Sherlock Holmes: The Devil's Daughter is the eighth game in the detective-inspired series which places Holmes and Watson in another mystery that requires cunning and patience to solve. Overall, it is an in-depth adventure game that has you solving puzzles in novel ways as well as investigating clues for yourself. As with other games in the series by Frogware, this one has a unique blend of gameplay which means you really experience something that bit different from run-of-the-mill games.

Watching the Detectives

Mixing up investigation, action and elements of free roaming exploration, Sherlock Holmes: The Devil's Daughter makes for an extraordinarily visceral experience. Ultimately, a game of this sort relies on a plot line that keeps players' minds captivated and, in this case, there are no disappointments. This version of the Holmes series of investigation games will test the limits of all players, in terms of their deductive reasoning and their nerve. The game allows you to play out your role as the most famous detective of all time in an eerily depicted London that is as full of atmosphere as the original novels by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. However, this is a very sophisticated video game, be in no doubt, and it comes up to the standards of more recent screen adaptations of the hero despite the Edwardian setting.

Gameplay and Interaction

Exploring the gaming area, players need to track down wrongdoers in the darkest corners of a well-drawn London. By freely moving around several different boroughs in the city, you seek out both clues and suspects. As you make progress, so you start to untangle a web of deceit which will lead to an astonishing revelation. However, the game does not give up all of its secrets at once and you need to complete certain tasks or make discoveries to progress. Therefore, the game plays like a free roaming environment but also feels like it has the structure of a well written novel. This sort of interaction is likely to appeal to both die-hard video game fans and those who are attracted to the game because they enjoy the subject matter. Holmes and Watson are both drawn as younger men and you get the sense that they are both friends as well as colleagues in detection. There are a number of mini games to play as the overall plot progresses. Some are great fun but others should have been left out or improved and you feel like you are wasting your time with the worst ones. There is also the occasional supernatural element which does not seem to integrate into the game design perfectly and is a bit more of a distraction than anything else.

Should I Play Sherlock Holmes: The Devil's Daughter?

In summary, this game is well made and offers a good narrative structure. However, some elements of it could have been better to make it a true classic. There is no multiplayer functionality, so it really suits those gamers who like to play alone when solving mysteries. Some of the scripted scenes also go on a bit, but you can skip these to get to the next stage, if wanted.