Sherlock Holmes Chapter One

Sherlock Holmes Chapter One is gorgeous in graphics, with in-depth gameplay mechanics, and a deep, emotional story about mental health and trauma compile it into the masterpiece that it is.

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"Sherlock Holmes: Chapter One" is an open-world detective adventure where players step into the shoes of a young Sherlock, solving mysteries and building reputation. Utilize deception, violence, or deduction to tackle problems, and explore diverse locations for clues. The game offers a unique look at Sherlock's early years, showcasing his arrogance and naivety before he becomes the legendary detective.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

Reviews

76%

Audience ScoreBased on 2,500 reviews

story544 positive mentions

optimization37 negative mentions

The game features a captivating story that explores Sherlock's childhood and emotional depth.
The open-world design of Cordona is beautifully crafted, providing a vibrant and immersive environment to explore.
The game allows for multiple endings and moral choices, adding complexity to the detective experience.

The combat mechanics are clunky and feel unnecessary, detracting from the overall detective gameplay.
Many cases lack a definitive conclusion, leaving players unsure if their deductions were correct.
The user interface can be confusing, making it difficult to navigate and interact with evidence effectively.

story
1,704 mentions
32 % positive mentions
63 % neutral mentions
5 % negative mentions
The story in "Sherlock Holmes: Chapter One" is a compelling exploration of Sherlock's origins, focusing on his emotional journey and the mystery surrounding his mother's death. While the main storyline is relatively short, it is enriched by numerous side quests that add depth and variety, although some players found these side missions less engaging. Overall, the narrative is praised for its emotional weight and character development, particularly the dynamic between Sherlock and his imaginary friend, Jon, though some critiques highlight issues with pacing and the open-world design detracting from the story's impact.
- “The open world is gorgeous, I enjoyed the vast number of cases, and Frogwares' take on Sherlock's backstory was super interesting (not to mention very emotional).”
- “The main story isn't particularly long, but the game makes up for it with a variety of side cases and quests.”
- “The story is gripping and it made me go through all kinds of emotions.”
- “The main storyline, [spoiler] with the fantasy of Jon being Sherlock's imaginary friend, [/spoiler] was completely unappealing to me.”
- “The countless side missions scattered across the city feel completely unnecessary, and there’s no compelling reason to engage with them.”
- “The story did not hold my interest whatsoever nor did I understand it much, and I had no drive to do side cases/missions.”
gameplay
776 mentions
23 % positive mentions
64 % neutral mentions
13 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Sherlock Holmes: Chapter One" has received mixed reviews, with many players appreciating the open-world exploration and detective mechanics, while others criticize the convoluted and clunky mechanics that detract from the experience. The introduction of new features, such as the "pinning" evidence system and combat mechanics, has been met with both enthusiasm and frustration, as some find them innovative while others see them as overly complicated and poorly executed. Overall, while the game offers engaging storytelling and a rich atmosphere, the gameplay mechanics often feel inconsistent and can hinder the enjoyment of the detective experience.
- “The gameplay is intuitive and the story is nice.”
- “Great story in an open-world gameplay mechanics that fit incredibly well with the Sherlock Holmes universe!”
- “I’m having a great time playing this one - once you get the hang of all the detective mechanics (especially when to 'pin'/focus on specific evidence pieces), it really makes you feel like you are solving cases in a fluent and natural way.”
- “As the graphical quality goes up, the gameplay goes down, and every logical step that made the original games great seems to be phased out.”
- “The puzzles and investigative mechanics failed to provide the challenge and satisfaction that one would expect from a detective game.”
- “The mechanics of gathering clues are clunky, and the combat system is the worst I've encountered in any game I've played.”
graphics
392 mentions
46 % positive mentions
47 % neutral mentions
7 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with many praising the beautiful environments and character designs, while others criticize the optimization and occasional glitches. Some players find the visuals stunning and immersive, particularly in the open-world setting, while others feel the graphics are underwhelming compared to modern standards, often describing them as average or even disappointing. Overall, while the aesthetic appeal is noted, technical issues and performance inconsistencies detract from the experience for some players.
- “The graphics are stunning when they work and the world is very nice.”
- “The graphics and visuals are phenomenal, I loved playing through both daytime and nighttime.”
- “A fantastic addition to the Sherlock series with stunning visuals, striking locales, interesting characters and lots of quirky cases and quests to keep you distracted.”
- “Right away I had to work on configuring the video settings because the graphics were absolutely awful!”
- “The story is fine but the graphics are truly a nightmare.”
- “This game was somehow released in 2021, but you would never know that because it lags like a game from 1980 and graphic-wise looks like it's from the 1990s.”
emotional
136 mentions
99 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
1 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of "Sherlock Holmes: Chapter One" is widely praised for its depth and impact, with many players noting the game's ability to evoke strong feelings through its narrative and character development. The exploration of Sherlock's backstory, mental health struggles, and relationships, particularly with Jon, adds a poignant layer to the story, leading to a deeply moving experience that resonates with players. While some critiques mention rushed endings or uneven emotional build-up, the overall consensus highlights the game's capacity to leave a lasting emotional imprint.
- “This game's story emotionally wrecked me, so I will never play it properly again, but other people definitely should play it.”
- “The most heartfelt story by far – it’s genuinely touching, the puzzles are great, and the characters are treated like real people.”
- “Shaking and crying while writing this review, this game was absolutely phenomenal and my head started hurting because I cried so much at the ending; it's superb and played with every one of my feelings.”
- “Boring story; Jon in this game is so unlikable, and nothing stands out.”
music
123 mentions
54 % positive mentions
43 % neutral mentions
2 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim for its quality and ability to enhance the atmosphere, with many reviewers praising the soundtrack as phenomenal and fitting for the game's setting. While some noted minor issues with sound effects and music playback, the overall impression is that the soundtrack is a standout feature, contributing significantly to the emotional depth and immersive experience of the game. Many players found themselves enjoying the music so much that they added it to their personal playlists, highlighting its memorable and engaging nature.
- “The music in this game is phenomenal and better than it has any right to be.”
- “The soundtrack is truly amazing (I spend some time just sitting in the main menu listening to it) and I like how every district of the island has its own sound design.”
- “The music is heart-wrenchingly beautiful, the graphics are stunning, and young Sherlock Holmes' character design is absolutely dashing.”
- “The musical accompaniment only emphasizes how different the areas seem to be on a small island, and the music also plays in emotional and tense moments, but not always properly.”
- “Like clicking in and out of the map will sometimes stop the music and it takes a few moments for it to kick back in again, which definitely feels a bit cheap.”
- “I didn't enjoy the music very much either, as it suffered from the same fate as the world atmosphere.”
optimization
107 mentions
21 % positive mentions
44 % neutral mentions
35 % negative mentions
The game's optimization has been widely criticized, with players reporting significant stuttering, frame rate drops, and poor performance even on high-end PCs. Despite some improvements from patches, many still experience issues, particularly in open-world areas, leading to a frustrating gameplay experience. Overall, the optimization is considered subpar, detracting from the otherwise appealing graphics and narrative.
- “While performance is largely good for how the game looks, it still is somewhat prone to dip or intermittently stutter.”
- “Cordona was beautiful and fun to admire when it wasn't stuttering despite my best attempts to alleviate via ini tweaks and settings with a rig well above recommended specs.”
- “I'll start off by saying that the world is absolutely gorgeous: the graphics are great, the engine is well-optimized, and being set in a British-occupied fictional island that was formerly part of the Ottoman Empire, there are a wide variety of different locations to explore and people to talk to, each with their own unique cultural background and flavor.”
- “The game is good but very poorly optimized; it runs like crap on a high-end PC.”
- “I've tried every resolution setting and I still average about 15 fps at 1600 x 1200, and I'm playing with a pretty beefy dedicated gaming setup... it's like this code was never optimized.”
- “A stuttering, unplayable mess - and that's just the technical issues.”
atmosphere
86 mentions
56 % positive mentions
41 % neutral mentions
3 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its immersive and richly detailed world, enhanced by excellent sound design and music. While many players appreciate the vibrant setting of Cordona and its intriguing narrative, some miss the darker, grittier tones typical of previous Sherlock Holmes games set in Victorian London. Overall, the game successfully creates a captivating atmosphere, though opinions vary on the effectiveness of its open-world design and the emotional depth of its environment.
- “Immersive atmosphere: richly detailed world and excellent sound design.”
- “The open world is beautiful and a pleasure to explore, with a lovely atmosphere throughout and an intriguing narrative.”
- “Frogwares once again proves to be top end when it comes to the atmosphere of a game.”
- “The atmosphere of the city felt really off to me - one of my favorite parts of any Sherlock Holmes media is the dark and gritty atmosphere, as well as the intriguing and foul cases.”
- “The game's atmosphere is a total divergence from that - being set on a sunny Mediterranean island - and ends up looking like something out of the Adventures of Tintin.”
- “I didn't enjoy the music very much either, as it suffered from the same fate as the world atmosphere.”
grinding
71 mentions
1 % positive mentions
4 % neutral mentions
94 % negative mentions
Overall, players find the grinding aspect of the game to be excessively tedious and frustrating, with many citing repetitive combat, cumbersome UI interactions, and unnecessary backtracking as major issues. The investigation mechanics, while initially engaging, often devolve into monotonous tasks that detract from the overall experience. Many reviewers express a desire for a more streamlined approach to gameplay, as the current design feels like a chore rather than an enjoyable challenge.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “The previous titles are infinitely better than this, and this had no reason to be this tedious, given the franchise has been increasing in quality. I bought the bundle back before Testament was released, and the series peaked with Devil's Daughter.”
- “The problem with 'Chapter One' is not that the cases are hard to solve (they are rather easy), it is just very difficult and tedious to make progress.”
- “You just have to buy back all the things in the old house to be able to unlock the story, and I find it so grindy and tedious that it made me quit playing.”
humor
65 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The humor in "Sherlock Holmes: Chapter One" is a mixed bag, with many players enjoying the light-hearted banter and comic relief provided by John, while others find his constant snark distracting or irritating. The game features a variety of funny moments, including absurd situations and clever easter eggs, though some critiques point to a lack of the dry wit traditionally associated with Sherlock Holmes. Overall, the humor adds a playful element to the mystery-solving experience, though it may not resonate with everyone.
- “It's fun, challenging, well rendered, hilarious, full of easter eggs, and better continue in this format!”
- “Jon is a great comic relief that keeps the game from getting dull and I always clicked on him to get his funny opinions and encouragements.”
- “The humor in this is fantastic and I hope to see more of this down the road.”
stability
48 mentions
4 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
96 % negative mentions
The game's stability has received mixed reviews, with many players reporting various glitches and bugs, particularly related to graphics and NPC interactions. While some users experienced minimal issues and found the game enjoyable, others noted that the frequent bugs could detract from the overall experience. Overall, the game's stability appears to vary significantly depending on individual setups and expectations.
- “Very nicely done, if you liked all the previous SH games you will find a lot of the mechanics of this game familiar. The game runs great, with very little to no bugs, and the story is really great in this one.”
- “Don't waste your time on a buggy game.”
- “Buggy as hell.”
- “Visual glitches in some places (flicker, ghosting) and bugs (walking in air, inability to interact, etc.).”
character development
23 mentions
43 % positive mentions
43 % neutral mentions
13 % negative mentions
Character development in the game receives mixed reviews; while some players appreciate the depth and evolution of characters like Sherlock and Jon, others find it lackluster and inconsistent with the overall narrative. The character designs, although visually appealing, are criticized for being too similar in group scenes, which can detract from the distinctiveness of individual characters. Overall, the character development is seen as a highlight by some, but a significant drawback by others, particularly in relation to the game's design choices.
- “A mother’s love: super interesting for the character development.”
- “I like the character development and the story.”
- “His character development was amazing and the other characters as well.”
- “Character development is the most lackluster thing in the game.”
- “My main issue is that the character design is so jarringly different from the other games or the original books, and not different in a way that helps the story.”
- “[Initially overwhelming, relaxed attitude to results can dilute satisfaction from solving cases; Sherlock’s character design feels at odds with the world he’s in.]”
replayability
19 mentions
42 % positive mentions
42 % neutral mentions
16 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's replayability is mixed among reviewers. While some appreciate the new mechanics and open-world design that allow for non-linear gameplay and exploration, others find the linear story and combat elements diminish the incentive to replay. The consensus suggests that while certain aspects may offer replay value, many players feel the game lacks significant replayability compared to previous titles in the series.
- “Crimes & Punishments and The Devil's Daughter were great games and are totally replayable!”
- “The mind palace was always great, but I love the new game mechanics they came up with. The open world makes the cases non-linear, so things like pinning the proper evidence and exploring on a hunch to track the connections is completely epic. I can see cases having a high replay value even through several rounds of DLC.”
- “Deep, fascinating story, Sherlock as a young adult, the open world of Cordona, replayability.”
- “While I was actually saddened by the linear story and, thereby, minimal replay value for their previous games.”
- “There does not feel like there is really any replay value to the game at all.”
- “However, like most of the games of the same genre, there really is no replayability after completing it.”