Lord Winklebottom Investigates

Lord Winklebottom Investigates isn’t perfect – the arbitrary order of some of the puzzles in particular is bothersome, and some of the solutions are too obtuse for their own good. But despite its rough edges, we’re glad we stepped into Lord Winklebottom’s weird, wonderful world. And if there are further adventures on the cards, you can count us in.

A point-and-click Agatha Christie ‘em up about a detective giraffe solving a murder on a mysterious island in the 1920s. What it lacks any real detective work, though, it makes up for in pure charm.

This is in part down to the wider design of the title, which is very much in line with point-and-click adventure games of old. For some, this will be an absolute positive, with the same requirement to combine items together to resolve seemingly unconnected events, but for those less used to that method of gameplay it may feel a little difficult. This is far from the worst example of the traditional adventure game's inscrutability, and each puzzle does make sense in its own right, but the game's occasionally very specific progression route can feel like a bit of a hindrance.

I spent a chunk of my youth years in England, where I was introduced to the delightful world of snarky, sarcastic, dry British humo(u)r. TV shows and movies are filled to the brim with this particular kind of comedy, with movies like Hot Fuzz and Shaun of the Dead, as well as shows like Top Gear (back when it didn’t suck) or Little Britain. Games, on the other hand, aren’t as plentiful in this regard.

Lord Winklebottom Investigates is a fun, gorgeous and often funny point-and-click adventure that is a solid addition to the genre’s library.