Retro Mystery Club Vol.1: The Ise-Shima Case

About

Retro Mystery Club Vol.1: The Ise-Shima Case is a single player action game with drama, mystery and thriller themes. It was developed by Happymeal and was released on August 24, 2023. It received very positive reviews from players.

This classic-style mystery adventure game, inspired by the Famicom Detective Club series and illustrated by Famitsu's legend Kiyokazu Arai, will take you on a suspenseful journey through the beautiful landscapes of Ise-Shima.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Retro Mystery Club Vol.1: The Ise-Shima Case screenshot

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92%

Audience ScoreBased on 13 reviews

story4 positive mentions

Tightly-plotted with a fun and engaging story that pays homage to classic detective games.
Great artwork, simple but effective sounds and music, and a charming retro aesthetic that appeals to fans of NES-style adventure games.
The game is accessible for newcomers to the genre, providing a good introduction to command-based adventure gameplay.

Achievements do not unlock, causing frustration for players who expect to complete them.
Translation issues can detract from the overall experience, with some janky moments in the dialogue.
The pacing of the mystery can feel slow at times, with periods of stagnation that may lead to player disengagement.

story
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
44%
23%
33%
The game's story is a blend of nostalgic elements and modern themes, featuring a twisty narrative centered around a series of murders linked to the pearl industry. While the plot is engaging and infused with humor, it occasionally suffers from pacing issues and limited player impact on the storyline. Overall, it effectively captures the essence of classic mystery games while offering a succinct and entertaining experience.
- “Great artwork, simple but effective sounds and music, and a surprisingly twisty story with fun characters.”
- “The tale of a string of murders having strange ties to the pearl industry gives the mystery some intriguing elements to explore.”
- “Retro Mystery Club 1 does a great job telling a succinct story that both recalls every core element of these command-based mystery games while streamlining it.”
- “While the core story is pretty adult with lots of discovered bodies and cursing throughout the game, a lot of fun and irreverent humor keeps the game from ever getting too heavy.”
- “You could play the game again, but it’s not really worth it because you already know the story.”
- “Everything from start to finish is set, you're just picking the right commands to move the story forward.”
graphics
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The graphics are praised for their great artwork that effectively complements the old school premise, while the sound and music enhance the overall experience by setting the right tone.
- “Great artwork, simple but effective sounds and music, and a surprisingly twisty story with fun characters.”
- “The music was excellent at giving the right tone, and the graphics complement the old school premise.”
music
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The music in the game is praised for its excellent ability to set the right tone, complementing the old-school graphics and enhancing the overall experience. Users appreciate the simple yet effective sound design, which contributes to the engaging atmosphere of the twisty story and fun characters.
- “Great artwork, simple but effective sounds and music, and a surprisingly twisty story with fun characters.”
- “The music was excellent at giving the right tone and the graphics complement the old school premise.”
gameplay
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The gameplay is noted for its accessibility, making it an excellent introduction for newcomers to adventure games, while also allowing for easy progression even after breaks in play.
- “I found the story interesting and the gameplay quite easy to progress, whether I had taken a break between sessions or not.”
- “For those who have never played this kind of adventure game, this game is a very good introduction to the gameplay style.”
humor
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game balances its adult themes and darker elements with fun and irreverent humor, ensuring that the overall tone remains light-hearted and engaging despite the serious subject matter.
- “While the core story is pretty adult with lots of discovered bodies and cursing throughout the game, a lot of fun and irreverent humor keeps the game from ever getting too heavy.”