SFB Games returns with The Mermaid Mask, sending Detective Grimoire and Sally into a locked-room submarine murder mystery filled with creative 3D puzzles, exceptional voice acting, and razor-sharp comedic writing. After seven years of anticipation following Tangle Tower, SFB Games returns with The Mermaid Mask, taking Detective Grimoire and his sharp, sarcastic sidekick Sally beneath the waves for their most accomplished mystery yet. Murder Aboard the Mortuga Submarine The story centers on the locked-room murder of Captain Magnus Mortuga inside his own submarine. Players explore the vessel's cluttered, eccentric rooms to search for clues, examine evidence, and interrogate suspects. Where previous entry Tangle Tower stumbles slightly in its final moments, The Mermaid Mask delivers a superior, surprising, and thoroughly satisfying climax backed by impressive art and animation. Clever Deduction and Unique Puzzles Gameplay blends traditional point-and-click investigation with hands-on 3D logic puzzles. Rather than relying on familiar tropes, the game features distinct challenges like manipulating facial expressions on a pig to generate digits, sorting grids of skulls, and cataloging mushroom species. To draw conclusions, the game brings back its signature fill-in-the-blank deduction system, requiring players to construct hypotheses from available verbs and nouns. For those who get stuck hunting down the final piece of evidence among roughly 50 total clues, a free and penalty-free hint system helps guide the way. Stellar Voice Acting and Presentation The investigation is powered by a stellar, fully voiced cast of colorful characters aboard the submarine. Highlights include: Symmetry, who speaks in an almost Shakespearean meter Mariana Moon, an older woman with an unnaturally keen sense of smell Madam Tadpole, a buff, green-skinned suspect with gills Godric Gripp, a compass repairman accompanied by an anthropomorphized stick named Cornelius Cane The package is rounded out by expressive character animation, detailed art galleries complete with developer commentary, and an orchestral soundtrack composed by Raphael Benjamin Meyer that provides dynamic, character-specific themes without overpowering the dialogue. Minor Pacing Flaws The experience stumbles only slightly in its pacing during the final chapter, where players must complete a literal checklist of remaining evidence before making their final accusation. The sheer density of clues across rooms can also occasionally lead to moments of pixel hunting. Final Verdict The Mermaid Mask stands out as the finest Detective Grimoire adventure to date. Combining razor-sharp humor, inventive puzzle design, and a memorable cast of characters, it delivers an engrossing underwater mystery that proves well worth the wait. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CvgbO8WSbLA
