Identify everyone's identity and their cause of death with your magical powers!

Table of Contents

Location: Home

Date Played: Oct 2018

Team size: 1

Duration: 9 - 15 hours

Price: ~S$18.50 on Steam

Story

The game puts you in the shoes of an insurance investigator in the early 19th century, tasked with unraveling the fate of the ill-fated merchant ship, Obra Dinn. As you step aboard the abandoned vessel, armed with only a pocket watch that can reveal moments of death, you're thrust into a realm of suspense and uncertainty. The game's narrative is richly layered, featuring a vast cast of characters, each with their own compelling backstory. Unraveling the interconnected web of events and identifying the fate of every crew member is a deeply satisfying experience, leaving you eagerly piecing together the puzzle until the very end.

Gameplay

Return of the Obra Dinn offers a gameplay experience unlike any other. The core mechanic revolves around using the Memento Mortem pocket watch to explore the frozen moments in time and deduce the identities of the deceased crew members. The game encourages meticulous observation, as you search for clues and gather information from the meticulously designed scenes.

The attention to detail in the game's visuals is breathtaking. The monochromatic art style, reminiscent of old Macintosh games, not only adds to the historical authenticity but also aids in piecing together the events that took place. The audio design is equally remarkable, with haunting sound effects and an atmospheric soundtrack that perfectly complements the eerie and suspenseful tone of the game.

Puzzles

Return of the Obra Dinn truly shines in its puzzle design. The game presents you with a vast web of interconnected mysteries, and solving them requires logical deduction, attention to detail, and careful analysis. You'll need to study the crew manifest, cross-reference dialogue snippets, and rely on your own intuition to correctly determine the identities and relationships of each character.

The puzzles are challenging but never unfair, offering a satisfying sense of accomplishment when you make a breakthrough. The game expertly rewards critical thinking and patience, creating an immersive and intellectually stimulating experience that will keep you engaged for hours on end.

Verdict

Return of the Obra Dinn is a masterclass in storytelling, gameplay, and puzzle design that will leave players spellbound from beginning to end. Whether you're a fan of mysteries, historical settings, or unique gaming experiences, Return of the Obra Dinn is an absolute must-play that will leave you craving more.

Rating: 5/5

★★★★★

You can buy their game here