Uncover the Smoking Gun

About

Uncover the Smoking Gun is a single player casual simulation game. It was developed by ReLU Games, Inc. and was released on June 23, 2024. It received positive reviews from players.

"Uncover the Smoking Gun" is a narrative-driven game set in 2030 where robots and humans coexist. A chilling series of murders have occurred, and the prime suspects are robots. Players must examine crime scenes, analyze robots' testimonies, and ask questions to unravel the truth behind the experiment known as "Project Atlas." The game features five episodes with deep conversations and system overload questions to reveal the incidents' truth.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

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82%

Audience ScoreBased on 39 reviews

story8 positive mentions

The game features an engaging and immersive story with unexpected twists that keep players captivated throughout.
The AI mechanics allow for creative and dynamic interactions, making the detective work feel fresh and rewarding.
The graphics and overall design are visually appealing, enhancing the atmosphere of the game.

Several players reported bugs with the AI, including issues with context retention and inconsistent responses, which can hinder gameplay.
The game requires players to agree to a controversial EULA that many find disrespectful and overly controlling for a single-player experience.
Some achievements are reportedly bugged, leading to frustration for players trying to complete the game fully.

story
17 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
47%
35%
18%
The game's story is described as epic and genuinely riveting, featuring interesting themes and complex twists that engage players. While the execution has some flaws, particularly with AI mechanics that can disrupt the narrative flow, many reviewers appreciate the immersive experience and the satisfying resolution of uncovering lies within the story. Overall, the visuals and pacing complement the strong storyline, making it a highlight of the game despite some inconsistencies.
- “Genuinely riveting story that twists and turns and leaves you wondering.”
- “Truly a fantastic story and the idea has been very well carried out.”
- “Amazing story, perfect pacing, enough puzzles and detective work to keep you occupied and engaged.”
- “At times it feels like a first-time dungeon master trying to railroad you to a plot, and then at others it feels like a coworker who isn't listening to you but nodding and saying 'yeah.' I would avoid it and wish I could refund it.”
- “Unfortunately, it's still a quirk of the AI as it will try and fit a certain story point into the narrative.”
- “The idea is great, but the execution is flawed to a point that made me quit after the second mission.”
gameplay
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
56%
11%
33%
The gameplay is characterized by a solid loop centered around three core mechanics, enhanced by unique side mechanics in each level to maintain freshness. Players appreciate the integration of AI chat features, although some report inconsistencies and occasional deviations from expected mechanics. Overall, the combination of engaging story and innovative gameplay elements contributes to a positive experience.
- “The gameplay loop boils down to three mechanics:”
- “While this loop stays quite constant, every level adds some nice side mechanic to keep it fresh.”
- “A great gameplay mechanic!”
- “The gameplay loop boils down to three mechanics.”
- “You can also get the robots to agree to things that aren't supported by the game mechanics.”
- “More gameplay here:”
graphics
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
33%
17%
The graphics of the game are generally praised for their appealing art style, which enhances readability and navigation, while effectively conveying the game's theme. However, some users noted a mismatch between the vibrant anime art of certain elements and the darker, cell-shaded aesthetic of the overall design. Overall, the visuals are considered impressive and contribute positively to the gaming experience.
- “The choice of art style makes the game very easy to read, as well as pleasant to navigate and look at.”
- “The graphic style is perfect for the theme, communicating with the bots is fun and they all have individual personalities.”
- “The visuals, music, and story are all amazing.”
- “Some of the AI art, particularly the framed photographs, have a bright, colorful anime art style that really doesn't fit the dark, moody, cel-shaded style the rest of the game has.”
music
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
33%
The music and sound effects enhance the overall experience by creating an immersive atmosphere that complements the mystery-solving gameplay without being overly intrusive. Reviewers praise the combination of visuals, music, and story as exceptional.
- “Music and sound effects add to the experience, creating a mood that enhances the gameplay without being overly intrusive, making it feel just right while you're solving mysteries.”
- “The visuals, music, and story are all amazing.”
optimization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's optimization is highly praised, with users reporting excellent performance and no encountered bugs.
- “The game's performance is excellent, and I haven't experienced any bugs.”
- “The optimization is top-notch, allowing for smooth gameplay even on lower-end systems.”
- “I appreciate how well the game runs; it feels polished and responsive throughout.”
emotional
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find "Smoking Gun" emotionally engaging, particularly praising its deep and thought-provoking dialogues with robots that evoke a strong philosophical resonance, reminiscent of the emotional depth found in titles like "Detroit: Become Human." The game's narrative complexity captivates fans of both detective and sci-fi genres, enhancing the overall emotional experience.
- “If you enjoy detective games or are a fan of sci-fi stories like 'Detroit: Become Human,' you'll likely be captivated by the depth and expansiveness of 'Smoking Gun.' As felt in the previous demo version, the dialogues with robots in this full version are so philosophically and emotionally impressive that it's hard to believe a human could have written them to be more profound.”
atmosphere
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The atmosphere of the game is highly praised for its immaculate design, which effectively creates surprising twists that elicit strong emotional reactions from players.
- “There's been a twist in both of them that made me gasp out loud; the atmospheric design is absolutely immaculate.”