I’ve played a lot of detective games and mystery-adjacent games this year.
They’ve had everything: decade-spanning conspiracies, uncooperative witnesses, and murder boards to spare. So when I sat down with the demo for Case Solved: The London Files, I expected another investigation-heavy mystery.
Instead, something much cozier awaited me.
Looking at the capsule art on Steam, Case Solved: The London Files certainly looks like your typical detective game, but you quickly discover it’s more of an Einstein/Zebra-style logic puzzler. So instead of looking for a needle in a haystack, you’re looking for a predetermined number of clues to fill in your puzzle grid.
If you’re looking for something as deep and as involved as something like TR-49 or Confidential Killings, you may walk away disappointed. But every mystery game has its niche, and I can see Case Solved serving as a gateway to more involved titles.
And honestly, the lack of complication worked in its favor for me.
The shift toward logic puzzles made the demo feel refreshing compared to many of the detective games I’ve played recently. Solving cases felt satisfying without becoming overwhelming, and the puzzle design struck a nice balance between making me think and keeping the experience chill. And as much as I love doing it, I didn’t have to dig out my trusty clue notebook to try and keep track of things, either.
The art style and look also helps sell those calmer vibes. The character animations are charming, and the dialogue manages to hit an absurd tone that fits perfectly with the game’s art style. Conversations never took themselves too seriously, which helped make the investigation feel playful rather than intense.
I also appreciated how the devs at Minimol integrated the hint system into the experience. While I didn’t end up needing any hints myself, players can earn them naturally over the course of gameplay, such as by finding a delightful cat at locations. It was a great way to assist players when they needed it without going, “Hey, here’s an answer.”
My biggest question coming away from the demo concerns the game’s overall scope.
Based on what I saw, the full release appears set to include three cases. While that’s enough to deliver a satisfying experience, I found myself hoping there might be a few surprises waiting in the final game. More importantly, I’d love to see the difficulty ramp up as the cases progress. (In a not rage-inducing way, that is.)
Regardless of how many cases make it into the final release, Case Solved: The London Files left me with a positive impression. It understands exactly what kind of mystery experience it wants to be and doesn’t try to overcomplicate things.
And as much as I love playing with red string and weeding out suspects, sometimes it’s enough to give players clever puzzles, a charming cast of characters, and a fun mystery. Everybody needs a break from true crime sometimes. (Says the girl who decided to start watching Only Murders in the Building again.)
And after spending time with this demo, I’ll definitely be keeping an eye on whatever Minimol Games tackles next.
If you’re looking to take a break from the bevy of hardcore mystery titles we’ve seen over the past few years in favor of some lighter fare, Case Solved might be right up your alley!
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