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.
- Fun and engaging gameplay with a unique deduction mechanic that keeps players involved.
- Humorous writing and clever puns that add to the overall enjoyment of the game.
- The game is very short, typically taking only 2-3 hours to complete, which may not justify the price for some players.
- Some puzzles can feel vague or require trial and error, leading to frustration rather than satisfaction.
- Limited replayability as there is only one case to solve, leaving players wanting more content.
- story1,020 mentions
- 44 % positive mentions
- 54 % neutral mentions
- 1 % negative mentions
The story of "Duck Detective" is a charming and humorous noir-style narrative centered around a seemingly simple case of a stolen lunch that unfolds into a more complex mystery. Players appreciate the engaging characters, excellent voice acting, and clever writing, though many note that the game is quite short, typically lasting around 2-3 hours. While some find the plot straightforward and the deduction mechanics occasionally vague, the overall experience is described as delightful, with plenty of twists and a lighthearted tone that keeps players entertained.
“This game is very well-written ducktective noir story that's short enough to play in one sitting.”
“The story is genuinely well-written, and the voice acting throughout is great!”
“The plot twists were so unexpected, making it even better.”
“The mystery never surprised me and the story never really went anywhere.”
“After I finished the game, I felt like the developers spent 80% of their time creating the first 20% of the story, and the rest was done in a real hurry.”
“The story had too many loose threads and unnecessary plots, but overall it was a fun experience.”
- humor707 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in "Duck Detective: The Secret Salami" is widely praised for its charm and cleverness, featuring a mix of pun-filled dialogue, quirky characters, and engaging voice acting that keeps players entertained throughout the short gameplay. Many reviewers highlight the game's ability to balance light-hearted comedy with a noir detective theme, making it both funny and enjoyable, though some note that the humor can occasionally overshadow the mystery elements. Overall, players find the humor to be a standout aspect, contributing significantly to the game's appeal and replay value.
“Duck detective is a hilarious detective game with an emphasis on deduction.”
“The humor is pun-ishingly funny, making you crack up as you crack the case.”
“This game is full of charm, humor, and small puzzles.”
“Not funny, and I find it quite boring.”
- graphics633 mentions
- 64 % positive mentions
- 35 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their charming and adorable art style, reminiscent of a paper-craft aesthetic that enhances the overall experience. Players appreciate the vibrant visuals, smooth animations, and the effective integration of voice acting, which collectively contribute to a cozy and engaging atmosphere. While some note the game's brevity, the delightful graphics and humor make it a memorable and enjoyable playthrough.
“The graphics are quirky, like a children’s book gone noir, and the jazzy soundtrack sets the perfect mood.”
“The art style is adorable, characters are fun, dialog is funny, all around enjoyable game!”
“The game just oozes charm through every frame; with the soft bright color palette, simple 3D visuals combined with the adorable 2D cartoon characters, and fun eye for detail.”
“The graphics are very cute and the controls are pretty easy, but unfortunately that's not enough to save it.”
“The game is a bit short, I think I expected more for the price but I can totally see it justified by the aesthetics of the game and of course the voice actors as well.”
“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.”
- gameplay509 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 59 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The gameplay in "Duck Detective" is characterized by its engaging point-and-click mechanics, where players search for clues, interact with quirky characters, and solve simple puzzles through a unique fill-in-the-blank deduction system. While the game is praised for its charming art style, voice acting, and humor, many reviewers noted that the gameplay is relatively short (around 2-3 hours) and can feel repetitive or overly simplistic at times. Overall, it offers a fun and accessible experience, particularly for casual gamers, but some players expressed a desire for deeper mechanics and more content.
“Absolutely fun cast of characters and engaging gameplay!”
“The gameplay consists of searching for clues in the form of names, things or verbs and then completing a short notebook puzzle where you fill in the blank spots with all of the words you just found to solve the case.”
“The gameplay and controls are quite intuitive (you even have a quack button!) and the puzzles are fun to solve and logical, but also not too easy.”
“The visuals and voice acting are lovely and there are some fun parts to the writing, but the mechanics have a lack of feedback and satisfaction that some tweaks could really add to - as it stands, the mystery solving is sadly far more unsatisfying than I would hope for a game in this genre.”
“However, for the price that I paid (USD $8.99), I expected some more gameplay hours.”
“Even the paltry fill-in-the-blank style gameplay just feels sorely flawed, and often feels like trial and error; I didn't feel like I was solving the mystery because I was connecting everything together, I was solving the mystery because the game was telling me that my word fields were wrong.”
- music282 mentions
- 64 % positive mentions
- 35 % neutral mentions
- 1 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim for its charming and immersive qualities, particularly its soothing jazz soundtrack that perfectly complements the noir detective theme. Reviewers noted that the music enhances the overall atmosphere, making the gameplay experience engaging and enjoyable, while the voice acting further elevates the game's charm. Many players expressed a desire to purchase the soundtrack separately, highlighting its standout quality within the game.
“The music nails that jazz noir feel, smoothly transitioning when the player switches between waddling around and investigating.”
“The standout in this game is the main character's voice acting and the music, perfectly blending the noir vibe with a silly duck game and a salami-focused plot.”
“The music is awesome, with some really smooth jazz (love the saxophone!); like, I can totally imagine listening to the soundtrack while doing something else.”
“The music and sound in this game are tremendously well-crafted; also, shame on the devs for not allowing us to buy the soundtrack.”
“Again, there's a lot of love in the art, music, voice acting, character designs, and a great deal of potential here as many of the questions are fun to solve... just poorly executed at the finish line where it matters most.”
“Its on the shorter side being able to complete it in just a few hours, but it is all really well voice-acted and the music is relaxing.”
- atmosphere70 mentions
- 51 % positive mentions
- 44 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its whimsical noir charm, enhanced by excellent voice acting, a captivating soundtrack, and a cozy art style. Players appreciate the blend of humor and intrigue, with many noting the immersive quality of the setting that evokes classic detective tales. Overall, the atmosphere contributes significantly to the game's appeal, making it a delightful experience for fans of story-rich and puzzle games.
“The voice acting and writing is great and really sells an atmosphere that I can best describe as whimsical noir.”
“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.”
“Little bit lighter on atmosphere and topics.”
“The atmosphere is tense and the setting sublime, and I can't help but feel a tang 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.”
“Nice little cozy gem with salami, bread, dedicated quack button and thick atmosphere.”
- character development44 mentions
- 52 % positive mentions
- 41 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
Character development in "Duck Detective" is largely criticized for its lack of 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 is described as enjoyable and cozy, primarily relying on its quirky humor and aesthetic appeal rather than substantial character arcs. Overall, while the characters are cute and relatable, they lack the substance needed for deeper engagement.
“The character designs are cute and the personifications of the characters are done fantastically; the voice acting also adds a top notch to the feel of the game.”
“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.”
“The character design and personalities were relatable, and the puzzles only sometimes made me feel quackers with some of the obscure details that might be missed.”
“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.”
- emotional44 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is characterized by its wholesome and charming nature, with many players appreciating its light-hearted humor and relatable character design. However, some users expressed feelings of frustration or disappointment, particularly when faced with moments that made them feel unintelligent or misled by the game's narrative. Overall, the game is celebrated for its fun, cozy atmosphere, though reactions to its humor and emotional depth vary among players.
“Thank you for producing something so beautiful, emotional and powerful!”
“[spoiler] I ended up arresting Boris the Bull because I thought he was in on it, but at the end it was revealed that he was just really dumb and Sophie lied to him. I don't think that was particularly clear in the notes, and that made me feel really bad. [/spoiler]”
“This is seriously one of my most heartwarming, cutest, hilarious detective games I've ever had the pleasure to enjoy.”
- grinding31 mentions
- 10 % positive mentions
- 16 % neutral mentions
- 74 % negative mentions
The reviews highlight that the grinding aspect of the game is often perceived as tedious, with players frequently expressing frustration over repetitive tasks and the need to backtrack for clues. While some enjoyed the puzzle-solving elements, many found the gameplay to be overly drawn out and time-consuming, detracting from the overall experience.
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“It quickly made navigating the areas tedious.”
“The process of collecting clues is also tedious.”
“I was really expecting to like this, but the gameplay is just tedious to me.”
- replayability28 mentions
- 11 % positive mentions
- 79 % neutral mentions
- 11 % negative mentions
The game has minimal replayability due to its straightforward storyline and lack of decision points, with most players completing it in about two hours. While the single playthrough is enjoyable, many reviewers feel the content does not justify the price, especially given the absence of multiple endings or significant replay value. Some suggest it could be more fun when played with others, but overall, it is not recommended for those seeking a game with high replay potential.
“Replay value is minimal, but even a single playthrough is well worth the price of admission.”
“Would probably be a fun game to play with another person sitting next to you, so that ups its replayable factor.”
“Feels replayable oddly.”
“I think the saddest thing about this game is that it doesn't offer that much replayability once you've finished it.”
“I wish the game was longer as it only took about 2 hours to complete, so I'd recommend getting it when it is on sale, especially as it doesn't have any replay value.”
“Very short and with little replay value seeing as I got every achievement and did everything I possibly could in my 2 hours with the game, but I certainly recommend checking this one out.”
- optimization24 mentions
- 58 % positive mentions
- 29 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's optimization is well-received, with players reporting no significant performance issues, even on lower-end devices like the Steam Deck. The charming art style and fully voice-acted dialogue enhance the experience, complemented by strong vocal performances that contribute to the game's appeal. However, while the performances are praised, some players feel they alone are not enough to elevate the overall experience.
“The voice actors deliver a remarkable performance, congratulations to everyone involved!”
“Sean Chiplock gives a fantastic performance and frankly everyone else in the supporting cast does as well.”
“The vocal performances helped the charm of this game, but they weren't enough to save it.”
“I don’t have any real issues with the game’s performance and I played it on my Steam Deck.”
“Love the art direction and all the performances by the voice actors.”
- stability12 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 67 % negative mentions
Overall, the game demonstrates strong stability with no major crashes or technical glitches reported, particularly at 4K resolution and on Linux systems. However, some users have noted occasional bugs when using a controller and minor movement issues, though these do not significantly impact gameplay.
“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.”
“I never encountered any crashes or any technical and visual glitches at 4k.”
