Foggy Fates

Most cases feel like a story where you have to work out how the puzzle pieces (the crime) fit in. This case is back to front, here you have a puzzle, (the crime) and you have to work out how the story fits in. You have no idea who the people are, what the motive might be or even if the witnesses are telling you the truth. The perfect ingredients for a good detective game.

Putting together notes, testing theories, and wrestling with specific details felt like real, methodical police work. I initially had a few reservations about having yet another directory to look through, but the Criminal Directory proved to be a highlight. Having the word lookup function made navigation smooth and accessible; without it, searching through records might have felt like a slog. Instead, it gave a fantastic "old-fashioned detective" feel without ever forcing you into a rigid chain of following one mechanical lead after another.

Having to make choices throughout the game was a lot of fun (even if my choices proved I’m probably way too soft-hearted to be a real detective! 😁). I really appreciated the design choice where mid-game decisions didn't punish you with dead ends; there’s no choice along the way that you can't bounce back from. The final choices at the end were particularly interesting and they tie up the story really well.

I spent around six hours working through this case, and I enjoyed every minute of it. It’s a highly engaging investigation that nails the investigative feeling from start to finish.

This well-written mystery hooks you with historical details, immersive music clips, and a well-crafted story. More than a simple introduction, this first case integrates the criminal history directory perfectly, making it central to the story and setting a high bar. I strongly recommend it.