles after the first playthrough. While many found it charming and enjoyable for a single session, the lack of new content or variation means it doesn't encourage repeated plays. Some players may revisit it for its atmosphere or to achieve completionist goals, but the consensus is that it is primarily a one-time experience.
- “Although the game does not have replayability as you already know the puzzle and story, I still replay it in order to manage the wiki and gather all the knowledge I could.”
- “Sadly, it's very short and lacks replayability, but I enjoyed its charm while it lasted.”
- “Surprisingly for such a straightforward game, there is a lot of replay value if you ever want to just have a cute pick-me-up.”
- “As most detective games, there is little to no replay value; usually a one and done.”
- “The cons: there's very little replay value (as is pretty standard with a whodunit story), and it's a short game (2-3 hours if you're trying to be a completionist about the achievements).”
- “Although it has zero replay value once you have solved it, it's an excellent way to while away a few hours.”
grinding
17 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Overall, players find the grinding aspect of the game to be a mixed experience. While some appreciate the engaging mini-games and the excitement of solving puzzles, many criticize the repetitive and tedious nature of dialogue choices and exploration, which can detract from the overall enjoyment. The game strikes a balance between fun and tedium, with some players hoping for improvements in future installments.
- “The mechanics are a little tedious.”
- “Exploring the tourist attraction is a bit tedious since there are many locations and most of them are very bland and boring.”
- “It's not a game, it's a visual novel -- and a tedious one at that.”
emotional
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is characterized by its charming visuals and engaging narrative, which evoke a sense of satisfaction and connection for players as they solve mysteries. While some elements, like the emotional pull of certain characters, may feel cheesy or underdeveloped, the overall experience is described as wholesome and enjoyable, making players feel smart and immersed in the story. Despite its simplicity, the game successfully delivers a light-hearted emotional journey that resonates with those seeking a fun and not overly complex experience.
- “I absolutely loved this game; it made me feel like a real detective.”
- “This game is an incredibly charming visual novel that mixes mystery and murder with wholesome visuals and makes it work.”
- “Normally I don't play this type of game for a long time, but this setting and the characters made me feel inside the story.”
optimization
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
20%
30%
Overall, the game's optimization is generally solid, with smooth performance and enjoyable character animations, though some repetition is noted. While it is well-suited for touch controls as a mobile port, there are minor performance issues and inconsistencies in voice acting quality that may detract from the experience. Despite these flaws, the game remains a worthwhile mystery to explore in one sitting.
- “Along with the cartoony aesthetic, the game runs smoothly and the character animations are fun to watch, though they tend to repeat themselves.”
- “Great puzzle game, great interview system, great actor performance.”
- “In other words, the voice performances are stellar, but the voice casting is somewhat questionable on several characters.”
- “This game is a mobile port (from my understanding) and is thus more optimized for touch controls, but it's not a bad 'point & click' port either.”
- “The voice acting can be pretty hit-or-miss, and I saw some performance issues at a particular location late in the game.”
- “There are a few minor performance issues, but nothing that would ruin your experience.”
stability
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
67%
Overall, the game's stability is mixed; while some players experienced minor glitches and control issues, others reported a solid performance with no significant bugs. The game seems to function well on various platforms, including the Steam Deck, despite some compatibility concerns. Overall, it appears to be stable enough for casual play, especially for a wide age range.
- “The soundtrack was okay, controls were simple, and I ran into no glitches or issues.”
- “Its simplicity means no glitches, and it's good for a wide range of ages (I'm 27, and played it with my 8-year-old nephew, and neither of us lost interest until the end).”
- “I played on Steam Deck despite the lack of compatibility rating: it was a little buggy and there were a few small moments it seemed like the game was thrown off by the 16:10 ratio.”
- “Also, the controls are very buggy and seem as if they were designed for a controller even though this game has no support.”
- “I think I only ran into a couple of small glitches in the game.”

Buy Detective Grimoire

3h Median play time

3h Average play time

3-4h Spent by most gamers

*Based on 31 analyzed playthroughs

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