Scene Investigators | PC Review

November 5, 2023 Alyssa White

I’m a huge fan of the detective subgenre, and I often find myself trying to solve any mysteries I encounter in games and films. Looking at motives, searching the background for clues, and observing behavioral changes usually have me pronouncing “whodunnit” before it’s revealed in the story. If you’re also someone who fancies themselves an amateur gumshoe, EQ Studios has us covered with Scene Investigators. Their latest title is as realistic as you can get to a true detective experience in the gaming landscape.

Cracking the Case

Scene Investigators places you in the shoes of a detective-in-training. To obtain your license, you must complete and pass four different cases in a computer simulation. It sounds simple on paper, but this isn’t a game that holds your hand. You must scour each environment to find clues and evidence to what has occurred. There are no hints in Scene Investigators, and you must rely on logic and deduction to get to the bottom of these cases. After thoroughly investigating the crime scene, you’re tasked with answering several questions based on what you’ve discovered.

Each case is interesting in its own right, and I found myself shocked and heartbroken after discovering what truly happened in most of the scenarios. This game isn’t afraid to address heavy topics or to show you disturbing clues. With the graphics being pretty realistic, the evidence found packs an even greater punch. I do wish Scene Investigators would give you a summary of what actually happened after solving the case, though. A newspaper article detailing the exact crime and story would have been a great addition to the experience.

It’s Elementary, My Dear

The controls are very simple in this game. You use the WASD keys and the mouse to move your character and the camera, respectively. The left mouse button interacts with objects, and clicking the right mouse button zooms in on clues. There are also dedicated keys to crouch, read, and to use specific tools. You have access to an in-game notepad, flashlight, and a camera to take photos. I never utilized any of these tools, though. I preferred using a pen and paper to write down all the details I wanted to remember, and there was never really a reason to use the flashlight or camera.

The Nitty Gritty

I did encounter a few bugs in my five hours of playing Scene Investigators. I often found myself having to adjust the camera after moving my character, even though I hadn’t even touched the mouse. I also found myself frozen on a clue after interacting with it and had to force-quit the game and start the scenario over from scratch. At other points, certain items would disappear as soon as I walked up to them. Careful maneuvering of the character was required to make these objects pop back into existence.

I also yearned to know which questions I had answered correctly and which I had missed the mark on after solving a case. I know this removes a layer of realism from the experience, but as a game mechanic, it would have alleviated some confusion. To unlock the fifth case, you are required to one hundred percent each scenario. Knowing what I had gotten wrong would have made for a smoother gaming experience.

The Final Verdict

Scene Investigators is a fairly realistic detective simulation. It doesn’t hold your hand, and you must rely on evidence and your own logic and deductions to solve cases. The graphics are sharp and add an extra layer of realism. I also found the stories behind the scenarios to often be heartbreaking, which immersed me further in the lives of these fictional victims and criminals. There are a few annoying bugs currently, though, and it would have been nice to learn the full story behind the crimes after cracking the cases. If you want to truly feel like a detective, though, Scene Investigators does a hell of a job immersing you in this world.

To hear me talk more about Scene Investigators, be sure to listen to the October 25, 2023 episode of The Gaming Outsider podcast around the 1:25:08 time stamp.

This review is based on a PC copy of Scene Investigators provided by Vicarious PR for coverage purposes. As of the time of this writing, it is exclusive to this platform.