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Review
I have a history with thesleuthacademy’s games that made me enjoy this one a lot.
Their first game, Last Vestiges, appeared in IFComp 2023 (the first IFComp I participated as a judge). It was a rough but interesting attempt on an educational police procedural parser game that require you to know some toxicology to solve the case. They then followed up with The Case of the Solitary Resident for Spring Thing 2024, a Twine game where I thought the investigation was pretty fun but the case was predictable and the text too plain for my taste. I said that the developer should try to flesh out the investigation sequence more.
And well, this game is their best iteration yet, and it’s one I can recommend without too much hesitation.
Investigating the Litchwell residence feels rewarding this time round. I was snooping around different corners, interviewing different people with new leads, and searching for clues and the murder weapon. Compared to previous titles, the game mechanics feel streamlined and things just come in right when I am out of clues. There’s a silly puzzle I got stuck on, but other than that the game captured my attention from start to finish.
Solving this mystery feels satisfying. The logical deduction is fair, and you have enough clues to piece everything together. I was enthralled when I finally figured it out.
I think this is their most realized title so far, but the mysteries could be more ambitious. Nevertheless, I believe the developer has a bright future if they continue to create interesting mysteries. I’m definitely looking forward to their next titles.
