Overview & Concept
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Premise & Story
You play as Detective Ronan O’Connor, murdered early in the game and now bound as a ghost in a liminal realm called “Dusk.” To move on and rejoin his wife Julia, Ronan must solve his own murder and help other trapped spirits find closure. WikipediaCommon Sense Media -
Gameplay & Setting
It unfolds in a fictionalized Salem, with ghostly powers such as passing through walls, mind-reading the living, and replaying past events. Side quests involve assisting other ghosts with their unfinished business. Common Sense MediaBILDWikipedia
Strengths
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Intriguing Atmosphere & Narration
Many reviewers highlight the eerie, atmospheric rendition of Salem as one of the game’s greatest strengths. Adventure GamersPolygonBILD -
Story as the Driving Force
Despite technical setbacks, the central mystery remains engaging. GameSpot noted that “if you dig a little deeper, there’s an interesting story to uncover.” GameSpot IGN called it “mediocre” yet acknowledged its gripping mystery holds it together. Wikipedia Game Informer said the story ultimately won them over, despite gameplay flaws. Wikipedia -
Voice Acting & Ghostly Interactions
Voice performances are often praised, and the ability to inhabit NPC thoughts or help spirits with side quests adds depth. Adventure GamersPolygonNeoseekerReddit -
Short & Accessible
A quick play-through—about 6 to 8 hours—makes it a light but worthwhile experience, especially when on discount. Amazon IndiaReddit+1
Weaknesses
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Simplistic & Linear Gameplay
Critics point to “pick-a-path” simplicity and lack of meaningful choices. Many puzzles are too easy or feel uninspired. WikipediaBILDAdventure GamersCommon Sense Media -
Technical Glitches & Presentation Issues
Subtitles often mismatch audio, bugs and crashes were reported, and NPC animations/dialogue synchronization were inconsistent. PolygonGamesRadar+BILD -
Limited Replay Value
The story is short and linear—once completed, there’s little incentive to play again. MetacriticAdventure GamersReddit+1 -
Underwhelming Demon Encounters
“Combat” is reduced to stealth segments that many found repetitive or frustrating, offering minimal excitement. Adventure GamersBILDReddit+1
Reception at a Glance
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Metacritic Score: 59/100 (Mixed or average), with user score around 6.8/10. Metacritic+1
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Steam Reviews: Very Positive overall, especially recent user feedback (~82% positive in English reviews). Steam Store
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Common Sense Media: Highlights its supernatural mystery and design flaws, but notes themes like justice and redemption. Common Sense Media
Player Perspectives (from Reddit)
Some players enjoyed the story despite flaws:
“If you enjoy very narrative driven games with what you could call ‘light gameplay’, I’d check it out.” Reddit
Others acknowledged strong concepts but weak execution:
“Gameplay is not that bad, but its a collectible fest.” Reddit
“I finished the game in a single sitting over 7-8 hours… unless I want to hunt for every single collectable … there’s no replay value.” Reddit
Summary Table
| Aspect | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|
| Story & Atmosphere | Compelling ghost detective narrative, moody Salem, strong emotional pull | Main appeal—if you don’t like story-driven games, might not engage you |
| Gameplay | Casual, intuitive, short | Linear, easy puzzles, repetitive stealth, low interactivity |
| Visuals & Sound | Eerie ambience, good voice acting | Glitches, poor syncing, low NPC polish |
| Value & Replayability | Affordable, quick experience, occasional sale | Once completed, little reason to return |
Final Thoughts
Murdered: Soul Suspect is a beautifully odd, short-form mystery that excels where narrative and atmosphere intersect. If you're intrigued by ghostly detective stories and don't mind sacrificing gameplay depth, it's worth a look—especially when it's on sale. Just go in expecting a story-first, game-second experience.
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