Murders on the Yangtze River

About

"Murders on the Yangtze River" is a detective game with a horizontal axis layout, similar to "Ace Attorney." Players solve intriguing cases in early 20th century China, with a focus on logical reasoning and exploration of the stunning brush painting art style. The game strives to resonate with players of diverse backgrounds through its thrilling plot and heartfelt emotions.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

98%

Audience ScoreBased on 1,148 reviews

story238 positive mentions

Engaging and well-constructed plot that intertwines historical facts with the narrative, providing a rich context for the story.
Charming art style and excellent voice acting, with characters speaking in their appropriate languages and accents, enhancing immersion.
Challenging yet logical puzzles that keep players invested, with a good balance of difficulty and accessibility.

The English translation has several grammatical errors and awkward phrasings that can detract from the overall experience.
Some mechanics and mini-games are only used once, which can feel disappointing and limit their potential.
Certain deductions require leaps in logic that may not always be intuitive, leading to moments of frustration for players.

story
470 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
51%
48%
1%
The game's story is praised for its rich narrative, engaging characters, and intricate plot twists, set against the backdrop of early 20th century China. While some players noted issues with translation and pacing, the overall storytelling is considered immersive and well-crafted, with a satisfying conclusion that ties together various plot threads. The incorporation of historical context and cultural references adds depth, making it a compelling experience for fans of the detective genre.
- “The story alone was so rich, and made every minute of gameplay worth it.”
- “The different cases are all very fun, well-written and interesting with plenty of twists and turns while telling an overarching story that was really satisfying to see through to its conclusion.”
- “The story is expertly crafted and everything really comes together.”
- “Unfortunately, the narrative falls apart when some of the real historical events started to heavily involve in the story progression, such as the inventors of cocaine and the events related to Qing dynasty opium abuse, and it all mixed in a bad way that it destroyed the immersion because the greater scopes of historical context were deviated.”
- “Some plot points and timelines are nonsensical, with characters acting inconsistently with their backgrounds or abilities.”
- “Character names change from basic English names to their best translated Chinese names randomly throughout the story, making it often difficult to keep track of which characters are being referred to.”
gameplay
190 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
27%
71%
2%
The gameplay is heavily inspired by the Ace Attorney series, featuring a mix of engaging mechanics and unique chapter-specific elements that enhance the mystery-solving experience. While some mechanics are only used once, leading to a sense of missed potential, the overall gameplay remains captivating with a well-written narrative, interesting cases, and a variety of interactive elements that keep players invested. Despite some pacing issues and occasional clunkiness, the game successfully combines historical references and strategic gameplay, making it a standout title in the genre.
- “The gameplay excels in creating an atmospheric experience, combining well-written characters with a challenging murder investigation.”
- “Every part of this game is a masterpiece; the gameplay is challenging and fun, the cases are intriguing, the characters are charming with so much depth, the music is great, the art is gorgeous in both the sprite work and in cutscenes, and the emotional impact of the final case had me thinking about it for days on end.”
- “With gameplay reminiscent of the Phoenix Wright series, this detective adventure offers a unique blend of historical fiction and mystery-solving.”
- “Mechanics being introduced only to never be seen again, and the game never comes together as well as it could.”
- “It isn't a perfect game; at times I struggled with the pacing and felt at odds with the gameplay.”
- “The game doesn't have as structured an approach to the gameplay as others in the genre.”
music
136 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
59%
39%
2%
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim for its beautiful integration of traditional Chinese instruments, enhancing the overall atmosphere and emotional impact of the gameplay. Many reviewers noted its similarity to the "Ace Attorney" series while also appreciating its unique cultural influences, although some found the repetitive nature of certain tracks during prolonged gameplay to be a minor drawback. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a standout feature that complements the game's art and storytelling, contributing to a rich and immersive experience.
- “The music is absolutely beautiful, with the right mood at the right moment.”
- “The soundtrack is a brilliant accompaniment to the tension when you're frantically searching for contradictions and refutations.”
- “The music, the characters, the setting and how well the game plays into the historical events of the time, the individual cases as well as how they all tie in to the overarching plot is all splendidly done and pacing of the story and delivery of its beats and twists are great.”
- “The music interrupts the mood often and transitions go up and down like a jackhammer.”
- “The music is a little repetitive: I found myself turning it down when analyzing the inventory or reading facts.”
- “Music is fine, but for this type of game, you can oftentimes get stuck in a scene trying to solve a hard mystery, which can make a music loop super repetitive.”
graphics
124 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
45%
53%
2%
The graphics of the game have been widely praised for their unique art style, which blends traditional Chinese brush painting with a vibrant, engaging aesthetic that fits the historical setting of the late Qing era. Many reviewers noted the beautiful illustrations and character designs, although some found the chibi-esque style a bit jarring at first. Overall, the visuals are considered a standout feature, enhancing the storytelling and immersive experience of the game.
- “The graphics are beautiful and vibrant.”
- “The whole game is a work of art: the music, the graphic art, the story, the characters... everything is well developed.”
- “The artwork in parts of the cities and cut scenes are tremendously beautiful.”
- “Graphics are passable, animation is kinda stiff.”
- “Generally, the game is done in this chibi art style and the characters all look like paper dolls that act out murders, which is cute but did take me out of it a little bit.”
- “Graphics aren't very buttery.”
humor
26 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game features a blend of humor that includes witty character interactions, British voicelines, and amusing moments that arise from player choices, though it is noted that the humor is not as consistently silly as in games like Ace Attorney. While the story maintains a serious tone, it incorporates moments of levity, making it enjoyable for players who appreciate a mix of comedy and engaging gameplay. Overall, the humor adds a charming layer to the experience, even if it doesn't always land perfectly.
- “The extremely British voicelines later on in the game were also absolutely hilarious.”
- “I also find the difference between how characters are depicted in close-ups and wide shots simply hilarious.”
- “This game is the best game I have played in a long time that made me laugh, cry, and kept me so invested in the wonderfully written storyline and well-programmed gameplay.”
emotional
24 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is praised for its emotional depth, particularly in its character development and impactful storytelling, culminating in a memorable conclusion that resonates with players. Many reviewers noted the heartfelt connections between the cases and the historical context, which fostered a strong emotional engagement and appreciation for Chinese history. While some felt that the emotional moments could be enhanced with more character exposition, the overall experience left a lasting impression, making players reflect on the journey long after completion.
- “The main character grew more interesting and fleshed out as the game steamrolls into its memorable, emotional conclusion.”
- “There's voice acting and the story is very emotional.”
- “Every part of this game is a masterpiece; the gameplay is challenging and fun, the cases are intriguing, the characters are charming with so much depth, the music is great, the art is gorgeous in both the sprite work and in cutscenes, and the emotional impact of the final case had me thinking about it for days on end.”
atmosphere
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
22%
11%
The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its immersive experience, blending well-written characters, stunning art style, and a soundtrack inspired by traditional Chinese music. Reviewers highlight how these elements work together to create a captivating environment that enhances the detective gameplay, making it reminiscent of classic titles like The Great Ace Attorney. Overall, players feel deeply engaged in the game's time period and narrative, eagerly anticipating potential sequels.
- “The characters are well-written and endearing, the art style is absolutely gorgeous, and the music suits the atmosphere perfectly.”
- “The scenery, characters, facts tab (which is super cool), the very well-made voiceover with the switching languages and accents, and the overall atmosphere all work together to immerse you into the game's time period.”
- “Very atmospheric while still fitting the detective side of the game.”
- “The scenery, characters, facts tab (which is super cool), the very well made voice over with the switching languages and accents, and the overall atmosphere all work together to immerse you into the game's time period.”
- “Highly reminiscent of the great Ace Attorney in terms of mechanics, atmosphere, and OST.”
character development
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
40%
Character development in the game is highly praised, with reviewers noting that each character feels authentic and vibrant, significantly enhancing the immersive storytelling experience. The high-quality character designs, animation, and art contribute to the overall appeal, making players eager to encounter new characters throughout the game.
- “The character development is outstanding—each character feels real and vibrant, making the story even more immersive.”
- “Character designs, animation, and art are of high quality; I love how expressive some of the characters are.”
- “This might be a personal preference, but I found the character designs lovely and was looking forward to meeting new characters in each case.”
optimization
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The voice acting in the game is generally solid and features a commendable effort, with many users expressing surprise at the level of voice work included. However, there are noted inconsistencies in the quality of performances, which, while not significantly detracting from the overall experience, do vary in effectiveness.
- “Also, I really want to shout out the effort put into the voice acting - I didn't expect it to be heavily voice acted, and I was really happy with the performances!”
- “The performances are all great, so it doesn't detract from the game too much.”
- “The voice acting sounds solid, and I was surprised by the English voice actors; though I will say their performances seemed to be inconsistent in quality, for the most part, they were acceptable.”

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Murders on the Yangtze River
$10.49
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20h Median play time

20h Average play time

20-20h Spent by most gamers

*Based on 2 analyzed playthroughs

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Murders on the Yangtze River

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