Sherlock Holmes: Crimes & Punishments Reviews

Sherlock Holmes: Crimes & Punishments is ranked in the 67th percentile of games scored on OpenCritic.
GBAtemp
Top Critic
9 / 10.0
Sep 30, 2014

Overall, Sherlock Holmes: Crimes and Punishment made an excellent addition to the Holmes Adventure games. The new modern approach really benefits the game as a whole, and the new engine brings out the best in the Holmes games that the others just couldn't convey. I would highly recommend this game to anybody who enjoys the Sherlock Holmes universe as well as to anyone who enjoys detective/mystery games as well.

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Unscored
Oct 10, 2014

Sherlock Holmes: Crimes and Punishments is a member of an unsung breed of games: the kind that rewards critical thinking and judgement over twitchy reflexes, strategy, or putting the right pegs in the right holes.

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GameGrin
Erin McAllister
Top Critic
6.5 / 10.0
Mar 25, 2020

Worth a playthrough. The cases are fun and engaging, even if they don't all pan out in the clearest endings. Could use more work to stand out though.

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7.3 / 10.0
Oct 31, 2014

Sherlock Holmes: Crimes and Punishments is the greatest detective experience in the gaming today. As a game though, it's fairly rough around the edges. Interesting game play mechanics and strong cases will make this a must play for any fan of Holmes, mysteries, or point and clicks. If none of those strike your fancy, this game is not for you.

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7 / 10
Oct 21, 2014

Crimes & Punishments is one of the better, if not the best, Sherlock games out there, and if that's not saying much to you, it's also one of the better investigation-style games. The balance and variation of gameplay should be applauded. The developers are definitely onto something here.

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Oct 10, 2014

Despite the nagging feeling that the game's mechanics are held up by a certain amount of smoke and mirrors, there's more than enough substance here to hold your attention for the fifteen to eighteen hours it takes to finish the game.

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7.5 / 10.0
Nov 18, 2014

Beyond those issues, I really enjoyed my time with Sherlock Holmes: Crimes & Punishments. It's a really solid adventure game that I'd urge console players to check out. It features a host of interesting mechanics that do a great job of capitalizing on the character and world of Sherlock Holmes, and the six cases are very intriguing. Crimes & Punishments is easily one of the best Holmes titles I've played, and I look forward to what Frogwares has in store for the next game in the franchise.

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Cubed3
Top Critic
7 / 10
Sep 30, 2014

There is no doubt that Sherlock Holmes: Crimes & Punishments will be a sleeper hit and will find its audience, but for anyone who would enjoy a procedural crime investigating game, this title comes highly recommended. By far one of the more interesting adventure games to have come out in years.

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8.5 / 10.0
Feb 7, 2015

Sherlock Holmes: Crimes and Punishment isn't anything groundbreaking, but it's probably one of the best narrative-focused mystery games on the market. It's definitely a polished experience and may very well be the best Sherlock Holmes video game ever created, with a tense atmosphere, satisfying cases, and varied mini-games and puzzles.

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Sep 30, 2014

A cracking adventure game, possibly the best Sherlock Holmes game that Frogwares have given us thus far, Sherlock Holmes: Crimes and Punishments goes a long way to making players feel like we are are Holmes rather than simply playing a game about him. There are little niggles here and there, but frankly if you enjoy your detective mystery games, it would be criminal to overlook one of the best we've had in ages.

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Digitally Downloaded
Nick H.
Top Critic
Oct 8, 2014

All six cases are interesting and brilliantly written, filled with characters that not only fill a role, but perform exactly as you'd expect from the Sherlock tales of old. The developers have wisely avoided pigeonholing the game's moral code into black and white (again fitting in with the original Sherlock character, who was hardly a saint), and it these shades of gray to explore that makes each case as well as the interplay between Sherlock and Watson so interesting. Sherlock's mind is presented in such a way that he is clearly a man treading the line between madness and brilliance, which makes this opportunity to play him all the more riveting and an opportunity not to be missed people who enjoy genuine detective fiction.

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Oct 1, 2014

Being new to Frogwares' 'Sherlock Holmes' games, I wasn't altogether sure what to expect. As a big fan of old school adventure games, I was surprised by the distinct fun and challenge presented in 'Crimes and Punishments' as well as some of the modern touches both in terms of gameplay and story. With the PS4 being so young in its life, I'm glad to see a classic genre making headway on the platform. While some clues are really hard to find and others are laughably easy, 'Crimes and Punishments' finds the perfect balance between frustration and inspiration. A pleasant surprise for all aspiring sleuths.

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8.5 / 10.0
Sep 30, 2014

I realize that it's going to be hard to fit in yet another game into your hectic fall release schedule, but at least Sherlock Holmes: Crimes & Punishments can be broken up into manageable chunks in between your other gaming sessions. If you're a fan of Sherlock Holmes or mysteries in general, I can't recommend this one enough.

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ThisGenGaming
ThisGenGaming
Top Critic
8 / 10.0
Oct 6, 2014

Overall I enjoyed Crimes And Punishments as it managed to include many of the important features a detective game should have. Being able to punish the wrong people, and getting cases wrong is something that should be in all detective/crime games, but surprisingly most a very linear in that regard. The gameplay also features a nice variety of activities so it doesn't become too repetitive. If you are a fan of nonstop action games then give this game a miss, but if you like a slower paced game were you have to think and explore then this is the perfect game for you.

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Gamers FTW
GamersFTW
Top Critic
Unscored
Sep 30, 2014

Overall Sherlock Holmes: Crimes and Punishments is a fitting title and if it weren't plagued with various problems like load times it would have been an even better title. It is a great crime thriller and if you are into that sort of game I would certainly recommend picking it up.

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7 / 10.0
Feb 3, 2022

Undoubtedly one of the most well-known literary figures of all time, the name Sherlock Holmes carries some clout with it, though over time it doesn't feel like the game world has done him much justice...

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Jan 30, 2023

I am a big fan of Sherlock Holmes. I’ve not read anywhere near enough of his stories. However, a good friend of mine is the author of a fantastic series of Holmes novellas, which I have devoured with gusto. When the opportunity to review Sherlock Holmes: Crimes and Punishments came along, I was all too eager to grab my hunting cap and pipe and dive into his caseload.

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8 / 10
Oct 20, 2022

Sherlock Holmes: Crimes & Punishments brings the world's most famous detective to the Nintendo Switch in an enveloping, thrilling game that gives the player a great amount of freedom to set out, gather elements and solve the cases at hand. While the Nintendo Switch has its graphical limits and the character's control doesn't always feel as natural as it should, the core of the gameplay experience is spot-on, and the game's structure and plot do a marvelous work at integrating the player in the world of Sherlock Holmes.

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4 / 5.0
Apr 7, 2022

Sherlock Holmes: Crimes and Punishments is one of the best Sherlock Holmes games available on the Switch — and maybe even ever released. The sum of many outstanding details working together seamlessly, it has uniquely clever mechanics that really drive home that “wow” factor — the added morality behind choices is a breath of fresh air in a long-standing series that usually relies purely on logic. Although the Switch port performs wonderfully, the game itself is starting to show its age in a few areas; with that being said, there are just too many little details that still keep this 8 year old game competitive against newer releases. If you’re a fan of mystery titles, getting Sherlock Holmes: Crimes and Punishments is simply elementary!

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Recommended
Feb 2, 2022

As Mr. Holmes comes to the handheld market through Nintendo’s ecosystem, Crimes and Punishments reopens its closed cases to flourishing and withering effects.

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