A mysterious tale of loss and tragedy unfolds in Return of the Obra Dinn , a gripping first-person detective game. The year is 1807, and the ill-fated merchant ship Obra Dinn has washed up on the shores of Falmouth, its crew and passengers missing or dead. An investigator from the East India Company's London Office boards the vessel to unravel the enigma, aided by a magical pocketwatch called "Memento Mortem". This enchanted timepiece allows the player to witness the final moments of each person's life.
As the player delves into the ship, they must piece together the fate of the 60 individuals who met their demise. By examining corpse after corpse, the player can unlock a diorama of the exact moment of death, revealing crucial clues and hidden connections. The Memento Mortem also enables the player to view previously seen death scenes, allowing them to cross-reference information and build a comprehensive picture of the tragedy.
The game's log-book serves as a vital tool in this investigation, providing a list of names, group portraits, and a map of the ship. As the player fills in the identities and fates of those on board, they must carefully consider the clues and piece together the events leading up to each person's demise.
Each correct identification earns recognition from the game, marking the correct information in the log-book. However, solving the mystery is no easy feat – it requires patience, attention to detail, and a keen mind for deduction.
Return of the Obra Dinn pays homage to retro gaming with its 1-bit graphical filter, reminiscent of early Macintosh games. This nostalgic aesthetic adds to the game's charm, making it a must-play for fans of puzzle-solving and detective work.