Skip to main content

Master Detective Archives: RAIN CODE Plus

89%Game Brain Score
story, gameplay
grinding, stability
89% User Score Based on 417 reviews

Platforms

PCPCSDSteam DeckWinWindowsXSXXbox Series X|SXboxXbox

About

"Master Detective Archives: RAIN CODE Plus" is a dark fantasy detective action game, set in a city shrouded by constant rain and controlled by a megacorporation. Players, as the protagonist Yuma, investigate mysteries in the real world and then conquer "Mystery Labyrinths" using collected clues to uncover the truth. Currently available in Japanese, Traditional Chinese, and Simplified Chinese, with English and other languages planned to be added in a patch update on October 1st, 2024.

Master Detective Archives: RAIN CODE Plus screenshot
Master Detective Archives: RAIN CODE Plus screenshot
Master Detective Archives: RAIN CODE Plus screenshot
Master Detective Archives: RAIN CODE Plus screenshot
Master Detective Archives: RAIN CODE Plus screenshot
Master Detective Archives: RAIN CODE Plus screenshot
Master Detective Archives: RAIN CODE Plus screenshot
Master Detective Archives: RAIN CODE Plus screenshot
Master Detective Archives: RAIN CODE Plus screenshot
Master Detective Archives: RAIN CODE Plus screenshot

89%
Audience ScoreBased on 417 reviews
story66 positive mentions
grinding10 negative mentions

  • The game features a captivating story with interesting twists and a unique blend of investigative exploration and real-time puzzle-solving.
  • The visuals and art style are stunning, with a vibrant cyberpunk aesthetic that enhances the overall atmosphere of the game.
  • The character designs are memorable, and the interactions between characters, especially with Shinigami, add humor and depth to the experience.
  • The pacing can be slow, with tedious investigation segments that feel drawn out and repetitive, detracting from the overall enjoyment.
  • Some characters lack depth and development, making it difficult to form emotional connections, especially with the main protagonist, Yuma.
  • The mystery-solving mechanics can feel overly simplistic and hand-holdy, leading to a lack of challenge and satisfaction when solving cases.
  • story
    254 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The story of "Master Detective Archives: Rain Code" has received mixed reviews, with many praising its engaging characters, emotional depth, and intriguing twists, while others criticize its pacing and execution, particularly in the latter chapters. Some players found the overarching narrative compelling but felt that individual cases lacked cohesion and that side quests often felt like filler. Overall, while the game offers a rich detective experience reminiscent of Danganronpa, it struggles with plot holes and uneven storytelling, leaving some players wanting more from its narrative structure.

    • “The game comes very close to Danganronpa V3 in terms of quality storytelling and it also provides a gut-wrenching experience with a pinch of Spike Chunsoft charm that you won't find anywhere else.”
    • “Master Detective Archives: Raincode is one of the best investigative adventures I've played since the original Phoenix Wright trilogy. The cases are amazing, the characters are incredible, the villains spectacular, and the overall mystery that connects all the happenings of the story is just beautiful to see unfold, leading to a great, heartfelt ending that will stay with me for quite a long time.”
    • “The storytelling is very well-executed, giving plenty of hints without spoiling the full mystery.”
    • “The 'open world' felt forced and the story was disappointing (wtf was that ending?).”
    • “The plot just awkwardly meanders around the 'main mystery' for four chapters, with the last chapter being a walk through a completely linear environment to hastily resolve the 'main mystery'.”
    • “Pretty much every case ends with a very convenient deus ex machina (character a appears and pulls some kind of bullshit outta their ass, plot's resolved, you leave) plot shenanigan and everyone just brushes it off, time and again.”
  • gameplay
    104 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players appreciating the innovative mechanics and engaging mystery elements, while others criticize it for reusing Danganronpa's features without offering substantial improvements. Many found the minigames tedious and the pacing slow, yet some enjoyed the overall experience and narrative, suggesting that the gameplay may appeal more to fans of the genre despite its flaws. Overall, while the game introduces fresh ideas, it struggles to fully separate itself from its predecessor, leading to a varied reception among players.

    • “The game’s standout mechanics, like the mystery dungeon system that visually connects clues and ideas, keep the gameplay fresh and engaging.”
    • “With its innovative gameplay, gripping narrative, and memorable characters like Shinigami, Rain Code is a must-play for fans of the genre, offering a fresh and immersive experience that’s as fun to look at as it is to solve.”
    • “The gameplay loop revolves around collecting clues, clearing side quests, exploring the mystery labyrinth, and deducing the culprit for every major ongoing case.”
    • “I just felt like this was a subpar Danganronpa game that reuses mechanics and sound design and does not separate itself as a new IP.”
    • “So there's not a gameplay incentive to do side content, and there isn't a plot reason either.”
    • “The gameplay elements through which the player solves the mysteries also were quite lacking.”
  • music
    68 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the game has received high praise for its quality and consistency with the Danganronpa series, with many reviewers noting its engaging and atmospheric soundtrack that enhances the overall experience. While some feel it lacks the distinct personality of Danganronpa's OST, it is still considered impressive and well-crafted, with a few critics mentioning it can feel overly familiar. Overall, the soundtrack is celebrated as a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's immersive environment.

    • “The quirky humor, the ever-expanding mind-frick of mysteries, and outstanding music and graphic design.”
    • “Walking around in this neon-lit, rainy cyberpunk but also fantastical place while Takada's soundtrack plays in the background certainly puts you in a special sort of trance.”
    • “Good story, great set of characters, and a brilliant soundtrack.”
    • “Music is extremely underwhelming, especially considering Takada was the composer.”
    • “In fact, I think DR's OST had a bit more personality, and this one is a bit more bland/generic, or draws too much from DR. I dunno.”
    • “The worst part about this game is that the OST isn't available on Spotify.”
  • graphics
    66 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics in the game have received high praise for their stunning art style and vibrant visuals, reminiscent of the beloved Danganronpa series. Many reviewers highlight the breathtaking design and attention to detail, particularly in the character artwork and environments, although some note performance issues on certain platforms that detract from the overall experience. Overall, the visuals are considered a standout feature, successfully blending artistic expression with engaging gameplay elements.

    • “The art style in this game is breathtaking, the overworld you walk around in is beautiful and I applaud the designers they hired for this game.”
    • “Also, surprisingly beautiful graphics, the reflection tech leaves me stunned all the time.”
    • “The vibrancy of the colors and art style are breathtaking, paired with the same convoluted schemes we've come to love from other Spike Chunsoft characters, makes me fall in love with the genre all over again.”
    • “I have no idea why Kodaka forced it to be on the Switch, which butchered its graphical quality and the flow of its gorgeous city, fast-paced minigames, and cutscenes with a 30fps lock.”
    • “It pulls all kinds of superficial elements from the Danganronpa series (mostly around gameplay, but some aesthetic and structural elements as well), but seems to completely misunderstand what actually made those things work in Danganronpa.”
    • “The graphics in this game are more about art style and expression, which Rain Code Plus absolutely nails.”
  • emotional
    32 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The emotional aspect of the game is a mixed bag, with some players experiencing profound moments that evoke tears and deep reflection, particularly in certain chapters. However, many feel it lacks the strong emotional connections found in similar titles like Danganronpa, as the transient nature of characters diminishes attachment and leads to a bittersweet, sometimes frustrating narrative. Overall, while the story offers heartfelt moments and a satisfying conclusion, it may not resonate as deeply for those prone to emotional distress.

    • “The cases are extremely thought-provoking and are also emotional roller coasters; it definitely gave me lots of moments that made me think.”
    • “Master Detective Archives: Raincode is one of the best investigative adventures I've played since the original Phoenix Wright trilogy. The cases are amazing, the characters are incredible, the villains spectacular, and the overall mystery that connects all the happenings of the story is just beautiful to see unfold, leading to a great, heartfelt ending that will stay with me for quite a long time.”
    • “Though despite that, the canon ending of the game ends in a wholesome way, and it fulfills the desire of our main character perfectly.”
  • character development
    28 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Character development in the game has received mixed reviews, with some praising the intriguing character designs and personalities, while others criticize the depth and progression of the protagonists, particularly Yuma, who is seen as bland and lacking significant growth. Despite the high-quality visual presentation and familiar creative team, the writing and character arcs do not consistently meet the expectations set by previous titles from the same company. Overall, while the character design is celebrated, the development aspect leaves room for improvement.

    • “Still, taking into account the level of writing, character development, and world-building present in this game made by the same company, it's hard to avoid doing so.”
    • “Sure, they allow him to meet people who eventually help him with those greater goals, and they contribute to his character development and understanding of what it means to be a detective.”
    • “The character designs are striking, with intriguing personalities.”
    • “His only remarkable trait is that he has amnesia; he is too bland and weak-willed, way too much like a self-insert isekai protagonist, and his character development feels kind of weird in my opinion.”
    • “And finally, Yuma, poor guy got the worst character development out of all protagonists from Spike Chunsoft games.”
    • “Sure, they allow him to meet people who eventually help him with those greater goals, and they contribute to his character development and understanding of what it means to be a detective, but they rarely, if ever, contribute significant and tangible progress towards solving the case.”
  • humor
    26 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The humor in the game is a mix of quirky, dark, and lewd elements, often blending murder mystery themes with lowbrow jokes and character tropes. While some players appreciate the bizarre combination of humor styles, others find the ecchi and random jokes hit or miss, leading to mixed feelings about their effectiveness. Overall, fans of dark humor and quirky storytelling may enjoy the game's unique comedic approach, despite its polarizing nature.

    • “The quirky humor, the ever-expanding mind-frick of mysteries, and outstanding music and graphic design.”
    • “The amount of times I would see Shinigami go look at something and make a quip or do something funny in the background is countless.”
    • “The dark humor mixed with horny jokes here and there make a very bizarre combination I haven’t seen anywhere implemented properly for quite a while.”
  • optimization
    26 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game shows significant visual and performance improvements over its Switch version, running smoothly on PC at 1440p and 144Hz, particularly on a mobile RTX 3070. However, some users noted that it is not fully optimized for Unreal Engine 4, leading to underwhelming performance in certain settings, such as a scoring system that can drop frame rates without noticeable visual differences. Overall, while the visuals are impressive, the optimization could be better.

    • “From a technical standpoint, it didn't have port issues that v3 had and runs smoothly on PC.”
    • “Runs smoothly at 1440p and 144Hz.”
    • “Together with the improved lighting and performance, the overall impression is great.”
    • “That setting eats 20+ fps of performance, and I couldn't see a difference with it on or off, and I even made screenshots to compare.”
    • “The performance is a bit underwhelming, since it’s running on Unreal Engine 4 and was not properly optimized for it, but the visuals themselves are amazing.”
    • “For reference, a mobile RTX 3070 can run it in 1440p at 70-90 fps with no stuttering.”
  • atmosphere
    14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its unique and immersive qualities, particularly in its cyberpunk setting that enhances the storytelling and gameplay experience. Players appreciate the blend of suspense, clever design, and memorable characters, although some express a desire for more depth in the narrative towards the end. Overall, the game's atmosphere is considered a standout feature that captivates and envelops players in its world.

    • “Cyberpunk detective game with cool puzzles, a dope atmosphere, and a solid story.”
    • “+ some of the best characters, story, atmosphere, and overall writing I've seen in a while. The story of this game is incredibly good; it envelops you in a cyberpunk noir mystery that touches all the right bases, with suspense, clever crimes, amazing villains, even better protagonists, and some of the most heartfelt moments I've had in a story in a long while.”
    • “The atmosphere in this game is unlike anything I have played before.”
    • “The different setting and atmosphere remove some of the constraints design-wise that Danganronpa was stuck with - like an all older high school student cast.”
    • “After finally playing it, I can say that, while it’s partially true, it definitely has the exact same vibe and atmosphere.”
  • grinding
    12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be excessively tedious, often requiring significant time investment that detracts from overall pacing. While the combat shifts away from traditional grinding to a more cerebral approach, this change can lead to frustratingly slow sequences, particularly in puzzle-solving sections. Many reviewers express hope for quality-of-life improvements in future entries to alleviate these issues.

    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “The overall pacing of the game really suffers because of this, which can make some sequences extremely tedious to get through.”
    • “The puzzle-solving labyrinth section is even more tedious than the debating in Danganronpa.”
  • stability
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Users report a high level of stability, noting that they did not encounter any significant glitches or bugs that affected their gameplay experience.

Buy Master Detective Archives: RAIN CODE Plus

24h Median play time
24h Average play time
24-24h Spent by most gamers
*Based on 2 analyzed playthroughs

Videos

Games Like Master Detective Archives: RAIN CODE Plus

AI: The Somnium Files Image
This game contains adult content
AI: THE SOMNIUM FILES Nirvana Initiative Image
This game contains adult content
Danganronpa: Trigger Happy Havoc Image
This game contains adult content
Danganronpa 2: Goodbye Despair Image
This game contains adult content
Sherlock Holmes Chapter One Image
This game contains adult content
Zero Escape: The Nonary Games Image
This game contains adult content
Sherlock Holmes The Devil's Daughter Image
Paradise Killer Image
This game contains adult content
Life is Strange: Double Exposure Image
This game contains adult content