The Mermaid Mask – Game Review

The Mermaid Mask is an indie, mystery, point and click by SFB Games. It features a distinct art style, gripping storyline and unique puzzles. From their press release:

‘In the pitch-black waters beyond a long-abandoned fishing town, the enigmatic Captain Magnus Mortuga (rumoured to be everything from an immortal time-traveller to a cursed vampire) has been found dead within his submarine. His body lies alone inside a locked room, marked by a single fatal wound, yet no weapon can be found. At the centre of the chamber sits an ancient, barnacle-covered cauldron with a heavy metal lid; recently opened, its interior eerily empty except for deep, unexplained scratches.’

I was drawn to the game from the nostalgic urge to re-live the classic point and click games of my youth (Monkey Island, Simon the Sorcerer etc). These games defined an era but there’s only so much replayability in them – I was eager for something new without losing the flavour of the old.

I wouldn’t say the humour is the same but I also wouldn’t say that was a negative. The Mermaid Mask is a more sardonic, less lateral thinking kind of game but it suits the murder mystery theme. Observational skills are paramount to success in a way that most ‘detective’ games overlook. The plot was intriguing, the characters memorable and empathetic. Even the characters I initially found grating won me over by the end. There’s a failed explorer, an illusionist, a dream researcher and more – all with distinct personalities, back stories, motivations and fears. The voice actors do a sterling job bringing them to life too. The game would work fine as text over the soundtrack but I’m glad the studio invested in the voices.

The puzzles weren’t especially difficult. I enjoyed the variety and searching for them. I solved them all before I became frustrated which is a benefit but they could have been more challenging. They’re definitely more cosy game puzzles than head scratchers. However, the inventiveness felt refreshing. Having to solve riddles, work in 3D and flip objects forwards and backwards did make the game enjoyable.

My only bug bear with the whole thing is the missable achievements combined with an autosave feature. The whole point of a mystery is to solve it. Once solved, the replayability is somewhat low. Maybe in a few years, I’ll fondly replay all 10 hours of this. However, it will be a chore to redo it all for the sake of one dialogue option where I missed the achievement. Some players won’t care; I do. It would be an easy feature to autosave on a new save file, like Baldur’s Gate 3, and allow me to go back and get 100%.

At time of writing, the game is currently retailing at £17.75 which feels fair. This is a labour of love, created by a small UK studio who have focused on quality over quantity. It’s worth every penny for the gorgeous artwork alone. So many modern AAA titles look the same, making gems like The Mermaid Mask feel extra special.

Overall, it’s an accomplished game which the studio can be proud of. It’s quirky, filled with personality and destined to be a game many will look back on fondly in the years to come. I can’t wait for the next installation.

Written By: ivetafox
Favourite Game – Long Live the Queen || Favourite Film – Sweeney Todd || Favourite Book – Wuthering Heights
About: Ivy is a disabled, autistic writer from the UK, passionate about inclusive gaming. When not reviewing, she can be found writing short stories and micro fiction or reading the latest gothic novel.
Donate: https://ko-fi.com/storiesbyivy

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