The Deed

91%
Game Brain Score Based on 1,220 reviews
  • story
  • replayability
  • gameplay
The Deed Game Cover
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The Deed is a single-player role-playing game with a dark twist on the murder mystery genre, featuring compelling gameplay, good graphics, and masterful music. As Arran Bruce, you must murder your sister to restore your inheritance, choosing from various weapons and navigating interactions with your dysfunctional family. With a dense atmosphere and high replayability due to different outcomes, The Deed offers a hilarious and immersive experience. Check out other The Deed games on Steam.

  • PC
  • Windows
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

91%
Audience ScoreBased on 1,220 reviews
story85 positive mentions
grinding18 negative mentions
  • Unique premise of playing as the murderer and framing others adds depth to the gameplay.
  • Multiple endings and choices provide good replayability for a short game.
  • Atmospheric music and writing enhance the overall experience.
  • Extremely short playtime, often completed in under 30 minutes.
  • Limited graphics and sound design typical of RPG Maker games.
  • Repetitive dialogue can become tedious after multiple playthroughs.
  • story262 mentions

    The game's story is a dark and intriguing narrative centered around a character's plot to murder his sister for inheritance, featuring multiple endings based on player choices. While the story is short and lacks depth in character backstories, it is well-written and engaging, offering a mix of dark humor and moral complexity. Players appreciate the replayability due to the various outcomes, although some feel the brevity limits emotional investment and exploration of themes.

    • “The story is actually pretty good and can be sadly relatable for those who come from not-so-happy backgrounds, which really shows how good this game is when it comes to realism between the relationships of the characters.”
    • “Such a nice little dark experience; it's pleasantly surprising how the characters and story are so fleshed out in such a short time of gameplay.”
    • “The story is short but realistic and well-written, providing a great little experience that encourages multiple playthroughs to explore different outcomes.”
    • “However, the story is so messed up that I personally don't want to play it again to see the other endings.”
    • “There's very little in the way of additional plot to be found in the game past the initial reveal, which is a huge shame given how otherwise wonderful the tone and ambiance is.”
    • “The game is clearly meant to be taken seriously, and it is story-driven, so the story needs to be well-researched, proofread, and developed, but it sorely fails in this area.”
  • replayability158 mentions

    The game is characterized by its high replayability, despite its short playtime of around 10-20 minutes. Players appreciate the multiple endings, various choices, and different methods of achieving objectives, which encourage repeated playthroughs to explore all possibilities and unlock achievements. However, some users note that once all endings are discovered, the replay value diminishes significantly.

    • “Neat little game, relatively short but replayable; it took me four tries to get it correct, with multiple ways to win and multiple endings.”
    • “The story is short, but the fact that almost every interaction has a part in which ending you get makes it have good replayability.”
    • “It's a very short game, but there's a lot of polish and lots of replay value.”
    • “Short, but definitely replayable!”
    • “It has almost no replay value because the story doesn't change much regardless of what you do.”
    • “However, it does have some replayability with the multiple responses to interactions with everyone, the multiple ways of killing your sister and multiple ways of framing someone to take the fall for your crime.”
  • gameplay130 mentions

    The gameplay primarily revolves around dialogue choices, selecting murder weapons, and framing other characters, creating a unique and engaging experience. While the mechanics are simple and the game is relatively short, players appreciate the strategic elements and the variety of outcomes based on their decisions. Overall, the gameplay is described as fun and intriguing, though some find it repetitive and lacking depth.

    • “Being the killer and having to frame other people in a murder mystery game is a very interesting concept... and it makes for a surprisingly fun gameplay loop.”
    • “The gameplay revolves around getting away with murder, involving exploring a house and interacting with people, leading up to committing the deed.”
    • “The gameplay serves as a good testament to how information can be manipulated to tell a vast array of different stories.”
    • “The gameplay is very simple, you just wander around the house to find something useful to make a clean and great murder.”
    • “The gameplay, such as it is, lies entirely in picking two items that both point towards a single suspect other than yourself.”
    • “The gameplay is straightforward and whether you like the game or not will depend on how much you like the 'frame someone for murder' angle.”
  • graphics120 mentions

    The graphics of the game are generally described as simplistic and reminiscent of retro styles, often utilizing 2D pixel art or RPG Maker assets. While some players appreciate the nostalgic aesthetic and how it complements the game's atmosphere, others criticize the visuals as bland or poorly executed, noting that they do not significantly enhance the overall experience. Overall, the graphics are seen as adequate for the game's purpose, though they may not appeal to everyone.

    • “The graphics are very well done and match the time period of the story.”
    • “The artwork is pretty well done for indie game standards.”
    • “The graphics are retro 2D, which works well for this fun little game.”
    • “The result is 100% what you might expect... a really bad looking video game with some mediocre art assets, ugly pixel graphics, and no proper widescreen support or anything.”
    • “Extremely short with awful graphics, poor character design, and uninteresting choices.”
    • “The graphics are bad, but the character models still represent the person's character.”
  • music63 mentions

    The music in the game is generally described as fitting and atmospheric, effectively enhancing the overall experience despite being somewhat repetitive and reminiscent of RPG Maker assets. While some players appreciated the classical and ambient tracks that set a dark mood, others noted that the sound effects were lacking and the music could become monotonous over time. Overall, the soundtrack is considered adequate for the game's themes, contributing positively to the narrative and atmosphere.

    • “The music is perfectly atmospheric, and since a single playthrough is so short, it never becomes grating.”
    • “The music and sound effects are artful, evoking at times a nostalgic feeling akin to a BBC-funded detective series, and at other times a discordant melancholy feeling.”
    • “Game, although simple, is very well crafted: dialogues are smart and interesting; background music completely fits the atmosphere intended; very good pacing and it has incredible replayability.”
    • “The music could have been better because it becomes monotonous.”
    • “It is a fairly low-budget affair, without anything noteworthy in the music, sound design, or graphics.”
    • “A variety of creepy ambient songs would go a long way; however, since this game is meant to be played multiple times, repetitive music would get old fast.”
  • atmosphere55 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is consistently praised for its dark, oppressive, and haunting qualities, effectively enhancing the narrative and gameplay experience. Users highlight the impactful use of music and graphics, which contribute to a chilling ambiance that fits the game's themes of murder and moral ambiguity. Despite some criticisms regarding outdated visuals and occasional breaks in immersion, the overall atmosphere is considered a standout feature that elevates the game beyond its simple mechanics.

    • “The game has a brilliant dark atmosphere; you can feel the sinister nature they created in the game, and this all for a game with barely a price on its tag, that alone makes this little beauty worth it.”
    • “The atmosphere fits perfectly with the plot, and the aesthetic of the game is well done, creating a brooding and glum atmosphere within the house.”
    • “The music was chosen well, the graphics suit the theme and atmosphere, and the dialogue was well written; it's inspiring how well these elements can carry a game even when it's not technologically advanced.”
    • “The music loops in a way that there is a sudden cut, which kind of breaks the atmosphere a little.”
    • “Visually, the game looks way too outdated, but it adds to its atmosphere.”
    • “It does a somewhat effective use of the dark tone and brown color palette to create at least a creepy atmosphere, even if there is nothing remotely creepy or even scary about it.”
  • humor25 mentions

    The humor in "The Deed" is characterized by clever dialogue filled with sexual innuendos and dark comedic elements, providing a stark contrast to its grim premise. Players appreciate the game's ability to elicit laughter through absurd situations and witty interactions, making it a memorable experience despite its short length. Overall, the humor is well-integrated into the gameplay, enhancing the narrative while allowing for various comedic outcomes based on player choices.

    • “For the grim premise, the story is not without its own brand of dark humor.”
    • “The story is simple, the game straightforward, and the writing clever and full of dark humor.”
    • “The humor comes from the laughable dialogue choices and actions that, if used correctly, can be used to your benefit.”
  • grinding19 mentions

    Overall, players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious, especially after the initial playthroughs, as repeated actions and dialogue diminish enjoyment. While the game offers some fun in its mechanics, the lack of options to fast forward or skip content leads to a sense of monotony during subsequent runs. Achieving all endings or completing achievements can feel particularly grindy and repetitive.

    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “The first 3 play-throughs were okay, even slightly fun deciding who to frame and which piece of evidence to plant, but after that it just became a very tedious grind.”
    • “It's a great game, but after the first run every action feels tedious without any option to fast forward or to skip.”
    • “Overall an enjoyable game, though it does get tedious if you're trying to get all the achievements or see all the endings.”
  • stability5 mentions

    The stability of the game is mixed, with some users reporting a smooth experience free of bugs, while others encountered significant issues such as crashes, loading problems, and confusing controls. Overall, the game has been described as "buggy" and "a buggy mess," indicating that stability may be a concern for many players.

    • “At this price point and with no glitches, I would rate it 7/10.”
    • “The game runs smoothly without any crashes, which is impressive.”
    • “I've experienced zero bugs during my playthrough, making for a very stable experience.”
    • “Not only is the game incredibly short - about 10 minutes a playthrough totaling up to 3 hours if you complete all the endings, it's also quite buggy - I got stuck on loading a save multiple times; the only way to confirm a dialogue option is by clicking your mouse button which is coincidentally also the skip button (what could go wrong?) and the game crashed a bunch, too.”
    • “A buggy mess.”
    • “Kinda buggy also boring but good.”
  • optimization4 mentions

    The game's optimization has been criticized, with users reporting significant performance issues and bugs that detract from the overall experience. Despite some emotional engagement with the narrative, the technical shortcomings remain a notable concern.

    • “Even though I grew to sympathize with my character’s anger and hurt, I made him hold back his feelings, being cordial and respectful, taking solace in the fact that the performance would only perfect my— I mean his revenge.”
    • “The game is unoptimized, leading to frequent performance issues.”
    • “I encountered numerous bugs that severely impacted my gameplay experience.”
    • “The optimization feels lacking, making the game run poorly on my system.”
  • emotional2 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is deeply impactful, as it explores themes of trauma and familial abuse, with players confronting haunting memories of a troubled childhood and the lasting effects of parental neglect. The narrative evokes a strong sense of nostalgia and pain, compelling players to reflect on their past experiences.

    • “The sins of the past haunt you; the beatings from your father, the emotional abuse of your mother, and the perverse childhood memories of 'I'm stuck, big bro!' all come flooding back with the first step back into your family home.”
    • “Could it have been your emotionally barren and distraught mother looking to feel relief?”
  • character development2 mentions

    Character development in the game is criticized for being extremely short and lacking depth, with poor graphics and uninteresting choices. However, some users appreciate the great character design and realistic facial and body proportions, suggesting a mixed reception regarding the overall quality of character portrayal.

    • “It's a point & click game with great character design and rather realistic faces and body proportions.”
    • “The character development is extremely short, with awful graphics and poor character design, leading to uninteresting choices.”
    • “There is a lack of depth in character development, making it hard to connect with any of the characters.”
    • “The choices presented during character development feel superficial and fail to impact the overall story.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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Play time

3hMedian play time
5hAverage play time
3-4hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 7 analyzed playthroughs

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