
Release Date: June 2, 2021
Visual novel, in which we play the heroine trying to cover the traces of a murder she committed. Overboard! has a non-linear plot formed by our decisions.
Overboard! is a visual novel game in which we have to carry out a kind of "anti-investigation". Game was developed by independent studio inkle, which is known for such projects as 80 Days, Heaven's Vault and Pendragon.
The action of Overboard! takes place in July 1935, on board of SS Hook - a passenger ship sailing from England to New York. The main character of the game is Veronica Villensey, who at the end of the cruise decides to murder her husband. The protagonist now has eight hours to cover her tracks, wash away all suspicion and, ideally, find another culprit before she sails for America. Due to the non-linear structure of the story, which ending we see and which events we take part in depends on our actions and the choices we make.
At first glance, the gameplay in Overboard! does not differ too much from what we are accustomed to in other visual novels. The game involves following the story, talking to characters, and making decisions that affect the further course of the story.
What makes this game different from most other productions of this type is the fact that we have a strictly limited amount of time to conduct our "investigation" (eight hours as the title says) and every action we take causes the precious minutes to elapse. And you have to admit that there is a lot to do here. We have to talk to passengers and try to collect as much information as possible about what they know about the case, as well as explore the ship in search of evidence to get rid of. It's worth remembering that not all of the available actions and paths we can take are important or useful, and not all of them will lead us to a happy ending.
It's impossible to do everything in a single playthrough, so we have to work out the perfect crime, after which not even a shadow of a suspicion will fall on us, by trial and error. The game is also designed and encouraged for multiple playthroughs; dialogue choices or choices we've made in the past are highlighted and scenes can be scrolled through.
Graphics in Overboard! is kept in a colourful, cartoon style. The soundtrack makes the game more attractive.
Platforms:
PC Windows June 2, 2021
Android July 22, 2021
Apple iOS June 2, 2021
Nintendo Switch June 2, 2021
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System Requirements for Overboard! Video Game:
PC / Windows
Minimum System Requirements:
CPU 2.0 GHz, 2 GB RAM, graphic card Intel HD or better, 200 MB HDD, Windows XP 64-bit.
Recommended System Requirements:
CPU 4.0 GHz, 4 GB RAM, graphic card Intel HD or better, 200 MB HDD, Windows XP/Vista/7/8/10 64-bit.
Game Ratings for Overboard! Video Game.
PowerUp!: 8.5 / 10
You can – and truly ought to – grab it right now on Switch, Steam of iPhone or iPad. It’s an utter delight.
Guardian: 5 / 5 by Keith Stuart
You are the murderous starlet forced to concoct your alibi in Inkle's fresh and beautifully detailed paperback crime novel of a game
Use a Potion: 9 / 10
Overboard’s unique take on the classic murder-mystery is a blast to play through, with the constant experimentation making for a really fun time. There were so many occasions where I thought I’d pulled off the PERFECT crime, only to come undone by one silly mistake… it might sound daunting, but it just made the whole experience all the more enjoyable. Twelfth time is a charm, right? It can be guilty of getting repetitive here and there, but it doesn’t tarnish what is otherwise a splendid little experience. If you fancy yourself as a bit of a sleuth (but one that works in reverse), you will REALLY want to give Overboard a try.
Average score from votes.