The 25th Ward: The Silver Case Reviews

The 25th Ward: The Silver Case is ranked in the 28th percentile of games scored on OpenCritic.
Mar 6, 2018

To say that The 25th Ward is niche would be an understatement, but that's what's so impressive about it. It respects the intelligence of its players, allowing them to wade through the feverish surrealism that the game often depicts, and melds that perfectly with a traditional noir thriller than Raymond Chandler himself would have been proud of.

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9 / 10
Apr 22, 2018

The Silver Case, besides being weird as hell, is a solid visual novel game. The story works well despite its division into three campaigns and if you can struggle through the puzzles you’ll find an enjoyable experience for any Suda51 fan. Just be prepared for crazy.

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9 / 10
Mar 13, 2018

I enjoyed The 25th Ward: The Silver Case more than its prequel since the writing was better, the puzzles were much easier (except for the handful that were a bit cryptic) and thanks to how the control and gameplay mechanics have been improved considerably. Suda51 and NIS America have clearly been listening to fans and their constructive criticism, giving us a sequel that improves on everything The Silver Case upgraded port did on PlayStation 4, and the some.

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8.1 / 10.0
Apr 14, 2018

The 25th Ward: The Silver Case shows exactly why Japanese studios are so good at crafting visual novels; they’re not afraid to take risks and confuse the audience in the interest of telling a unique story. Suda51 may be more well-known for other titles, but this ranks among his classics, and it’s a must-play for fans of visual novels.

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8 / 10.0
Mar 13, 2018

As a gamer, playing through The 25th Ward: The Silver Case had me thankful to be playing a game that would have otherwise been lost. Coming from the mind of a young Suda51, the story told is as juvenile as it is gripping and engaging. The 25th Ward: The Silver Case takes chances and pushes the boundaries of storytelling and character development. Some of the controls might not have aged well and a couple scenarios overstay their welcome, but The 25th Ward: The Silver Case is a game that deserves the attention of visual novel adventure fans as well as Suda51 groupies.

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8 / 10.0
Mar 12, 2018

If you're strictly concerned with comprehending a story then you can probably skip The 25th Ward: The Silver Case. However, if you're down to take some glimpses into a strange world that doesn't operate under the same rules as our own then you'll be treated to some of the sharpest dialogue and scenes seen in any game. I may not understand everything about The 25th Ward, but that's by design. After all, sometimes it's important to quit worrying about the minutia, and take time to appreciate the bigger picture.

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8 / 10.0
Mar 9, 2018

A psychodelic crime fiction from Suda51 that every Grasshopper Manufacture fan should play.

Review in Polish | Read full review

4 / 5.0
Mar 6, 2018

In the end, The 25th Ward takes the edge as it is a less clumsy, more playable experience even if it could be argued that the quality level is a wash. This is a fantastic experience for people who enjoy Suda51, visual novels or finding out of context quotes to annoy friends.

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Mar 27, 2018

While The 25th Ward is still a great, gripping sci-fi crime story, it's really only going to appeal to big fans of the first game

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8 / 10
Apr 23, 2018

The 25th Ward: The Silver Case, while not for everyone, is still a unique visual novel experience that oozes creativity. Its gameplay elements do slightly bog it down, but the stylised writing, entertaining characters, and one of a kind story more than make up for it. It's a truly memorable adventure accompanied by wonderful music and artwork, all coming together to make something that visual novel fans should definitely look into. If okay with checking out something a bit different from what you are probably used to, then you are likely to have a great time going through the weird world of Ward 25 that nobody will be able to forget anytime soon.

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8 / 10.0
Mar 17, 2018

As a fan of Suda51 and a gamer in general, the fact we can play The 25th Ward: The Silver Case in English after all these years and the fact it's been saved from digital hell makes me thankful and happy. The narrative of The 25th Ward: The Silver Case is both crazy and unique, offering you a lot to think about and probably a lot you won't understand – yet the story really sticks with you after playing and keeps you thinking. True, the game does have some flaws and the controls aren't as modernised as they could be, but once you are used to them and deep within the tri-layered story you really do begin to appreciate how crazy Suda51 can get.

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8 / 10.0
Mar 14, 2018

Honestly, The 25th Ward: The Silver Case offers up an intriguing story and interesting, creepy atmosphere that fans of visual novel adventure games should enjoy quite a bit.

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Wccftech
Top Critic
7 / 10.0
Mar 8, 2018

The 25th Ward: The Silver Case offers another bit of insight into SUDA51's insane creativity, this time completely rebuilding a mobile phone title into the same framework as that of The Silver Case. While it doesn't quite have the same revelations of The Silver Case, there's still some rough charm left in the aftermath of Kamui Uehara.

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7 / 10
Apr 2, 2018

In short, The 25th Ward , with all its qualities but also its faults, is still a real good narrative game, but can to be a little too old and reserved for the patient players.

Review in French | Read full review

70 / 100
Mar 20, 2018

The 25th Ward may not reach the high points of its predecessor, however, it is a visual novel with intriguing mysteries to those that take an interest in the stories. The 25th Ward hides a ton of secrets, but the most important and memorable aspect of it is how each player will face and interpret these mysteries.

Review in Portuguese | Read full review

6.5 / 10.0
Mar 6, 2018

The 25th Ward: The Silver Case is a remaster of the old visual novel developed by Grasshopper Manufacture. Unfortunately, just because something is "remastered" doesn't mean it's better.

Review in Italian | Read full review

6.5 / 10.0
Apr 12, 2018

The 25th Ward: The Silver Case is not without some flaws. But the twisting story, puzzle design and its cast of characters make it a title worth playing, especially if you have played The Silver Case. It’s limited gameplay choices feel dated and the whole game lacks voice acting which for this modern remake holds it back from being a great game from the mind of a great writer.

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Metro GameCentral
GameCentral
Top Critic
6 / 10
Mar 22, 2018

As fearlessly unconventional as the rest of Suda51's work, but even existing fans will have trouble deciphering the hidden depths beneath the surface level of surrealism.

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6 / 10
Mar 14, 2018

The 25th Ward's splintered narrative will frustrate and confuse, but also fascinate.

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6 / 10.0
Apr 10, 2018

As helter-skelter as the game can be at times there will be folks who will love The 25th Ward. I mean, I personally tuned out of Evangelion toward the end but there are folks who love that series' confusing and, at times, raw and disturbing style. If you love games with an aesthetic and plot akin to an M.C. Escher lithograph, The 25th Ward: The Silver Case will be right up your alley. Or inverted stairs.

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