Sherlock Holmes: Crimes & Punishments

83%
Game Brain Score Based on 1,780 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • graphics
Sherlock Holmes: Crimes & Punishments Game Cover
Rough around the edges, and some bad puzzles, but this is an atmospheric detective adventure that actually lets you do some detecting.
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"Sherlock Holmes: Crimes & Punishments" is a single-player, open world mystery game with an interesting plot and marvelous gameplay. As the famous detective, you must solve six varied cases, making moral choices that affect the game's outcome and your character's reputation. Featuring awesome graphics, stellar music, and a good atmosphere, the game is full of humor but can also have bugs.

  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Play​station 4
  • Play​station 5
  • Xbox One
  • Xbox Series X|S
  • Play​Station
  • Play​station 3
  • Xbox
  • Xbox 360
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

83%
Audience ScoreBased on 1,780 reviews
story155 positive mentions
optimization12 negative mentions
  • Engaging and intriguing storylines with multiple conclusions for each case.
  • Beautiful graphics and well-designed environments that capture the Victorian atmosphere.
  • The deduction system allows players to piece together clues and make their own conclusions, enhancing the detective experience.
  • Frequent loading screens between locations can disrupt the flow of gameplay.
  • Some puzzles and mini-games can be frustrating or overly simplistic, leading to a lack of challenge.
  • The game can feel linear at times, with certain actions required before progressing, which may limit exploration.
  • story468 mentions

    The game's story is structured around six self-contained cases, each with its own intriguing plot, allowing players to engage in detective work without the burden of a convoluted overarching narrative. While the episodic format offers variety and maintains interest, some players feel it lacks depth and connection between cases, leading to a more linear experience. Overall, the storytelling is praised for its engaging character development and moral choices, though some plot holes and predictability detract from the overall impact.

    • “The story is absolutely incredible.”
    • “Each case was really well done story-wise, as well as the characters and voice acting.”
    • “The story progresses along well enough that it's quite easy to watch someone else play the game without feeling too bored.”
    • “The unfortunate downside to this title is the lack of a story; sure, each case has its own story, but there wasn't anything holding them together.”
    • “The game isn't one big storyline; it's more like an interactive story with a few added case-solving mechanics and mini-games.”
    • “There is no underlying or continuous story, which is a significant loss, as you face six different and unrelated cases without a narrative linking them together.”
  • gameplay409 mentions

    The gameplay in "Sherlock Holmes: Crimes and Punishments" is characterized by a mix of straightforward mechanics and engaging deduction elements, allowing players to gather clues, interrogate suspects, and make logical conclusions. While some players appreciate the variety of mini-games and the ability to skip puzzles, others find the gameplay linear and occasionally repetitive, with some mechanics feeling underdeveloped. Overall, the game offers a solid detective experience, though it may not satisfy those seeking more complex or action-oriented gameplay.

    • “The gameplay revolves around decision-making and deduction, allowing players to gather clues and evidence to determine suspects' guilt or innocence.”
    • “The mechanics, particularly the need to actually make logical conclusions, truly immerse you in the detective mindset.”
    • “The gameplay is surprisingly pleasant, with engaging puzzle mechanics and a variety of mini-games that keep the experience fresh and enjoyable.”
    • “The gameplay was linear; you don't really do deduction, the endings of the plotlines are full of holes and don't really make sense.”
    • “The gameplay is quite simple: interrogate witnesses and suspects, look for evidence with a pair of your own eyes, and sometimes use two additional tools—highlight small clues and recreate a crime scene from your imagination.”
    • “After 3 chapters of gameplay, I felt less like a detective and more of a clue hoarder who just needs to scan for any minute clues to properly solve the case.”
  • graphics339 mentions

    The graphics of the game have received generally positive feedback, with many players noting that they hold up well despite the game's age, showcasing beautiful and detailed environments that enhance immersion. However, some users reported graphical glitches and dated animations, which detracted from the overall experience. Overall, while the visuals are praised for their quality and artistic style, there are occasional technical issues that can disrupt gameplay.

    • “First impressions.. absolutely shocked (in a good way) with the graphics.”
    • “The graphics look realistic while still a bit stylized, and the performance is stable.”
    • “The graphics are beautiful, the loading screens consist of Holmes sitting in the cab being pretty, occasionally Toby being a good boy, Watson is a prop.”
    • “I can't even play the game, there are so many graphics issues that I just can't ignore.”
    • “Not in the mood to continue playing after seeing the graphics issues (flickering shadows and some geometry), choppy camera movements even though it maintains 60 fps, clunky controls, mouse smoothing and the fact it has QTEs... there might be a good game underneath but I'll never know.”
    • “The only problem I encountered was some glitches with the graphics.”
  • atmosphere81 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its immersive and authentic recreation of Victorian London, enhanced by stunning visuals, excellent voice acting, and a rich sound design that captures the essence of the Sherlock Holmes stories. Players appreciate the diverse settings and the way each case evokes a unique mood, contributing to an engaging and atmospheric detective experience. Despite some criticisms regarding gameplay mechanics, the overall ambiance and attention to detail create a compelling environment that resonates with fans of the genre.

    • “The atmosphere of Victorian Britain was captured very well.”
    • “The atmosphere is fantastic and the locations and voice acting are great.”
    • “Frogwares has absolutely nailed the atmosphere, faithfully recreating Doyle's stories.”
    • “The atmosphere changes in every case and really gives the feeling of being somewhere else.”
    • “The overall atmosphere was just like you'd expect it to be from a game set in early 20th century London.”
    • “The graphics are a real improvement from the previous game and the game itself oozes atmosphere.”
  • music59 mentions

    The music in the game is generally praised for its atmospheric quality and ability to enhance the immersive experience, fitting well with the various scenes and settings. While some reviews note that the soundtrack is somewhat limited or recycled from previous titles, many agree that it effectively complements the gameplay and voice acting, contributing to the overall enjoyment of the game. However, a few critics express disappointment over the lack of original compositions, suggesting that the music, while pleasant, does not stand out on its own.

    • “The game is also accompanied by a decent soundtrack that fits the mood very well and finishes off the experience.”
    • “The music is subdued and tasteful for the environment, and the ambient noises are pleasant as well.”
    • “The voice acting is superb throughout the game, and the music and ambient sounds set the mood very well.”
    • “The monotonous soundtrack and cringy moments halt the ultimate detective experience.”
    • “Music - somewhat forgettable and non-existent most of the time.”
    • “Unfortunately, despite the wonderful presentation of the game, none of the music is actually made for the game itself and has been taken largely from a free library courtesy of Kevin MacLeod.”
  • replayability45 mentions

    The game's replayability is a mixed bag; while players appreciate the ability to replay individual cases and explore different moral choices leading to multiple endings, many feel that once the story is known, the incentive to replay diminishes significantly. Some reviews highlight that the cases are engaging and offer decent replay value, but the linear nature and short length of each case limit overall replayability. Overall, it seems best enjoyed as a one-time experience, with some potential for revisiting for alternate outcomes or achievements.

    • “Moral choices allow for multiple endings and replay value.”
    • “This brings so much replay value to the game as there are many ways the game can play out.”
    • “The mind palace of Sherlock is a good gameplay mechanic and the moral choices make the storyline more interesting and replayable.”
    • “The game lacks replayability obviously, since after you know how things happened in every case, you can’t be amused again.”
    • “The only real problem here is the lack of replayability as once you experience the story once, there's really no reason to go back as you know what happened and walking through the levels feels tedious.”
    • “While it is kind of tempting to play through the game again to witness every moral decision, it's the kind of game which was boring halfway through, and due to how linear the game is, it provides very little replayability.”
  • optimization28 mentions

    The optimization of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players experiencing stable performance and smooth graphics, while others report significant issues such as stuttering, poor loading times, and overall unpolished execution. While a few users noted good optimization, many criticized it as poorly optimized, particularly for PC, leading to frustration during gameplay. Overall, the game's performance varies widely among users, with some enjoying a seamless experience and others facing notable technical difficulties.

    • “The graphics look realistic while still a bit stylized, and the performance is stable.”
    • “Game runs smoothly on my system on full settings, no hiccups, no lags, and load times are fairly fast.”
    • “Well optimized”
    • “Because the main cast and their actors are very commendable in their performance and are sadly let down by an unpolished game.”
    • “This game is poorly optimized.”
    • “The only thing that I dislike about this game is that it looks like it's optimized for console gaming.”
  • humor27 mentions

    The humor in the game is widely praised for its ridiculous voice acting, witty dialogue, and classic Sherlockian charm, often leading to unintentional hilarity. Players appreciate the dry humor and amusing character interactions, particularly between Sherlock and Watson, which enhance the overall enjoyment of the gameplay. While some aspects may feel low-budget or awkward, the comedic elements contribute significantly to the game's appeal, making it a memorable experience for fans of the genre.

    • “The voice acting and dialogue is ridiculous in a hilarious way, and the action/graphics are dated.”
    • “The humor was quite memorable and made me crack a grin during several cases.”
    • “It is extremely amusing to see Watson struggling to catch up with Sherlock, and sometimes he finds Sherlock absurd; the interactions between him and Sherlock definitely made me laugh aloud a few times.”
  • grinding26 mentions

    Overall, players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and slow, with many expressing frustration over repetitive dialogue, excessive backtracking, and lengthy travel times between scenes. While some enjoy the clue-finding mechanics and the satisfaction of solving puzzles, the overall experience is marred by a lack of engaging content and the feeling of monotony. Despite the option to skip certain tedious elements, many reviewers agree that the game could benefit from a more streamlined approach to its pacing and gameplay.

    • “There may be some back-tracking if you wish to acquire all achievements, but the main story has no grinding within it.”
    • “Despite what some players have said, there is no tedious busy work here.”
    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “It's a slow, tedious mass of one uninteresting case after the other without any overbearing story plot to connect the cases.”
    • “The multiple scene changes required to pursue and unlock clues makes an otherwise reasonably entertaining game tedious and adds too much downtime.”
  • stability20 mentions

    The stability of the game is mixed, with some players reporting a smooth experience free of major glitches or crashes, while others encounter various minor bugs and graphical issues. Although many appreciate the overall functionality, there are consistent mentions of clunky mechanics and occasional glitches that can disrupt gameplay. Overall, while the game is generally playable, it does have some stability concerns that may affect the experience for certain users.

    • “On the technical side, the game runs very smoothly and bug-free, featuring a fantastic voice cast, impressive visuals, and immersive sound.”
    • “Nice visuals, story, and atmosphere, but I cannot recommend the game due to lots of glitches, clunky minigames, and monotonous lock picking.”
    • “The only problem I encountered was some glitches with the graphics.”
    • “They try to counteract this problem of waiting around, which is something you most likely will have to do fairly often, by allowing you to review your case notes, but it often either freezes the game or flat out causes it to crash.”
  • character development9 mentions

    Overall, the character development in "Crimes and Punishments" is praised for its depth and complexity, particularly in comparison to other titles, with well-crafted designs and engaging cutscenes. However, some reviewers noted a desire for more development of secondary characters, such as Sherlock's brother, while appreciating the classic aesthetic reminiscent of previous adaptations. The game's character designs and graphics received high marks, contributing to a visually appealing experience.

    • “However, 'Crimes and Punishments' has better character development and more challenging puzzles than 'DD', whereas I found the storyline in 'DD' to be more intriguing (although it deviates from Sherlock canon with supernatural causes being possible conclusions).”
    • “The cutscenes were very well done cinematography-wise, and the character designs were also beautifully done.”
    • “The character design is outstanding as well - just look at the faces.”
    • “I enjoyed the classic look that Sherlock and Watson had in this game and was disappointed to see the further installments split from the classic character designs and voice acting.”
    • “However, Crimes and Punishments has better character development and more challenging puzzles than this game, whereas I found the storyline in this game to be more intriguing (although it deviates from Sherlock canon with supernatural causes being possible conclusions).”
    • “I can definitely see some character design similarities to Jeremy Brett's Holmes and David Burke's Watson, but this may simply be my over-interpretation.”
  • emotional5 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is described as wholesome and engaging, with moments that evoke strong feelings, including tears. While it may not reach the emotional depth of similar titles, it effectively encourages players to immerse themselves in the narrative and details, enhancing the overall experience of solving cases.

    • “This game was the first that made me feel like I need to pay attention to every detail, even a small word Lestrade is using while talking about something completely different than the case. Truly, Frogwares outdid themselves and deserve praise, and your money, on this one.”
    • “☑ I cried a bit”
    • “Made me feel like quite the detective as I was solving cases before conclusions were met, but also entertained me with the search for clues.”
  • monetization1 mentions

    Users find the monetization aspect somewhat misleading, noting that the advertising screenshots and videos do not accurately represent the game.

    • “The advertising screenshots and videos are slightly misleading.”
    • “The game feels like a constant push to spend money, which detracts from the overall experience.”
    • “I feel like I'm being forced to pay to enjoy the game fully, which is frustrating.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

76% average critic score

Play time

15hMedian play time
14hAverage play time
10-20hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 14 analyzed playthroughs

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