The Posthumous Investigation

About

The Posthumous Investigation is a single player casual puzzle game with drama, mystery and comedy themes. It was developed by Mother Gaia Studio and was released on March 31, 2026. It received very positive reviews from players.

Master the Time Loop: You have one day to solve the crime. Learn the schedules of 14 unique characters, spot their contradictions, and manipulate their routines. Keep your knowledge when the day resets and stay one step ahead of the killer. No hand-holding. Use your "Thinking Board" to link evidence, reconstruct the timeline, and accuse the culprit. Only pure logic will free you…

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93%

Audience ScoreBased on 55 reviews

story5 positive mentions

grinding2 negative mentions

Engaging and unique time loop detective gameplay with a well-designed schedule system for characters that creates a rich investigative experience.
Strong narrative, witty writing, and well-defined, charismatic characters that enhance immersion and emotional connection.
Stylish hand-drawn art, atmospheric music, and polished animations that effectively set a noir-inspired 1937 Rio de Janeiro vibe.

Repetitive tasks and pacing issues due to time loop mechanics, leading to tedious fetch quests and excessive backtracking in later stages.
Subpar English and Chinese localization with awkward translations and grammatical errors that sometimes break immersion.
Ending is perceived as a copout or unsatisfying by some players, with an open or ambiguous finale that feels underwhelming compared to the rest of the experience.

story
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
31%
50%
19%
The story is generally praised for its engrossing noir atmosphere, well-crafted mysteries, and effective use of time loops, creating a unique and immersive detective experience. However, some find the plot tedious or lacking emotional depth, with certain characters feeling irrelevant or the narrative overly focused on infidelity. Overall, the storytelling, combined with distinctive art and sound design, stands out as a strong point of the game.
- “Exceptionally written story, fun gameplay loop with well-set mysteries and an interesting turn of events at the end.”
- “The game's distinctive black and white art style and vibe-y music perfectly fit the narrative and gameplay, and the story unfolds in a very engrossing way, slowly deepening the player's understanding of over a dozen characters you need to investigate.”
- “The noir Rio de Janeiro vibes and aesthetics, the voice acting and especially the sound design, all very polished and perfectly combined with the fun mechanics and great storytelling.”
- “Easy, but tedious and especially annoying when the police officer character is pointless and doesn't even have anything to do with the story - while story-crucial characters do let you skip stuff like this all the time.”
- “I didn’t feel engaged in the story and had no emotional connection to any of the characters.”
- “I don’t see any point in them or any deep plot that evokes admiration, surprise, or anything else.”
gameplay
15 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
40%
20%
The gameplay stands out due to its intriguing time-loop mechanic, blending detective investigation with a well-crafted narrative. While some find the repetitive puzzle-solving and low challenge a drawback, the overall experience is engaging and original, enhanced by immersive aesthetics and a compelling story. It offers a fun, thoughtful gameplay loop that complements the game's unique noir atmosphere.
- “The actual gameplay premise is endlessly fascinating from the perspective of a detective game, and the logical progression is absolutely perfect.”
- “Exceptionally written story, fun gameplay loop with well set mysteries and an interesting turn of events at the end.”
- “The gameplay is typical for this kind of games but the time loop adds a touch of originality.”
- “While the devs have included some streamlining to iron out the repetitive nature of the core gameplay, some puzzles still require repeating the same actions over and over, especially if you're trying to solve them without a guide.”
- “I expected more deduction based puzzles, and, while they are present occasionally, the core gameplay loop is much more straightforward: most of the time you simply want to talk to everyone about everything without thinking too hard on who you want to approach with which question, because you have infinite tries to ask everyone.”
- “The most divisive element will be the time loop mechanics.”
music
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
33%
The music is widely praised for its beauty and suitability, with distinctive, vibe-y tracks that complement the game's unique black-and-white art style and narrative. It effectively enhances various locations and moments without overpowering gameplay, contributing to an engrossing experience.
- “There is beautiful music, different for different locations.”
- “The game's distinctive black and white art style and vibe-y music perfectly fit the narrative and gameplay, and the story unfolds in a very engrossing way, slowly deepening the player's understanding of over a dozen characters you need to investigate.”
- “Music.”
- “The soundtrack knows exactly when to stay out of the way.”
atmosphere
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
25%
The atmosphere is characterized by a unique visual style and satirical narrative that create a charming and engaging experience, even if it lacks a traditional noir feel. It delivers a characterful and immersive adventure complemented by thoughtful puzzles.
- “The original visual style and satirical narrative created a certain charming atmosphere.”
- “A characterful, atmospheric adventure with some solid puzzles.”
- “I didn't feel a noir atmosphere, but that didn't ruin the experience.”
graphics
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The graphics are praised for their distinctive black-and-white, noir-inspired art style that perfectly complements the game's narrative and atmosphere. The visual design, combined with polished animations, creates an immersive and engaging experience that enhances the storytelling.
- “The music, graphics, and animations are fantastic.”
- “The game's distinctive black and white art style perfectly fits the narrative and gameplay.”
- “The noir Rio de Janeiro vibes and aesthetics are very polished and perfectly combined with the game mechanics and storytelling.”
humor
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is clever and well-integrated, adding a light, enjoyable tone that complements the compelling detective narrative without detracting from its intrigue.
- “I love a good detective game and this one is fun and funny.”
- “The narrative is genuinely compelling, layered with clever humor that keeps the tone light without undermining the intrigue.”
grinding
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Grinding in the game is easy but often feels tedious and monotonous, exacerbated by irrelevant characters like the police officer who add little to the story. This makes the experience feel more like a chore, particularly for players unfamiliar with the source material.
- “Easy, but tedious and especially annoying when the police officer character is pointless and doesn't even have anything to do with the story - while story-crucial characters do let you skip stuff like this all the time.”
- “Maybe if I knew the material it was based off of I would enjoy it more, but it feels tedious and almost like a chore playing it.”
emotional
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect received mixed feedback: while the writing is praised for its sharp, witty, and emotionally precise tone, some users felt disengaged from the story and lacked a strong emotional connection to the characters.
- “The writing holds them together with a tone that is witty, sharp, and emotionally precise without ever becoming sentimental.”

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