Murder Is Game Over

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"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

Reviews

66%

Audience ScoreBased on 20 reviews

story5 positive mentions

gameplay3 negative mentions

Engaging and fun murder mystery with charming characters and a well-written story.
The gameplay features a unique mechanic of switching between the detective and his dog, adding depth to the investigation.
Visually appealing with nice 2D pixel graphics, making it a delightful experience for fans of the genre.

The game is quite short, feeling more like a demo than a full experience, with a playtime of around 1-3 hours.
Some gameplay elements are unpolished, such as the inability to reread notes and a clunky interface.
The story and characters lack depth, making the mystery predictable and reducing overall engagement.

story
9 mentions
56 % positive mentions
11 % neutral mentions
33 % negative mentions
The story has received mixed reviews, with some praising its fun characters and engaging music, while others criticize its linearity and lack of stakes. Although it features a straightforward detective narrative, many find the characters enjoyable and the overall experience decent for casual play. While some consider it thoughtful and recommendable, others view it as unremarkable and overly simplistic.
- “Excellent music and some fun characters with a well-written story.”
- “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 great and thoughtful; I definitely recommend playing.”
- “The story is linear, there are no stakes, and you are told what to do next without prompting despite having a 'hint' option.”
- “Story-wise, it's a very straightforward whodunit, featuring all your favorite characters.”
- “An okay story, nothing special in my opinion, but the case is actually solvable, at least.”
graphics
5 mentions
60 % positive mentions
20 % neutral mentions
20 % negative mentions
The graphics are characterized by appealing 2D pixel art that enhances the exploration of vibrant environments, making the game visually engaging. Players appreciate the retro aesthetic, which complements the intriguing characters and detective story elements, particularly for fans of point-and-click adventures. Overall, the visuals are well-received, especially for those who enjoy RPG Maker-style games.
- “I bought this because I enjoy point-and-click pixel graphics and I wanted to support Canadian (Quebecois!) devs.”
- “The 2D pixel graphics still manage to look nice and the environments are fun to explore.”
- “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.”
- “It's an RPG Maker game with decent graphics and the usual controls and UI.”
gameplay
2 mentions
50 % positive mentions
-100 % neutral mentions
150 % negative mentions
The gameplay is simple but lacks polish, reflecting its origins as a one-man studio project. Players noted issues such as the inability to reread notes and a repetitive mechanic of switching between characters, which diminished exploration and interaction. Overall, while not bad, the gameplay could benefit from more depth and refinement.
- “Gameplay-wise, it's simple but not bad.”
- “It suffers from being the first creation of a one-man studio; some of the gameplay is unpolished. The inability to reread notes 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.”
- “The gameplay feels repetitive and lacks depth, making it hard to stay engaged for long periods.”
- “There are numerous bugs that disrupt the gameplay experience, making it frustrating to progress through the game.”
music
1 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The music in the game is praised for its excellence, complementing a well-written story and adding to the enjoyment of the fun characters.
- “Excellent music and some fun characters with a well-written story.”
grinding
1 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game tedious, particularly due to the repetitive nature of relying on the dog for clues while the detective is limited to questioning, which can lead to a frustrating gameplay experience.
- “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.”
atmosphere
1 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The game is praised for its enchanting atmosphere, evoking a strong sense of nostalgia that enhances the overall experience.
- “A delightful game full of great atmosphere and nostalgia.”