The Sexy Brutale

About

"The Sexy Brutale" is a puzzle-adventure game where players attend a masquerade ball in a mansion, but time repeats in a loop. As a guest with the ability to be unseen, you must prevent the deaths of other guests by learning their routines and manipulating objects and the environment. With each successful prevention, you uncover more of a sinister plot.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

91%

Audience ScoreBased on 2,655 reviews

story850 positive mentions

replayability26 negative mentions

The game features a unique time-loop mechanic that allows players to observe and prevent murders, creating an engaging gameplay experience.
The art style and soundtrack are exceptional, contributing to the game's charming and immersive atmosphere.
The story is intriguing and well-written, with emotional depth that resonates with players.

Puzzles are often too simplistic, leading to a lack of challenge and engagement for experienced players.
The game is relatively short, which may leave some players wanting more content.
There are technical issues, such as lag during room transitions and unresponsive controls, that can detract from the overall experience.

story
1,781 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
48%
50%
2%
The story of "The Sexy Brutale" is a captivating blend of mystery and emotional depth, unfolding through a series of interconnected character arcs as players navigate a time loop to prevent gruesome murders in a lavish mansion. While the narrative is engaging and features unexpected twists, some players found the pacing uneven, with significant plot revelations occurring towards the end, which may leave some feeling unsatisfied. Overall, the game is praised for its unique storytelling approach, rich atmosphere, and the way it intertwines gameplay mechanics with narrative elements, making it a memorable experience for those who appreciate story-driven games.
- “The story is engaging from start to end with deeper lore to find if you wish, the music and world setting is funky and exciting to discover, and the gameplay is unique and fitting for delivering the story to the player.”
- “The story unfolds in the titular Sexy Brutale casino, where all the rich folk were gathered for a masquerade party. The plot is interesting to follow and the attention to detail is pretty good.”
- “The story is phenomenal, the puzzles are great, and the foreshadowing and overall design of the map/characters is amazing.”
- “The game is not a delicate balance and resource management to save multiple people in a satisfying Rube Goldberg machine, but a linear story where most of the problems scream in your face.”
- “The story seems like a murder mystery, but you don't get any idea what's going on until the end; most of the story is devoted to setting up all of the characters and introducing you to all of the weird paranormal stuff going on.”
- “The story unfolds slowly until the very end, where you basically get a few plot dumps and huge twists come out of left field one after another.”
gameplay
1,121 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
59%
3%
The gameplay of "The Sexy Brutale" is characterized by its unique time-loop mechanic, where players must observe and manipulate events to prevent murders in a lavish mansion. While the puzzles are generally straightforward and the mechanics can feel simplistic, the integration of narrative and gameplay, along with a charming aesthetic and engaging soundtrack, creates an enjoyable experience. However, some players noted that the gameplay lacks depth and can become repetitive, with certain mechanics underutilized throughout the game.
- “The gameplay revolves around the use of gathering masks from the house guests you save, and using their associated abilities to unlock new parts of the mansion.”
- “The time loop mechanic works well and is narratively grounded in a satisfying way.”
- “The gameplay is engaging, unique, and fits the tone and style of the game perfectly.”
- “The gameplay is rather lousy if you get down to it.”
- “The gameplay and puzzles are a bit shallow, but the game oozes style.”
- “The gameplay is simple enough, but it lacks depth and complexity.”
music
1,030 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
61%
38%
1%
The music in *The Sexy Brutale* has been widely praised for its exceptional quality and ability to enhance the game's atmosphere. Reviewers highlight the jazzy, electro-swing soundtrack as both catchy and thematically appropriate, effectively building tension during critical moments and immersing players in the game's unique setting. While some noted occasional repetitiveness and abrupt transitions between tracks, the overall consensus is that the soundtrack significantly elevates the gaming experience, making it a standout feature of the title.
- “The same goes for the music, especially the jazzy tones for the bar and casino evoke the atmosphere of such an upper-class establishment at some time in the last century perfectly.”
- “The soundtrack is amazing and fits the atmosphere of the mansion well, which is also a pleasure to explore.”
- “The music is fantastic, the story / how you approach it is awesome (you'll never guess the truth behind this until close to the end) and the gameplay is very interesting, built around time loops and spying, puzzling together when what is happening and why and then figuring out how to stop it.”
- “The music fits the casino and mystery themes perfectly, but it gets kind of tiring towards the end if you decide to get the collectibles, since there will be a lot of walking around.”
- “The music can feel repetitive after the 20th 12-minute cycle, but the different tracks for each section break it up a little.”
- “The game is full of little annoyances - the music is very repetitive, the walking feels sluggish, restarting the day takes a bit too long when you just want to get going... worst of all, the controls are absolutely terrible for PC and you are unable to remap.”
graphics
591 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
58%
40%
2%
The graphics of "The Sexy Brutale" are widely praised for their unique and charming art style, which combines whimsical and macabre elements, reminiscent of Tim Burton's work. Players appreciate the vibrant visuals and attention to detail in the mansion's design, although some note that the graphics can feel simplistic or dated at times. Overall, the aesthetic, paired with a captivating soundtrack, significantly enhances the game's immersive experience, despite limited graphical options and occasional performance issues.
- “The graphics look splendid, and there is a lot of variation between the areas and rooms.”
- “The visuals and the music are very charming, and finding all the lore hidden around the mansion was quite fun.”
- “The graphics are colorful, pretty and stylish, the music is perfectly complementary, and the writing is witty and quite good.”
- “The game doesn’t offer any graphics settings except for resolution and fullscreen/windowed mode.”
- “The graphics are a bit dated by today's standards, but it has its charms.”
- “The art style is nothing revolutionary, but it is very charming and works quite well, in my opinion.”
atmosphere
175 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
31%
2%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its exceptional music, immersive sound design, and richly detailed environments, particularly the opulent mansion setting. Reviewers highlight the effective combination of a whimsical yet macabre tone, with a soundtrack that enhances the overall experience and evokes a sense of intrigue and tension. Despite some critiques regarding gameplay depth, the captivating atmosphere and engaging story make it a standout experience for players.
- “The soundtrack is amazing and fits the atmosphere of the mansion well, which is also a pleasure to explore.”
- “The atmosphere is rich and vibrant with several small stories woven neatly together and fellow characters that feel fun and personable.”
- “The music and atmosphere are absolutely fantastic and the gameplay is top notch.”
- “While I like the premise, the presentation from looks to sounds and the atmosphere, I can't see any depth to the gameplay or longevity whatsoever.”
- “I suppose they were trying to create a tantalizing atmosphere of mystery, but without anything meaningful to invest in, it all rings hollow.”
- “Environmental sounds don't really have the satisfying effect the rest of the game's atmosphere deserves, and footsteps (as well as a few other noises) are obnoxiously loud.”
emotional
89 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is highly praised, with many players noting its distinct characters, heartfelt storytelling, and a powerful, touching ending that elicits strong feelings. The narrative is described as beautifully crafted, often leading to unexpected emotional catharsis, while the game's art and music enhance the overall experience. Despite some critiques regarding character depth and pacing, the emotional journey resonates deeply with players, making it a standout feature of the game.
- “The story is a tightly wound clock that you pick apart, and had me feeling genuinely emotional by the end.”
- “By the time you reach the end, you'll likely be emotionally invested in the outcome, and the game knows it - and makes sure the finale hits hard.”
- “It's the best case of using a video game to tell a truly heart-wrenching story, in a way that a book or a film couldn't, that I've seen.”
replayability
80 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
5%
63%
33%
Overall, the game exhibits very low replayability, with most players completing it in a short time frame of 6-18 hours and feeling little incentive to revisit once the story and puzzles are fully explored. While there are some collectibles and alternate endings that may entice completionists, the linear nature and lack of varied gameplay mechanics limit the experience for most. Despite its enjoyable first playthrough, many reviewers agree that the game does not offer substantial replay value.
- “The puzzles are often very clever and make the game very special, but the downside here is that replay value will be quite low for most people - if, for you, a good experience is a good experience, then playing this even once will feel rewarding.”
- “Multiple endings also ensure a level of replayability.”
- “It seems like the game can be done in under 8 hours easily which might seem short, but there's optional collectibles and the game has a great charm to it that makes it short and sweet, so it adds a lot to the replayability for me.”
- “It's a single playthrough experience without much replayability.”
- “After a good 6-8 hours, I'd say you've seen everything and there is little to no replay value past that.”
- “The only letdown is a lack of replayability, but nothing will compare to that first playthrough.”
grinding
64 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
2%
3%
95%
The grinding aspect of the game has been widely criticized for its repetitiveness and tediousness, particularly in the later stages where players often find themselves backtracking and waiting for events to unfold. Many reviewers noted that the slow movement and the need to reset the day multiple times contribute to a frustrating experience, making the gameplay feel more like a chore than an engaging adventure. While some appreciated the game's mechanics and story, the overall sentiment leans towards it being overly grindy and lacking in excitement.
- “The objectives to 100% weren't too tedious.”
- “You run slowly, you have to reset the day many, many times, and it gets tedious after a while.”
- “In my opinion, this game is overrated - it's tedious, repetitive as hell, buggy and not that interesting to begin with.”
- “The gameplay puzzles with restarting the day were fun at first but became tedious by the midpoint with all the trial and error.”
optimization
60 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
13%
57%
30%
The game's optimization has received mixed reviews, with many players reporting frequent performance issues such as stuttering and frame drops, particularly during room transitions. While some users experienced smooth gameplay on older hardware, others found the performance to be abysmal, making it difficult to enjoy the experience fully. Overall, while the game has engaging elements, its optimization problems detract significantly from the gameplay.
- “Great storytelling, good soundtrack, and will run smoothly even on a 12-year-old potato of a PC such as mine.”
- “The game runs smoothly with the only occasional stutter as you transition from room to room.”
- “Performance issues aside, this is an amazingly unique game with intuitive design.”
- “Utterly abysmal frame timing that renders the game a stuttering, unplayable mess.”
- “The game has absurd performance issues even on high-spec machines, the drops in framerate often causing dropped inputs forcing me to click repeatedly to do something as simple as enter a door.”
- “This is one of the worst optimized games I've ever seen.”
humor
57 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is characterized by a blend of dark and macabre elements, often eliciting laughter through clever writing, witty dialogue, and absurd situations. Players appreciate the mix of suspense and comedy, with many noting the engaging characters and the humorous twists that enhance the overall experience. While some feel the humor could be further developed, the game's unique style and entertaining mechanics make it a standout in the puzzle genre.
- “I love the mix of suspense, humor, and clever writing - it's like Clue got an upgrade to Clue 2.0.”
- “This game oozes with atmosphere, dark humor, and creative fantasy.”
- “The characters and writing are a clever blend of humorous and dark, with enough moments to make you laugh while simultaneously shocking you with their brutality.”
stability
38 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
3%
97%
The game's stability is marked by a mix of minor bugs and occasional freezes, particularly during room transitions and interactions with objects. While some players experienced clunky gameplay and graphical glitches, most found these issues to be non-game-breaking and manageable, suggesting that with additional polish, the game could significantly improve in this area. Overall, the stability is described as inconsistent, with some players enjoying a smooth experience while others faced frustrating interruptions.
- “No bugs or glitches as far as I have found, so if you are interested in this game, I heartily recommend you purchase it.”
- “Let's start with the flaws: the game is clunky, rather short (done in a couple of days), sometimes buggy or at least awkward, and there are lots of clumsiness/old-fashioned mechanisms/game design in it, with an overall slow pace.”
- “If that wasn't annoying enough, there are freezes all over the place.”
- “Unfortunately, there were some occasional glitches with the graphics and controls that would cause the game to freeze up for a few seconds when entering a new area.”
character development
36 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
47%
44%
8%
Character development in the game is highlighted by its unique and charming character designs, which are often described as vibrant, distinct, and memorable. While some reviews note a lack of deep character development, the diverse cast and their creative portrayals contribute to an engaging narrative experience. Overall, the art style and character design are praised for their cohesion with the game's atmosphere and storytelling, enhancing the overall enjoyment.
- “A nice story with a compelling mystery at the heart of it, colorful yet foreboding atmosphere, inventive character design, and a satisfying gameplay mechanic with puzzles to match.”
- “The character designs are all unique and memorable, and the music is out of this world.”
- “The character design is unique and there is heavy visual flavor for all of the characters.”
- “✓ interesting diverse cast of characters: you got diversity and no one results flat out boring, gotta love the creative ways they get killed too, not really a lot of character development (we're gonna cover this better later) but they still end up being diverse, characteristic, and all around interesting.”
- “The character designs are all very distinct with unique personalities.”
- “There could have been more variety in character development, as the characters feel more like visual elements than fully fleshed-out individuals.”