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Overboard!

A gripping narrative mystery where you play a murderer covering up her crime.
89%Game Brain Score
story, replayability
grinding, monetization
91% User Score Based on 760 reviews
Critic Score 87%Based on 13 reviews

Platforms

Nintendo SwitchPCTabletAndroidMac OSPhoneiPadSteam DeckMobile PlatformiPhoneWindows
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About

"Overboard! is a single-player mystery point-and-click game with a wonderfully hilarious story and great visuals and music. As the player who committed a murder on a cruise ship, your goal is to avoid detection by blackmailing, lying, stealing, and more. With a dynamic narrative clockwork, the game offers a highly replayable detective experience as you navigate a simulated story-world with time always ticking."

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Overboard! screenshot
Overboard! screenshot
Overboard! screenshot
Overboard! screenshot
Overboard! screenshot
Overboard! screenshot
Overboard! screenshot
Overboard! screenshot
Overboard! screenshot
Overboard! screenshot
Overboard! screenshot
+9
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91%
Audience ScoreBased on 760 reviews
story49 positive mentions
grinding7 negative mentions
  • Overboard! is a charming and darkly funny game, with incredibly well-written characters and a great atmosphere of intrigue, secrecy, and 1930s style.
  • The game offers a unique twist on the murder mystery genre, allowing players to experience the story from the perspective of the murderer, which adds depth and replayability.
  • The writing is excellent, with witty dialogue and a compelling narrative that keeps players engaged throughout multiple playthroughs.
  • The game can feel repetitive after several runs, as players may find themselves going through the same dialogue options and scenarios without significant variation.
  • Some players have noted that the game lacks a clear correlation between actions and outcomes, leading to frustration when trying to achieve specific endings.
  • While the game is designed for replayability, some players feel that it doesn't offer enough content or depth to justify its price point, especially after completing it in a short amount of time.
  • story
    186 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's story is a unique and engaging reverse detective narrative where players assume the role of a murderer attempting to cover up their crime aboard a transatlantic ocean liner. While the plot is relatively short and lacks depth compared to traditional detective stories, it offers significant replayability through multiple endings and character interactions, allowing players to explore various outcomes and secrets. Overall, the writing is praised for its charm and humor, making it a fun experience for fans of interactive storytelling, though some players desire a more substantial narrative.

    • “The writing is masterfully done, and the story is really good, feeling incredibly immersive with a great balance of strategy and storytelling.”
    • “Despite being the murderer of this case, the game sets up an excellent mystery, and each success you earn reveals yet another layer to unravel, drawing you deeper into the depths of its story.”
    • “The story setup is really compelling and makes you want to keep playing to toy around with the multiple variables and outcomes the game has to offer.”
    • “The story will not blow you away; you will find more depth in an episode of Scooby-Doo.”
    • “One thing I hate to say is that the story can be more.”
    • “Worse, you don't and can't even know what you did wrong without blundering through the choose-your-own-adventure-style story several times, being captured over and over.”
  • replayability
    106 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game is widely praised for its high replayability, with many players enjoying the meaningful choices, multiple endings, and various plotlines that encourage repeated playthroughs. While some reviews note that the game can feel short and may not offer infinite replay value, the engaging mechanics and diverse outcomes keep players coming back for more. Overall, it is considered a fun and entertaining experience that rewards exploration and experimentation.

    • “The sheer amount of solutions to every single problem you encounter was impressive; it adds a lot to the replayability of the game, which is definitely a big draw.”
    • “Overall, another strong submission from inkle - it's not the longest of games, but it manages to use that to its advantage with a genuine replayable loop and a world with multiple routes to success and different measures of how well you do.”
    • “Super fun and interesting game that is extremely replayable (in fact you have to :)) I'd highly recommend this!”
    • “Replayability is not amazing, unless you are going for the absolute set of achievements.”
    • “The game is not very replayable after exploring to contentment; I wouldn't really watch someone else play it, but I would recommend it on sale to a friend.”
    • “Cute but lacks depth; 30-60 minutes of gameplay with little to no replayability.”
  • gameplay
    74 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay of "Overboard!" is characterized by a narrative-driven, text-based decision-making system that incorporates a time-loop mechanic, allowing players to explore various outcomes through trial and error. While some players appreciate the clever design and replayability, others criticize it for being repetitive and lacking depth in deduction, leading to mixed feelings about its overall engagement. The game is visually appealing and offers a unique experience, but its reliance on a "fumble blindly in the dark" approach may not satisfy everyone.

    • “The gameplay consists of making text-based decisions about how you want to interact with people and situations and where you want to go.”
    • “Tight pacing, wonderful art, highly entertaining gameplay - all in all a very enjoyable way to spend an evening.”
    • “It has incredibly good gameplay for a text-based game and allows you to scheme freely and encounter many unexpected situations.”
    • “Shallow detective gameplay with a whole bunch of completely pointless choices.”
    • “Disappointingly, the gameplay does not involve logic or planning, instead relying on the repetition of 'Groundhog Day'-style trial and error.”
    • “Once that happens the fun of the game dissipates and you're left with an extremely repetitive game that doesn't have a strong mechanical hook to keep players invested.”
  • humor
    59 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The humor in "Overboard!" is characterized by its clever, cheeky writing and dark comedic elements, creating a light-hearted yet thrilling experience centered around murder and deception. Players appreciate the engaging dialogue, vibrant art style, and the game's ability to blend charm with sinister themes, resulting in a narrative that is both funny and strategically engaging. Overall, the game stands out for its rich script and replayability, offering a multitude of humorous scenarios and endings that keep players entertained.

    • “It's clever, funny, well written, and short.”
    • “Overboard is a great little visual novel and reversal of the whodunit, with a lot of replayability, dark humor, and charm that makes it stand out as a title.”
    • “A wonderfully rich script, elevated by great music and cheeky self-aware humor.”
  • graphics
    52 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics of the game are widely praised for their charming and striking art style, which blends cartoonish simplicity with vibrant aesthetics, such as a stained glass influence that complements the dark humor. Players appreciate the visual design's ability to enhance the narrative experience, with many noting the game's replayability due to its engaging artwork and clever dialogue. However, some reviews mention that the initial appeal of the graphics may diminish over time as players encounter limitations in gameplay exploration.

    • “Overboard's vibrant, stained glass art style suits the dark humor of the game perfectly.”
    • “Witty dialogue, gorgeous graphics and elegant design, endless narrative possibilities which you are encouraged to explore thanks to the short playthrough time... getting away with murder has never been this fun.”
    • “Such a beautiful art style and with so many possible endings, it's near impossible to get bored of this game.”
    • “However, I can't deny that the shiny veneer of the aesthetics and writing wore thin at times, as I bumped up against the walls of what you can do and discover on my way to the ending that gets you credits.”
    • “[...but no replay value in the long run, minimal graphics and voice acting.]”
    • “This game plays right into the 80 days aesthetic in UI, narrative flexibility (obvious for an Inkle game), and art design - but everything has been stylizing a bit more.”
  • music
    41 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the game is widely praised for its immersive and period-appropriate big band jazz soundtrack, which complements the 1930s narrative beautifully. While many players find the music enhances the overall atmosphere and character interactions, some note that certain tracks can be forgettable or become tedious during specific scenes. Overall, the combination of music, art, and writing creates a lively and engaging experience that transports players to the historical setting.

    • “The writing, music, and ambient sounds make you feel like you're really on a cruise ship in that historical period.”
    • “The soundtrack is an amazing mix of early 20th-century big band music, which complements and elevates the scenes wonderfully in the game's 1935 setting.”
    • “It's got that signature inkle flair that jazzes up its simple visual novel interface with colorful art, period-appropriate big band swing soundtrack, and snappy writing.”
    • “The music could have been a love letter to that era, jazzy and decadent… but it's largely forgettable.”
    • “Besides that, the romance scene is a bit long and unskippable, as I'm forced to wait for the music to stop before I can proceed.”
    • “This is a game that does a lot with a little; there's only one or two voiced lines, there's not many art assets, and the music appears to all be period-specific public domain recordings.”
  • atmosphere
    17 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game effectively captures a charming and cheery 1930s atmosphere, enhanced by delightful writing and authentic old-timey music that adds to its overall appeal. While many players appreciate the well-styled visuals and intriguing character dynamics, some feel that the atmosphere lacks depth and scope upon repeated playthroughs. Overall, the blend of dark humor and a vintage aesthetic creates a unique and engaging experience.

    • “The 1930s atmosphere and style are perfect!”
    • “The writing is delightful and the old-timey music -- I'm given to understand that these are recordings of actual wax cylinders that are in the public domain -- makes it pleasantly atmospheric.”
    • “Overboard is a charming and darkly funny game, with incredibly well-written characters and a great atmosphere of intrigue, secrecy, and 1930s style.”
    • “However, after going through the game a few times, I found it to be lacking the scope and sense of atmosphere which I've come to expect and love from Inkle games.”
    • “Starting with the good stuff, I really enjoyed both the idea of the reversed crime story and Agatha Christie-like atmosphere.”
    • “Perfectly styled and really fit with the atmosphere of the 1930s.”
  • grinding
    7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game can become tedious due to repetitive conversations and the need to restart frequently. However, the inclusion of a speed-replay feature helps alleviate some of this monotony, allowing for a more engaging experience. Overall, while some may find the repetition frustrating, the game's short scenarios and clever design keep it from feeling overly tedious.

    • “Only downside is the game can get tedious when you're constantly repeating conversations and restarting over and over again.”
    • “[After several attempts, it's tough not to fast text through sections. It might be too tedious for the impatient.]”
    • “The rest of the gameplay is easy and fun: clicking through dialogue and navigating to rooms, with the very clever option of having a speed-replay with all your previous choices from a scene so that it doesn't get tedious.”
  • emotional
    6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The emotional aspect of the game is described as a wholesome and satisfying experience, particularly highlighted by the achievement of multiple endings, especially the 'true' ending, which gives players a sense of accomplishment. However, it also includes content warnings for themes of under-negotiated consent and non-consensual actions, which some players find acceptable within the fictional context.

    • “It was incredibly satisfying getting all the endings, especially the 'true' ending, which made me feel far smarter than I actually am when I managed to get it!”
  • monetization
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The monetization aspect of the game has not been explicitly detailed in the provided text, but it suggests a potential disconnect between the game's marketing and its actual content, possibly indicating a focus on sensationalism rather than a clear monetization strategy. Further information would be needed to assess the monetization model effectively.

  • optimization
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Overall, the game is reported to run smoothly, indicating effective optimization.

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87%Critics’ scoreBased on 13 critic reviews
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8h Median play time
8h Average play time
8-10h Spent by most gamers
*Based on 14 analyzed playthroughs
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