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Mindcop

Mindcop is a non-linear „whodunnit“ detective game. It mixes a story driven adventure with real-time puzzle gaming
90%Game Brain Score
story, gameplay
grinding
95% User Score Based on 298 reviews
Critic Score 84%Based on 8 reviews

Platforms

PCPCPlaystation 5Playstation 5WindowsWindowsPlayStationPlayStationNintendo SwitchNintendo SwitchSteam DeckSteam Deck

About

The quiet hamlet of Merrylin Crater Camp is shaken by a murder! Uncover the truth in this non-linear „whodunnit“ detective game. As the Mindcop you have 5 days to catch the true killer among Merrilyn Crater Camp’s inhabitants. Key features WHODUNNIT DETECTIVE GAME Use your Mindcop capabilities to uncover secrets and unravel people’s lies to find the true suspect of this town’s murder. MINDSUR…

Play Modes
Mindcop screenshot
Mindcop screenshot
Mindcop screenshot
Mindcop screenshot
Mindcop screenshot
Mindcop screenshot
Mindcop screenshot
Mindcop screenshot
Mindcop screenshot
Mindcop screenshot

95%
Audience ScoreBased on 306 reviews
story45 positive mentions
grinding4 negative mentions

  • The art style and sound design create a captivating and immersive atmosphere, enhancing the overall experience.
  • The gameplay mechanics, particularly the time management and mindsurfing, add a unique twist to the detective genre, encouraging players to think critically about their choices.
  • The characters are well-written and realistic, contributing to a rich narrative that rewards multiple playthroughs to uncover all the details.
  • The time constraint can feel overly restrictive, making exploration and thorough investigation difficult and sometimes frustrating.
  • Some characters lack distinct traits, making it hard to differentiate them during the first playthrough, which can detract from the experience.
  • The dialogue can fall flat at times, lacking the chemistry needed to make interactions feel natural and engaging.
  • story
    135 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The story in this game is a compelling blend of humor and darker themes, featuring well-developed characters and intricate plotlines that reward careful exploration and attention to detail. While some players found the narrative initially frustrating due to its brevity and pacing, many appreciated the depth and replayability offered by revisiting the story to uncover missed elements. Overall, the engaging storytelling, combined with unique gameplay mechanics, creates an immersive detective experience that resonates with fans of the genre.

    • “This game's story is truly amazing when you play it twice. It allows you to notice all the small details, get to know and appreciate each character, and understand the story the game is actually trying to tell you.”
    • “The story is spectacular, and gave that 'I need popcorn' feeling you get while watching the most entertaining movie ever. I was so intrigued by the story that I couldn't stop playing.”
    • “Mindcop is a brilliant blend of engaging gameplay, clever mechanics, and immersive storytelling. Its humorous and grim undertones are balanced by clever writing and simple, but engaging mechanics that help to sell the story of being a cop able to read people's minds.”
    • “The thing that really frustrated me was the story.”
    • “It really is an 8-hour story packed into a 5-hour game.”
    • “There's quite some red herrings here, and a whole separate 'criminal side story' that doesn't bring much to the table (apart from leading you astray).”
  • gameplay
    77 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay in this detective game is characterized by its unique mechanics, including a time management system and mindsurfing puzzles, which create a sense of urgency and encourage strategic questioning. While many players appreciate the engaging storytelling and charming art style, some find the time constraints and certain mechanics counter-intuitive or tedious. Overall, the game offers a fresh take on the genre, blending clever design with immersive narrative elements, though it may require some patience due to its learning curve and occasional lack of polish.

    • “Mindcop is a brilliant blend of engaging gameplay, clever mechanics, and immersive storytelling.”
    • “Very charming little detective game with an interesting gameplay loop, a really cute, perfectly realized art style, neat animations and backgrounds, and a refreshing open-endedness for a game that has a literal (but not imposing) time limit.”
    • “Its innovative gameplay, paired with a visually stunning, hand-drawn aesthetic and noir themes, delivers an experience as memorable as it is engaging.”
    • “It felt like the devs put a lot of effort into building this world with so many little details and then added a mechanic to ensure you see as little of it as possible.”
    • “The game mechanics seem like they were thought of in the moment and implemented without much thought as to how they intersect with each other and enhance the game.”
    • “I thought the game had a really interesting premise but honestly, what ruined it for me was the time mechanic and how tedious the mind surf puzzle became.”
  • music
    52 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the game has received widespread acclaim for its catchy and atmospheric quality, featuring a blend of low-key tracks for investigation moments and high-energy pieces for action scenes. Reviewers praised the soundtrack for enhancing the overall vibe, complementing the game's stylish visuals and engaging narrative, with many noting its jazz influences and emotional depth. Overall, the music is described as immersive, beautifully composed, and a standout element that elevates the gaming experience.

    • “The music is wonderful as well, with great low-key tracks that accompany your investigation, alongside amazing high-energy tracks that play during more action-focused moments.”
    • “The sleek visuals and atmospheric soundtrack perfectly set the tone for solving thrilling cases.”
    • “The music is beautiful and relaxing, and the overall vibe and art direction are simply gorgeous.”
    • “Music?”
    • “Oh and the soundtrack is *chefs makeout*”
    • “And the music!”
  • graphics
    51 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics of Mindcop are widely praised for their unique and charming art style, which combines cartoon-noir visuals with detailed animations and a hand-drawn aesthetic. Reviewers highlight the game's engaging atmosphere, polished visuals, and how the art complements the storytelling and gameplay, creating a memorable experience. Overall, the graphics contribute significantly to the game's appeal, making it a standout title for fans of visually distinctive detective games.

    • “Mindcop, in addition to having a fantastic aesthetic and engaging world to explore, combines time constraints and realistic detective work to make an unforgettable experience.”
    • “Its innovative gameplay, paired with a visually stunning, hand-drawn aesthetic and noir themes, delivers an experience as memorable as it is engaging.”
    • “The sleek visuals and atmospheric soundtrack perfectly set the tone for solving thrilling cases.”
    • “Graphics?”
    • “The art style is endearing and even though simplistic, it does not diminish the value of detective gameplay.”
    • “It has a unique art style with very charming and detailed animations.”
  • humor
    30 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The humor in the game is a blend of clever writing and offbeat, gritty elements that balance dark themes with light-hearted dialogue, creating a unique and engaging experience. While some dialogue may fall flat, many players appreciate the unexpected brilliance of the humor, which complements the game's serious undertones and enhances the overall narrative. The characters are described as lifelike and entertaining, contributing to a fun and memorable detective adventure.

    • “Clever, funny, and philosophical—a whodunit adventure that'll keep you hooked.”
    • “The humor is unexpectedly brilliant.”
    • “Mindcop is a fun and mysterious point and click 'whodunit' tale that will leave you laughing and fill you with suspense as you piece together the puzzle of a murder most foul that's befallen a small tourist village.”
  • replayability
    21 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game offers significant replayability due to its non-linear structure and the necessity of making strategic choices during investigations, which ensures players will miss information on their first playthrough. Many reviewers noted the urge to replay the game to uncover additional secrets, experiment with different approaches, and optimize their paths, making it a compelling experience even after completing the main story. While some felt that the story could be grasped in one run, the overall design and mechanics encourage multiple playthroughs for a deeper understanding and enjoyment.

    • “The game is non-linear and offers replayability - even when you're lucky and find a killer in the first run, you'll feel the urge to start a new game right away, either to uncover more secrets of this not-so-innocent town or to try a different approach with its inhabitants.”
    • “Even with its brevity, every moment is brimming with clever mechanics, thoughtful design, and compelling narrative choices that invite replayability.”
    • “I had my eye on it but was hesitant when I heard about the length, but I'm glad I went for it anyway; there is tremendous replay value to the point that I was glad I failed my first attempt so I could go through a second attempt that was a success.”
    • “It adds a bit of replayability, but I got the gist of the story by catching the killer, so I was not interested in playing it again just to get some details I missed.”
    • “It has some replayability to experiment with different scenarios and decisions because, as any real investigation, time is primal.”
    • “It has some replayability achievements-wise and to get to know how everything else pieces together.”
  • atmosphere
    10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its pseudo-monochrome color palette and sleek visuals, which create an unnerving and mysterious environment. The atmospheric soundtrack enhances the tension, making it easy for players to become immersed in the story and the pressure of solving thrilling cases. Overall, the combination of eerie elements and comedic undertones contributes to a captivating and engaging atmosphere.

    • “The sleek visuals and atmospheric soundtrack perfectly set the tone for solving thrilling cases.”
    • “The dev did a great job creating an eerie atmosphere.”
    • “I absolutely love the pseudo-monochrome color palette that is used here, establishing an unnerving, mysterious atmosphere.”
    • “It's very easy to get lost in both the story and the atmosphere.”
    • “Really liked the story, the pressuring atmosphere to catch the killer before they get away with it and the comedic undertone the main characters have.”
  • emotional
    10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game elicits a wide range of emotions, from heartwarming moments to unsettling experiences, effectively engaging players through its well-crafted characters, beautiful music, and immersive storytelling. Reviewers highlight the emotional weight of decisions and the pressure to focus on details, making the gameplay feel impactful and meaningful. Overall, it is praised for its ability to evoke strong feelings while delivering a satisfying narrative experience.

    • “This was an amazing experience, a very bizarre concept, but it made me feel all types of emotions, good and bad, while giving me a satisfactory ending.”
    • “The music was beautiful and emotional, the characters were well-written, and the voice acting was well done.”
    • “This ranges from heartwarming and sweet memories to half-truths that may or may not hold answers, to downright unsettling nightmares stemming from severe trauma.”
  • grinding
    4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game, particularly the repetitive nature of the mind surf puzzles and the time mechanic, to be tedious and detracting from the overall experience. Despite the game's interesting premise, the necessity to repeatedly navigate through dialogue and puzzles has led to frustration among users.

    • “I thought the game had a really interesting premise, but honestly, what ruined it for me was the time mechanic and how tedious the mind surf puzzle became.”
    • “I understand why this isn't a feature, but it was a bit tedious having to go through every mind surf again and go through all the dialogue.”

Buy Mindcop

7h Median play time
6h Average play time
5-7h Spent by most gamers
*Based on 4 analyzed playthroughs

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