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SEASON OF MYSTERY: The Cherry Blossom Murders Game Cover

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SEASON OF MYSTERY: The Cherry Blossom Murders is a single player casual puzzle game with a mystery theme. It was developed by Square Enix and was released on February 3, 2010. It received positive reviews from players.

"Season of Mystery: The Cherry Blossom Murders" is a hidden object adventure game set in Japan. You play as a detective tasked with solving a series of murders that take place during the cherry blossom season. The game features unique puzzles, beautiful artwork, and an intriguing storyline filled with suspense and mystery.

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81%
Audience ScoreBased on 202 reviews
story59 positive mentions
grinding5 negative mentions

  • The game features a charming story set in late 19th century Japan, which adds depth to the hidden object gameplay.
  • The hidden object scenes are beautifully illustrated, providing a visually appealing experience.
  • The game offers a relaxing gameplay experience with no time limits, making it suitable for casual players.
  • Many hidden object scenes are repetitive, requiring players to revisit the same locations multiple times, which can diminish the challenge.
  • The graphics can be pixelated and low resolution, making it difficult to identify some hidden objects.
  • The gameplay lacks variety, as it primarily consists of finding hidden objects with minimal puzzle elements.
  • story
    138 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The story in this hidden object game is generally well-received, with many players appreciating its engaging mystery and charming setting in late 19th century Japan. While some found the plot predictable and the narrative linear, others enjoyed the twists and emotional depth, noting that it effectively ties together the gameplay. However, there are criticisms regarding repetitiveness in scenes and character stereotypes, which detracted from the overall experience for some players.

    • “It's a cute little hidden object game with a sad yet beautiful story.”
    • “The plot was actually engaging and kept my interest the whole 2-3 hours it takes to finish.”
    • “The story was very linear, and there wasn't much for you to do except the hidden object scenes, but as long as you know that that is what you are getting, that is fine by me.”
    • “Don't care for the story portion, it was a substandard typical mystery plot that is highly predictable.”
    • “The story is weak too, and although the story presumably takes place over the course of several days, the woman never changes her clothes.”
    • “But the story here is dull, the puzzles in between are easy but tedious and repetitive.”
  • music
    57 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the game is generally described as pleasant and atmospheric, enhancing the overall experience with its relaxing and beautiful soundtracks. However, many reviewers noted that the music can be repetitive, with a limited variety of tracks that loop frequently, which detracts from its overall impact. While the sound design contributes positively to the game's aesthetic, some players wished for more diverse compositions to better match the game's themes and settings.

    • “I love the setting in terms of both time and place, and both feel evident throughout the game, with the atmospheric music adding to the mood of each scene.”
    • “The scenes are stunningly beautiful and the music is amazing.”
    • “Awesome passive hidden object game, with a gripping story, relaxing soundtrack and stunning visuals.”
    • “The music is appropriate, but not quite varied enough.”
    • “The music is competent but repetitive and the artwork stills are quite attractive.”
    • “Don't get me wrong - there are beautiful images and the soundtrack, while repetitive, is eerily calming.”
  • graphics
    36 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics in the game receive mixed reviews, with many users noting their outdated and pixelated quality, which can hinder gameplay, especially in hidden object scenes. While some appreciate the "old style" artwork and find it charming, others criticize the low resolution and lack of detail, describing them as mediocre or poor. Overall, the visuals are seen as pleasant but simplistic, with a few standout elements, yet they often fail to impress in terms of modern standards.

    • “Awesome passive hidden object game, with a gripping story, relaxing soundtrack and stunning visuals.”
    • “The graphics are beautiful, the hidden object scenes are not overly cluttered, and they are actually enjoyable as far as hidden object scenes can go.”
    • “Graphics: I admit the graphics are beautiful and capture the feel of traditional Japan.”
    • “Being a 12-year-old game predating Windows 10, the graphics are a bit messy and pixelated and can hamper your searching, but other than that the challenge is fair.”
    • “The low-resolution graphics and some of the incredibly cheap tricks to hide some items also point to outdated mechanics.”
    • “I mean, the low-resolution graphics are unclear, the objects don't respect realistic scale and are often virtually invisible.”
  • gameplay
    24 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay is a mix of hidden object mechanics and simple mini-games, offering a casual experience that can be enjoyable but often feels repetitive due to the need to revisit the same rooms multiple times. While some players appreciate the engaging story and helpful mechanics, others criticize the outdated graphics and overly simplistic puzzles, making it more suitable for casual gamers rather than those seeking a challenge. Overall, the gameplay is described as fun yet monotonous, with a blend of strengths and weaknesses.

    • “Overall, it's fun, has solid gameplay, plays quickly, and feels different enough to seem fresh.”
    • “Searching for hidden objects is the main gameplay, but there is a variety of other puzzles to solve too, such as playing pairs.”
    • “This game has gorgeous art, fun, but simple gameplay, and an interesting murder mystery story.”
    • “Gameplay is not great either - overlaying dialogue characters over a hog screen kills the experience.”
    • “The gameplay had made more sense if it were more about selecting the correct dialogue, but there isn't much to it other than carefully eyeballing a static, messy image looking for the antique objects the game asks for.”
    • “However, the gameplay is monotonous, and in some levels, you have to find the same things over again.”
  • replayability
    13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's replayability is generally viewed as limited, with some randomization in scenes providing slight variation, but players often find themselves revisiting the same content multiple times, leading to a diminishing challenge. While there are opportunities to discover hidden objects and achieve completion, most reviewers agree that the game lacks significant replay value beyond initial playthroughs and achievement hunting. Overall, it may be enjoyable for a few runs, but it doesn't offer substantial incentive for repeated play.

    • “The scenes are slightly randomized, which adds to replayability, but you also visit most of them multiple times, so the game also gets easier as you go through it.”
    • “+ decent replay value - there are lots of possible hidden objects, and you're asked to find different ones each time you play.”
    • “Has moderate replayability due to an above-average amount of objects hidden per scene, with each scene sequence choosing a modest random selection of them.”
    • “The game has little to no replayability, unless you decide to play it again years after you beat it.”
    • “Unfortunately, there isn't a ton of replayability once you've beaten it once, other than for getting any achievements you might have missed the first playthrough.”
    • “For one, I don't see a lot of replay value with this game beyond trying to get all the Steam achievements.”
  • grinding
    6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Reviews indicate that the grinding aspect of the game is largely viewed as tedious and repetitive, with mini-games and puzzles lacking variety and depth. While some players found enjoyment in completing achievements without feeling annoyed, many criticized the overall experience as dull and overly simplistic, leading to a sense of monotony throughout the gameplay.

    • “I beat it nearly three times to get the 'Find 1000 Items' achievement, and I didn't feel annoyed at all. It wasn't tedious, and you can click through or skip dialogue, which is great. Just be careful when you're clicking, as you might accidentally skip dialogue you wanted to read.”
    • “This tied with the extremely simple mini-games makes 'Season of Mystery' pretty tedious to get through.”
    • “It doesn't know the difference between pine and sakura trees, the characters are cardboard, the object searches are mostly useless, and it's long and tediously dull!”
    • “But the story here is dull, the puzzles in between are easy but tedious and repetitive (time for a matching game! time for a slightly different matching game! hey, let's do that first matching game again!).”
  • humor
    5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The humor in the game is characterized by its absurd and far-fetched storyline, which, while terrible, provides ample entertainment value, especially when played in a social setting. Players find joy in the hilariously bad cutscenes and character sprites, making it a fun experience for those who appreciate a lighthearted approach and don't take the game too seriously.

    • “The story itself is terrible and far-fetched, but playing on stream and laughing at Irene with the rest of the chat while cheering on Fujikawa as he tackles a man is worth the entertainment value.”
    • “+ Hilariously terrible cutscenes and character sprites.”
    • “This game is a fairly decent point-and-click/hidden object game if you have a sense of humor and don't take it seriously.”
  • atmosphere
    4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its immersive setting, combining rich graphics and atmospheric music that enhance the overall mood. Players appreciate the detailed environments and the serene ambiance, particularly in the context of the protagonist's journey to Japan.

    • “I love the setting in terms of both time and place, and both feel evident throughout the game, with the atmospheric music adding to the mood of each scene.”
    • “And the graphics and music combine to create a pleasant atmosphere.”
    • “You play as Irene Pemberton, who moves to Japan with her beloved husband, Richard Pemberton, to enjoy the calm atmosphere of the Land of the Rising Sun.”
  • stability
    3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Users have reported stability issues, particularly with the game screen glitching when attempting to play in full screen mode, which hampers the overall gaming experience.

    • “I couldn't play in full screen for some reason because the game screen glitches out.”
    • “The game crashes frequently, making it nearly impossible to progress.”
    • “I experienced constant lag and stuttering, which ruined the overall experience.”
  • optimization
    3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's optimization is criticized for its repetitive and tedious gameplay, particularly in the puzzles, which lack variety and engagement. Additionally, the portrayal of certain characters has been deemed overly stereotypical, detracting from the overall experience.

    • “The optimization is lacking, leading to frequent frame drops and long loading times that disrupt the gameplay experience.”
    • “I encountered numerous bugs that hindered my progress, making it clear that the game wasn't properly optimized for performance.”
    • “The game feels sluggish and unresponsive at times, which suggests that the developers didn't prioritize optimization during development.”
  • emotional
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game offers a lighthearted and enjoyable experience that doesn't take itself too seriously, yet it manages to evoke genuine emotions and moments of tenderness, despite its relatively simple narrative.

    • “It also manages to be surprisingly touching despite not being an especially deep or developed story.”
  • character development
    1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The character development in the game features a solid cast, complemented by strong character design, a well-crafted script, and an engaging musical score, all of which reflect Square Enix's reputation for quality storytelling.

    • “The game features a decent cast of characters, with impressive character design, a well-crafted script, and an engaging soundtrack, which is no surprise coming from Square Enix.”
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4h Median play time
4h Average play time
3-5h Spent by most gamers
*Based on 3 analyzed playthroughs
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Frequently Asked Questions

SEASON OF MYSTERY: The Cherry Blossom Murders is a casual puzzle game with mystery theme.

SEASON OF MYSTERY: The Cherry Blossom Murders is available on PC and Windows.

On average players spend around 4 hours playing SEASON OF MYSTERY: The Cherry Blossom Murders.

SEASON OF MYSTERY: The Cherry Blossom Murders was released on February 3, 2010.

SEASON OF MYSTERY: The Cherry Blossom Murders was developed by Square Enix.

SEASON OF MYSTERY: The Cherry Blossom Murders has received positive reviews from players. Most players liked this game for its story but disliked it for its replayability.

SEASON OF MYSTERY: The Cherry Blossom Murders is a single player game.

Similar games include Frankenstein Master of Death, Left in the Dark: No One on Board, 9 Clues: The Secret of Serpent Creek, Dark Arcana: The Carnival, Nightmares from the Deep: The Cursed Heart and others.