Crime O'Clock Reviews
Crime O’Clock is as clever as it is cool, and offers help when needed, but not when it’s unwanted. The game is wholly enjoyable, and its only real issue is pacing and momentum due to the interruptions of finding things by the AI as it serves to move the detective story forward. It is a game that is deliberately casual, and can be played by kids and adults alike. I actually spent a lot of the game with my kids, in a race to find the object we were tasked with finding. Bad Seed smartly twists genres of hidden object and detective games. Crime O’Clock is a great way to wind down, and is one that’ll be remembered for the ages.
Preserving the true timeline alongside my AI companion was certainly an interesting investigation. Finding clues amongst the crowds was a simple yet entertaining gimmick, often making for enjoyable short play sessions. With a large amount of story missions alongside a decent free-play mode, there's definitely fun to be had even if the gameplay lacks complexity.
Crime O’Clock is an enjoyable throwback to hidden object games, with modern visual and mechanical design elements that eliminate the frustrations of the genre. Its art style and level of detail make each level a visual treat in addition to a challenging puzzle. I look forward to seeing if Bad Seed is able to expand on the experience with additional levels and puzzles down the road.
Crime O’Clock is a well-put-together game that held my attention right until the last clue was found and the case solved. I liked having Eve’s help, and I loved the humour. Additionally, being a detective is incredibly satisfying when you solve a case, and all clues and the ticks fall into place to reveal the culprit. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed being a detective, and for players who like using their deduction skills, Crime O’Clock has crimes aplenty to solve.
Crime O’Clock’s lovely art direction and charming premise can’t save the game from its repetitive gameplay loop. While at first, it delivers a wave of nostalgia, it soon drowns in its concept. Even though it’s extremely accessible and fun to play with others, it quickly loses momentum as it struggles to innovate on the idea.
A fun, explorative puzzle point and click adventure through time
Every character can be followed through the Fulcrum Stories mode. There is a whopping number of over one thousand characters, no less! At $19.99, it is worth the price of admission. With an eye-catching art style, an ambient soundtrack, and multiple cases to solve, there is plenty of content. If playing detective is your forte, you shouldn’t overlook Crime O’Clock.
Despite some very small questionable parts, in general, Crime O’Clock is a neat title to go through. In some ways, Crime O’Clock is a new way of looking at the point-and-click genre with its unique twist on time elements. You are not always in a rush, and take things slowly at your own pace while solving crimes with the help of your companion and visual story-telling. Its art style and charming way of approaching events are also cute, making it a welcoming game for newcomers to the genre as well. Crime O’Clock completely suits people who are searching for a cozy game with investigations, crime, and detective work.
Crime O'Clock runs smooth like a real clock, never losing a single movement of the hands and showing on-screen the perfect illegitimate son of Columbo and Where's Waldo, with a tiny bit of Minority Report – or the MCU series Loki, for the youngsters.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Crime O'Clock offers a great time-traveling detective experience and shows what skilled developers can achieve while re-inventing a classic mechanic. All its five era locations are attractive, packed with interesting characters, tons of details, and some truly weird ideas. The black and white look and the colorful case touches complement each other well.
Crime O'Clock is a fun hidden object game with an engaging time-traveling twist. The ability to visit different ticks in a timeline is well-realized, and the attention to detail in each level is quite impressive. It's bogged down by frequent mini-games that feel tacked on, and excessive dialogue that hurt the pacing by inducing boredom.
A competent variant on the classic "hidden objects" theme, with excellent artwork and interesting plot.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Crime O'Clock is best served for those looking to play a fancier rendition of Where's Waldo? as the gameplay loop doesn't do well outside of those mechanics and it really shines in its point-and-click, hidden object approach.
Let's face it, Crime O'Clock is aimed at a discerning audience who enjoy board games and research. We shouldn't expect more from this game, but should we? Not only does this game succeed in its genre, but it also gives us our money's worth with its multiple scenarios. Although you might think that the Nintendo Switch in portable mode would be well suited to the game, I'd still recommend playing it on a TV. Especially as you could then include the family in your games. Charlie has come a long way since then!
Review in French | Read full review
Crime O’Clock adds a smart twist to the hidden object concept. By showing the characters in its lively scenes going about their business as time passes, Bad Seed has found a way to build masses of detail into the little worlds you explore. However, the minigames are very weak and we never escaped the extremely repetitive gameplay typical of this type of game. As a result, it’s one for genre fans only.
While, at its core, this is still ultimately a hidden object game, the narrative flair, time jumping, and overall feel at least make it refreshingly different
Crime O'Clock is boring, tedious, and infuriating all at once: I recommend an I Spy book for a much better time.
Ultimately, Crime o' Clock is a title that works, satisfies and entertains. The excellent artistic direction, full of tributes and references to pop culture, also greatly enhances the experience and is worth the ticket price alone.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Despite being far from challenging, Crime O'Clock is an enjoyable game that captivates the player with its intriguing storytelling and a top-notch art direction.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Crime O'Clock is a novel hidden object game, especially on the Switch, but it's best played in short sessions.