April is a month of mysteries with so many video games recently released tasking players of solving cases and mysteries. The latest one is the supernatural whodunit Murderous Muses from D’Avekki Studios. The game is the first one from the studio to combine 3D with FMV. It's now available on PC through Steam, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
The story follows the murder of controversial artist Mordechai Grey. A year after his death, an exhibition has been opened which features six of his most famous portraits. The thing is, each is a potential suspect in the murder. The suspects are:
- Professor Catherine Myers (played by Beth Gatherer)
- The power-hungry Vice Justice who keeps criminals under her thrall.
- Lilith Rendell (played by Aislinn De'Ath)
- The prank-loving undertaker with an appetite for the macabre.
- Xavier Haan (played by David John-Bores)
- The perfectionist clockmaker who’s too tightly wound for his own good.
- Dominique Serrant (played by Bex Finch)
- The grief-stricken burlesque dancer whose life is spiraling out of control.
- Otto Pipistrelle (played by Rikki Stone)
- The womanizing ventriloquist and his slightly less misogynistic puppet, Pip.
- Sunday Finch (played by Anna Fraser)
- The rising tennis star who is desperate to escape a family curse.
Players take on the role of a security guard to explore the gallery in the echoing hours to discover clues about the crime. In addition to solving puzzles, players can also use the Eyes of Mordechai to bring the portraits to life and restore the past to find his killer.
What makes Murderous Muses a bit different from other murder-mystery video games is its infinite replayable. This is made possible through a combination of six possible murderers, Cluedo-style deduction, and a layered narrative that becomes fleshed out the more they play. Plus, the procedurally-generated galleries change every night. Players can also enjoy the replayable puzzles along with collectible urns which unlock more of the story.
Key game features include:
- Solve a murder mystery that re-rolls every time you play.
- A rich new story setting, Mirlhaven island.
- Explore a procedurally-generated gallery and share seeds with friends.
- Puzzles unlock bonus treasure rooms.
- A persistent trophy room to store collectibles.
- Final score cards and run times for bragging rights.
If you love Murderous Muses, you can also check out Sherlock Holmes: The Awakened and SENSEs: Midnight.
