The Mermaid Mask [REVIEW] – A Brilliantly Unmissable Whodunnit 

I have always appreciated a good mystery in a video game, but finding one that actually strikes that ideal balance between a gripping plot and satisfying sleuthing isn’t always easy. Well, that is where The Mermaid Mask steps in perfectly. It is a brilliant point-and-click whodunnit that knows exactly what makes the genre so much fun, all whilst delivering a deeply charismatic and tightly paced adventure that’ll keep you fully engrossed from start to end. 

Check out some screenshots down below: 

Taking on the role of Detective Grimoire, you start off shivering in a dilapidated old place called the Stonetop Inn, but before you can even get settled, you (and your brilliant sidekick Sally) are whisked away to the Mortuga. It is an eccentric, fully functioning submarine that, of course, became a crime scene when the legendary Captain Magnus Mortuga was murdered in a classic locked-room scenario. You need to figure out which of the eight bizarre passengers is responsible for the crime. It’s sharp, it’s witty, and it’s perfectly written to keep you drawn in – and with many twists along the way, you’ll definitely be kept guessing. 

It is also worth mentioning just how well The Mermaid Mask balances its tone, specifically when it comes to the Mortuga itself. The submarine feels like a genuine refuge for the weird and wonderful, and as you push further into the vessel, it’s hard not to be enthralled by the many secrets it hides. It strikes that perfect balance in a detective story: it has its charm and its jokes, but it also has this dark and mysterious undertone that reminds you that a murder has taken place. 

“The Mermaid Mask is a clever, charming, and incredibly polished mystery that had me hooked the entire way through.” 

Once you step aboard the Mortuga, you are given near total freedom to explore a dozen different rooms, with no forced hand-holding in the game… you are left to your own devices to scour the place for any clues that’ll help you crack the case, so you really need to keep your eyes open. There’s a real finesse to evidence gathering too, because you don’t just grab items to tick off a box, but inspect them in full 3D whilst trying to find any little secrets they may hide. It’s a key feature that goes a long way in making your detective work more immersive, and come on… who doesn’t like finding a hidden compartment on an item? 

The real meat of The Mermaid Mask comes with the interrogation system, where you do not just ask a set list of questions, but essentially shove every single item you find in a suspect’s face to see how they react, all whilst grilling them for any information or opinions on the other passengers. It creates this fantastic web of gossip and shifting motives, and when you have finally gathered enough dirt to corner someone, you trigger these brilliant deduction sequences that see you fill in the blanks, asking you to literally construct your accusation using the clues you have found. It genuinely makes you feel so clever when you figure it out, but more importantly, it’s a lot of fun. 

Check out some screenshots down below: 

To break up all the detective work, you will stumble into various logic puzzles to progress, and the variety is genuinely impressive. One minute you are arranging a grid of weird skulls, the next you are cataloguing mushroom species, or twisting a pig’s facial expression to reveal numbers… yeah, it sounds off, but it fits the tone of the game perfectly. There’s nothing too perplexing, but there is a hint system that nudges you in the right direction if you do stumble a little. 

Gameplay-wise, The Mermaid Mask really hits the sleuthing nail on the head, whilst it’s also an absolute triumph aesthetically. The vibrant, hand-painted art style looks like a premium modern cartoon, with every character designed with bold, exaggerated features that truly do make them stand out. The audio is equally as strong, with the witty script complemented by some excellent voice acting. Tying it all together is a fantastic orchestral soundtrack, which helps set a brilliant atmosphere without ever drowning out the conversations.

Developer: SFB Games 
Publisher: SFB Games 
Platform(s): PC (Reviewed), PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo Switch 
Website: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1696770/The_Mermaid_Mask/