The Innsmouth Case
Release Date: June 23, 2020
Adventure, horror, puzzle elements, humorous, Cthulhu, indie games, gamebook, text, singleplayer
OpenCritic
Adventure game realized in the form of a virtual gamebook, based on the work of H.P. Lovecraft. In The Innsmouth Case we play the role of a detective who comes to the town to solve the mysterious disappearance of little Tabitha Marsh.
The Innsmouth Case is an adventure game realized in the form of a gamebook, which was inspired by the work of the famous H.P. Lovecraft. This production was developed by the independent Robot Pumpkin Games studio and released by Assemble Entertainment; the latter's portfolio includes the warmly received Leisure Suit Larry: Wet Dreams Don't Dry.
Plot
The Innsmouth Case takes us on a journey to a modern version of the Innsmouth, a fictional town known from H.P. Lovecraft's stories (led by The Shadow over Innsmouth). The story told here is full of horror, but it is soothed by a solid dose of specific humour.
When little Tabitha Marsh goes missing under mysterious circumstances, only the best of the best detectives can solve this mystery. However, it so unfortunate that master of this profession is busy with other matters. So the main character has to find the girl.
Mechanics
In The Innsmouth Case the game is played entirely on the pages of a virtual book. During the game, we read descriptions of places and situations where the protagonist is, as well as records of conversations that he conducts with the residents of Innsmouth. Besides, we often make various decisions. The choices we make not only influence the future course of the adventure or affect how the main character is perceived by others, but also determine which version of the end of the story we will see (out of twenty-seven).
Technical aspects
Although The Innsmouth Case is almost entirely based on a written word, the production has a pleasant graphic design. Illustrations depicting the events described in the virtual book are designed in a cartoon style and are accompanied by various symbols (including occult ones).
Videos and Screens
[1:26] The Innsmouth Case launch trailer
PC Invasion: 6 / 10
The Innsmouth Case is a charming text adventure that brings the seaside town of Innsmouth into the twenty-first century, but leaves the horror behind. In its place is a humorous hunt for story bits that scratches a much different itch than was originally intended.
COGconnected: 68 / 100 by Alexander Thomas
The Innsmouth Case is a beautifully written, delightfully dark, and truly excellent experience on a rainy day.
TheSixthAxis: 7 / 10 by Steve C
I had an enjoyable time playing The Innsmouth Case on PC several times through, but it's probably better suited to its mobile iteration, as the adventure book format works brilliantly on handheld devices. As a distraction from commutes (or a companion to lengthy visits to the toilet) The Innsmouth Case is a great little tale that will entertain fans of either cosmic or comic horror.
The Innsmouth Case Summary
Platforms:
PC / Windows June 23, 2020
Switch December 28, 2020
PlayStation 4 July 22, 2021
Xbox One July 21, 2021
Android OS June 23, 2020
Apple iOS June 23, 2020
Developer: Robot Pumpkin Games
Publisher: Assemble Entertainment
Age restrictions: 12+
The Innsmouth Case System Requirements
PC / Windows
Minimum: Intel Core 2 Duo 2.4 GHz, 4 GB RAM, graphic card 896 MB GeForce GTX 260 / 512 MB Radeon HD 4850 or better, 1 GB HDD, Windows XP/Vista/7/8/8.1
Recommended: Intel Core i7 2.66 GHz, 4 GB RAM, graphic card 1 GB GeForce GTX 460 / Radeon HD 5770 or better, 1 GB HDD, Windows 7/8/8.1 64-bit