Detective Instinct: Farewell, My Beloved

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Detective Instinct: Farewell, My Beloved is a single player action game with a mystery theme. It was developed by Armonica LLC and was released on November 25, 2025. It received overwhelmingly positive reviews from players.

Detective Instinct: Farewell, My Beloved is a narrative-driven detective adventure where players investigate crime scenes and interrogate witnesses to unravel a deep, sinister conspiracy. Featuring classic command-select gameplay and a unique mixed-media art style, the game emphasizes experimentation and deduction. Its dramatic story and diverse cast offer rich interactions enhanced by a lush, varied soundtrack.

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Single-Player

Detective Instinct: Farewell, My Beloved screenshot

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97%

Audience ScoreBased on 277 reviews

story84 positive mentions

character development3 negative mentions

Beautiful art style and soundtrack that evoke nostalgia for classic detective games.
Engaging characters with well-written dialogue that keeps the player invested in the story.
A compelling mystery narrative that unfolds at a satisfying pace, with emotional depth and unexpected twists.

The game is relatively short, taking about 4-6 hours to complete, which may leave some players wanting more content.
Gameplay can feel linear and lacks challenging puzzles, making it more of a visual novel than a traditional detective game.
Some players may find the pacing uneven, particularly in the resolution of the mystery, which can feel rushed.

story
208 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
58%
2%
The story of the game is generally well-received, characterized by engaging characters and a compelling narrative that balances emotional depth with mystery elements. While some players noted its brevity and linearity, many appreciated the pacing and the heartfelt moments that unfolded throughout the experience. Overall, the storytelling is praised for its charm and effectiveness, making it a worthwhile choice for fans of narrative-driven games, despite some critiques regarding predictability and simplicity in gameplay mechanics.
- “Beautiful story, amazing characters filled with depth, and I actually teared up a few times.”
- “The story is super engrossing, with a very snappy pace.”
- “If you're even remotely into this style of game, then you've gotta play this one. Not only does it look and sound fantastic, it also manages to tell an emotional story about love, cruelty, and what people can do when pushed past their breaking point.”
- “The story itself is simple enough – find a missing woman that no one appears to acknowledge and along the way, solve a murder that initially appeared to have nothing to do with the main couple.”
- “The story was disappointing and plain but far from bad.”
- “The story and the characters meant not much in the end.”
music
100 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
73%
24%
3%
The music in this game has received widespread acclaim for its nostalgic quality and ability to enhance the overall atmosphere, drawing comparisons to classic titles like Ace Attorney. Reviewers highlight the soundtrack as a standout feature, describing it as beautiful, immersive, and fitting for the game's emotional beats, with many expressing a desire to purchase the OST. Overall, the combination of excellent music and striking visuals contributes significantly to the game's charm and engagement.
- “The music in particular has a nostalgic quality to it.”
- “The soundtrack is amazing.”
- “The art style is beautiful, the music is subtle but incredibly immersive, and together they create a mood that stays with you long after the game ends.”
- “The game does suffer a little from having a pretty mediocre soundtrack, slightly cumbersome UI at times, and a slight over-reliance on wackiness at times but it's a very fun experience overall and I will be keeping a close eye on any future games by the developers!”
- “The music was neither memorable nor annoying, and that's perfectly fine.”
- “Thankfully, most of the game doesn't play music at all and lets the stronger sound effects take center stage.”
graphics
58 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
53%
42%
5%
The graphics of the game have received widespread acclaim for their beautiful and nostalgic art style, reminiscent of classic visual novels and adventure games, particularly those from the DS era. Players appreciate the charming character designs, atmospheric backgrounds, and the effective integration of music that enhances the overall aesthetic experience. While the visuals are often highlighted as a standout feature, some reviews note that they alone cannot compensate for weaknesses in the story.
- “The visuals are stunning and the atmosphere cozy.”
- “The art style is beautiful, the music is subtle but incredibly immersive, and together they create a mood that stays with you long after the game ends.”
- “This game does everything right, from the intriguing mystery to its wonderful art style that brought the characters to life.”
- “To put it as simply as possible, aesthetics are not enough to prop up a weak story.”
- “Seeing a new game that seemed to be offering something like Famicom Detective Club was exciting, even if it was obvious that this was a western developer wearing the aesthetic like a skinsuit.”
- “The visuals seem to be more like AA and those other games.”
gameplay
54 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
11%
83%
6%
The gameplay of *Detective Instinct: Farewell, My Beloved* is primarily linear and dialogue-driven, resembling classic visual novels with minimal interactive elements. While it offers some engaging mechanics and a charming narrative, many players feel it lacks depth and puzzle-solving opportunities, making it feel more like an interactive story than a true detective game. Overall, the gameplay is accessible and enjoyable for those who prioritize story over mechanics, but it may leave players seeking more substantial challenges wanting.
- “The mystery narrative remains fairly linear, opting for the Famicom Detective Club style interface which leads gameplay to be mainly driven by dialogue choices with a side of mini-games.”
- “The game does a great job at modernizing the gameplay style of the Famicom Detective Club games, making it feel intuitive without losing the retro charm.”
- “I found myself smiling a lot at all of the character interactions, even when they were being stinkers. The gameplay was also good; there was never any point where I felt completely frustrated and lost on what to do next. I had a lot of fun figuring things out as the story went on, and it felt good when I was right.”
- “There's very very little gameplay here, much less any 'detective' gameplay.”
- “The game is simply too expensive for the amount of gameplay it offers.”
- “Gameplay-wise, it seems unsure whether it wants to be a completely linear visual-novel experience or something closer to Famicom Detective Club, where the player must piece together information and solve the occasional puzzle to progress.”
emotional
23 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its heartfelt storytelling, well-developed characters, and the ability to evoke a range of feelings, from laughter to deep sadness. While some players felt the game was too short to fully explore its themes, many praised its engaging narrative and emotional depth, making it a memorable experience that resonates long after completion. Overall, the combination of charming dialogue, captivating mysteries, and a sincere approach to character relationships contributes to a rich emotional journey.
- “This is a game that can give you a good laugh but also hit you hard emotionally.”
- “If you're even remotely into this style of game then you've gotta play this one, not only does it look and sound fantastic, it also manages to tell an emotional story about love, cruelty and what people can do when pushed past their breaking point. The ending especially is something that's gonna stick with me for quite some time.”
- “The story was pretty heartfelt and every character was well developed.”
humor
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is characterized by witty dialogue and charming characters, providing a balance of lighthearted moments amidst more serious themes. Players appreciate the well-crafted interactions and the ability to engage with eccentric characters, which enhances the overall experience. While some found the humor reminiscent of classic titles like Ace Attorney, others noted that it effectively complements the game's emotional depth without overshadowing it.
- “But the player character here is a great vehicle for pursuing his lines of thought and adding humorous observations.”
- “I particularly like Emma and the bartender because I found him hilarious.”
- “A well-paced, earnest, and very cozy mystery/adventure game with likable characters and a fun sense of humor.”
atmosphere
11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
64%
9%
27%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its stunning visuals, charming character designs, and a captivating soundtrack that enhances the overall experience. Reviewers note the blend of pixel art, pre-rendered backgrounds, and traditional illustrations, creating a cozy and immersive environment reminiscent of titles like Ace Attorney and Hotel Dusk. The engaging writing and quirky characters further contribute to a rich, atmospheric narrative that keeps players hooked.
- “The visuals are stunning and the atmosphere cozy.”
- “Absolutely stellar atmosphere and great mystery too.”
- “The presentation deserves a mention as well - the mixed-media approach of combining pixel art portraits, pre-rendered 3D backgrounds, and traditional illustrations works great, and the soundtrack is a consistently great addition to the atmosphere.”
- “It's better to treat this as a visual novel rather than a detective game, because the puzzles are extremely easy - but the atmosphere and the love poured into this game are top-notch.”
- “It really reminds me of Ace Attorney and Hotel Dusk — slow, thoughtful, focused on dialogue, atmosphere, and emotional payoff rather than action.”
- “I also want to say that despite it undoubtedly feeling Ace Attorney-like, the main inspiration was Famicom Detective Club as well as Hotel Dusk for the atmosphere (as stated by the creator) and you can clearly see that with the whole command-select thing it has going on!”
character development
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Character development is criticized for being limited, as players feel that the predetermined character design and scripted dialogue detract from personal investment and agency in the protagonist's journey.
- “The character development feels shallow and uninspired, as the design and dialogue are predetermined, leaving no room for personal expression.”
- “I found the lack of choice in character design and dialogue to be frustrating, as it detracts from the overall experience.”
- “The game fails to engage players with meaningful character development, as everything is scripted and chosen for you.”
grinding
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious, particularly due to slow text scrolling and an unresponsive 'auto' mode that prolongs story advancement. While some compare it unfavorably to older titles, others note it is less tedious than certain retro games.
- “Instead, at this game's very fastest, you are still waiting for it to finish scrolling the text, and the 'auto' mode is tediously slow.”
- “It's trivially easy to read what is being said before you have the option to move on, and it becomes a tedious slog trying to advance the story, especially if you're revisiting a section from a previous save.”
optimization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is well-optimized, running smoothly and maintaining player engagement, particularly for fans of the genre.
- “The game runs smoothly and keeps you interested - if you like this type of game, then you will certainly like this one!”

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6h Median play time

5h Average play time

4-6h Spent by most gamers

*Based on 2 analyzed playthroughs

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Frequently Asked Questions

Detective Instinct: Farewell, My Beloved is a action game with mystery theme.

Detective Instinct: Farewell, My Beloved is available on Nintendo Switch, PC, Steam Deck and Windows.

On average players spend around 5 hours playing Detective Instinct: Farewell, My Beloved.

Detective Instinct: Farewell, My Beloved was released on November 25, 2025.

Detective Instinct: Farewell, My Beloved was developed by Armonica LLC.

Detective Instinct: Farewell, My Beloved has received overwhelmingly positive reviews from players. Most players liked this game for its story but disliked it for its character development.

Detective Instinct: Farewell, My Beloved is a single player game.

Similar games include Murders on the Yangtze River, Tyrion Cuthbert: Attorney of the Arcane, Lacuna, Tangle Tower, Stories from Sol part 1: The Gun-Dog and others.

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