The Mystery Cartridge

  INSIDE Review (Nintendo Switch) "You don't know who you are. You don't know where you are. You only know one thing: keep moving." Case File Platform Reviewed: Nintendo Switch Genre: Puzzle Platformer / Atmospheric Adventure Developer: Playdead Publisher: Playdead Players: Single Player Play Time: Approximately 5–7 Hours Investigation Type 👤 Solo Case This review is based on a solo playthrough by Bradley. While many of our reviews are shared experiences, some mysteries are investigated alone. The Mystery Cartridge Verdict 🗂 Open the File — Recommended A haunting, beautifully designed journey that says very little—and somehow tells you everything. INSIDE is one of the best examples of environmental storytelling in modern gaming. The Premise Actually... Let's start by saying what INSIDE isn't. It isn't interested in lengthy cutscenes. It doesn't stop to explain the world. Nobody hands you a mission briefing. There are no exposition dumps. Inst...

Agatha Christie: Murder on the Orient Express (2023) Review (Nintendo Switch) "One train. One murder. A dozen suspects. One unforgettable night." Case File Platform Reviewed: Nintendo Switch Genre: Narrative Adventure / Detective Mystery Developer: Microids Studio Lyon Publisher: Microids Players: Single Player (Outstanding Couch Investigation Game) Play Time: Approximately 10–12 Hours The Mystery Cartridge Verdict 🔎 Case Closed — Essential Play A loving modernization of one of the greatest detective stories ever written, enhanced with original material that surprised us in all the right ways. If you enjoy detective fiction, this ticket is worth punching. First-Time Detective? Before we begin, there's one important thing you should know. We went into Murder on the Orient Express almost completely blind. Neither of us had read Agatha Christie's novel. Neither of us had seen the modern film adaptation. Other than recognizing the title as one of the most famous m...

Unsolved Case Files: Murder on the Space Station Review "One small step for mankind. One giant leap into murder." Case File Publisher: Unsolved Case Files Category: Tabletop Murder Mystery / Case File Game Players: 1–8 (Best with 2–4) Play Time: Approximately 2–4 Hours The Mystery Cartridge Verdict 🔎 Case Closed — Essential Play If you enjoy detective stories, true crime documentaries, or piecing together clues with someone sitting across the table, Murder on the Space Station is an excellent way to spend an evening. Just don't forget your reading glasses. Beyond the Cartridge While most of our reviews focus on video games, every now and then we make an exception. Why? Because a great mystery is still a great mystery, whether you're holding a controller, flipping through evidence folders, or spreading photographs and witness statements across the dining room table. That's exactly what Unsolved Case Files delivers. Instead of exploring digital hallways, you...

Lake Review (Nintendo Switch) "Sometimes the best mysteries are the ones we don't have to solve." Case File Platform Reviewed: Nintendo Switch Genre: Narrative Adventure / Cozy Life Sim Developer: Gamious Publisher: Whitethorn Games Players: Single Player Play Time: Approximately 6–8 Hours The Mystery Cartridge Verdict 📁 Wait for More Evidence — Buy on Sale (or wait for a patch) Lake is a heartfelt, relaxing experience with memorable characters and beautiful small-town charm. Unfortunately, technical issues on the Nintendo Switch kept pulling us out of the story. If those issues are resolved, this could easily become one of our favorite cozy recommendations. If Gamious does release a patch for the Switch version, we'll revisit this game with a fresher review with a new playthrough (this game is somewhat short and has multiple endings, so this would also give us a more fuller experience). The Premise Meredith Weiss has spent years building a successful career i...

  The Suicide of Rachel Foster Review (Nintendo Switch) "An abandoned hotel. A family secret. A mystery that refuses to stay buried." Case File Platform Reviewed: Nintendo Switch Genre: Narrative Adventure / Psychological Mystery Developer: ONE-O-ONE GAMES Publisher: Daedalic Entertainment Players: Single Player (Excellent Couch Investigation Game) Play Time: Approximately 8–10 hours The Mystery Cartridge Verdict ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5) Recommendation: Buy Now If you're looking for an atmospheric mystery that values storytelling over action and leaves you thinking long after the credits roll, The Suicide of Rachel Foster deserves a place in your library. The Premise Nicole Wilson hasn't returned to the Timberline Hotel in years. Perched high in the mountains, the once-grand family-owned hotel has stood abandoned for over a decade after tragedy, scandal, and loss drove everyone away. Nicole's visit is supposed to be simple: inspect the property before it's sold. It...

Welcome to The Mystery Cartridge! If you've found your way here, chances are you love a good story. And a good game. And possibly someone to enjoy it with, whether or not it's a multiplayer game. Maybe it's a murder mystery where every clue matters. Maybe it's a psychological thriller that leaves you questioning everything. Maybe it's a cozy little game that helps you decompress after spending fifteen hours wandering through haunted hotels and abandoned villages. Whatever brought you here, welcome. We're glad you found us. So... who are we? We're Bradley and Amanda. We're not professional streamers. We're not esports competitors. We don't race to be the first people on the internet to publish a review. We're simply two people who love story-driven games and, over time, realized that some of our favorite evenings were spent sitting on the couch trying to solve a mystery together, or just come up with THE BEST NAME for the newest horse we captu...