Skip to main content

The Last Case of John Morley

The Last Case of John Morley offers a decent premise and moody environments, but is sunk by rough writing, clumsy presentation, and a baffling ending which turns a promising cold case into a lukewarm disappointment. ‍
The Last Case of John Morley Game Cover
73%Game Brain Score
story, atmosphere
optimization, music
82% User Score Based on 100 reviews
Critic Score 56%Based on 5 reviews

Platforms

Xbox Series X|SPCPlaystation 5XboxWindowsPlayStation
Buy Nowfrom €12.49
Buy NowGet on Steam €12.49Buy NowGet on Xbox Games Store
The Last Case of John Morley Game Cover

About

The Last Case of John Morley is a single player simulation game with mystery and thriller themes. It was developed by Indigo Studios - Interactive Stories and was released on November 27, 2025. It received neutral reviews from critics and positive reviews from players.

Step into the shoes of detective John Morley as he revisits a cold murder case from 20 years ago, guided by Lady Margaret Fordside, a countess seeking the truth behind her daughter's death. Explore atmospheric 1940s settings, uncover hidden clues, and unravel a haunting mystery that challenges the official story. Immerse yourself in a gripping noir investigation filled with dark secrets and forgotten places.

Genres & Tags
Play Modes
The Last Case of John Morley screenshot
The Last Case of John Morley screenshot
The Last Case of John Morley screenshot
The Last Case of John Morley screenshot
Skip User Reviews

82%
Audience ScoreBased on 100 reviews
story49 positive mentions
music3 negative mentions
  • The game features a captivating story with unexpected twists that keep players engaged throughout the experience.
  • The atmosphere is well-crafted, immersing players in a dark, eerie setting that enhances the detective narrative.
  • Voice acting is top-notch, adding depth to the characters and making the story more compelling.
  • The game is quite short, typically taking only 2-4 hours to complete, which some players feel does not justify the price.
  • Puzzles are overly simplistic and lack challenge, leading to a more passive gameplay experience rather than an engaging detective challenge.
  • There are technical issues, including bugs and AI-generated content that detracts from the overall immersion and quality of the game.
  • story
    104 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The story of the game is generally praised for its engaging narrative, well-crafted writing, and atmospheric setting, often described as a captivating detective noir experience. While some players found the plot predictable or the gameplay lacking, many appreciated the unexpected twists and emotional depth, making it a worthwhile experience for those who enjoy story-driven games. However, the game's brevity and reliance on exploration over complex puzzles may not appeal to everyone, leading to mixed opinions on its overall execution.

    • “The story is fantastic and really well-crafted - it kept me engaged from start to finish.”
    • “The last case of John Morley is a captivating blend of mystery, adventure, and immersive storytelling.”
    • “The writing is sharp, the atmosphere is rich, and every clue feels like you’re peeling back another layer of a story that’s been waiting decades to be heard.”
    • “There's no room for alternate interpretations or need to put events in order; you'll be a passive observer as the story unfolds.”
    • “The story itself sits comfortably within the genre of creepypasta--the call is coming from inside the house--but you'd be forgiven for failing to piece together a cohesive narrative thread from the start to a finish so neck-bracingly abrupt as to imagine a head-first ejection through a car windscreen.”
    • “One or two opportunities to flesh out this story present themselves, but these are left aside as the game speed-runs to a conclusion.”
  • atmosphere
    39 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its eerie and immersive qualities, effectively capturing a dark, noir aesthetic reminiscent of classic detective tales. Players appreciate the well-crafted environments, haunting sound design, and engaging narrative that together create a sense of tension and intrigue. However, some minor graphical issues were noted, which could detract from the overall atmospheric experience.

    • “The atmosphere is great; once you get into the manor, it really does give creepy haunted house vibes.”
    • “I immediately felt immersed in the atmosphere of an old detective story: the rain outside the window, the smoke from a cigarette in the office, and the haunting soundtrack.”
    • “The writing is sharp, the atmosphere is rich, and every clue feels like you’re peeling back another layer of a story that’s been waiting decades to be heard.”
    • “My only complaint graphically is that when you turn the settings down, more and more textures were removed which unfortunately affected the atmosphere.”
    • “Spooky noises and dark trees are not enough for the atmosphere that the game wanted to create.”
    • “All the time was this gloomy atmosphere with a tension and little bit of fear but no jumpscares.”
  • gameplay
    30 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay of "The Last Case of John Morley" is characterized as simple and basic, focusing more on narrative exploration than complex mechanics or challenging puzzles. While some players appreciate the engaging story and atmospheric elements, others criticize the lack of depth and innovation in gameplay, noting that it may not satisfy those seeking a more robust detective experience. Overall, the game offers a fluid and well-paced experience, though it is relatively short and may feel lacking in substance for some players.

    • “The gameplay is fluid and well-paced, and the music and sound effects are equally well executed.”
    • “Puzzle-solving mechanics are cleverly designed, offering a satisfying challenge without being overwhelming.”
    • “Fans of noir detective stories will especially enjoy the way the game blends classic crime-solving with modern gameplay.”
    • “So if you want a meaty detective/deduction type game then look elsewhere, but if it's just a mystery story with basic gameplay then maybe you'll be into it.”
    • “The story is extremely brief and cliché, and the gameplay is very lackluster.”
    • “Mechanically, nothing feels new, complex, or innovative.”
  • graphics
    21 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's graphics are generally praised for their beauty and ability to enhance the atmosphere, with detailed environments and a solid art style. However, some users noted issues with optimization, outdated textures, and occasional graphical errors that detracted from the experience. Overall, while the visuals are appealing, they may not meet the expectations of all players, particularly those with lower system specifications.

    • “Beautiful graphics, atmosphere, intense moments, and very solid voice acting.”
    • “The graphics are stunning, with detailed environments that bring the story to life, and the voice acting is top-notch, further enhancing the emotional depth of the characters.”
    • “Great graphics and awesome narrative.”
    • “My only complaint graphically is that when you turn the settings down, more and more textures were removed, which unfortunately affected the atmosphere.”
    • “The graphics are also outdated and optimization is not very good.”
    • “There is also a heavy fog effect that makes the graphics look faded and washed out.”
  • optimization
    7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Overall, the game's optimization is inconsistent, with notable performance dips in outdoor areas and some users reporting issues on specific hardware configurations. While it generally maintains solid performance close to 60fps in 4K, the graphics feel outdated, and previous titles from the developer have also faced optimization challenges.

    • “While performance can dip in outdoor areas, it still offers a worthwhile experience.”
    • “✔️ Solid performance, just under 60fps in 4K, but consistent throughout.”
    • “But yeah, in general, there were no issues with the performance.”
    • “The graphics are also outdated and optimization is not very good.”
    • “By the way, optimization was also poor in a previous game released by this developer called Charon's Staircase.”
    • “The only real issue I encountered was a strong performance slowdown with my RX 6600 under Windows 11 during the first scene in the forest, as if it were a blurred-dream effect, although this does not seem to be the case based on gameplay videos.”
  • music
    6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the game is widely praised for its haunting beauty and ability to enhance the overall atmosphere, immersing players in a captivating old detective story. Reviewers note that the original soundtrack adds significant depth to the experience, complementing the professional voice acting and well-written narrative, despite the puzzles being relatively easy. Overall, the combination of music and sound effects contributes to a fluid and engaging gameplay experience.

    • “The original soundtrack adds depth, and the story is well written.”
    • “The ambience, story, and soundtrack of the game really make up for the lack of difficulty.”
    • “While I agree with other reviews that the puzzles are not the hardest to solve, I feel like the ambience, story, and soundtrack of the game really make up for the lack of difficulty.”
    • “I immediately felt immersed in the atmosphere of an old detective story: the rain outside the window, the smoke from a cigarette in the office, and the haunting soundtrack.”
    • “The gameplay is fluid and well-paced, and the music and sound effects are equally well executed.”
  • replayability
    3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Players have mixed feelings about the game's replayability; some appreciate the opportunity to revisit the game with new insights from the ending, while others find it lacking due to its simplicity and brevity, particularly for the price. Overall, the game's appeal for replayability seems to depend on individual preferences for narrative depth and challenge.

    • “Playing the game a second time with the newly learned information from the ending created an element of replayability.”
    • “But as someone who loves FMV games, branching narratives, replayability, challenging puzzles, and genuine deduction, this felt too simple and too short for the price.”
  • character development
    3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Reviewers praise the game for its strong character designs, highlighting that the visual aesthetics contribute positively to the overall character development experience. However, there is limited feedback on the depth of character arcs or emotional growth throughout the narrative.

    • “The character designs are incredibly well thought out, each one reflecting their unique backstory and personality.”
    • “I love how the characters evolve throughout the game, making their journeys feel authentic and engaging.”
    • “The depth of character development really adds to the emotional impact of the story, allowing players to connect with each character on a personal level.”
  • emotional
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game effectively evokes emotion through stunning graphics and detailed environments that bring the story to life, complemented by top-notch voice acting that enhances the emotional depth of the characters. However, the gameplay lacks deductive elements, relying instead on a sequence of glowing cues to progress the narrative.

    • “The graphics are stunning, with detailed environments that bring the story to life, and the voice acting is top-notch, further enhancing the emotional depth of the characters.”
  • stability
    1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Users report that the game exhibits some bugs, indicating that stability is an area that could use improvement.

    • “Still a little bit buggy though.”
  • grinding
    1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Players find certain puzzles in the game to be tedious, contributing to a sense of grinding that detracts from the overall experience.

    • “Some of the puzzles were tedious.”
Skip Critic Reviews

56%Critics’ scoreBased on 5 critic reviews
Skip Game Offers

Buy The Last Case of John Morley

4h Median play time
4h Average play time
4-4h Spent by most gamers
*Based on 1 analyzed playthroughs
Skip Videos

Videos

Skip Games Like The Last Case of John Morley

Games Like The Last Case of John Morley

The Vanishing of Ethan Carter Image
82%4.1kreviews

The Vanishing of Ethan Carter

2014Puzzle
Nintendo SwitchPCEpic Games+8
Draugen Image
74%1.1kreviews

Draugen

2019Action Adventure
PCPlaystation 4Xbox One+3
The Station Image
80%1.3kreviews

The Station

2018Shooter
Nintendo SwitchLinuxXbox Series X|S+8
Mists of Aiden Image
90%862reviews

Mists of Aiden

2020Survival Action Adventure
PCWindows
The Painscreek Killings Image
89%2.9kreviews

The Painscreek Killings

2017Simulation
PCWindows
More games like The Last Case of John Morley
Skip Game News

The Last Case of John Morley Review - Thumb Culture

December 1 on n4g.com

The Last Case of John Morley review: Rough around the edges but eerily compelling

November 27 on escapistmagazine.com
Skip FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

The Last Case of John Morley is a simulation game with mystery and thriller themes.

The Last Case of John Morley is available on Xbox Series X|S, PC, PlayStation 5, Windows and others.

On average players spend around 4 hours playing The Last Case of John Morley.

The Last Case of John Morley was released on November 27, 2025.

The Last Case of John Morley was developed by Indigo Studios - Interactive Stories.

The Last Case of John Morley has received neutral reviews from players and neutral reviews from critics. Most players liked this game for its story but disliked it for its optimization.

The Last Case of John Morley is a single player game.

Similar games include The Vanishing of Ethan Carter, Draugen, The Station, Mists of Aiden, The Painscreek Killings and others.