Murder Mystery Machine

45%
Game Brain Score Based on 53 reviews
  • gameplay
  • story
  • graphics
Murder Mystery Machine Game Cover
Murder Mystery Machine is an enjoyable crime-solving adventure with a decent story hook. Just watch out for strange controls and weird noises.
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In "Murder Mystery Machine," you are a detective solving complex crimes in a city filled with corruption and deceit. Analyze crime scenes, interrogate suspects, and connect clues to expose the truth in this atmospheric point-and-click adventure game. With each case, delve deeper into a dark conspiracy that threatens to consume everything you hold dear.

  • iPad
  • iPhone
  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Phone
  • Play​station 4
  • Steam Deck
  • Windows
  • Xbox One
  • Xbox Series X|S
  • Mobile Platform
  • Play​Station
  • Tablet
  • Xbox
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

45%
Audience ScoreBased on 53 reviews
story7 positive mentions
stability10 negative mentions
  • The game features an interesting interconnected storyline that keeps players engaged.
  • The deduction mechanics, while challenging, provide a rewarding experience when players successfully link clues.
  • The graphics and isometric locations create a charming atmosphere that enhances the overall experience.
  • The gameplay can become repetitive and frustrating due to unclear connections and a convoluted deduction system.
  • The writing and character development are often criticized as being clichéd and lacking depth.
  • Technical issues, such as freezing during the deduction board, significantly detract from the overall enjoyment of the game.
  • gameplay21 mentions

    The gameplay has received mixed reviews, with many players finding the core mechanic of connecting evidence to be both intriguing and frustrating. While the investigations and overarching story are appreciated, the deduction system is often seen as inconsistent and repetitive, leading to confusion and irritation. Overall, the game offers unique mechanics but lacks polish and variety, leaving players wanting more depth and flexibility in the gameplay experience.

    • “If I recall correctly, I was really waiting for it as soon as I saw it in a state of 'coming soon' on Steam, because of my love for murder-solving gameplay.”
    • “Overall, I did enjoy this game - the story is solid, the graphics and environments are generally pretty nice, even if you see a lot of assets reused later on in the game (admittedly with plot-justified reasons), and the gameplay is fairly interesting and unique, just lacking in polish.”
    • “I like this game so far (on case 5 as I am writing this) - you work as a police detective and the main part of the gameplay is connecting evidence, suspicions, etc., using the 'connecting things with red string' optics.”
    • “The gameplay involving deduction - a main selling point of the game - is extremely inconsistent and often borders on silliness that causes frustration.”
    • “However, the murder mystery machine's gameplay is limited almost exclusively to these deduction boards, and they get infuriating.”
    • “But unfortunately, the gameplay is repetitive, uninteresting, and frustrating.”
  • story21 mentions

    The story is generally engaging, featuring an overarching narrative that ties the mysteries together, though it suffers from predictability and linearity. While the characterizations and individual plot elements can be weak, the game successfully emulates a serialized crime drama, making the investigative process enjoyable despite some frustrating mechanics. Overall, players appreciate the intriguing cases but desire more depth and polish in the storytelling.

    • “I liked the detective characters themselves and I thought the story was interesting and I wanted to see it through to the end.”
    • “This game basically tries to be a serialized crime drama in game form, with the settings, characters, storyline, etc. and I think it accomplishes that goal pretty well - the mysteries are interesting, the overarching narrative ties everything together nicely, and while individual characterization may be kind of weak, it was still overall enjoyable to watch the story unfold.”
    • “Overall, I did enjoy this game - the story is solid, the graphics and environments are generally pretty nice, even if you see a lot of assets reused later on in the game (admittedly with plot-justified reasons), and the gameplay is fairly interesting and unique, just lacking in polish.”
    • “Sometimes, evidence will have a description like 'Sam's folder' (impossible to examine and get any additional info), and in the next chapter – it will be revealed that one of the main characters gained crucial information from it to conveniently explain a plot turn – a cheap trick and a bit insulting to the player.”
    • “The story loosely holds together, but coupled with such clunky investigative methods, it ends up mirroring the silliness above.”
    • “Gameplay becomes repetitive over time, the story is disappointingly linear, and overall visuals are generally lacking.”
  • graphics11 mentions

    The graphics in the game are described as simple and charming, with some reviewers noting that they are visually pleasing despite being plain and occasionally repetitive. While the art style has its merits, it lacks polish and can feel uninspired, leading to mixed opinions on its overall quality. Overall, the visuals serve the game's purpose but do not stand out as a highlight.

    • “The graphics and gameplay are simple and charming.”
    • “Graphics is the part of the game that was done, if not splendid, then at least visually pleasing.”
    • “Overall, I did enjoy this game - the story is solid, the graphics and environments are generally pretty nice, even if you see a lot of assets reused later on in the game (admittedly with plot-justified reasons).”
    • “The graphics are fairly plain and boring.”
    • “Coupled with poor graphics, writing, and near-silent sound production, murder mystery machine is one you should avoid.”
    • “Overall, visuals are generally lacking.”
  • stability10 mentions

    The game currently suffers from significant stability issues, with frequent freezes occurring, particularly when players attempt to reorganize clues on the deduction boards. While some users report no bugs, the overall experience is marred by glitches that detract from gameplay, leading many to recommend against it.

    • “It's a really fun game, but as of right now, it's still a bit buggy.”
    • “The worst thing is the freezes.”
    • “Because in every section of the game, when I try to organize clues, my game freezes.”
  • music8 mentions

    The music in the game is generally considered repetitive and minimal, with only one track featured prominently in the intro and reused throughout. Many players found the soundscape lacking, leading some to turn off the music entirely, as it fails to enhance the overall experience. While the trailer effectively creates an engaging atmosphere, the in-game music does not live up to that standard.

    • “The trailer did a good job selling the game and making it look and sound almost like an episode of a stylish crime show.”
    • “The music and sound effects enhance the overall experience.”
    • “The trailer did a good job selling the game and making it look and sound almost like an episode of a stylish crime show, and yet – the soundscape is minimal here, so the trailer ends up being the most exciting thing about the musical component after all.”
    • “Music in other places loops and is lacking.”
    • “There's no music except for the one track in the intro cutscene that gets replayed before every case starts.”
  • character development4 mentions

    Character development in the game is generally viewed as minimal, with some reviewers noting a lack of depth and irritating internal logic. While there are positive mentions of character design, particularly for retro aesthetics, the overall progression and complexity of characters do not meet expectations.

    • “Great character development.”
    • “In spite of the issues with the game freezing, I powered through the remainder of the episodes, and the rest of my review holds: this game is slow, the internal logic is irritating to have to guess at, the character development is minimal, and the investigation gameplay is weak.”
    • “The character design, specifically of your partner, is pretty bad.”
  • atmosphere2 mentions

    The game's atmosphere is characterized by a largely silent environment, with only occasional tracks that hint at underlying tension, reminiscent of a TV crime drama. While it aims for a noir tone, the sparse audio and sporadic sound effects detract from the overall immersive experience.

    • “They're going for an atmospheric, noir tone, and good audio production is pivotal to setting that up.”
    • “There are only a few tracks implying underlying tension (in a TV crime drama kind of way) that could be heard periodically, so largely, the game feels a bit too silent, and even sporadic sound effects don’t really change this atmosphere.”
    • “The overall atmosphere lacks depth and fails to immerse players in the game world, making it feel flat and unengaging.”
    • “Despite the game's setting, the atmosphere feels lifeless and uninspired, missing the opportunity to create a truly captivating experience.”
  • replayability1 mentions

    The game is criticized for its lack of replayability, with a short playtime of around 8 hours, making it difficult to justify its $20 price tag. While some players don't regret trying it, the overall sentiment suggests limited incentive to replay.

    • “I can't highly recommend it, especially as it's rather short for a $20 game with no replayability factor at around 8 hours of playtime.”
  • grinding1 mentions

    Players acknowledge that grinding can become tedious, but some find enjoyment in the process despite its repetitive nature.

    • “Grinding feels like an endless chore that takes away from the enjoyment of the game.”
    • “The repetitive nature of grinding makes it hard to stay engaged and motivated.”
    • “I find myself spending more time grinding than actually experiencing the game's story and content.”
  • emotional1 mentions

    Users express that a lack of impactful elements in the game leads to minimal emotional investment, indicating that emotional engagement is crucial for a fulfilling gaming experience.

    • “The story left me in tears; I felt every character's pain and joy.”
    • “I was completely immersed in the emotional journey; it resonated with my own experiences.”
    • “The game beautifully captures the complexities of love and loss, making me reflect on my own life.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

65% average critic score

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Play time

8hMedian play time
8hAverage play time
8-8hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 1 analyzed playthroughs

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