I do not really play point-and-click games, only because I never have a notebook lying around to take notes. This week I had a spare notebook, and I am in a comfy mood to play a classic whodunit with a great narrative and even greater characters.

This week is The Mermaid Mask.

The Mermaid Mask is a point-and-click adventure/mystery game from SFB Games. The game was released on July 16th for all those modern consoles and retails for $20.

The Mermaid Mask opens up with Sally and Detective Grimoire held up in the Stonetop Inn, awaiting more information regarding the whereabouts of The Mortuga and its captain. A bright, green light shines from a distance, inviting you to the ship, which has transformed into a crime scene after the previous captain, Magnus Mortuga, has been murdered. Take the role of investigator, scrounge up clues, question the goofy suspects, uncover loads of secrets and find the bad guy.

There is an eerie feeling in the submarine as you question the eight suspects, as if something else is at play around the submarine.

The characters in The Mermaid Mask are on par with some of my favorites in any game that I have ever played. They are so well written; they are whimsical, fun to listen to, and their cartoon-like animations really sell the idea that they are fully fleshed-out characters. Dr. Zacharia Zephyer is a doctor of the dream variety, with a golden hand, who believes dreams are a form of communication from the dead. Symmetry Silkmoth, a young theater lover and stage illusionist, speaks in ridiculous, near-perfect Shakespearean and takes the crown as the most beloved and tragic character. I love that Dr. Zephyr cleans his glasses when asked about something he needs to look at, how Dirk Dansom gives me finger guns when he is exploring his film career, and how Goddrick Gripp handles his cane and cowers when faced with tough questions. It is not just the characters’ designs that bring the game to life, but the performances of the voice actors; they really bring the separate characters aboard the submarine together as a community.

I always find it amazing how the little details in point-and-click games, like when I click on every square inch of the screen, and there is dialogue for everything. The Mortuga is quite medium-sized, with lots of room, including personalized crew quarters, a mess hall, and a parlor. The rooms are incredibly unique and super fun to explore, leading to even more fantastical places and conversations. The child’s room that serves as the illusionist’s idea room, the engine room that has a bunch of cardboard cutouts and an inexplicable hot air balloon stashed in it. Every room has its own story, and I absolutely love it.

The mini-game that has the player assist Detective Grimoire in his thinking process when finally figuring out people’s motives is fun, though, on occasion, when I was not 100% sure of the correct answer, I was lost with the number of options to choose from.

I was immediately turned on to The Mermaid Mask for its looks; the animations are so clean, and the overall game is so beautiful.

Puzzles are perfectly woven into the game, serving as vehicles for discovering important clues that advance the story. The 3D puzzles in The Mermaid Mask are really interestingly designed. I really liked mixing and matching perfumes, switching up the grimace of a piggy bank safe, and making dolls stare at another in jealousy. I was worried that I would not be able to solve some, but the longer I stared/thought about it, the more it started to click. (ACTUALLY, at this exact moment in time, I think I figured out the town board puzzle)

The orchestral soundtrack from Meyer Raphael Benjamin really just makes The Mermaid Mask more enjoyable to play. It wasn’t until later on that I noticed that each character has their own unique song. The soundtrack is so grand yet so subtle that it does not interrupt the overall gameplay and is a joy to listen to while dead staring at one of the many puzzles.

Great, now I have to go back and play the previous titles in the series. The Mermaid Mask is a superb point-and-click adventure that may even rival some of my favorite games this year. An engaging and thoughtful narrative is met with fantastic characters, music, and art design. Nothing short of total and utter joy from beginning to end.

9/10