When Agatha Christie: Death on the Nile on PlayStation 5 reimagines the famous mystery, it does more than just retell a well-known story – it shifts eras (to the 1970s), adds a parallel investigative thread via a new character, and leans into puzzles and deduction to anchor the suspense. Developed by Microids Studio Lyon, it’s not just Poirot again – it’s also Jane Royce, whose own detective work adds breadth to the narrative. This dual-protagonist setup gives the game some fresh angles and helps it avoid being overly predictable for those familiar with the source material and/or previous games.
Narratively, the game strikes a solid balance between nostalgic familiarity and new twists. The classic love-triangle, jealousy, betrayal, and intrigue of the novel are present, but the inclusion of Jane Royce – and the way her thread weaves in parallel to Poirot’s – injects new tension. Some scenes feel richly atmospheric, and character writing is mostly strong; certain suspects and NPCs are especially memorable. On the downside, though, the pacing is at times uneven: earlier segments move slowly, especially when you’re gathering clues and moving between locations, and some players might feel those parts drag a bit until the mystery starts to click into place.
The game’s mechanics are what make it work (or sometimes hobble it). The mind map system – where clues, conversations, and evidence are plotted and connected – is one of the stars here. It offers a visual and interactive way to organize what you know, track conflicting statements, and figure out what questions to ask next. But it can also become overwhelming: when too many threads are active, it’s easy to miss which clues matter most, or feel stuck without clear guidance. The hint system helps, though it doesn’t fully compensate for moments where the game feels like it’s expecting you to do detective work without much direction. Physical puzzles, like fixing machinery, inspecting items, sometimes tailing suspects, are mixed in well, though they lean toward simpler designs rather than hardcore brain-twisters.
On PS5, the controls and presentation largely support the game’s ambitions. The visuals are polished: character models and environments are nicely rendered, with attention to period detail in the 70s setting. However, there are technical stumbles – for instance, lip synching is off in some conversations, which jars when the writing is otherwise committed. The UI for navigating clues and using the mind map is generally good, but switching back and forth between exploring, dialog, and evidence-collection can feel tedious in places.
Audio is another area where Death on the Nile mostly shines. The voice acting is solid, helping bring life to both Poirot and Jane as well as the cast of suspects. The ambient sounds and music capture a sense of intrigue and tension – though the soundtrack isn’t always memorable beyond setting the mood. Still, when things click – quiet dockside nights, the hiss of the river, or moments when someone’s testimony doesn’t match up – the sound design elevates what might otherwise be fairly standard detective game fare.
Altogether, Agatha Christie: Death on the Nile is a delightful entry in the detective-adventure genre, especially for fans of Christie’s work or players who enjoy thoughtful mystery and deduction. It doesn’t completely reinvent the formula, and its slower moments and occasional technical hiccups keep it from being perfect. But the story expansions, dual perspectives, strong puzzle variety, and polished presentation make it a recommendable mystery for adventure game enthusiasts. If you like feeling clever, poking through clues, and enjoying period atmospheres more than constant action, this one’s worth boarding the Karnak for.
Score: 7.5/10
Press Play Media 