Return of the Obra Dinn Reviews

Return of the Obra Dinn is ranked in the 99th percentile of games scored on OpenCritic.
Andy Kelly
Top Critic
90 / 100
Oct 19, 2018

A beautifully constructed and powerfully atmospheric mystery that you really have to work to solve.

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Tom Marks
Top Critic
9.2 / 10.0
Oct 22, 2018

Return of the Obra Dinn stands as something wholly unique, a challenging detective game that empowers you to solve its mysteries through actual investigation.

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Essential
Oct 18, 2018

The Papers, Please creator offers up an intricate and mesmerising puzzle game with a rich and detailed sense of place.

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Metro GameCentral
Top Critic
9 / 10
Oct 21, 2019

The best detective game ever made, that tells its unpredictable story through a mix of idiosyncratic visuals and equally unique puzzle gameplay.

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Metro GameCentral
GameCentral
Top Critic
9 / 10
Nov 1, 2018

Easily the best detective game of the modern era, with challenging and rewarding gameplay combined with some of the most evocative visuals of the year.

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8.8 / 10.0
Oct 18, 2018

Return of the Obra Dinn marries challenging investigation puzzles to a striking visual presentation to create an adventure worth taking.

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9 / 10
Oct 22, 2018

Return of the Obra Dinn is a startlingly original detective adventure full of murder, mutiny, and monsters.

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Unscored
Oct 19, 2018

Return of the Obra Dinn is a superb murder mystery game

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Kotaku
Top Critic
Unscored
Oct 18, 2018

I was glued to it until I was done. My only wish is that I could erase my brain and play it again.

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9.5 / 10.0
Oct 18, 2018

Small musical cues are also used perfectly. I didn't notice how catchy these were at first until I found myself mimicking them in the shower. They are only a few seconds long, and I love them all so much! Special shoutouts to the voice actors as well. More than usual, the voice actors accurately representing their characters is of the utmost importance as players may recognize an accent or voice inflection that allows them to pinpoint the identity of someone on the ship. Everyone in the sound department did a tremendous job.

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8.9 / 10.0
Dec 13, 2018

Return of the Obra Dinn is simply gorgeous, from the idea to the execution. Finally a gem in which your deductive skills, your logic and your patience are really important: this game doesn't help the player. With an amazing graphic art and a strong gameplay, another great game from Lucas Pope.

Review in Italian | Read full review

9.2 / 10.0
Nov 19, 2018

A unique game that makes new things using old mechanics. An example that proves us that there's still room for new things on videogames.

Review in Spanish | Read full review

9.5 / 10.0
Oct 21, 2019

Return of the Obra Dinn is finally on consoles, and if you've never played it before you need to play it right now.

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Nintendo Life
Ross Keniston
Top Critic
9 / 10
Oct 24, 2019

Return of the Obra Dinn lives up to the hype, and then some. It's a beautifully crafted and intricately constructed detective mystery unlike anything you've played before with a harrowing narrative at its centre. Unravelling its secrets takes time and requires patience, but you'll be glad you allowed the story to play out at its own pace. What we have here is a thoroughly unique experience that will stay with you, and is among best this genre has ever had to offer.

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8.5 / 10.0
Jan 15, 2019

So there you have it—we’re late to the party, but Return of the Obra Dinn is one of the best games of 2018. There are a good number of people who may not digest game criticism the same way we journalist folks may, so to be fair to us, Lucas Pope’s game is one that may fall through the cracks and be off the radar. Despite late game gripes, this mystery game is one that everyone with a computer needs to at least try. Pop in your earbuds, turn up the volume, perhaps close the lights, and get ready to watch some people die.

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Unscored
Oct 26, 2018

Obra Dinn asks you to tease out social lives from a freeze frame of murder. It doesn’t take the little grey cells to realise this is remarkable stuff.

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Unscored
Jan 4, 2019

The Return of the Obra Dinn is a stunning work of craftsmanship. Pope, who handled every aspect of its production himself, has created a work that celebrates scrutinizing details.

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9 / 10
Oct 25, 2019

Some may struggle with the visuals as it can be a little too noisy in places, but if that's our only quibble, you can deduce that this comes highly recommended.

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9.5 / 10.0
Oct 25, 2019

Thickly atmospheric with an impeccable sense of place unmatched by other games, Return of the Obra Dinn is the smart, stylish and curiosity detective adventure that you've always wanted.

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ZTGD
Top Critic
9.5 / 10.0
Dec 5, 2018

Return of the Obra Dinn is a unique experience worth every penny. I can’t recommend this game enough. There is nothing quite like it.

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