| Core Identity |
| Developer | Artifex Mundi S.A. | wooga | Game Insight | Nordcurrent UAB | Mytona | Fireproof Studios Limited | Playrix | wooga | ENJOY GAMES |
| Category | Games | Games | Games | Games | Games | Games | Games | Games | Games |
| Platform | Android, iOS | iOS, Android | iOS, Android | iOS, Android | Android, iOS | iOS, Android | Android, iOS | iOS, Android | Android, iOS |
| Store Metrics |
| Rating | 4.6 / 5 | 4.6 / 5 | 4.5 / 5 | 4.3 / 5 | 4.3 / 5 | 4.8 / 5 | 4.7 / 5 | 4.6 / 5 | 4.7 / 5 |
| Ratings Count | 354 | 323,988 | 30,100 | 108,971 | 94,786 | 7,493 | 214,225 | 40,123 | 43,524 |
| Price | Free | Free | Free | Free | Free | $0.99 | Free | Free | Free |
| Release Date | Jul 30, 2019 | Dec 23, 2021 | Jun 8, 2018 | Oct 2, 2018 | Jul 30, 2015 | Sep 19, 2012 | Apr 28, 2020 | May 6, 2015 | Jun 22, 2023 |
| Last Updated | Nov 23, 2020 | Apr 15, 2026 | Apr 22, 2026 | Feb 12, 2026 | Apr 3, 2026 | Feb 23, 2021 | Apr 30, 2026 | Mar 2, 2026 | Apr 16, 2026 |
| Sentiment & Reviews |
| Sentiment | mixed | negative | negative | mixed | mixed | excellent | mixed | mixed | - |
| Score | 35/100 | 32/100 | 35/100 | 45/100 | 45/100 | 88/100 | 45/100 | 55/100 | - |
| Praises | - Engaging narrative and puzzle design provide high replay value for long-term fans of the series
- High production quality in art and animation keeps the adventure experience immersive for casual players
| - Engaging Narrative
- Relaxing Experience
| - Engaging mystery narrative and hidden object gameplay provide a relaxing mental escape for long-term players
| - Engaging narrative storylines and high-quality voice acting keep players invested in the mystery
| - Engaging Gameplay
- High-Quality Graphics
| - Intricate puzzle design and mechanical box interactions create highly immersive and satisfying gameplay sessions
- High production value in graphics and audio sustains long-term appeal across multiple years of play
| - Absence of forced advertisements allows for uninterrupted and immersive gameplay sessions
| - Engaging Gameplay
- Relaxing Experience
| - |
| Complaints | - Aggressive paywall implementation after short trial periods frustrates users expecting a free experience
- Technical instability including frequent crashes and freezing scenes prevents progress on multiple platforms
- Lack of cross-platform progress synchronization forces users to restart their game on new devices
| - Aggressive Monetization
- Technical Instability
| - Excessive ad length and frequency post-update disrupt the flow of gameplay and frustrate active users
| - Aggressive energy consumption rates force long wait times that disrupt the core gameplay loop
| - Excessive Ads
- Technical Bugs and Crashes
- Loss of Progress
| - Excessively dark visual design makes identifying critical puzzle details difficult without manual brightness adjustments
- Limited content volume leads to rapid completion and feelings of dissatisfaction regarding the price
| - Forced transition from hidden object gameplay to match three mechanics alienates long-term players
| - Technical Stability and Crashes
- Account and Progress Loss
- Excessive Advertising
| - |
| Requests | - Localization support for additional languages like Hindi to improve accessibility for the Indian market
| - | - Implementation of a paid ad-free upgrade option to improve the user experience for dedicated players
| - Alternative methods to earn energy such as watching advertisements or completing side tasks
| - | - In-game brightness and display settings to improve visibility during dark atmospheric puzzle sequences
| - Optional toggle to prioritize hidden object gameplay over match three mechanics
| - | - |
| Strategic Intel |
| Strengths | - Evidence board mechanic establishes genre authority
- Hand-painted art style provides distinct visual identity
- Offline-first architecture captures travel-segment demand
| - Strong 1920s thematic consistency
- Weekly episodic content updates
- Deep social integration via Detective Clubs
| - Offline-play capability functions as a distribution moat for travel-based usage
- Hand-drawn art style sustains a distinct detective-novel atmosphere
| - Episodic narrative structure sustains long-term player retention
- 1930s atmospheric design differentiates from supernatural-themed competitors
| - 10-year content library and established lore
- Unique multi-genre puzzle integration (Match-3 + HO)
- Strong social 'Guild' infrastructure
| - Tactile 3D mechanics establish category authority
- Editors' Choice badge sustains organic install velocity
- High-fidelity production value holds long-term appeal
| - Cohesive mystery atmosphere drives initial engagement
- Renovation meta-loop provides long-term aesthetic goals
- Team-based card exchange creates community accountability
| - Superior island customization (Artemis Island) compared to static-map rivals
- Cohesive 1930s 'Golden Age' aesthetic and high-quality hand-drawn art
- Strong long-term retention among veteran players (multi-year tenure)
| - |
| Weaknesses | - 0.79-star Android-iOS rating gap indicates technical instability
- Aggressive paywall triggers high-frequency churn
- No cross-platform save sync
| - Frequent ad-related crashes
- Perceived pay-to-win progression balance
- Unresponsive customer support
| - 0.07★ Android-iOS rating gap indicates platform-specific instability
- Ad-length complaints (2+ minutes) drive negative sentiment
| - Energy recharge rate is prohibitively slow for free-to-play users
- Multi-year gaps between chapter releases drive long-term churn
| - Critical technical bugs causing progress loss
- Aggressive ad frequency (30s ads per 90s play)
- App crashes and loading screen failures in recent versions
| - Premium $0.99 model lacks recurring revenue
- No in-game brightness settings for accessibility
- Limited content volume relative to competitors
| - Forced match-3 pivot alienates hidden-object purists
- Technical instability post-update causes black screens
- Aggressive difficulty spikes create pay-to-win perception
| - Frequent technical crashes and freezes in recent versions (v9.11.x)
- Unreliable account sync/save-game features leading to progress loss
- Aggressive ad strategy with reports of 90-second unskippable ads
| - |
| Pricing | freemium | freemium | freemium | freemium | freemium | paid | freemium | freemium | free |
| Momentum | Zombie | Active | Active | Maintenance | Active | Zombie | Active | Maintenance | Active |
| Update Cadence | 2 versions, ~1816d avg | 3 versions, 1 majors/6mo, ~12d avg | 5 versions, 5 majors/6mo, ~14d avg | 5 versions, ~149d avg | 2 versions, 2 majors/6mo, ~0d avg | 2 versions, ~1693d avg | 5 versions, 5 majors/6mo, ~12d avg | 2 versions, ~6d avg | 5 versions |
