Inspector Waffles

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Inspector Waffles is a pixel art detective adventure game where you solve crimes and uncover mysteries in a quirky cat- populated town. Interrogate suspects, gather evidence, and use your wits to crack challenging cases. With its unique characters, humorous dialogue, and immersive storyline, Inspector Waffles offers a purr-fect blend of investigation and entertainment.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

Reviews

95%

Audience ScoreBased on 250 reviews

story72 positive mentions

grinding6 negative mentions

Inspector Waffles features charming pixel art and engaging hand-drawn cutscenes that enhance the storytelling experience.
The game offers a humorous and lighthearted narrative with clever dialogue and fun character interactions, making it enjoyable for fans of the genre.
Puzzles are generally logical and not overly difficult, allowing for a laid-back gaming experience while still providing some challenge.

The game suffers from mechanical issues, such as tedious dialogue loops and a lack of fast travel options, which can disrupt the flow of gameplay.
Some players found the writing to be bland and predictable, lacking depth in character development and emotional engagement.
The pixel art style, while charming, can sometimes make it difficult to distinguish key items or navigate the environment effectively.

story
152 mentions
47 % positive mentions
51 % neutral mentions
2 % negative mentions
The story of "Inspector Waffles" is a charming and engaging detective narrative filled with humor, memorable characters, and intriguing plot twists, though it is not particularly deep. While some reviewers noted its predictability and reliance on clichés, the overall experience is enhanced by clever dialogue and a lighthearted tone, making it a delightful point-and-click adventure. The game's art style and well-crafted cutscenes further contribute to its appeal, creating a wholesome atmosphere that resonates with players.
- “Great game with entertaining dialogues and an interesting story!”
- “The plot is an intriguing murder mystery, full of twists and turns, conspiracy and backstory.”
- “Inspector Waffles is a charming story with well-written characters!”
- “To be fair, the world itself isn't consistent, let alone the mechanics, so why should I care that the characters, theme, and story aren't?”
- “The story isn't particularly deep, but it moves the action of the game along.”
- “The final thing that made me decide to refund this game were the in-your-face references, like Pixel's shirt having the purple tentacle from Day of the Tentacle and one of the scenes having Howard, the main character from Backbone, as its main focus.”
humor
66 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is widely praised for its clever writing, lighthearted tone, and abundance of puns, making it an enjoyable experience for fans of comedy and point-and-click adventures. Players appreciate the quirky characters and amusing references, though some found certain jokes forced or overly reliant on pop culture. Overall, the game strikes a balance between humor and heartfelt moments, contributing to its charm and appeal.
- “The writing is funny and lighthearted, yet also includes some heartfelt moments.”
- “There is a lot of humor, like finding a dog named Pavlov who was classically conditioned to respond to bells, a platypus that turns out to be your subconscious, and a book titled 'Creature Farm' by Orwild.”
- “Witty and genuinely funny, a well-written thing that's well worth a try.”
graphics
44 mentions
50 % positive mentions
43 % neutral mentions
7 % negative mentions
The graphics of "Inspector Waffles" are characterized by charming pixel art that is both vibrant and detailed, enhancing the game's humorous and whimsical atmosphere. While many players appreciate the aesthetic and find it visually appealing, some note that the minimalist style can lead to moments of "pixel hunting." Overall, the artwork, including cut scenes and character designs, is well-received, contributing positively to the game's engaging storytelling and gameplay experience.
- “Inspector Waffles is a humorous detective adventure game with bright, endearing pixel art graphics and an affinity for puns.”
- “The pixel graphics work extremely well and most everything was distinct and easily identifiable.”
- “I love the pixel-art style, which is very detailed and makes the world feel nice and vibrant, but also provides enough clarity to not clutter the screen in busy locations, like the antique store.”
- “I love pixel art; it is one of my favorite art styles, but there is a right way and a wrong way—this obviously being the latter.”
- “My only gripe is that this kind of minimalist pixel graphics is getting old.”
- “The pixel art style is well done, but occasionally you literally need to go pixel hunting.”
gameplay
26 mentions
12 % positive mentions
77 % neutral mentions
12 % negative mentions
The gameplay is primarily a point-and-click adventure that features a well-crafted investigative system, clever puzzles, and humorous writing, making it a refreshing alternative to typical fetch quests. While some players noted a lack of polish and static visuals, the streamlined interface and defined hotspots enhance the experience, allowing for a casual yet engaging gameplay flow. Overall, the developers demonstrate a clear passion for the genre, successfully addressing common issues while delivering a solid adventure experience.
- “The 'investigative' gameplay was well realized and was a refreshing departure from the normal 'fetch quest' style of adventure games.”
- “The whole introduction to the game and its gameplay mechanics feels so well crafted; the puzzles are clever, the writing is funny, the visuals are colorful, and the investigation/detective system is shaping up to be one of the best I've seen in an adventure game.”
- “You can tell the developers have a love for the genre and stuck to its core gameplay while fixing some common issues.”
- “Mechanically, the game lacks polish.”
- “The gameplay is straightforward; it is a point-and-click adventure, but I feel like it is missing a few things.”
- “The gameplay is about what is expected, but clicking on static images while reading text that's way too far from the 'action' is not exactly what people look for in these games.”
music
24 mentions
58 % positive mentions
29 % neutral mentions
13 % negative mentions
The music in the game is described as low-key yet memorable, featuring an atmospheric jazzy soundtrack that enhances the overall experience. Reviewers praise its fitting and charming qualities, particularly highlighting the relaxing "detective jazz" theme that complements the game's narrative and character designs. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a standout element that contributes significantly to the game's immersive world.
- “The music is low key yet strangely memorable.”
- “What's most impressive is how the game creates what feels like a fully-formed and believable world using almost static screens over four or five hours - helped by an atmospheric jazzy soundtrack.”
- “The characters and story are top-notch, the music is great, everything's working together perfectly.”
- “The main music is a relaxing 'detective jazz' track.”
- “And this isn't even mentioning the music!”
- “And the music, though simple, is quite fitting so there are no complaints from me.”
emotional
18 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of "Inspector Waffles" is characterized by its blend of lighthearted humor and heartfelt moments, creating a charming and wholesome experience. While the plot may not be deeply complex and the puzzles can be illogical, the game's strong writing and quirky characters evoke smiles and warmth, making it a delightful adventure that resonates with players. Overall, it successfully balances fun and emotional depth, leaving a positive impression.
- “The story is so wholesome and wonderful!”
- “It has strong writing throughout; while you might not be outright laughing out loud, you will be smiling and good-naturedly groaning a lot, and when the tone of the game gets more serious it can be surprisingly touching.”
- “Charming, fun, clever, and heartfelt.”
atmosphere
8 mentions
50 % positive mentions
50 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The game excels in creating a fully-formed and immersive world, enhanced by a jazzy soundtrack that complements its static visuals. While some players wished for more character animation, the overall atmosphere and world-building are praised as standout features, making it a compelling experience for those seeking a rich narrative and memorable characters.
- “What's most impressive is how the game creates what feels like a fully-formed and believable world using almost static screens over four or five hours - helped by an atmospheric jazzy soundtrack.”
- “Tl;dr if you're looking for a story with a good hook, great atmosphere, and memorable characters, Inspector Waffles should be right up your alley.”
- “Final point I'll make here in the game's favor: atmosphere and world building.”
grinding
6 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be quite tedious, particularly due to repetitive dialogue and the need to backtrack for forgotten items like woolball cards. While the overall experience has its merits, the frequent back and forth in puzzles and the clash of art styles contribute to a sense of monotony.
- “This is so damn tedious and it happens a lot.”
- “The drawing style of cut-scenes and the pixel art clash a bit, and clicking through repeating dialogue got a little tedious at times - especially when repeating a bit to get a forgotten woolball card. Other than that, there is little to complain about.”
- “A minor quip is that the puzzles require some tedious back and forth.”
character development
6 mentions
33 % positive mentions
50 % neutral mentions
17 % negative mentions
Character development in the game has been noted as weaker than some players would prefer; however, many reviewers acknowledge the limitations posed by the size of the development team and the overall scope of the project. Despite this, the character designs, art style, and accompanying soundtrack have received high praise, contributing positively to the overall experience.
- “The character designs, soundtrack, and story were all delightful (not to mention the cutscenes, I always got really excited whenever one played).”
- “The character designs are lovely, and the art, both pixel and drawn, is fantastic.”
- “I found character development to be weaker than I would have liked, but for the size of the development team and the scope of the game as a whole, I cannot realistically fault them.”
replayability
6 mentions
33 % positive mentions
33 % neutral mentions
33 % negative mentions
Overall, the game has limited replayability, with most players noting that it offers little incentive to revisit after the initial playthroughs. The high price relative to the gameplay duration further diminishes its replay value, which is typical for point-and-click titles.
- “It is pricey for the time it takes to complete and doesn't have much replay value.”
- “Additionally, there is very little replay value (as is usually the case with point-and-clicks).”