This is a very unique game. It is quite rough around the edge, some elements are not polished enough, and a low budget is visible (e.g., movement is a bit clunky, combat has a lot of useless combos, and there are only 2 true boss fights). At the same time, it's a very original metroidvania! Instead of having a standard set of metroidvania moves (e.g., double jump, dash, wall-jump, wall-break), many of the game's upgrades are tools for solving fairly difficult puzzles that block your way (e.g., configurable, decoding device). This is an extremely refreshing idea for someone like me who likes both metroidvania and puzzle games. Adding to it the whole theme of the game Lovecraftian murder mystery with great lore (and great art design), we got a really captivating experience. I highly recommend it, and I would love to see a continuation.

The Last Case of Benedict Fox is honestly a breath of fresh air if you're looking for something atmospheric and story-driven. The art direction is just stunning, capturing that dark, Lovecraftian horror vibe perfectly.

Gameplay-wise, it’s a metroidvania, but not in the typical hack-and-slash sense. Here, the focus is on puzzles rather than action, which I found really refreshing. Some of the puzzles are genuinely challenging, requiring you to put real thought into solving them, which feels pretty rare in games nowadays. Not all of them are super clear, though; a few could’ve used better hints to point you in the right direction. But if you’re into games that make you slow down and engage your brain, there’s a lot to enjoy here.

Combat is there, too, but it’s not the main focus. You do get some cool abilities and upgrades, but unfortunately, a lot of them come really late in the game, so you don’t get as much time to play around with them as you might want. Still, there’s a decent range of items and abilities, so you can find a playstyle that suits you. The tarot card mechanic, though, feels like it was tacked on without much thought - interesting in theory, but not really impactful.

All in all, The Last Case of Benedict Fox is a solid pick if you’re after a metroidvania with a focus on story and atmosphere over action. It’s a great mix of mystery and horror, built around a fascinating narrative that keeps you curious.

Technically a Metroidvania, the last case of Benedict Fox combines 2D exploration, a lot of puzzles and Lovecraft-horror into one short experience (10-15 hours).

Movement is fluid, backtracking easy and there is no grinding (cant/dont have to farm enemies for money), as long as you fully explore the map.

Difficulty can be tailored (auto-solving puzzles, highlighting map-areas that havent been fully explored), but playing this game only for the combat wont do you any good: In the beginning enemies seem strong, but once you get the hang of it (block timing etc.) and unlock a few upgrades you will be unstoppable.

All in all: Get the game if you want to explore the haunted minds of two people, tormented by their lives, like the artstyle and want to solve quite some puzzles along the way.