Voodoo Detective

Voodoo Detective is an attractive, old-school point-and-click adventure with a lighthearted, dime-store pulp story and a decent handful of laughs. Its vividly descriptive art style and writing are accessible and low-stress, if short on intrigue and surprise. Meanwhile, the music is fun and the voices are memorable. Although the puzzles can be ropey, the story moves along steadily enough, and at five hours or so, it doesn’t ask too much. This is a steady debut from Short Sleeve Studio and, while it’s not turning every head at the party, it’s a good laugh if you try to get to know it.

92%Game Brain Score

story, graphics

grinding, replayability

95% User Score Based on 434 reviews

Critic Score 80%Based on 2 reviews

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About

Voodoo Detective is a single player puzzle game with a mystery theme. It was developed by Short Sleeve Studio, LLC and was released on May 24, 2022. It received mostly positive reviews from critics and overwhelmingly positive reviews from players.

In "Voodoo Detective," you play as a small-time private investigator who becomes embroiled in a strange case involving vanished locals, powerful voodoo magic, and dark secrets in a 1920s bayou town. Solve puzzles, interrogate suspects, and explore eerie settings in this stylish, point-and-click adventure game. Uncover the truth behind the voodoo curse before it's too late.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

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95%

Audience ScoreBased on 434 reviews

story102 positive mentions

grinding6 negative mentions

Beautiful hand-drawn art style reminiscent of classic adventure games like Monkey Island.
Engaging story with witty dialogue and well-developed characters, enhanced by excellent voice acting.
Fun and intuitive puzzles that, while mostly easy, provide a satisfying experience and a nostalgic feel.

The game is relatively short, taking around 3 to 6 hours to complete, which may leave some players wanting more.
Some puzzles can feel overly simplistic or illogical, leading to moments of frustration.
The narrative occasionally suffers from tonal shifts, mixing lighthearted humor with darker themes without clear transitions.

story
192 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
53%
42%
5%
The story of "Voodoo Detective" is generally well-received, featuring engaging characters, a captivating plot, and enjoyable puzzles, though some players noted its brevity and pacing issues. While the narrative incorporates elements of humor and a unique voodoo theme, opinions vary on its depth and memorability, with some finding it lacking in character development and coherence. Overall, it offers a fun, light-hearted detective experience, appealing to fans of classic point-and-click adventures.
- “A very satisfying game to play ... great voice acting ... beautiful music .... loved the artwork ... and a very rich story from beginning to the end ... was not able to stop playing until I finished it ... for a point and click game it's a 9/10 recommend.”
- “The storyline is engrossing and well-written, and the voice acting is top-notch.”
- “Beautiful artwork and great story.”
- “However, it fails to leave a lasting impression due to its lackluster storytelling and forgettable cast.”
- “The story and its progression are utterly daft, which doesn't work when simultaneously unfunny.”
- “But the flaws outweigh any cons: the plot is frankly weak, the jokes feel forced, and some tasks are absolutely senseless.”
graphics
128 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
23%
2%
The graphics of the game have received widespread acclaim for their beautiful hand-drawn art style, vibrant colors, and high-quality animations, reminiscent of classic point-and-click adventures. Reviewers praised the unique and consistent visual design, along with excellent voice acting that enhances the overall experience. The combination of stunning visuals, engaging humor, and a well-crafted atmosphere contributes to a nostalgic yet fresh gaming experience.
- “The art style is gorgeous, the animation is great and it's very nostalgic, reminding me of the 90s and some classic games, cartoons, and an era now long gone.”
- “The graphics are high resolution 2D bliss, the acting is spot on for every character in the game, the humor hits far more than it misses and the puzzles are fun and intuitive.”
- “The production values are pretty high: very detailed high-resolution graphics with their own distinctive style, lots of background animations and detailed animations for the actions of the characters, great voice acting.”
- “But aside from a few open backgrounds, I didn't mind the visuals and there is enough attention to detail when you are in the smaller locations.”
- “Great art and a wonderful soundtrack to boot, another minor nitpick for me is that I would've liked some more things to look at, interact with, get some witty/interesting comments from the voodoo detective on, a bit more in-depth dialogue with some characters.”
- “The art style of this game reminds me of 'Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego?' games but in a more modern, up-to-date style.”
music
126 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
70%
28%
2%
The music in "Voodoo Detective" has received widespread acclaim, with many reviewers praising its captivating jazz and blues soundtrack composed by Peter McConnell. The soundtrack is noted for enhancing the game's atmosphere and seamlessly adapting to various scenes, contributing significantly to the overall experience. Coupled with high-quality voice acting and beautiful hand-drawn visuals, the music plays a vital role in creating a nostalgic and engaging point-and-click adventure.
- “The music, by Grim Fandango composer Peter McConnell, is a captivating soundtrack of jazz & blues.”
- “Both the music and sound work are exceptional--I found myself leaving the game on instead of pausing it just to keep the music going in the background.”
- “It's beautifully animated with colorful backgrounds, great voice acting with good jokes for all ages, killer soundtrack, and a very reasonable length considering the game that didn't come from a huge budget.”
- “And I'm not including the music, which is all over the place.”
- “At times, I just left the character standing in the middle of the screen doing nothing or stared at the menu interface way longer than necessary just to listen to music some more.”
- “"Voodoo Detective" is quite short and can be completed under the 5-hour mark (or you can pack a whole hour on top of that just listening to music), and easy puzzles are the biggest contributor to this length.”
humor
118 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
95%
5%
The humor in the game is widely praised for its clever writing, engaging dialogue, and a blend of smart/meta jokes reminiscent of classic titles like Monkey Island. Players appreciate the charming characters and the mix of absurdity and wit, although some found the humor occasionally clashed with the more serious narrative elements. Overall, the game is described as fun, funny, and well-executed, making it a delightful experience for fans of the genre.
- “It's a game that is really good to play just for fun and the characters are super likeable with so much smart/meta humor in the dialogue and story.”
- “Writing is excellent, humor is very much in the vein of Monkey Island, sometimes clashing with the otherwise more serious tone, but not distracting enough to ruin the vibe.”
- “A wonderful point and click adventure game where it takes itself 'seriously' while being funny at the same exact time.”
- “The story and its progression are utterly daft, which doesn't work when simultaneously unfunny.”
- “A completely unfunny but still charming game ruined by a few utterly illogical puzzles and the infuriating decision to change the entire nature of the game at the end.”
- “Frustrating and unfunny opening scene, dialogue lines didn't change smoothly, no achievements, overpriced for the content.”
gameplay
32 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
44%
47%
9%
The gameplay is characterized by a charming yet simplistic design, featuring a small scope with around six hours of playtime and basic puzzles that may lack challenge. Players appreciate the unique voodoo mechanics and engaging story, reminiscent of classic adventure games, but some find the overall experience to be too easy and not groundbreaking. The visuals, voice acting, and intuitive mechanics contribute positively to the game's appeal, making it a relaxing and enjoyable experience despite its limitations.
- “Great noir story with gameplay and graphics reminiscent of Monkey Island 3 and Discworld 2.”
- “The voice acting is stellar, and while most puzzles aren't too challenging, they do introduce some interesting mechanics like a voodoo cookbook that offers recipes which will help with your investigation.”
- “This game was wonderfully designed; from the art and music, to the gameplay and the puzzles.”
- “It's a 'cute' 2D cartoon-styled pixel-hunting adventure with extremely basic, if not dumb, gameplay and puzzles, uninspiring writing, and cliché characters.”
- “Nothing groundbreaking in terms of story or gameplay, and it might be a bit too easy on the puzzles.”
- “Regarding the gameplay, I expected a lot more.”
atmosphere
20 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
70%
15%
15%
The atmosphere of "Voodoo Detective" is widely praised for its retro style, hand-drawn visuals, and a blend of mystery and humor that creates a distinctive and engaging setting. Reviewers highlight the game's noir elements, fitting soundtrack, and the overall immersive experience that complements its intriguing story and characters. The combination of these elements results in a captivating and memorable atmosphere that enhances the gameplay.
- “Voodoo Detective is an old style point n' click adventure with gorgeous hand-drawn visuals, a mysterious atmosphere, awesome animations, great music, a cool sense of humor, good voice acting, and an interesting story full of crazy events.”
- “Voodoo Detective manages to get everything right: the setting and atmosphere are distinctive and interesting.”
- “It's funny and atmospheric with really nice characters.”
- “Its world has a strong mysterious and comical atmosphere.”
- “Fitting music and atmosphere.”
- “I love the style and atmosphere; it's exactly what you think you are going to get with this kind of private detective story.”
optimization
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is praised for its smooth performance and excellent optimization, reminiscent of classic late 90s point-and-click adventures but without the typical technical flaws. The voice acting and music are highlighted as standout features, contributing to a memorable and engaging experience.
- “It's funny, well written, runs smoothly, has great voice acting & music...like a PNC from the late 90s (without the beloved jank haha) with that special magic these games bring.”
- “Absolutely phenomenal performance by this cast makes this a memorable journey and is the most distinguished part of the game.”
grinding
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Many users find the grinding aspect of the game to be slow, repetitive, and somewhat tedious, particularly due to the need for back-tracking. However, the ability to speed up walking helps alleviate some of the frustration, and despite these issues, the game is still regarded as high quality and a tribute to classic gaming.
- “The biggest drawback for me was all the backtracking I had to do - luckily, you're able to speed up walking, otherwise it would've become extremely tedious.”
- “Yes, it can be a bit slow and repetitive, a tad light on puzzles, and slightly tedious.”
- “It can be a little slow and repetitive, a little light with the puzzles, and a little tedious, but it's a high-quality game regardless and a tribute to a fantastic era and history of gaming too, especially on PC of course.”
character development
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
33%
The reviews emphasize the exceptional quality of character design and animation, highlighting their beauty and uniqueness. The backgrounds are also noted as a standout feature, contributing to the overall visual appeal of the game. However, there is no specific mention of character development in terms of narrative or growth.
- “Character design and animation are fantastic, as are the backgrounds.”
- “Beautiful animation and character design.”
- “A highlight for me was definitely the backgrounds and unique character design.”
replayability
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The game offers a completion time of approximately 4 to 5 hours, with minimal replay value due to limited variations in endings that can be accessed from the same save point. While some players appreciate the concise experience given their limited free time, the lack of significant replayability may deter those seeking a more extensive gameplay experience.
- “The game is somewhere around 4 to 5 hours if you don't take any of the abrupt endings, and there are a few small variations in the end, but you can get both of them from the same save point - so it does not add any significant replay value.”
- “It took me about 4 and a half hours to complete, and there's no replay value once it's finished. I don't see that as a con at all, since my free time is very limited.”

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80%Critics’ scoreBased on 2 critic reviews

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4h Median play time

4h Average play time

4-6h Spent by most gamers

*Based on 10 analyzed playthroughs

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Frequently Asked Questions

Voodoo Detective is a puzzle game with mystery theme.

Voodoo Detective is available on Nintendo Switch, PC, Mac OS, Phone and others.

On average players spend around 4 hours playing Voodoo Detective.

Voodoo Detective was released on May 24, 2022.

Voodoo Detective was developed by Short Sleeve Studio, LLC.

Voodoo Detective has received overwhelmingly positive reviews from players. Most players liked this game for its story but disliked it for its grinding.

Voodoo Detective is a single player game.

Similar games include Gibbous: A Cthulhu Adventure, Unforeseen Incidents, Elroy and the Aliens, Kathy Rain, Detective Grimoire and others.

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