Duck Detective: The Secret Salami
- May 23, 2024
- Happy Broccoli Games
- 3h median play time
Get on Steam
Get on Xbox Games StoreIn "Duck Detective: The Secret Salami," players join a duck detective in a sausage-based conspiracy investigation. They interview suspects, uncover secrets, and use deductive reasoning to solve the mystery in this cozy, 2-3 hour long game. Recommended by critics for its charm and execution.
Mac OS
Nintendo Switch
PC
Steam Deck
Windows
Xbox One
Xbox Series X|S
Linux
Xbox
Reviews
- Charming art style and great voice acting that brings the characters to life.
- Engaging and humorous story with clever twists and turns.
- Fun deduction mechanics that encourage exploration and critical thinking.
- Very short gameplay, typically around 2-3 hours, which may not justify the price for some players.
- Some puzzles can feel like guesswork rather than logical deductions, leading to frustration.
- Limited replay value as the game only has one case to solve.
- story547 mentions
- 45 % positive mentions
- 54 % neutral mentions
- 1 % negative mentions
The game's story is characterized by its charming and humorous narrative, featuring engaging characters and clever twists that keep players entertained throughout its brief runtime of about 2-3 hours. While many players appreciate the lighthearted tone and well-executed voice acting, some express a desire for a longer experience with more cases to solve, as the single storyline can feel too short and straightforward. Overall, the story successfully combines silliness with intrigue, making it a delightful experience for fans of cozy detective tales.
“The story is engaging, the characters are fun and charming, and the art style is pretty.”
“The story had good twists and turns, but I would say the target audience is of a younger age range.”
“The story is genuinely well-written, and the voice acting throughout is great!”
“The story is too simple; you only get to solve one case. I was half expecting after solving the mystery to have more cases to solve, or for the story to evolve in some way. It felt like an 'intro' mystery to get you accustomed to how the game plays out.”
“The story is just very confused and muddled, and the goofy, nonsensical tone of the game doesn't help matters either.”
“The mystery never surprised me, and the story never really went anywhere.”
- humor378 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in "Duck Detective: The Secret Salami" is widely praised for its clever puns, witty dialogue, and charming character interactions, often drawing comparisons to classic detective noir tropes. Players appreciate the game's light-hearted, whimsical tone, enhanced by excellent voice acting and amusing loading screen facts, making it a delightful experience despite its short playtime. Overall, the humor is described as engaging and entertaining, contributing significantly to the game's appeal.
“It's filled with puns, silly 'duck facts', and nods to 'detective noir' stories and a bit of adult humor.”
“The pun-filled humor and stellar voice acting had me burst out laughing multiple times, and the story had just enough plot threads running through to keep it intriguing, even at a 2-hour playtime.”
“Duck detective is a charming, funny, and fun few hours well worth the price.”
“Not funny, and I find it quite boring.”
- graphics342 mentions
- 64 % positive mentions
- 35 % neutral mentions
- 1 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have been widely praised for their charming and adorable art style, often compared to paper cut-out designs reminiscent of titles like Paper Mario. Reviewers appreciate the attention to detail, smooth animations, and the overall aesthetic that complements the game's lighthearted tone and humor. The voice acting is also highlighted as a standout feature, enhancing the visual experience and contributing to the game's engaging atmosphere.
“The graphics are quirky, like a children’s book gone noir, and the jazzy soundtrack sets the perfect mood.”
“The art style is incredible, and the voice acting is so compelling!”
“The art style is so adorable that it's hard not to like every character in the office, even though some are especially dubious in nature.”
“The graphics are very cute and the controls are pretty easy, but unfortunately that's not enough to save it.”
“The graphics attract younger players, but the puzzles are much too convoluted.”
“It's funny, well-written, well voice-acted and has a cute art style, but it felt like a prologue and not a $10 product.”
- gameplay274 mentions
- 37 % positive mentions
- 61 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Duck Detective" is characterized by its simple yet engaging mechanics, primarily revolving around point-and-click exploration, collecting keywords, and filling in blanks to deduce the mystery. While many players appreciate the charming art style, voice acting, and the unique "deducktion" mechanic, there are common criticisms regarding the game's brevity (approximately 1.5 to 2 hours) and the simplicity of its puzzles, which some found lacking in depth and challenge. Overall, the game offers a lighthearted detective experience that is accessible to casual gamers, though it may leave those seeking more complex gameplay wanting.
“The deducktion mechanic is really clever -- it gameifies the process of detective work, but not to the extent of giving you the answers.”
“The gameplay makes you feel like you're accomplishing something with how you solve each part.”
“The mechanics of putting the clues together were very intuitive and fun as well, and the hint system helped you get a good start without giving too much away.”
“The puzzles are too simple and the mechanics are pretty uninspired.”
“However, especially later in the game it felt like the conclusions weren't really logical, so my gameplay devolved into gathering the hints and then randomly guessing things till I got the right answer, which is a shame.”
“The gameplay is linear, with new interactions unlocking as you solve key questions about the situation.”
- music149 mentions
- 64 % positive mentions
- 34 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim for its charming and fitting jazz noir style, enhancing the overall atmosphere and gameplay experience. Players appreciate the high-quality voice acting that complements the soundtrack, creating an engaging and immersive environment. While some noted the soundtrack's brevity, many expressed a desire to listen to it outside of gameplay, highlighting its enjoyable and soothing qualities.
“The soundtrack is excellent, and will be getting a lot of play from me, even when I'm not playing the game.”
“The music and sound in this game are tremendously well-crafted, also shame on the devs for not allowing us to buy the soundtrack.”
“The music and sound in this game are tremendously well-crafted; also, shame on the devs for not allowing us to buy the soundtrack.”
“The music is really neat, and the voiced characters are amazing.”
“The music nails that jazz noir feel, smoothly transitioning when the player switches between waddling around and investigating.”
- atmosphere35 mentions
- 51 % positive mentions
- 40 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its whimsical noir charm, enhanced by excellent voice acting and a captivating soundtrack. Players appreciate the cozy yet intriguing setting, which combines elements of classic detective tales with a lighthearted twist, making it both engaging and enjoyable. Overall, the atmosphere is described as adorable, immersive, and filled with delightful details that contribute to a memorable gaming experience.
“Every single line is voice-acted, adding to the charm and atmosphere of the game.”
“The noir atmosphere drips with charm, capturing the essence of classic detective tales while adding a feathery twist.”
“The art direction, voice acting, animation, atmosphere, sounds, music, etc. perfectly set the mood.”
“The atmosphere is tense and the setting sublime, and I can't help but feel a tinge of recognition while interviewing downtrodden workers in a bus station at the edge of nowhere. Oh, and the voice actors are excellently reliving the cheesiest of noir detective stories with perfectly delivered lines.”
“Little bit lighter on atmosphere and topics.”
“Nice little cozy gem with salami, bread, dedicated quack button and thick atmosphere.”
- emotional23 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is characterized by its wholesome and heartwarming nature, with players expressing joy and affection for its charming characters and humorous storytelling. While many found it to be a delightful and light-hearted experience, some felt moments of frustration or disappointment, particularly regarding unclear game mechanics that led to feelings of confusion or inadequacy. Overall, the game successfully evokes a sense of fun and nostalgia, making it a memorable adventure for players.
“Thank you for producing something so beautiful, emotional and powerful!”
“This is seriously one of my most heartwarming, cutest, hilarious detective games I've ever had the pleasure to enjoy.”
“Kudos to the writer and the whole team for this very short but very fun, almost heartwarming game.”
- character development23 mentions
- 52 % positive mentions
- 35 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
The character development in the game is generally viewed as lacking depth, with many reviewers noting that while the voice acting and character designs are charming and well-executed, they do not contribute to meaningful character growth or connections. The game's quirky humor and art style are praised, but the overall substance of character development is seen as insufficient, leaving players wanting more engagement with the characters.
“The character designs are cute and the personifications of the characters are done fantastically; the voice acting also adds a top-notch feel to the game.”
“Duck Detective is a fun, cozy indie game that hooked me with its quirky humor and charming character designs.”
“I loved the character design and how cozy the game felt; all that being said, I highly recommend the game and would probably play it again.”
“There's no character development and no deep connection with any of the characters.”
“Voice acting and character designs are pretty well done, but there's no substance.”
“Enjoyable but mostly carried by voice acting and character design.”
- grinding16 mentions
- 6 % positive mentions
- 19 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
Players generally find the grinding aspect of the game tedious, often describing the process of collecting clues and solving puzzles as repetitive and time-consuming. Many reviews highlight the frustration of having to backtrack for clues and the excessive wandering required to complete tasks, which detracts from the overall enjoyment. However, some players appreciate the charm of the game and the fun of the puzzles, suggesting that while grinding can be a drawback, it doesn't overshadow the entire experience.
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“The process of collecting clues is also tedious.”
“It quickly made navigating the areas tedious.”
“I was really expecting to like this, but the gameplay is just tedious to me.”
- replayability15 mentions
- 20 % positive mentions
- 60 % neutral mentions
- 20 % negative mentions
The game has minimal replayability, primarily due to its straightforward storyline and lack of multiple endings, with players noting that it can be completed in about two hours. While the experience is enjoyable, many reviewers suggest waiting for a sale due to the limited content and high price relative to its short playtime. Some players feel it could be more fun when played with others, but overall, the consensus is that once finished, there is little incentive to replay.
“Would probably be a fun game to play with another person sitting next to you, so that ups its replayable factor.”
“Feels replayable oddly.”
“Replay value is minimal, but even a single playthrough is well worth the price of admission.”
“It's a game with a straightforward storyline, so if you want something that has a lot of replayability, this isn't for you.”
“I think the saddest thing about this game is that it doesn't offer much replayability once you've finished it.”
“Given all that, I would really like to recommend the game, but the price just isn't worth the amount of content on offer, especially since the game doesn't really have any kind of replay value.”
- optimization13 mentions
- 54 % positive mentions
- 23 % neutral mentions
- 23 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's optimization is well-received, with players reporting smooth performance even on lower-end devices like the Steam Deck. The charming art direction and fully voice-acted dialogue enhance the experience, showcasing strong vocal performances that contribute significantly to the game's appeal.
“Great Paper Mario aesthetic, most dialogue is fully voice acted, lovely performances, as well as a fun mystery!”
“The voice actors deliver a remarkable performance, congratulations to everyone involved!”
“I don’t have any real issues with the game’s performance and I played it on my Steam Deck.”
“The vocal performances helped the charm of this game, but they weren't enough to save it.”
“Love the art direction and all the performances by the voice actors.”
- stability6 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 67 % negative mentions
Overall, the game demonstrates strong stability with no significant crashes or visual glitches reported, particularly at 4K resolution and on Linux. However, some users noted occasional bugs when using a controller and minor movement issues, though these do not detract from the overall experience.
“Runs great on Linux.”
“Dyslexia friendly and runs great on Steam Deck.”
“Playing with a controller is very buggy.”
“Moving is a little buggy sometimes but it isn't game-breaking.”
