The Mermaid Mask

Sharp, full of wit, and driven by a charming writing and voice acting, The Mermaid’s Mirror is more proof that within broader industry existential anxieties and subsequent self-destruction, you don’t need photorealism and bank-breaking budgets to create something cinematic, compelling, and enchanting.

The Mermaid Mask is that wonderful blend of mechanics, setting, and storytelling that all just works, to quote a certain Bethesda bloke. While it is ‘just a point-and-click puzzle game’, it is much greater than the sum of its parts, and I loved almost everything about it.

The Mermaid Mask is a charming and expertly crafted detective adventure that combines an engrossing locked-room mystery with exceptional character writing, sharp humor, and outstanding presentation. While a few interaction quirks occasionally interrupt the investigation, its memorable cast, intuitive puzzles, and captivating atmosphere make it one of the year's standout mystery games.

The Mermaid Mask is a mystery full of quirk and intrigue that pulls the player in and keeps them going with a riveting story of wayward souls and their mysterious benefactor. I easily lost track of time getting to know the ins and outs of all of this cast, their triumphs and tragedies, and their secrets and ambitions. I loved the animated swagger and dialogue that brought them to life and the music that emphasized their personas. I also loved the digging and piecing together of puzzles and the characters to which they related. It’s a little wordy compared to its action, and you can throw clues at the wall until one sticks in some cases, but The Mermaid Mask still feels like a smart, silly, and charming mystery that will lock mystery lovers into its intriguing tale of ambition, legacy, and obsession.

Some players may find this completion percentage approach too formulaic, especially if they exhaust their current inventory and resort to pixel hunting to locate the rest. And the pacing does falter in the final chapter, where the game presents you with a more literal checklist to work through before you get to tie up each character’s loose ends and make your final accusation. But while the conclusion of The Mermaid Mask feels far more satisfying than that of Tangle Tower, these games are far more about the twisty journey and the laughs you have along the way.

Everything in The Mermaid Mask comes together to create one seriously compelling whodunnit packed with charm, wit and driven by a memorable cast of characters.

The Mermaid Mask is an enjoyable detective adventure that shines thanks to its memorable characters, engaging murder mystery, and the entertaining chemistry between Grimoire and Sally. While the investigation remains compelling throughout, its low difficulty and predictable finale may leave seasoned sleuths wanting more. Minor technical and audio issues occasionally disrupt the experience, but it still delivers a compact and satisfying point-and-click mystery for genre fans.

Amazing detective/adventure game, with some of the best writing and voice acting I've ever seen in the genre. Mystery was well told and unlike it's predecessor, Tangle Tower, had a fantastic resolution and ending. Highly recommend to anyone who enjoys mystery/narrative games.

A puzzling and mysterious romp. I was completely drawn in with zero existing knowledge and definitely no expectation, and this did not disappoint.

what a goddam good game. 11/10 if I'm being honest. Art, puzzles, voice performances, animation performances, the level of expertise at writing characters with depth that are simultaneously silly and intriguing and mysterious, damn it's awesome. It's actually crazy how good it is. I really don't know how these guys keep pulling this off.

An absolute improvement on Tangle Tower! I loved it but this game is a massive step up on all fronts. Stunning visuals and soundtrack. Excellent dialogue that is full of funny quips. Characters that are varied, interesting and extremely likable.

Similer quality with Tangle Tower, great voice acting and score,good storyline, gameplay is easy and little detective work required. Ending feel unsatifactory due to unclear fate of culprit.