Invitation for enthusiasts of cosy mysteries: the sequel to last year's most engaging puzzle game now offers additional avenues for detective work
In the realm of detective games, it's not just Sherlock Holmes or Hercule Poirot who crack the cases. Championing this unofficial detective trope is Jessica Fletcher, a novelist with an affinity for solving around 250 murders, or Father Brown, a rural priest with a knack for sniffing out the truth. Even encyclopedias become detectives when they're constantly ratting out their classmates!
Stepping into this unconventional detective universe in 2022, I found myself behind the counter of a flower shop in the game Strange Horticulture. Despite the seemingly mundane task of identifying unique plants for customers, it transformed into a thrilling detective game as I gathered clues, examined evidence, and pieced together a mystery. As a chilling, yet cozy, narrative unfurled, I realized Strange Horticulture was more than just a puzzle game - it was a mind-bending detective adventure.
Excited for more, I delved into the demo of Bad Viking's sequel, Strange Antiquities. Set in the same town, Undermere, as its predecessor, players now run a curious shop filled with occult relics instead of exotic flora. Customers still file in with requests, leaving it up to you to piece together clues and identify the perfect artifact for their needs.
With only two in-game days and a handful of customers in the demo, I still managed to gather an eclectic collection of items: stone tablets adorned with runes, brass effigies, pendants, sculptures, and even a peculiar blackened, claw-like hand wearing a gold ring. My kind of inventory, indeed!
The detective tools have also been updated. Gone are the days of peering at plants through a magnifying glass and flipping through pages in a botany book. Now, you can examine an item's color, find out the material it's made from, and identify its scent. You can also use touch to examine individual parts of an object and listen to artifacts for clues.
There's also a less tangible detective tool called "inner perception." This slightly nebulous ability allows you to sense the vibe of an object, which proved useful during my demo when one item made me feel as if I was being watched - fortuitously fitting the needs of one particular customer.
As you might expect, exploring the town became a significant aspect of the gameplay. While I only had access to a map of the town itself, it was still enjoyable to visit various locations like a farm and a library to uncover new objects and information. I even dropped by the botany shop from the first game and brought a plant back to my new artifact store!
With no release date yet, I'll keep crossing the fingers on the weird claw-like hand on my shelf and hoping for a speedy arrival of Strange Antiquities. Stay tuned for more updates, and remember: it takes more than just a badge to solve crimes!
Christopher Livingston is our resident game detective. Chris got his start in PC gaming in the '80s, turned his passion for games into writing in the early 2000s, and officially joined the PC Gamer team in 2014. With a keen interest in offbeat simulation games, mods, and RPG storylines, Chris brings fresh insight to every adventure he undertakes.
In the world of detective games, I found myself immersed in 'Strange Horticulture', where a flower shop transformed into a thrilling detective game. The upcoming game 'Strange Antiquities' continued this detective adventure, set in the same town as its predecessor. Despite the demo's limited time, I managed to collect diverse items like pendants, sculptures, and even a blackened, claw-like hand wearing a gold ring. Unlike the traditional detective tools, 'Strange Antiquities' offered advanced examination options, such as identifying an item's color, material, and scent. With the demo's conclusion, I eagerly await the release of 'Strange Antiquities', embracing the role of a detective connoisseur. Known as our resident game detective, Christopher Livingston brings his passion for offbeat simulation games, mods, and RPG storylines to every adventure he embarks on.
