Developer: Indigo Studios – Interactive Stories
Publisher: JanduSoft
Genre: First Person Adventure
Price: $12.99
Release Date: Nov 27, 2025
Where to buy: Steam
Introduction: A Relic of the Past
Introduction: A Return to the Gritty Noir
The Last Case of John Morley isn’t interested in the high-octane chases of modern thrillers. Instead, it invites players into a somber, rain-drenched version of the 1940s that feels more like a playable black-and-white film than a traditional video game. Developed by Indigo Studios, this is a focused, 3-hour psychological mystery that prioritizes “vibe” and environmental storytelling over complex mechanics. You play as John Morley, a detective recovering from a physical and mental breakdown, who is pulled into a 20-year-old cold case that the police would rather stay buried.
Gameplay: The Art of the Reconstruction
The gameplay is built on a “detective as observer” model. You spend your time exploring three primary, highly detailed locations: a sprawling manor, a decaying sanatorium, and a sterile hospital. The game’s standout mechanic is its scene reconstruction system. When Morley finds key pieces of evidence, the environment shifts into a ghostly, green-tinted tableau. These static, frozen moments allow you to walk around a crime as it happened, piecing together the movements of victims and killers alike.
While it’s often described as a “walking simulator,” there is more friction here than that label suggests. You’ll be solving environmental puzzles—rotating statues, decoding locks, and finding hidden keys—that require you to actually pay attention to the letters and photographs you find. It’s a linear experience, but one that rewards the patient player who enjoys soaking in every detail of a crime scene.
Atmosphere: 4K Melancholy
Visually, the game leans heavily into its Unreal Engine 5 roots to create a thick, oppressive atmosphere. The lighting is the star of the show; your handheld lantern cuts through the heavy fog and dust motes of Bloomsbury Manor in a way that feels genuinely immersive. The sound design follows suit, using a moody jazz score and the creaks of old floorboards to keep you on edge. It flirts with horror—specifically through a few jump scares and a “non-Euclidean” sequence in the intro—but it ultimately settles into a grounded, psychological drama.
Early Access & Technical Polish
It is important to note that this is a small-team indie production, and that shows in the “jank.” While the environments look superb in 4K, the character models can feel a bit dated and stiff. There are also some notable technical quirks:
- Voice Acting Paradox: The acting itself is surprisingly strong for an indie title, but the lip-syncing often fails to keep up, and some characters have voices that don’t quite match their visual age.
- Movement Friction: Navigation in tight spaces can be clunky, with doors occasionally clipping into the player.
- Pacing: Because the game is short (around 3 to 4 hours), the narrative moves quickly, which can make the “shock” ending feel a bit abrupt for some players.
The Verdict: Is It Worth the Investigation?
The Last Case of John Morley is a perfect “weekend evening” game. It’s a budget-friendly, atmospheric dive for anyone who loves the aesthetic of L.A. Noire or the quiet deduction of a Sherlock Holmes story but wants something more focused and eerie.
If you can overlook the occasional technical rough edge and the linear nature of the investigation, you’ll find a haunting story about the weight of the past and the ghosts we carry with us. It’s a sincere, moody piece of noir that proves you don’t need a massive open world to tell a compelling mystery.
Rating: 7.5/10 — A brief, beautiful, and brooding descent into the past.
