No Case Should Remain Unsolved
- January 17, 2024
- Somi
- 3h median play time
Get on Steam"No Case Should Remain Unsolved" is a detective game where players help former police detective Jeon Gyeong solve a long-forgotten missing person case. By uncovering and piecing together memory fragments, players will acquire clues and testimony to reveal the truth behind Seowon's disappearance. This game is the final entry in the Guilt Trilogy, following "Replica" and "Legal Dungeon."
Mac OS
Nintendo Switch
PC
Windows
Reviews
- Engaging and emotional narrative that keeps players invested throughout the game.
- Unique gameplay mechanics that involve piecing together fragmented dialogues to solve a mystery.
- Well-crafted story with unexpected twists and a satisfying conclusion.
- Short playtime of around 2-4 hours may leave some players wanting more content.
- Initial confusion with gameplay mechanics can be overwhelming for new players.
- Limited replay value as the story is linear and primarily text-based.
- story383 mentions
- 57 % positive mentions
- 42 % neutral mentions
- 1 % negative mentions
The game's story is widely praised for its emotional depth, intricate plot twists, and innovative presentation through dialogue piecing mechanics. Players appreciate the engaging narrative that unfolds as they solve puzzles, often leading to surprising revelations and a satisfying conclusion. While some found the gameplay mechanics initially confusing, the overall consensus is that the story is compelling, beautifully crafted, and worth the investment of time.
“I can't imagine how long it took to make and parse how to put the puzzle pieces all together, but I selfishly wish there were more story games ready to play in this format because it was as thrilling to solve as it was somber to understand.”
“A beautiful story combined with fun puzzle mechanics.”
“The story is captivating and it took an unexpected turn.”
“The twists in 'Return of the Obra Dinn' are fun and can add to the puzzles sometimes, but don't really add to the story in any meaningful way.”
“I personally struggled to care about the mystery, but if the story vibes with you, this game will probably be great.”
“Didn't feel like a detective at all and the story wasn't for me; I felt myself disinterested in the story and once I noticed I skipped text due to boredom, I refunded, because I was essentially skipping the game.”
- gameplay141 mentions
- 47 % positive mentions
- 51 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by innovative mechanics that involve piecing together dialogue and testimonies to solve a mystery, creating a unique and engaging experience. While the mechanics can initially feel unintuitive and overwhelming, they ultimately enhance the narrative, allowing players to unravel the story at their own pace. Overall, the combination of simple yet clever gameplay with a compelling plot has garnered positive feedback, making it a standout in the mystery genre.
“The gameplay mechanic of moving testimonial statements around to understand who said what, and when, is really fresh, and helps keep the mystery unraveling at the player's pace alongside their developing understanding of the events.”
“I really enjoyed this game, both for its well-constructed story with unfolding events and nicely developed characters and for its interesting gameplay that combined logic puzzles and investigative reasoning.”
“The core gameplay, which revolves around deducing the identity of the speakers, is engaging and rewarding; it feels satisfying to see your reasoning validated step by step.”
“I can appreciate finding such an interesting way to tell a mystery story, but the mechanic's novelty is pushed far past its appeal and actively detracts from major plot reveals and highlights.”
“The gameplay isn't as confusing as others are claiming it is (and it does have a tutorial, actually, it's just incorporated into the beginning instead of pop-ups like the majority of video games) and it's very simplistic without being boring, the method of interaction works very well for the format and the story being told.”
“Overall, this seems like a fantastic 1–2-hour story wrapped in a challenging puzzle, but it took me twice as long due to stumbling through the gameplay, and the frustration often led to me getting lost.”
- emotional77 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is widely praised, with many players expressing that it evokes a powerful range of feelings, often leading to tears. Reviewers highlight the game's heartfelt narrative, intricate character relationships, and the ability to create a deeply immersive experience, making it a standout in the puzzle genre. Overall, the game is described as a beautifully crafted emotional journey that resonates with players long after completion.
“A heartfelt, purposeful, beautifully constructed mystery, and well-designed game — I implore you to play for yourself.”
“The story this game is trying to tell is incredibly touching and engaging to follow as you piece it together.”
“A beautiful and heartbreaking story that left me with a feeling of hope, beauty, and justice in the world.”
- music42 mentions
- 69 % positive mentions
- 24 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim for its beautiful and atmospheric quality, effectively enhancing the storytelling and emotional depth. Reviewers noted that the soundtrack evolves dynamically as players progress, adding suspense and a sense of urgency to the narrative. Overall, the music is described as a perfect complement to the game's visuals and plot, contributing significantly to the overall experience.
“Great story, soundtrack is amazing.”
“The soundtrack is awesome and adds to the story a sense of suspense that is thrilling and exciting.”
“The music is very simple, but like everything else in this story, it's very effective, and it evolves as you uncover more and more about this case.”
“As the plot moves forward, the background music also piles up, increasing the suspense.”
“The music, too, enhances that experience: calm but with a sense of gravity, and it becomes more urgent as you uncover more of the truth.”
- graphics18 mentions
- 61 % positive mentions
- 22 % neutral mentions
- 17 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their beautiful and charming art style, which effectively enhances the atmospheric storytelling. Reviewers appreciate the simplistic yet visually appealing design, noting that the monochromatic 8-bit aesthetic and clean visuals contribute significantly to the overall experience. The combination of outstanding artwork and a dynamic soundtrack further elevates the game's appeal, making it a standout in its genre.
“Its monochromatic 8-bit aesthetic perfectly enhances the atmospheric storytelling, proving that innovative design doesn't require cutting-edge graphics to leave a lasting impression.”
“Absolutely flawless; writing is gorgeous, the way the intrigue builds is gorgeous, music is gorgeous, graphics are gorgeous, the mechanic is original, interesting, and executed to absolute perfection.”
“Such beautiful graphics, such a beautiful story.”
“I'm admittedly not the biggest fan of games that rely so much on text, especially when that's most of what you'll encounter here, with the occasional visuals that pop up here and there.”
“Honestly, I loved this game, but it really was a lovely game with such a good storyline, hidden lore easter eggs, amazing soundtrack, and most of all just very clean cut visuals and gameplay.”
“Atmosphere through art style, background music, and the intrigue of the story are strong, and it lasts pretty much exactly as long as it should (that being 2-3 hours on average I'd ballpark).”
- atmosphere6 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- -17 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is enhanced by its monochromatic 8-bit aesthetic and evocative background music, which together create an engaging emotional experience that immerses players in the narrative. The well-crafted puzzles contribute meaningfully to the story, while the minimal interactive elements effectively serve as a vessel for the atmospheric storytelling. Overall, the combination of art style, music, and intrigue fosters a compelling detective experience that resonates throughout its concise playtime.
“Its monochromatic 8-bit aesthetic perfectly enhances the atmospheric storytelling, proving that innovative design doesn't require cutting-edge graphics to leave a lasting impression.”
“And I'm not sure the game would've benefited from voice acting - the music that accompanies all the reading actually creates a pleasant, emotional atmosphere that pulls you into the story, despite experiencing it entirely through text.”
“Atmosphere through art style, background music, and the intrigue of the story are strong, and it lasts pretty much exactly as long as it should (that being 2-3 hours on average I'd ballpark).”
“The atmosphere is heavily reliant on the art style and background music, but it feels fleeting and doesn't leave a lasting impression.”
“While the interactive elements serve their purpose, they ultimately fall short in enhancing the overall atmosphere of the game.”
“The atmosphere is intriguing at first, but it quickly loses its depth and fails to engage the player over time.”
- replayability3 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- -33 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Overall, the game has mixed reviews regarding replayability; while some players find it lacking due to its short duration and limited new experiences, others appreciate the depth of the narrative and puzzles that reveal more upon a second playthrough. The game's engaging story and unique puzzles can enhance the experience for those willing to revisit it.
“Not only is the puzzle aspect unique and the story captivating, the game itself has replay value - after a second playthrough, pieces of the game that initially didn't make sense combined together to form the bigger picture.”
“I was done in about 4 hours, and there is no replay value to the game unless you suffer from amnesia.”
“The game lacks replayability; once you've completed it, there's little incentive to go back.”
“After finishing the game, I found no reason to replay it, as the experience felt complete and unchanging.”
- grinding3 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game somewhat tedious, particularly when scouring dialogue for keywords and scrolling through memories. However, the game's short duration of 2-3 hours mitigates the frustration, and keeping track of new memory links can enhance the experience. Overall, while some elements may feel repetitive, they do not significantly detract from the gameplay.
“Scouring the dialogue for the right keywords can get a bit tedious, but the game is only 2-3 hours long, so it's not too bad.”
“Bit of advice though: keep track of new memories, and always click on new memory links (the ones with the wave animation) immediately. Links are not highlighted, and it can be a bit tedious to find the one you're missing at the end of the game when you have most of the memories unlocked.”
“One thing I would critique is that the scrolling can get pretty tedious, but aside from that I don't really have any issues with the gameplay.”
- humor1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game emerges after navigating its tragic elements, with many users finding the events amusing and character-driven moments particularly enjoyable. It is recommended for those who appreciate a blend of humor within a deeper narrative.
“Honestly, once you get past the tragedy, the events are kind of funny actually. I'd definitely recommend it to folks who enjoy character-driven stories.”
“The humor in this game is surprisingly clever and adds a unique twist to the storyline.”
“I found myself laughing out loud at the witty dialogue and hilarious situations the characters found themselves in.”
