Noir Chronicles: City of Crime

With Noir Chronicles: City of Crime, Artifex Mundi has made you an adventure game you can refuse.

54%Game Brain Score

graphics, humor

story, gameplay

53% User Score Based on 113 reviews

Critic Score 60%Based on 1 reviews

Platforms

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About

Noir Chronicles: City of Crime is a single player casual action adventure game with mystery and kids themes. It was developed by Brave Giant LTD and was released on January 25, 2018. It received neutral reviews from both critics and players.

In Noir Chronicles: City of Crime, you are a private detective investigating a series of murders in a film noir-inspired city. By searching for clues, interrogating suspects, and solving puzzles, you uncover a dark conspiracy involving corrupt officials and supernatural forces. With its cinematic presentation and atmospheric setting, Noir Chronicles offers an immersive and suspenseful experience in the tradition of classic detective stories.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Noir Chronicles: City of Crime screenshot

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53%

Audience ScoreBased on 113 reviews

graphics9 positive mentions

story16 negative mentions

The game features a captivating noir atmosphere with richly illustrated backgrounds that enhance the storytelling experience.
Gameplay includes a variety of hidden-object scenes and puzzles that are accessible for newcomers while still providing some challenge for seasoned players.
The game offers a straightforward and engaging detective story that, despite its simplicity, maintains a steady pace and keeps players entertained.

The character animations and voice acting are often criticized for being stiff and unconvincing, detracting from the overall immersion.
The game is relatively short, with a playtime of around 3-4 hours, which limits character development and narrative depth.
Many puzzles and mini-games are repetitive, with some being overly simplistic or poorly designed, leading to a lack of variety in gameplay.

story
100 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
14%
70%
16%
The story of "Noir Chronicles: City of Crime" centers on Alfred Fox, a private investigator navigating a familiar noir narrative filled with clichés such as estranged lovers and conspiracies. While some players appreciate the game's atmospheric setting and straightforward plot, many criticize it for being predictable, lacking emotional depth, and featuring poorly designed characters and voice acting. Overall, the narrative is seen as mediocre, with a bonus chapter that fails to add significant value to the main storyline.
- “At its center is Alfred Fox, a private investigator whose weary demeanor and complicated past make him a natural fit for the story’s smoky atmosphere.”
- “The plot moves briskly through familiar territory—an estranged lover, a tangled conspiracy, morally compromised figures, and a trail of clues that lead Alfred deeper into trouble.”
- “The story here is quite interesting - we have a fatal woman in red dying, who somehow was our love, and Detective Fox is sent on the trail of the murderers so that they can receive the deserved punishment.”
- “Narratively, Noir Chronicles plays it safe, embracing the standard beats of noir storytelling without pushing far beyond them.”
- “The story was hard to follow with weird transitions and a lack of a solid narrative.”
- “The story is even more predictable and cliché than in other Artifex Mundi games, the characters look and behave like idiots.”
gameplay
20 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
15%
70%
15%
The gameplay in "Noir Chronicles: City of Crime" features a blend of hidden-object scenes, environmental puzzles, and mini-games, creating a compact and engaging experience that lasts around three to four hours. While the noir aesthetic enhances immersion, the mechanics are considered traditional and may not satisfy players seeking innovation or depth. Overall, it offers a solid, if somewhat simplistic, entry in the hidden-object genre, appealing primarily to casual gamers.
- “The gameplay is driven by a steady alternation between hidden-object scenes, environmental puzzles, and episodic mini-games that serve as milestones in Alfred's investigation.”
- “Still, within the context of a three-to-four-hour hidden-object adventure, the streamlined narrative works well enough to maintain momentum and provide context for the series of puzzles and searches that make up the core gameplay loop.”
- “With around 3 or 4 gameplay hours, 'Noir Chronicles: City of Crime' is a really good hidden object game with a fantastic detective vibe.”
- “It's an okay game... the mechanics of it are fine... you just have to switch off your brain more than usual for this fare, and frankly there are much better examples of the genre in Artifex Mundi's catalog.”
- “Cookie cutter hidden object game with passable presentation, but really lacking gameplay and story.”
- “Not only that, but there were some problems with the game mechanics - not every time you clicked on an item did the game recognize it, or it did so later.”
graphics
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
33%
17%
The graphics in the game receive mixed reviews, with some praising the detailed environments and vibrant cutscenes, while others criticize the character designs as unattractive and poorly executed. Overall, the visuals are described as solid but average, with a notable disparity between the appealing backgrounds and the less impressive character artwork. Despite these inconsistencies, many players appreciate the game's artistic style and smooth performance.
- “The game features original 1080p cutscene videos and artwork, which looks pretty good in hidden object sequences, with vivid scenarios to easily pick up and identify each object.”
- “The visuals, the areas, and the scenes are all well drawn/animated, so the game has the Artifex Mundi standard.”
- “Game has a nice atmosphere, an interesting story about love and murder, and really good graphics.”
- “The characters, though - the graphics there are hideous!”
- “The visuals are detailed enough, but I'd still rate the game as average in this regard, and the previously mentioned style- and era-ruining elements, plus the otherwise lovely suburban, but also rather boring locations, don't help either.”
- “The graphics style with drawn bodies and real (processed) faces plastered onto them gets creepy at times.”
music
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
50%
25%
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some players finding it pleasant and fitting the noir theme, while others criticize it for being repetitive and limited in variety. Notably, some users pointed out the use of tracks from the LA Noire soundtrack, which detracted from the overall experience. Overall, the main theme is highlighted as a positive aspect, but the general consensus leans towards disappointment in the music's execution.
- “The 'noir' facets of the game were spot on in music, locations, dialogue, and accents.”
- “The steam edition, although it’s not specified, is actually the collector’s edition, featuring a bonus episode, the in-game soundtrack, wallpapers, and concept art.”
- “The music was fairly pleasant.”
- “(-) Boring music.”
- “To add further insult to injury, I heard at least three pieces of music from the L.A. Noire soundtrack playing throughout the game.”
- “Voice overs don't suit the characters, and the music sounds like two tracks looping.”
atmosphere
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
43%
14%
43%
The game's atmosphere is a mixed bag, with a strong visual presentation that evokes a smoky, noir feel, particularly through the character of Alfred Fox. However, some players find the atmosphere undermined by elements like mismatched voice acting and goofy character designs, detracting from the intended immersive experience. Overall, while the game offers a relaxing puzzle experience within an intriguing narrative, its atmospheric execution is inconsistent.
- “At its center is Alfred Fox, a private investigator whose weary demeanor and complicated past make him a natural fit for the story’s smoky atmosphere.”
- “Visually, the game leans heavily on atmosphere, and this is where it delivers its strongest impression.”
- “Where noir chronicles ultimately finds its identity is in its ability to provide a relaxing, atmospheric puzzle experience rather than a groundbreaking adventure.”
- “Voice acting is beyond annoying and ruins the atmosphere even more so because the faces don't match the voices at all!”
- “Where this game sinks below mediocrity to get a thumbs down is in its sad attempt at 'film noir' atmosphere.”
- “- atmosphere ruining elements, goofy looking characters”
character development
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
43%
57%
Character development in the game is largely criticized, with reviewers noting a lack of depth and realism in the storyline and character designs. Many feel that the characters are poorly designed and fail to evoke any emotional engagement, leading to an overall bland and unentertaining experience. The brevity of the game further limits opportunities for meaningful character growth and worldbuilding.
- “There is zero character development, zero attempt at a semi-realistic storyline, zero suspense, zero mystery, and zero entertainment value.”
- “Overall, 'Noir Chronicles: City of Crime' counts for me as the worst Artifex Mundi game I’ve ever played: exaggerated price, buggy achievements, bland story, unattractive character design.”
- “Bad character design, ridiculous puzzles, cringeworthy story, cheesy voice-acting.”
emotional
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The emotional aspect of the game is generally perceived as lacking, with reviewers noting a competent but unremarkable story that fails to deliver emotional complexity or depth. Many find the narrative dull and uninspiring, with clichéd elements that do not engage players on a deeper emotional level.
- “2 stars for the super boring story.”
- “Very cheesy and boring story.”
humor
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is described as a mix of self-irony and cringe-worthy moments, with some players finding it hilariously bad yet enjoyable. While certain puzzles evoke laughter through their absurdity, the overall comedic tone is a blend of playful satire and genre clichés, making it a guilty pleasure for some.
- “The creators are not shy about bringing self-irony into the game, sometimes smiling at genre clichés and adding funny, even silly moments.”
- “... the cards puzzle is both totally cringeworthy and hilarious in how the numbers are flipped, mirrored, and turned out through the arse.”
- “It's hilariously bad, but I'm still going to finish it...”
grinding
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and repetitive, with some minigames being poorly designed or non-intuitive, leading to frustration and a tendency to skip them. The repetition of certain puzzles, particularly those that are already considered tedious, further detracts from the overall experience.
- “A couple of the minigames were borked, forcing me to skip them even if they would have been pretty easy, if tedious.”
- “They're kind of tedious and crappy anyway, so I just skip them.”
- “We have the same type of puzzles that we encounter in pretty much all other Artifex Mundi HOGs, but what bothered me in Noir Chronicles: City of Crime is that some of the puzzles repeat even 2-3 times, especially one that is pretty tedious to solve, requiring you to rearrange a bunch of knots so that the thread lines don’t intersect with each other.”
stability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
67%
Overall, the game's stability is generally positive, with no major glitches reported and only minor issues such as a non-functioning achievement. However, some players noted confusing puzzles and a lackluster aesthetic, which detracted from the overall experience. Despite these concerns, the game is considered entertaining, especially given its low price in bundles.
- “I got the game in a bundle for a cheap price, so my recommendation is based on the value I received. The game is entertaining and nearly bug-free, with only one achievement not working as intended, which is a bit harder to get.”
- “The game runs smoothly without any major issues, making for a stable and enjoyable experience.”
- “I've played for hours without encountering any crashes or significant bugs, which speaks volumes about its stability.”
- “Overall, 'Noir Chronicles: City of Crime' counts for me as the worst Artifex Mundi game I've ever played: exaggerated price, buggy achievements, bland story, unattractive character design.”
- “Some puzzles were confusing, the hidden object scenes were simple, but overall not a horrible game - no game glitches or impossible puzzles, just aesthetically poor.”
replayability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is criticized for having no replay value, with users suggesting that there are better titles available for the same price that offer a more engaging experience. Overall, it is considered a poor investment, even at a discounted rate.
- “There are so many other titles that are worth your $15, with a much higher replay value. Noir Chronicles: City of Crime has none at all, and even at its highest discount of 50%, it’s still a pretty bad buy.”
- “No replay value.”
optimization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The optimization of the game has received mixed feedback, with some users reporting smooth performance and efficient resource management, while others experience lag and frame rate drops, indicating that optimization may vary significantly across different system configurations.

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60%Critics’ scoreBased on 1 critic reviews

Noir Chronicles: City of Crime
With Noir Chronicles: City of Crime, Artifex Mundi has made you an adventure game you can refuse.
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60%

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3h Median play time

3h Average play time

3-3h Spent by most gamers

*Based on 1 analyzed playthroughs

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Frequently Asked Questions

Noir Chronicles: City of Crime is a casual action adventure game with mystery and kids themes.

Noir Chronicles: City of Crime is available on Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series X|S, PC, PlayStation 5 and others.

On average players spend around 3 hours playing Noir Chronicles: City of Crime.

Noir Chronicles: City of Crime was released on January 25, 2018.

Noir Chronicles: City of Crime was developed by Brave Giant LTD.

Noir Chronicles: City of Crime has received neutral reviews from both players and critics. Most players liked this game for its graphics but disliked it for its story.

Noir Chronicles: City of Crime is a single player game.

Similar games include Demon Hunter: Chronicles from Beyond, Crime Secrets: Crimson Lily, Dark Arcana: The Carnival, Left in the Dark: No One on Board, 9 Clues: The Secret of Serpent Creek and others.

Noir Chronicles: City of Crime

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