Murder Is Game Over

About

"Murder Is Game Over" is a murder mystery RPG where you play as a detective and his clue-sniffing dog partner, Cleo. Explore the castle grounds in rural Vermont to search for clues, interview suspects, and make deductions to solve the case and apprehend the guilty. This whodunit game features a compelling storyline, engaging gameplay, and the unique dynamic of a human-canine detective duo.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

97%

Audience ScoreBased on 38 reviews

story8 positive mentions

grinding1 negative mentions

Charming pixel art graphics and engaging atmosphere that evoke nostalgia.
Fun and straightforward murder mystery gameplay with a good balance of clue-finding and character interaction.
Well-constructed story with a satisfying conclusion that appeals to fans of detective genres.

Very short playtime, often feeling more like a demo than a full game.
Some gameplay mechanics are unpolished, including control issues and lack of key remapping options.
Predictable plot with shallow character development, making it easy to guess the culprit early on.

story
23 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
35%
52%
13%
The story is generally well-received, characterized as a decent and engaging detective narrative that effectively builds suspense and intrigue, though it lacks complexity and stakes. While some reviewers found it straightforward and somewhat cookie-cutter, others appreciated the fun characters and well-paced delivery, making it an enjoyable experience for casual players. Overall, it offers a solid, if not groundbreaking, storyline that is easy to follow and satisfying to unravel.
- “Excellent music and some fun characters with a well-written story.”
- “The story is well constructed and delivered at a nice pace, building suspense and intrigue as new information is gradually revealed through fun exploratory and investigative gameplay.”
- “Usually I dislike when a detective story feels too cookie-cutter, but all of these characters manage to be fun or interesting in some way and it just pairs with the visuals so well.”
- “The story is linear, there are no stakes, and you are told what to do next without prompting despite having a 'hint' option.”
- “I was interested in the storyline until I figured out who it was.”
- “An okay story, nothing special in my opinion, but the case is actually solvable, at least.”
graphics
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
20%
30%
The graphics of the game are characterized by charming 2D pixel art that evokes nostalgia for classic gaming, reminiscent of Game Boy visuals. Reviewers appreciate the vibrant environments and well-designed characters, noting that the retro aesthetic complements the engaging mystery narrative. Overall, the graphics receive a favorable reception, with a score of 7/10, appealing particularly to fans of point-and-click adventures and RPG Maker titles.
- “The 2D pixel graphics still manage to look nice and the environments are fun to explore.”
- “The 2D graphics gave me Game Boy vibes, and I loved playing on Game Boy as a child.”
- “The characters are well made in both graphics and personality.”
- “It's an RPG Maker game with decent graphics and the 'usual' controls and UI.”
- “This is one of the tightest implementations on the RPG Maker development system - you'll get sucked in by the retro graphics and music as well as the easy-to-use interface.”
gameplay
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
30%
40%
30%
The gameplay is generally enjoyable, featuring simple mechanics that facilitate exploration and investigation, though some aspects feel unpolished due to the game's indie origins. Players appreciate the charming whodunit elements and the unique ability to switch between characters, which adds depth to the experience, despite some criticism regarding the lack of necessity for certain interactions. Overall, the game offers a well-paced narrative that keeps players engaged through its investigative gameplay.
- “A charming little whodunit detective, in which all the game mechanics lie on the surface, but are made so capaciously and skillfully that they allow you to completely immerse yourself in the investigation.”
- “The mechanics with Cleo and all of the hidden tasks/easter eggs were a joy to play through.”
- “The story is well constructed and delivered at a nice pace, building suspense and intrigue as new information is gradually revealed through fun exploratory and investigative gameplay.”
- “It does suffer for being the first creation of a one-man studio; some of the gameplay is unpolished (the inability to reread the note stood out to me), and the gimmick of swapping between the guy and Cleo grew old after I found there was no reason to ever explore as the guy or talk to anyone as Cleo.”
- “It's not a difficult game and has simple mechanics to deal with the map, clues, and puzzles.”
- “The switching between the human and canine detectives for different abilities is a neat gameplay feature!”
music
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
50%
The music in the game is generally well-received, with a score of 7/10, praised for its engaging quality and ability to enhance the suspenseful atmosphere. While one song was noted as feeling out of place, the overall soundtrack contributes positively to the immersive experience alongside the retro graphics and well-written story.
- “Excellent music and some fun characters with a well-written story.”
- “The music was nice and the atmosphere was well done.”
- “The music is engaging and makes the suspenseful atmosphere even more fun.”
- “One song felt very much out of place, but it also made it fun.”
- “The music lacks variety and becomes repetitive quickly, detracting from the overall experience.”
- “While the retro graphics are charming, the music fails to capture the same nostalgic feel.”
atmosphere
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its nostalgic charm and engaging music, which enhances the overall experience and adds to the suspense. Reviewers appreciate how well the atmosphere is crafted, contributing to a delightful and immersive gameplay experience.
- “A delightful game full of great atmosphere and nostalgia.”
- “The music was nice and the atmosphere was well done.”
- “The music is engaging and makes the suspenseful atmosphere even more fun.”
grinding
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game tedious, particularly due to the repetitive nature of relying on the dog for clue-finding while the detective is limited to questioning, leading to a lack of variety in gameplay.
- “However, it got tedious after a while, especially when the dog was the only one able to find clues while the detective was the only one who could ask questions.”
stability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Users have reported experiencing occasional glitches, indicating that the game's stability may be inconsistent.
- “I ran into glitches a couple of times.”
- “The game crashes frequently, making it hard to enjoy.”
- “I experienced several bugs that disrupted my gameplay.”