Sherlock Holmes: Crimes and Punishments

The main pros of the game

• Engaging Storylines: The game features six varied and intriguing cases that allow players to experience the detective work of Sherlock Holmes.
• Visuals and Atmosphere: The recreation of Victorian London is immersive, with well-designed environments and good attention to detail.
• Voice Acting: High-quality voice acting and character animations enhance the storytelling experience.
• Deduction System: The mind palace mechanic for organizing evidence and forming conclusions adds depth to the gameplay. Players can choose different conclusions, affecting the outcomes of the cases.
• Accessibility: The game allows players to save at any point, making it easy to revisit missed achievements or explore different conclusions without replaying the entire game.
• Mini-Games and Puzzles: A variety of puzzles keeps the gameplay fresh, and the option to skip mini-games is appreciated by players who may find some tedious.

The main cons of the game

• Technical Issues: Many players reported frequent crashes and bugs, particularly during loading screens and when using certain mechanics like the deduction board.
• Repetitive Gameplay: Some found the gameplay loop predictable and repetitive, with excessive backtracking and loading screens detracting from the experience.
• Limited Variety in Cases: While the cases are engaging, several reviews noted that most of them revolve around murder, wishing for more diversity in crime types (e.g., theft or embezzlement).
• Clunky Mechanics: Movement and interaction can feel awkward, with characters sometimes obstructing the player’s path, and the mind palace interface can be confusing.

The features or elements that are missing from the game according to users

• More Cases: Players expressed a desire for a greater number of cases to solve, as only six are featured in the game.
• Overarching Narrative: Some reviewers noted the lack of a cohesive overarching story connecting the individual cases, making the experience feel disjointed.
• More Challenging Puzzles: Although the puzzles are generally well-received, some players felt that they were too easy or lacked depth, and desired more challenging and intuitive challenges.
• Character Development: Some reviews mentioned a lack of meaningful interaction with Watson and other characters, feeling they could have contributed more to the gameplay and story.

Summary

• Overall, while "Sherlock Holmes: Crimes and Punishments" offers an enjoyable detective experience with strong storytelling and engaging mechanics, technical issues and gameplay repetitiveness hinder its potential, leading to mixed user reviews.

Summary generated on: October 28, 2025