Sherlock Holmes: Chapter One

Sherlock Holmes: Chapter One is an adventure game set in a sprawling open-world island in the Mediterranean, where a young Sherlock Holmes returns to his childhood home to uncover the truth behind his mother’s death. As he explores the island, he must solve mysteries, interrogate suspects, and piece together clues while navigating his own personal demons. The game blends detective gameplay with a rich narrative, offering players the chance to experience Holmes’ early years and the events that shaped him into the legendary detective.

Sherlock Holmes: Chapter One – A Flawed but Fascinating Origin Story

Introduction

Sherlock Holmes: Chapter One is a bold and ambitious attempt by Frogwares to redefine the detective genre. As the first open-world entry in the long-running Sherlock Holmes series, it seeks to explore the origins of the world’s most famous detective, offering players a chance to step into the shoes of a young, brash, and emotionally raw Sherlock Holmes. The game is a prequel, set on the fictional Mediterranean island of Cordona, where Holmes returns to uncover the truth behind his mother’s death. With a mix of traditional detective mechanics, open-world exploration, and a deeply personal narrative, Chapter One aims to blend the best of Frogwares’ previous works with new innovations. However, while it succeeds in many areas, it also stumbles in others, leaving a mixed but ultimately compelling experience.

Development History & Context

Frogwares, a Ukrainian studio with over two decades of experience in developing Sherlock Holmes games, embarked on Chapter One as a passion project. The game was announced in May 2020, positioning itself as a prequel that would explore Holmes’ formative years. This marked a significant departure from the studio’s previous linear adventures, such as Sherlock Holmes: Crimes & Punishments (2014), which were critically acclaimed for their tight storytelling and intricate puzzles.

The development of Chapter One was not without its challenges. The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted workflows, and the studio’s decision to self-publish the game—following a contentious legal battle with former publisher Bigben Interactive over The Sinking City—added financial and logistical pressures. Despite these hurdles, Frogwares leveraged their experience with Unreal Engine 4, gained from The Sinking City, to create a semi-open world that blended investigation mechanics with broader environmental interactions.

The game’s release in November 2021 was met with mixed reviews, with critics praising its detective gameplay and narrative depth but criticizing its open-world design and technical issues. The PlayStation 5 version, in particular, received lower scores due to performance problems, while the PC and Xbox Series X/S versions fared better. Despite these criticisms, Chapter One became Frogwares’ fastest-selling game, demonstrating strong commercial success and player interest in the series’ new direction.

Narrative & Thematic Deep Dive

Chapter One’s narrative is its strongest asset, offering a deeply personal and emotionally charged origin story for Sherlock Holmes. The game begins with a 21-year-old Holmes returning to Cordona, the Mediterranean island where he spent his childhood, following the death of his mother, Violet. Accompanied by his childhood friend Jon—a figure who is later revealed to be a manifestation of Holmes’ imagination—Holmes sets out to uncover the truth behind his mother’s demise, which he initially believes was due to tuberculosis. However, as he delves deeper into the island’s secrets, he uncovers a web of corruption, crime, and personal betrayal that challenges his understanding of his past.

The game’s central mystery is intertwined with Holmes’ psychological journey. Jon, who serves as Holmes’ companion and moral compass, is a fascinating character whose true nature is gradually revealed. As Holmes uncovers more about his mother’s death, Jon’s behavior becomes increasingly erratic, culminating in a heartbreaking revelation that forces Holmes to confront his own trauma and the role Jon played in shaping his identity. This narrative thread is handled with remarkable sensitivity, exploring themes of grief, memory, and the construction of identity.

The island of Cordona itself is a character in its own right, with its five distinct districts—each reflecting different cultural influences—serving as a microcosm of the broader themes of colonialism, corruption, and social inequality. The game’s side cases, which range from the absurd (such as a pet elephant that may have killed its master) to the deeply serious (such as the rape of an African woman in a refugee ghetto), further enrich the world and provide opportunities for Holmes to hone his deductive skills.

However, the game’s narrative is not without its flaws. Some of the main cases feel underdeveloped, with resolutions that leave key questions unanswered. Additionally, the game’s attempt to tackle social issues, such as colonialism and mental health, is sometimes heavy-handed and lacks the nuance that these topics deserve. Despite these shortcomings, the overall narrative is compelling, offering a fresh and emotionally resonant take on the Sherlock Holmes mythos.

Gameplay Mechanics & Systems

Chapter One’s gameplay is a mix of traditional detective mechanics and open-world exploration. At its core, the game is about gathering clues, interrogating witnesses, and piecing together deductions using Holmes’ “Mind Palace,” a menu-accessible interface that allows players to link disparate pieces of evidence into coherent hypotheses. This system is one of the game’s strongest features, offering a high degree of player agency and encouraging logical reasoning.

The game’s open-world design, however, is more problematic. While the island of Cordona is beautifully realized, with detailed environments and a rich cultural tapestry, it often feels underutilized. Many of the side activities, such as treasure hunts and bandit lair raids, feel like padding, and the world itself is often devoid of meaningful interaction. The game’s combat system, which is optional but occasionally unavoidable, is particularly weak, with clunky controls and repetitive encounters that disrupt the game’s focus on deduction and investigation.

Despite these issues, the core detective gameplay is excellent. The game’s emphasis on empirical observation and logical reasoning is a breath of fresh air in a genre that often relies on trial-and-error mechanics. The Mind Palace system, in particular, is a standout feature, allowing players to explore multiple deduction paths and encouraging them to think critically about the evidence they’ve gathered.

World-Building, Art & Sound

Chapter One’s world-building is one of its strongest aspects. The island of Cordona is a richly detailed and culturally diverse setting, with each of its five districts offering a unique atmosphere and aesthetic. The Old City, with its Turkish influences, feels distinctly different from the British-controlled Scaladio, and the industrial Silverton district contrasts sharply with the upscale Grand Saray. This diversity is reflected in the game’s sound design, with each district featuring its own unique soundscape, from the wind howling through the streets of the Old City to the crash of surf in Silverton.

The game’s visual design is equally impressive, with detailed character models and environments that bring the world to life. The game’s use of Unreal Engine 4 allows for seamless transitions between indoor and outdoor environments, and the day/night cycle adds a dynamic element to the world. However, the game’s technical performance is inconsistent, with frame rate issues and occasional glitches detracting from the overall experience.

Reception & Legacy

Chapter One received mixed reviews from critics, with praise for its detective gameplay and narrative depth but criticism for its open-world design and technical issues. The game’s Metacritic scores reflect this divide, with the PC version scoring 77/100, the PlayStation 5 version scoring 69/100, and the Xbox Series X/S version scoring 75/100. Despite these mixed reviews, the game was a commercial success, becoming Frogwares’ fastest-selling title and winning the Narrative category at the Central & Eastern European Game Awards (CEEGA).

The game’s legacy is still unfolding, but it has already had a significant impact on the Sherlock Holmes series. The 2023 remake of Sherlock Holmes: The Awakened, which was developed as a sequel to Chapter One, builds on the narrative and gameplay innovations introduced in this game. While Frogwares has not announced a direct sequel to Chapter One, the game’s success suggests that the studio will continue to explore the open-world detective genre in future projects.

Conclusion

Sherlock Holmes: Chapter One is a flawed but fascinating origin story that offers a fresh and emotionally resonant take on the Sherlock Holmes mythos. While its open-world design and combat mechanics are underdeveloped, its core detective gameplay and narrative depth make it a compelling experience for fans of the genre. The game’s exploration of Holmes’ psychological journey, combined with its richly detailed world and innovative deduction systems, sets a new standard for detective games. Despite its shortcomings, Chapter One is a bold and ambitious entry in the Sherlock Holmes series, and its success suggests that Frogwares will continue to push the boundaries of the genre in future projects.