Overboard!

91%
Game Brain Score Based on 380 reviews
  • story
  • replayability
  • gameplay
Overboard! Game Cover
A gripping narrative mystery where you play a murderer covering up her crime.
Starting at $1.37Buy now
Get on Steam Get on Apple Store

"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."

Play Modes

Reviews

91%
Audience ScoreBased on 380 reviews
story23 positive mentions
grinding3 negative mentions
  • The game offers a unique twist on the murder mystery genre, allowing players to experience the story from the perspective of the murderer.
  • The writing is sharp and witty, with engaging dialogue and well-developed characters that add depth to the narrative.
  • High replayability due to multiple endings and the need to experiment with different strategies to successfully cover up the crime.
  • The game can feel repetitive after several playthroughs, as players may find themselves going through similar scenarios without significant variation.
  • Some players may find the time management aspect frustrating, as it can lead to rushed decisions and missed opportunities.
  • The game lacks a comprehensive tracking system for choices made, which can make it difficult to understand the consequences of actions in subsequent runs.
  • story91 mentions

    The game's story is a fast-paced, engaging detective narrative that allows players to explore multiple endings and character arcs through their choices, creating a dynamic experience. While some players appreciate the clever writing and immersive atmosphere, others feel the narrative lacks depth and could benefit from more complexity and character development. Overall, it offers a fun, replayable experience for fans of interactive storytelling, though it may not satisfy those seeking a more substantial plot.

    • “The writing is masterfully done, and the story is really good, feeling incredibly immersive with a great balance of strategy and storytelling.”
    • “The story opens with you hoisting your wealthy husband over the rails of a transatlantic ocean liner to his watery death, setting the stage for a frantic cover-up as you lie, seduce, and murder your way to freedom and a considerable life insurance payout.”
    • “Despite being the murderer in 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 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 could 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.”
  • replayability51 mentions

    The game is widely praised for its high replayability, offering numerous choices, multiple endings, and a variety of paths to explore, which keeps players engaged through repeated playthroughs. While some players note that the game can feel short, the depth of its mechanics and the ability to uncover new secrets with each run enhance its replay value significantly. However, a few reviews suggest that once all content is explored, the replayability may diminish, indicating a balance between initial excitement and long-term engagement.

    • “The replay value is incredible, and the choices feel meaningful every time.”
    • “It's an immensely entertaining and replayable text adventure straight out of an Agatha Christie novel in which you're the perpetrator and your goal is to escape justice and frame someone else.”
    • “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.”
    • “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.”
  • gameplay37 mentions

    The gameplay of "Overboard!" is characterized by a narrative-driven, text-based decision-making system that allows players to explore various outcomes through trial and error, often relying on a time-loop mechanic. While some players appreciate the clever design and replayability, others find the gameplay shallow and repetitive, lacking depth in deduction and strategy. Overall, it offers a unique experience for fans of puzzle games, though its reliance on trial and error may not appeal to everyone.

    • “The narrative style is enjoyable and only had a few errors that I noticed, and the gameplay loop is just long enough where it isn't fast-paced, but doesn't drag on forever either.”
    • “If you enjoy puzzle games with a strong narrative and unique gameplay mechanics, Overboard is definitely worth checking out.”
    • “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.”
    • “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.”
  • humor29 mentions

    The humor in the game is consistently praised for its clever writing, dark charm, and engaging dialogue, making the experience both thrilling and funny. Players enjoy the cheeky, campy tone and the absurdity of the scenarios, with many highlighting the game's ability to blend light-heartedness with grim themes. Overall, the humor is a standout feature, contributing to the game's replayability and enjoyment.

    • “Along the way, the dialogue is very compelling and often quite funny.”
    • “The game is quite light-hearted and despite the grim subject, it is funny and charming.”
    • “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.”
  • graphics23 mentions

    The graphics of the game are widely praised for their charming and striking art style, often described as vibrant and reminiscent of stained glass, which complements the dark humor and narrative. While the cartoonish visuals may appear simple, they are effective and engaging, enhancing the overall experience with well-designed characters and environments. Players appreciate the aesthetic's ability to support the game's replayability and witty dialogue, making it a visually appealing adventure.

    • “Overboard's vibrant, stained glass art style suits the dark humor of the game perfectly.”
    • “The art style is quite striking and the interactions are fun.”
    • “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.”
    • “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.”
    • “The 1920's aesthetic brings a dynamic and sometimes satirical approach to a synopsis that's already pretty great.”
    • “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 stylized a bit more.”
  • music20 mentions

    The music in the game is widely praised for its immersive quality, effectively complementing the 1930s narrative with a lively mix of big band and jazz-era sounds that enhance the overall atmosphere. While many reviewers appreciate the period-appropriate soundtrack and its ability to elevate the gameplay experience, some note that certain tracks can feel forgettable or repetitive, particularly during longer scenes. Overall, the combination of music, art, and writing creates a charming and engaging experience that captures the essence of the historical setting.

    • “The art and music are a perfect complement to the narrative.”
    • “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.”
    • “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.”
    • “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.”
  • atmosphere8 mentions

    The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its authentic 1930s style, complemented by delightful music and well-crafted visuals that create a cheery yet eerie backdrop for the gameplay. While many players appreciate the charming and immersive environment, some feel it lacks the depth and scope typically associated with similar titles. Overall, the combination of well-written characters and period-appropriate sound design contributes to a captivating atmosphere.

    • “The 1930s atmosphere and style are perfect!”
    • “Music and atmosphere is on point.”
    • “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.”
    • “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.”
  • emotional3 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is described as a wholesome and satisfying experience, particularly highlighted by the achievement of the 'true' ending, which gives players a sense of accomplishment. However, it also includes content warnings for sensitive themes, such as 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!”
    • “Just a straight up, wholesome good time!”
  • grinding3 mentions

    Players find that while the game can become tedious due to repetitive conversations and restarts, the inclusion of a speed-replay feature helps alleviate this by allowing players to quickly revisit previous choices. The gameplay remains engaging with enough variations to keep it interesting, and the short scenarios prevent the experience from feeling overly grindy.

    • “The only downside is the game can get tedious when you're constantly repeating conversations and restarting over and over again.”
    • “It has just enough permutations to feel interesting and fresh until you feel satisfied with the whole scenario, but the scenario itself is short enough that you don't feel like each playthrough is tedious.”
  • monetization1 mentions

    The monetization aspect of the game has raised concerns among users, particularly due to its promotion of violent gameplay while also suggesting a potential for exploitative practices. Players feel that the game's marketing may not align with its monetization strategies, leading to a disconnect in expectations.

  • optimization1 mentions

    Overall, the game runs smoothly, indicating effective optimization.

    • “The game runs smoothly overall, thanks to the excellent optimization.”
    • “I appreciate how well-optimized the game is, making for a seamless experience.”
    • “The optimization really enhances the gameplay, allowing for fluid performance.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

87% average critic score

Buy Overboard!

Play time

8hMedian play time
8hAverage play time
8-10hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 7 analyzed playthroughs

Videos

Similar Games