Review Roundup

Critic scores

| Publication | Score | Quote / Summary | | --- | --- | --- | | The Wand Report | 100/100 | "Sharp, witty, and charming — proves you don't need realistic graphics to be cinematic." | | Adventure Game Hotspot | 91/100 | "The series at its peak; improves on Tangle Tower in almost every way." | | Gamer Social Club | 90/100 | "Polished, smart and charming; the best Grimoire yet, though slightly easy for hardcore fans." | | Game Informer | 90/100 | "The best Detective Grimoire adventure yet." | | Loot Level Chill | 80/100 | "A highly charming mystery story with memorable characters." | | EDGE Magazine | 80/100 | "3–4 hour runtime, solid deduction, satisfying twist." | | Gameliner | 60/100 | "Unforgettable cast and engrossing murder mystery, but easy difficulty and predictable ending." |

Metacritic PC: 85/100 (Generally Favorable, based on 8 critic reviews).

Player reception

On Steam the game sits at Overwhelmingly Positive — 99% of 511 user reviews are positive at launch. That ratio is rare for the point-and-click genre and shows the game pleases paying players, not just critics. Combined with the July 16, 2026 launch and steady post-launch patches, the community mood stays positive.

Our verdict

The Mermaid Mask is a must-play for point-and-click mystery fans. SFB Games delivers a tightly written locked-room case with satisfying puzzles, fully voiced characters and a gorgeous hand-painted world. At a $17.99 launch price with a free demo, the risk is low and the quality is high.

Pros:

• Standalone story; no prior knowledge required
• Logical, handcrafted puzzles with a helpful hint system
• Fully voiced English cast and orchestral soundtrack
• Strong critic and user reception

Cons:

• Some players report a rare interrogation freeze (fixed by restarting)
• Completionists may want the 8–10 hour full-achievement run