Find The Murderer

Find The Murderer is a first-person and third-person adventure game where players take on the role of a detective investigating a murder in a village. The game combines exploration, puzzle-solving, and detective work as you interact with characters, explore various locations, and uncover clues to identify the culprit. With a mix of serious investigation and humorous moments, the game offers a unique blend of crime-solving and lighthearted gameplay.

Find The Murderer: A Deep Dive into a Detective’s Digital Quest

Introduction

In the crowded landscape of indie detective games, Find The Murderer (2021) stands as a curious artifact—a game that blends the tropes of classic murder mysteries with the mechanics of a walking simulator. Developed and published by Ilmir Nasertdinov, this title arrived on Steam on November 17, 2021, offering players a modest but intriguing experience. At its core, Find The Murderer is a narrative-driven adventure that tasks players with solving a rural murder by exploring environments, gathering clues, and interrogating suspects. While its execution is far from groundbreaking, the game’s ambition to merge detective work with lighthearted moments and open-world exploration makes it a fascinating subject of analysis. This review will dissect its development, narrative, gameplay, and legacy, ultimately assessing its place in the broader context of interactive storytelling.

Development History & Context

The Creator and His Vision

Ilmir Nasertdinov, the sole developer behind Find The Murderer, is an independent creator who has also worked on sequels like Find The Murderer 2 (2022) and Find The Murderer 3 (2023). His approach to game design is unpolished but earnest, focusing on accessible detective mechanics within a 3D environment. The game’s development likely reflects the constraints of a one-person team, with limited resources and a reliance on free assets, such as sound effects licensed under CC-BY 3.0.

Technological Constraints and the Gaming Landscape

Released in 2021, Find The Murderer arrived during a boom in indie detective games, following the success of titles like Her Story (2015) and Disco Elysium (2019). However, it lacks the narrative depth or mechanical innovation of those games. Instead, it leans into the simplicity of walking simulators, a genre that had seen renewed interest with titles like Firewatch (2016) and What Remains of Edith Finch (2017). The game’s third-person and first-person perspectives, switchable via mouse wheel, are a nod to player preference, though the execution feels rudimentary compared to more polished contemporaries.

Narrative & Thematic Deep Dive

Plot and Characters

The game’s premise is straightforward: a murder occurs in a village, and the player, as a detective, must uncover the truth. The narrative is linear, with tasks guiding the player through a series of interactions and environmental puzzles. Characters are archetypal—villagers with secrets, potential suspects, and a few comedic relief moments—but they lack the depth seen in more celebrated detective stories. The dialogue is functional but rarely memorable, serving primarily to advance the plot rather than develop emotional resonance.

Themes and Tone

Find The Murderer straddles the line between serious crime drama and lighthearted whodunit. The inclusion of “funny moments” and the use of a toy corpse as a stand-in for gore suggest a tone that leans toward accessibility and humor rather than psychological intensity. This tonal choice may alienate players seeking a gritty, realistic detective experience but could appeal to those looking for a casual, puzzle-oriented adventure.

Gameplay Mechanics & Systems

Core Gameplay Loop

The game’s primary mechanics revolve around exploration, interaction, and puzzle-solving. Players navigate villages, offices, or other locations (depending on the installment), collecting clues and talking to characters. The tasks are straightforward, often involving finding specific items or speaking to certain individuals. The lack of complex deduction systems or branching narratives limits replayability, but the simplicity may appeal to casual players.

Controls and UI

Controls are standard for a walking simulator, with WASD for movement, E for interaction, and Tab to show/hide tasks. The ability to switch between first- and third-person perspectives is a welcome feature, though the camera can feel clunky at times. The UI is functional but unremarkable, with minimal HUD elements to maintain immersion.

Flaws and Innovations

One of the game’s notable flaws is its reliance on linear progression, with little room for player agency. The puzzles are often trivial, and the lack of meaningful consequences for player choices reduces tension. However, the inclusion of car driving mechanics—a rare feature in walking simulators—adds a unique layer to the exploration.

World-Building, Art & Sound

Setting and Atmosphere

The game’s environments are modestly detailed, with rural villages and urban settings that evoke a generic but serviceable aesthetic. The art style is realistic but lacks the polish of AAA titles, which may contribute to its mixed reception. The atmosphere is further enhanced by sound design, which includes ambient village noises and licensed sound effects like rooster calls.

Visual and Auditory Direction

The visuals are functional but uninspired, with textures and models that feel dated even by indie standards. The sound design is similarly utilitarian, with minimal original music and a reliance on environmental audio. The use of free sound effects (e.g., crying.wav, rooster calls) adds a layer of authenticity but also underscores the game’s budget constraints.

Reception & Legacy

Critical and Commercial Reception

Find The Murderer received a mixed reception upon release, with a 53% positive rating on Steam based on 13 reviews. Critics and players alike noted its simplicity and lack of innovation but appreciated its accessibility and occasional charm. The game’s low price point ($2.99) likely softened some criticisms, as players viewed it as a budget-friendly curiosity rather than a must-play experience.

Influence and Sequels

The game spawned two sequels, Find The Murderer 2 (2022) and Find The Murderer 3 (2023), suggesting a niche but dedicated audience. These titles follow similar formulas, with slight variations in setting and narrative. While none have achieved widespread acclaim, they represent a persistent effort by Nasertdinov to refine the detective genre within the constraints of indie development.

Conclusion

Find The Murderer is a modest but flawed entry in the detective genre. Its strengths lie in its accessibility and occasional moments of charm, while its weaknesses include linear gameplay, unremarkable visuals, and a lack of narrative depth. As a historical artifact, it reflects the democratization of game development, where small teams or solo developers can bring their visions to life. While it may not stand alongside the greats of detective gaming, it holds a place as a curiosity—a game that, despite its imperfections, offers a glimpse into the evolving landscape of interactive storytelling.

Final Verdict: A forgettable but occasionally engaging detective experience, Find The Murderer is best suited for casual players seeking a low-stakes mystery. Its legacy lies not in innovation but in its persistence as part of a growing indie genre.