Sherlock Holmes: The Devils Daughter

It's still far from perfect - clumsy controls, long loading times and disappointing minigames see to that - but Sherlock Holmes' newest videogame adventure is still a lot of fun, mainly due to the interesting cases that keep taking things in unexpected directions.

Sherlock Holmes: The Devil's Daughter is a combination of two previous games. It takes the gameplay from Crimes and Punishments which means that we don't follow one specific case, but instead, solve four independent crimes that require the expertise of our dear Sherlock and his friend Doctor Watson. Nevertheless, there is a connection between these cases… and that would be a character from The Testament! The final fifth case then serves as the outcome of The Testament storyline, so I'd say play that one first, but on the other hand, it's not exactly necessary I suppose…
As I said, it feels very similar to Crimes and Punishments with a heavy concentration on observation and deduction. Every crime scene needs to be searched thoroughly for any possible clue, you need to pay good attention to details during conversation and after that connect all the dots to find the right culprit! But this time there is a lot more action in the form of quick-time events which can become a little bit confusing (and frustrating) thanks to unclear "instructions". Other than that we are also gonna need to lockpick a few doors, crack some ciphers, examine mysterious substances, take on a disguise… just standard detective work if you ask me. We are gonna play as Doctor Watson, our four-legged companion Toby and even as young informant Wiggins!
The loading screen during traveling can be changed between the view of the cab and its passengers or a standard static image. Also, the loading time seemed to be quicker and didn't interrupt the flow as much as before.
The visuals are yet again very pretty and detailed. It was nice to see the streets getting so lively. The music fits the atmosphere nicely. Both Sherlock and Watson underwent a change in their appearances… they got younger and more rascal. With it came new voice actors of course. They did a good job, but I still like Kerry Shale in Sherlock's role more. Aside from my personal preferences, I'd say the quality of voice acting was pretty good! What bothered me a little was the bad lipsync which was always slightly off.
All in all, I think it's a good game, different yet again but quite enjoyable. The cases are nicely varied and have a good pace so there is no space for boredom. There are some weak spots, but overall it was fun! Although I am not a fan of The Testament storyline and I found the said character rather annoying, the final case was pretty emotional and served as a good conclusion to the game.
Crimes and Punishments remains the best in the series for me. ;)
Edit:
My reviews for other games in the series:
Sherlock Holmes: The Secret of the Silver Earring
Sherlock Holmes: The Awakened (2008)
Sherlock Holmes: Nemesis
Sherlock Holmes: The Mystery of The Persian Carpet
Sherlock Holmes and The Hound of The Baskervilles
Sherlock Holmes versus Jack the Ripper
The Testament of Sherlock Holmes
Sherlock Holmes: Crimes and Punishments

Of the best atmospheric games in its genre, it really is a valuable game equal to the Sherlock Holmes book and movies.

Really enjoyed playing this after Crimes & Punishments! Though i will say my pros & cons to this!

First the pros: I enjoyed the story! It had a lot to talk about for Sherlock Holmes compared to Crimes & Punishment since that game was just playing Sherlock and solving crimes. This one had an ongoing story for him and certain characters! The graphics were great and updated & gameplay for it's puzzles were even more fun!

Cons: My only issue about it slightly is the change of models & VA, more specifically for both Sherlock & Watson! I saw some characters look like they were re-used from the first game which i will say but for both Holmes & Watson, they were updated completely and i'm not too much a fan of it. Don't get me wrong i love them but i miss the Crimes & Punishment models and VA as they felt like to me Sherlock Holmes & Dr. Watson imo.

Still it was fun playing this one and i recommend it if you have already played Crimes & Punishment and looking to test your puzzle solving mind!

Sherlock Holmes: The Devil's Daughter, the sequel to Crimes & Punishments, takes both steps forward and backward for the series. The game feels dated, with stiff, creaking animations and waxy, emotionless faces that do the presentation no favors. It certainly is starting to show it's age. The controls are console-specific and feel awkward on PC. Many analog, context-sensitive mini-games are challenging when using the WASD keys and mouse control scheme. Numerous mini-games require odd keyboard combinations to complete.

PC-specific bugs related to ultrawide aspect ratios interfere with scene investigations. When tasked with moving your mouse over areas of interest, the icon should highlight points of note. However, due to the ultrawide resolution issue, you typically need to hover your mouse 3 or 4 inches off the item of interest to initiate the prompt.

However, where Devil's Daughter excels is in its diverse detective gameplay. It offers a wide variety of sleuth-style mini-games and puzzles. While not particularly challenging, they are varied and interesting. Lock-picking, safe-cracking, suspect tailing, and even taking on the role of Toby, Sherlock's famous dog, to sniff out hidden entrances – the diversity is impressive, and all elements are well-executed.

The overall plot and sub-cases are more adventurous this time around. While Sherlock Holmes: Crimes and Punishments was more grounded in its storytelling, focusing on robberies, murders, and conspiracies, Devil's Daughter embraces a wilder approach, featuring ancient temples and the occult. This shift in tone is quite enjoyable.

It's an entertaining game with intriguing cases, a good story, and a diverse set of interesting sleuthing mini-games. However, it definitely feels dated, and the persistent visual bugs when using ultrawide resolutions are frustrating.

Very interesting game! Get it at a discount. Overall score: 6.5/10
As a fan of Sherlock Holmes and mystery games, The Devil's Daughter provides an intriguing mix of detective work and storytelling. The game shines most in its investigation and deduction mechanics. The personal stakes surrounding Sherlock’s relationship with his daughter give the game a refreshing emotional layer that isn’t typical in most detective games. However, the inclusion of action sequences felt out of place for me, as they didn’t align with the methodical, intellectual nature of Sherlock Holmes. These moments disrupted the game’s pacing and made certain segments feel more like a typical action-adventure title than a Sherlock Holmes mystery. The puzzles, while satisfying, could be more balanced in terms of difficulty. That said, the game succeeds in creating a richly atmospheric world and engaging cases that keep you guessing until the end.
Story: 8/10
Sherlock Holmes: The Devil's Daughter offers a compelling mix of mystery, action, and supernatural elements. The narrative centers around Sherlock’s investigation into several seemingly unrelated cases, which gradually converge into a larger mystery involving his adopted daughter, Katelyn. As a father figure, Sherlock faces emotional dilemmas that contrast with his otherwise logical and deductive personality. However, some may find the supernatural aspects a bit jarring for the character’s typically grounded, logical world. Despite this, the overarching narrative successfully ties the cases together by the end, providing a satisfying resolution.
Graphics: 6/10
Visually, the game shows its age, despite the detailed character models and immersive environments. Victorian London is recreated masterfully, from the fog-filled streets to the lavish interiors of grand estates. The attention to detail in both the locations and character expressions enhances the game’s atmosphere. Lighting and weather effects also play a crucial role in setting the tone of various scenes, making each case feel distinct. However, facial animations can occasionally be stiff, breaking immersion during dialogue-heavy scenes. The environments, though beautifully rendered, can sometimes feel empty and lacking in life, especially in more open areas.
Sound: 7/10
The soundtrack complements the game’s eerie and mysterious tone, blending orchestral pieces with more atmospheric, suspenseful tracks. The voice acting is solid overall, with Sherlock’s cold and calculated demeanor coming through clearly. However, some side characters suffer from flat or overly exaggerated performances, which can detract from the immersion. Ambient sounds like the bustling streets of London, crackling fireplaces, and footsteps on cobblestone streets are well-implemented, contributing to the overall mood of the game. While not groundbreaking, the sound design does its job effectively and supports the game’s narrative and visuals.
Gameplay: 7/10
The core of the gameplay revolves around investigation, deduction, and puzzle-solving. As Sherlock, players explore crime scenes, gather clues, and connect evidence using the deduction board—a feature where players piece together information to form conclusions. This process is engaging and rewarding, especially when the player feels like they've cracked the case. The game introduces some action-oriented sequences, such as chases and quick-time events, which add variety but can feel out of place in a Sherlock Holmes game. These segments often rely on reflexes more than the character’s trademark intellect, which some players might find frustrating or unnecessary. The puzzles are diverse, but their difficulty can vary greatly, from being intuitively solved to overly complex, sometimes causing the pace of the game to slow. The dialogue-based deductions, where you accuse a suspect, are tense and thought-provoking, offering multiple potential outcomes depending on your choices. However, there are moments when certain conclusions feel forced, with less room for alternative solutions.
Replay Value: 4/10
The Devil's Daughter has below average replay value. While the core mystery remains the same, the ability to make different decisions during investigations, which can lead to varied outcomes, adds some incentive for replaying. You can approach certain deductions differently, affecting the resolution of individual cases and your overall experience. However, once you’ve solved the mysteries and seen the key plot points, there isn’t much else to return to. The linear narrative design also limits how much players can explore alternative paths.
Favorite quote:
"Oh holy spirit, save your pans from demons and poor musicianship!" - Sherlock Holmes

Well done, enough...
The mysteries were interesting & fun to dive into. I loved the extra interactions & sneaking around add in, compared to SH: Crimes & Punishment.
Achievement system is straightforward & Im not sure if anything was even unmissable...
I wish the disguises were more useful but Im glad all outfits were unlocked & wearable throughout the game, unlike SH: Crimes & Punishment which only let you change twice, despite showing you all options...
The two women they used to compare "Devilsh Fathers" with, really left me disappointed. Not only does the math not add up, the culprits father was tame!