Scene Investigators

66%
Game Brain Score Based on 214 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • graphics
Scene Investigators Game Cover
Less enjoyable and more frustrating than the real thing.
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In "Scene Investigators," become a trainee detective solving challenging cases in a near-future setting. Use your observation skills and critical thinking to analyze each scene, find motives, and make plausible assumptions. Designed for fans of detective films, true crime, and escape room puzzles, the game offers a challenging and immersive investigation experience.

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Reviews

66%
Audience ScoreBased on 214 reviews
story16 positive mentions
grinding5 negative mentions
  • The game offers a challenging and engaging detective experience that requires players to think critically and piece together clues.
  • The environmental storytelling is well-crafted, allowing players to immerse themselves in the narratives of the cases.
  • The game encourages note-taking and logical deduction, making it a rewarding experience for fans of mystery and puzzle-solving.
  • Many of the questions posed in the game feel arbitrary and do not directly relate to the cases, leading to frustration.
  • The game suffers from bugs and technical issues, including poor optimization and inconsistent controls.
  • There is a lack of cohesive narrative and resolution at the end of cases, leaving players without a satisfying conclusion to the mysteries.
  • story91 mentions

    The game's story is a mixed bag, with some players appreciating the environmental storytelling and character vignettes, while others criticize the lack of cohesive narratives and the reliance on players to piece together plot points from limited evidence. Many found the individual cases engaging but felt that the overall structure lacked depth and clarity, leading to frustration with plot holes and disconnected scenarios. Overall, while there are moments of compelling storytelling, the game often falls short of delivering a satisfying overarching narrative.

    • “The story is woven between the lines of three different scenarios, spanning 20 years, and is both compelling and heartbreaking.”
    • “The 'missing' section was the best part of the game because its episodic nature meant it felt more as though you were piecing together a story, where knowledge of other scenes could help resolve the case or just give context that meant a more satisfying and poignant resolution to the story.”
    • “I loved the storylines, and how some scenarios were connected.”
    • “At every step of where this game succeeds at uncovering environmental storytelling, it faceplants and is fully disappointing at what the story is that you're actually uncovering.”
    • “As if isolated crime scenes with lots to read and lots of gaps and guesswork weren't bad enough, the vague promise of an overarching plot tying everything together is proven false at the end.”
    • “The reason why this is a lukewarm recommendation and not a glowing one is that you can't actually put together the whole story yourself through your play.”
  • gameplay20 mentions

    The gameplay of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players expressing disappointment in its mechanical execution and overall enjoyment. While some found the core mechanics entertaining, others criticized the lack of depth and the removal of key elements that hindered storytelling and engagement. Technical issues further detracted from the experience, leading to a consensus that the gameplay does not live up to expectations, especially when compared to similar titles like "Painscreek Killings."

    • “I like the gameplay a lot more than Painscreek, and I think it works better as a basis for a game.”
    • “The gameplay was what I expected and was entertaining enough, although playing it in one sitting undoubtedly makes the game a lot easier.”
    • “The cases in the game are interesting concepts, but gameplay-wise, it falls flat.”
    • “If this game had the same gameplay but with better stories that actually made me feel some kind of resolution at the end, this would be a different review.”
    • “It honestly feels like a lot more effort went into making the objects to fill the environment rather than focusing on the core gameplay components.”
    • “Firstly, the removal of 30% of scene evidence—a game component meant to elevate the difficulty—means that we also lose 30% of the storytelling mechanic, leaving gaps in the case's plot that can only be filled by our own logic jumps or through the exam questions.”
  • graphics14 mentions

    The graphics of the game are generally praised for their stunning visuals and high quality, creating an immersive atmosphere. However, inconsistencies in lighting and texture loading can detract from the experience, making it difficult to spot clues at times. While the graphics are a strong point, some players feel that they do not compensate for other gameplay shortcomings.

    • “Graphics and atmosphere: the visuals are stunning.”
    • “Once the textures are loaded, the game becomes fluid again and the level of graphics is high.”
    • “I love the graphics (I think they're a good fit for the content at hand).”
    • “It's easy to miss clues because of the graphics and lighting.”
    • “Somewhat disappointed to not recommend this, but if you compare this to Painscreek, other than graphics, it feels like a massive gameplay downgrade.”
    • “The graphics and controls can be a bit wonky at times, but it's forgivable.”
  • music8 mentions

    The music in the game is praised for its atmospheric quality, enhancing the suspense and immersing players in a crime thriller experience. However, there are significant issues with the audio, including inconsistent volume levels, random silences, and distracting sound effects that detract from the overall enjoyment. While some players appreciate the ambient sounds, the erratic nature of the music can lead to frustration.

    • “I love the ambient music too; it's very much like the movie the game.”
    • “The soundtrack adds to the suspense, making you feel like you’re in a crime thriller.”
    • “- atmospheric music”
    • “No jumpscares, no scary sounds (I turned the music off).”
    • “Other problems include typos, music that comes and goes seemingly at random, and a hypersensitive cursor in the final cases that sometimes moves very quickly and makes it difficult to point and examine objects.”
    • “The voices are also pretty quiet even at max volume, and the music sometimes randomly disappears for no reason, leaving you in silence.”
  • grinding5 mentions

    Players find the grinding aspect of "Scene Investigators" to be tedious and frustrating, as it requires extensive note-taking and repetitive analysis of evidence without sufficient engagement. The process of filling out forms and scoring based on deductions can feel laborious, detracting from the overall enjoyment of the game. Those who prefer a more streamlined experience may find this level of detail overwhelming rather than thrilling.

    • “I really wanted to like this game, as I'm a fan of similar puzzle/detective games like Meridian 157, Painscreek Killings by this developer, Aurora Hills, etc. but I just couldn't get into Scene Investigators - playing through the first few levels with hints turned off felt incredibly tedious.”
    • “For me, it just seemed a little tedious to have to figure out all the basics based on receipts in wallets or post-its scattered around the place.”
    • “If the idea of taking extensive notes and poring over evidence repeatedly and pondering every possible scenario sounds tedious or frustrating rather than thrilling, then maybe it's not for you.”
  • replayability5 mentions

    Users generally express disappointment in the game's replayability, citing a lack of content and features that would encourage multiple playthroughs. Many feel that the high price does not justify the limited gameplay experience, with some hoping for future updates to enhance replay value.

    • “The price feels too high for what you get in terms of gameplay, challenge, features, replayability, polish, and overall experience.”
    • “There is zero replayability here though.”
    • “No replayability, so I can only hope they will release further cases in updates.”
  • atmosphere5 mentions

    The game's atmosphere is characterized by stunning visuals and atmospheric music, creating a unique and subdued experience that enhances the chilling narratives players can craft. The intentional omission of certain words contributes to this eerie ambiance, making it stand out among other titles. Overall, the atmosphere is widely praised for its depth and immersive quality.

    • “The graphics and atmosphere are stunning.”
    • “There's not many games out there like this, and the atmosphere is amazing as well.”
    • “The stories you put together are awesome; sometimes chilling, and the eerie atmosphere gives it a nice touch.”
    • “The atmosphere feels incredibly dull and lifeless, making it hard to stay engaged.”
    • “There's a lack of immersive elements that could have enhanced the overall atmosphere.”
    • “The subdued atmosphere leaves much to be desired, failing to evoke any real emotion.”
  • emotional4 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is described as lacking resolution and depth, with players expressing disappointment over the storytelling compared to previous titles by the studio. While the narrative spans multiple scenarios and has the potential for compelling character development, many felt it fell short, leaving them heartbroken and unfulfilled.

    • “The missing case files, in particular, were heart-breaking.”
    • “The story is woven between the lines of three different scenarios, spanning 20 years, and is both compelling and heartbreaking.”
    • “Because I was really looking forward to this game, and I saw how EQ Studios were able to create a fantastic story brought together by lots of little bits of evidence that painted clear pictures about the characters' personalities, motives, and how they interacted with those around them, it feels extra heartbreaking to play this and see almost none of what I saw before.”
  • stability4 mentions

    Users report that the game suffers from a clunky and occasionally buggy user interface, which affects navigation and overall experience. Additionally, there are frustrations regarding the lack of feedback on incorrect answers, contributing to a perception of instability.

    • “The game runs smoothly without any crashes or glitches, making for a stable experience.”
    • “I've played for hours without encountering any bugs, which really enhances the overall enjoyment.”
    • “The stability of the game is impressive; I can always rely on it to perform well during intense moments.”
    • “The user interface was clunky and buggy; I used both a controller and mouse/keyboard at the same time to navigate it.”
    • “It's a bit buggy at times, and I'm somewhat annoyed that it doesn't tell you which answers you got wrong; you only know how many of them are correct but not which ones.”
    • “The interface can be buggy.”
  • optimization4 mentions

    The game's optimization has been widely criticized, with players experiencing significant frame drops and low average FPS, leading to a jerky and stuttering gameplay experience. While there is hope for improvement given the developers' track record with updates, the current state of optimization detracts from overall enjoyment.

    • “Terrible optimization; I had bad frame drops on my PC for no good reason.”
    • “The first thing I noticed was how poorly optimized this level is, with an average FPS of about 30.”
    • “I think I might have enjoyed it more if it was possible to move around without the jerkiness and stuttering. It's a great idea, and I really hope that can be fixed!”
  • humor1 mentions

    The humor in the game is largely limited to the quirky names of knock-off products, with players expressing a desire for more engaging comedic elements throughout the experience. Overall, the humor does not significantly enhance the enjoyment of the gameplay.

    • “The humor in the game is subtle yet effective, with clever wordplay and amusing character interactions that keep you entertained throughout.”
    • “I love how the game balances serious themes with lighthearted moments, making the experience both engaging and fun.”
    • “The quirky dialogue and hilarious situations had me laughing out loud, adding a delightful layer to the gameplay.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

50% average critic score

Buy Scene Investigators

Play time

10hMedian play time
9hAverage play time
7-11hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 2 analyzed playthroughs

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