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I was always into detective games, the games where you must discover clues, piece cases together, and look for the killer, guessing who might be the one that did it. Even watching movies and TV shows with the same theme always made me guess who the real killer is and what their motives are.
Getting my hands on Obsidian Moon, a noir-inspired detective game, put a huge smile on my face, and no one was happier than me. I already saw myself inspecting crime scenes left and right, looking for clues and doing all the dirty detective jobs, but to see a board game that resembles crime scene investigation was something I really didn't expect. However, this concept, as unusual as it might sound, somehow adds up perfectly with this game.
Sam Carter's Redemption
The demo version I had a chance to play contains a tutorial phase and one case you can solve, uncovering lots of clues and approaching the quest's conclusion using numerous methods. Even though this game is about the detective work, an event that takes place before the case will introduce you to a very intriguing backstory you're about to experience in Obsidian Moon, and I'm definitely looking forward to it in the full version.
You play as a former detective, Sam Carter, whose life is in ruins. He lost his job, his love, his friends, everyone, and the only chance of redemption suddenly showed up on his doorstep to regain his former honour and be respected as the detective he once was.
As I said, I'm looking forward to seeing where this story will lead when more cases and the full game become available. All I can say is I'm kind of hooked for now.
Solving Murders on the Table
As odd as it might sound, a huge table is all you need to solve crimes in this game. Once you reach the crime scene, a board will load, and there, you'll meet cards with different clues: motive, murder weapon, suspects, witnesses, clues, evidence, and many more. Moreover, you'll be able to employ the lab services for crime analyses if that will help you in your detective work.
Clues can be combined together, inspected, and observed, and every action you take will take either time or money. For example, some action like lab analyses takes both time and money, and you'll have to decide if you want to spend resources on those or not.
You can make assumptions and even frame people if you like, but once you decide to close the case, it will be shown how correct you were and how much money you've made in the process. Make too many mistakes, and not only will you fail to solve the case, but you'll also waste money and time and piss off your employee, so your actions will have huge consequences.
Time is also very important, because each action takes a certain amount of time, and if you take too many actions without a concrete solution, you'll waste a day, and each day at work requires money and resources. As they say, time is money, so behave accordingly.
The Desk Monotony
One thing that doesn't sit right with me, not just when it comes to this game but all the games with similar themes and genres, is monotony or staring at the same image with only different pieces moving around. Yes, I know, this is that kind of game, but a bit of visual change definitely wouldn't hurt.
I say this because the same desk or board was shown in the tutorial and the only demo case, and I really hope the full version will bring some variety; at least a change in colour palettes and several new details, just to bring down monotony.
Speaking of the visual style, you can choose the noir style from the options as well to make the game look more, well, noir-looking with a black and white colour theme, which is kind of cute and brings a more authentic look to the game. I personally prefer a classic look, but it is always good to have options.
The music is of the same theme and will play in the background while solving cases, provided you like it that way. If you don't, just press the button and enjoy good old silence.
Final Thoughts
This demo version of Obsidian Moon is a perfect way to see what the game is capable of and what we can expect from it once it comes out in 2026 (no exact release date has been determined yet). If you're into detective games, and unlike me you can digest board games well, this one has true potential.
Obsidian Moon is available on PC via Steam starting January 12, as part of the Steam Detective Fest, so if you want, you can try it on your own. You can find it on the Steam store here.
