Runaway Express Mystery

About

Runaway Express Mystery is a single player casual puzzle game. It was developed by Icarus Games and was released on September 23, 2014. It received mostly positive reviews from players.

A young mother's attending a train exhibition with her children, when something strange happens; the legendary Runaway Express starts moving while her children are still on board. Frightened, she jumps on the train and finds it full of unusual passengers--the ghosts of people who died on the Runaway Express over the 50 years it ran between Paris and Istanbul. Each ghost is a victim, his or her mys…

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

70%

Audience ScoreBased on 37 reviews

story21 positive mentions

atmosphere3 negative mentions

The game features a captivating story with a supernatural twist, engaging players in a mystery involving a mother searching for her kidnapped children.
Graphics are well-detailed and visually appealing, enhancing the overall atmosphere of the game.
The puzzles and hidden object scenes, while not overly challenging, are enjoyable and incorporate unique mechanics like using detective tools.

The game is relatively short, with many players completing it in around 2-4 hours, which may leave some feeling unsatisfied.
There are numerous game-breaking bugs and glitches that can disrupt gameplay, leading to frustration and the need for restarts.
Voice acting quality is inconsistent, with some characters lacking depth and enthusiasm, detracting from the overall experience.

story
42 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
43%
7%
The story of the game is generally regarded as engaging and entertaining, featuring a supernatural theme centered around a mother's quest to save her children during a mysterious train ride. While some players appreciated the originality and strong character development, others found the plot to be rushed and the ending abrupt, with a few technical issues detracting from the overall experience. Overall, the narrative is seen as a highlight of the game, despite its brevity and some clichés.
- “The story was the best part of this game.”
- “The story progression was strong and each chapter overlapped, bringing a nice conclusion that wrapped up most of the loose ends.”
- “The game presents an interesting and well-detailed supernatural storyline, ending up with a couple of loose ends, convenient for developing future installations as a series.”
- “The game is okay but nothing special, a standard hidden object game and not even a great one. The biggest technical problem for me was that I couldn't see any cinematics; the whole screen was pink and I only heard sounds, making the flowing story hard to follow. Looking on YouTube time after time to see what happened is far from a good experience.”
- “The story tries hard to be clever, but in the end, it is an insultingly insipid variation on the theme of 'mother trying to save her children,' only this time the mother doesn't seem to care very much at all.”
- “The mystery of the train is revealed alright - with a nicely arranged inter-relevant background story, but the nature of the engineer is not explained at all.”
graphics
17 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
47%
35%
18%
The graphics in the game are generally praised for their beauty and detailed artwork, creating a pleasant atmosphere that enhances the overall experience. While some users note that the graphics could be improved and mention occasional performance issues, the visuals are still considered polished and fitting for an adventure game. Overall, the graphics contribute positively to the game's appeal, despite some criticisms regarding voice acting and minor technical glitches.
- “The artwork is fantastic.”
- “Visuals are beautiful, and the atmosphere is appropriately rustic.”
- “The game is really well done, I really liked the graphics and the good music; the story is very well told too.”
- “As someone who works with graphics, this is way too sad, haha!”
- “When Amanda first jumps on the train, and the background graphics are moving, everything lags severely.”
- “It's hard to find conclusive data on the graphics engine in this game, since most use proprietary versions.”
gameplay
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
30%
40%
30%
The gameplay is characterized by a blend of classic hidden object mechanics and point-and-click elements, offering a unique experience despite some criticisms of lag and repetitive puzzle mechanics. While some players appreciate the engaging nature of the gameplay, others feel it lacks depth and could benefit from a more streamlined approach. Overall, it appeals to both newcomers and fans of the genre, though it may not satisfy everyone.
- “At least Runaway didn’t disappoint from its gameplay perspective.”
- “Who knows, perhaps you’ll enjoy the game and genre even if you had no previous interest or experience in this type of gameplay.”
- “Gameplay: a fair mix of hidden object finds and point and click gaming.”
- “Unfortunately, there is no real gameplay to it.”
- “Strange is the problem with frequent lags, not during the cutscenes, but in the actual gameplay.”
- “Probably the most silly moment is the puzzle battle to beat the final 'boss,' though the same silly ending puzzle mechanic has been in many other games like this.”
music
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The music in the game is generally well-received, with players noting that it complements the experience effectively, though some find it a bit low-key. Overall, the soundtrack is considered good and enhances the game's atmosphere alongside its graphics and sound effects.
- “The game is really well done; I really liked the graphics and the good music. The story is very well told too.”
- “Graphics, music, and sound effects are okay.”
- “The soundtrack was fine, if a bit low-key.”
- “The graphics, music, and sound effects are okay.”
optimization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
100%
The game generally runs smoothly at over 60fps, though some users report occasional stuttering. It effectively utilizes its 2D engine and assets, providing a visually appealing experience with motion and shadow animations that create a convincing 3D illusion.
- “The game runs smoothly, scales flawlessly, and for a 2D engine and assets, it plays nicely with motion and shadow animations to offer the illusion of 3D on occasion.”
- “The optimization is impressive, allowing for seamless gameplay even on lower-end devices.”
- “I appreciate how well the game manages resources, ensuring a consistent frame rate and minimal loading times.”
- “+60fps, but with some annoying stuttering.”
- “The game struggles to maintain a stable frame rate, leading to frequent drops.”
- “Optimization feels lacking, resulting in long loading times and occasional lag.”
atmosphere
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
100%
The game's atmosphere is enhanced by beautiful visuals and a rustic setting, but is marred by game-breaking bugs that detract from the overall experience. Additionally, the sound design is considered standard and lacks the atmospheric depth that players anticipated.
- “Visuals are beautiful, and the atmosphere is appropriately rustic.”
- “Finished the game; nice story and ending. However, running into those game-breaking bugs really destroys the atmosphere.”
- “The visuals are stunning, but the lack of sound design makes the atmosphere feel empty and lifeless.”
- “While the setting has potential, the repetitive environments and lack of detail severely diminish the overall atmosphere.”
replayability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game offers low replayability, primarily functioning as a hidden object game, which diminishes its overall value for money. Players feel that the experience does not justify the price, leading to disappointment in its longevity.
- “The value for money is low; it's basically a hidden object game with very limited replayability. The seven bucks do actually hurt.”
- “Once you've completed the game, there's little incentive to play it again. The lack of variety makes replaying feel pointless.”
- “I found the game enjoyable, but after finishing it, I realized there was no real reason to go back. The replayability is almost non-existent.”
humor
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is highlighted by the protagonist's amusingly nonchalant attitude towards supernatural events, which adds a lighthearted and entertaining element to the experience. Players find this blend of humor both engaging and enjoyable.
- “The protagonist was very funny - completely unfazed by the supernatural stuff, but in a way that was more amusing than weird or off-putting.”
- “Now that would be hilarious.”
stability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game experiences some glitches, but players report that restarting the game often resolves these issues. Additionally, there are limitations on collecting items early, which requires patience, yet overall, the game remains enjoyable despite these stability concerns.
- “It was a nice game, but there were a couple of glitches. I saved, exited, and re-entered the game, and it was fine. It also won't let you collect things early, so have patience, but it was still a very enjoyable game.”
character development
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Character development is highlighted through well-executed character designs, suggesting that the visual representation of characters contributes positively to their overall depth and appeal.

Skip Game Offers

Buy Runaway Express Mystery

Skip Videos

Videos

Skip Games Like Runaway Express Mystery

82%1kreviews

Enigmatis: The Ghosts of Maple Creek

2014

Casual Puzzle

+15

74%1.2kreviews

Frankenstein Master of Death

2015

Casual Puzzle

80%354reviews

Left in the Dark: No One on Board

2014

Casual Puzzle

82%510reviews

Clockwork Tales: Of Glass and Ink

2014

Casual Action Adventure

+13

92%299reviews

Enigmatis 3: The Shadow of Karkhala

2016

Casual Action Adventure

More games like Runaway Express Mystery

Skip FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

Runaway Express Mystery is a casual puzzle game.

Runaway Express Mystery is available on PC and Windows.

Runaway Express Mystery was released on September 23, 2014.

Runaway Express Mystery was developed by Icarus Games.

Runaway Express Mystery has received mostly positive reviews from players. Most players liked this game for its story but disliked it for its gameplay.

Runaway Express Mystery is a single player game.

Similar games include Enigmatis: The Ghosts of Maple Creek, Frankenstein Master of Death, Left in the Dark: No One on Board, Clockwork Tales: Of Glass and Ink, Enigmatis 3: The Shadow of Karkhala and others.

Runaway Express Mystery

Platforms

Buy Runaway Express Mystery