Return of the Obra Dinn

 Switch
Metascore
86

Generally favorable reviews - based on 6 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 6 out of 6
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 6
  3. Negative: 0 out of 6
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  1. Nintendo Life
    Oct 24, 2019
    90
    Return of the Obra Dinn lives up to the hype, and then some. It’s a beautifully crafted and intricately constructed detective mystery unlike anything you’ve played before with a harrowing narrative at its centre. Unravelling its secrets takes time and requires patience, but you’ll be glad you allowed the story to play out at its own pace. What we have here is a thoroughly unique experience that will stay with you, and is among best this genre has ever had to offer.
  2. Metro GameCentral
    Oct 20, 2019
    90
    The best detective game ever made, that tells its unpredictable story through a mix of idiosyncratic visuals and equally unique puzzle gameplay.
  3. RPG Fan
    Nov 11, 2019
    87
    Despite some minor control issues on consoles, Return of the Obra Dinn remains possibly the most successful detective game ever made.
  5. NintendoWorldReport
    Oct 18, 2019
    85
    Despite having to take breaks due to the visual style, the game kept me coming back again and again, desperate to find the next bread crumb and crack the next mystery, which would inevitably open up a brand new one for me to work my way through. If you like a game that really makes you think long and hard about every piece of information you’re given, Return of the Obra Dinn is probably for you.
  6. Cubed3
    Nov 11, 2019
    80
    Return of the Obra Dinn is without a doubt a thinking man/woman's piece of crumpet. It is someone that you can take out on a date and have a riveting conversation with, but then scratch your head about some of the things they've said afterwards. There's not a lot of replay value here and a lot of the fun is over whence all discoveries have been made and confirmed. That said, it is a, mostly, to-the-point adventure, and it is because of this focus that Return of the Obra Dinn works so well. It's certainly not going to be for everyone, and may even sound boring to some, but as long as there's no expectation for split second thrills (beyond that of what is depicted in the memories, which can be thrilling), you will find an excellent puzzle experience with a more than shipshape presentation.
  7. 4P.de
    Nov 8, 2019
    80
    On consoles this whodunnit adventure has its flaws, but in its best moments this is an intense, clever constructed as well as challenging experience.

User Reviews

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User Score
8.8

Generally favorable reviews- based on 89 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 78 out of 89
  2. Mixed: 6 out of 89
  3. Negative: 5 out of 89
  1. AndrewQ
    Dec 29, 2022
    9
    You will experience 60 people's life along with a sad story within 15 hours, so just enjoy it. it is the best detective game I have ever played
  2. charleswduncan
    Sep 10, 2022
    10
    This game is incredible. Such a satisfying and challenging but fun mystery to unravel and a rewarding progression system.
  3. stephanrewind
    Jul 8, 2022
    10
    Return of The Obra Dinn is hands down the most innovative, compelling, and artistically accomplished game that I’ve played in years. I wouldReturn of The Obra Dinn is hands down the most innovative, compelling, and artistically accomplished game that I’ve played in years. I would almost go as far as saying that it’s in my top three games of all time.

    From the first few moments the game grabs and doesn’t let go. It’s one of these experiences that go far beyond the boundaries of what is generally considered a game, while still not crossing the line into a territory so far out of that it becomes abstract or boring. This is very important to me: It’s a game that doesn’t forget to be a game, offers a simple and rewarding loop based on a solid idea. The game mechanics borrow to genres like the point and click adventure and the exploration based puzzle, around a theme that won’t be unfamiliar to fans of classic horror (Poe, Lovecraft), victorian murder mystery, and adventure at sea. And yet trying to put a label on Return of the Obra Dinn would be too reductive. It’s like all great ideas both obvious and difficult to put into words.

    As for the art, it exudes character and sophistication, and manages to tap into my favorite 1-bit macintosh classics from the eighties with a decidely modern spin. Sound, art, and gameplay gel with perfection to form an engaging and cohesive world, which is the mark of true videogame classics. And if that wasn’t impressive enough, this is the lavor of love of one man, Lucas Pope, who already treaded outside the beaten path with great success in “Papers, Please”, and signs here his most formidable accomplishment to date.

    I can’t recommend this game enough, regardless of your prefered genre, if anything to experiment what videogame can aspire to as an art form that knows how to stay fun, accessible and true to itself, without pretense, but absolute confidence.    … Full Review »
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