Evidence 111 Review

A Tragic Mistake. A Mysterious Call. A Haunted Inn. In Evidence 111, Chief Inspector Allison Wells finds herself embroiled in a strange series of events when one night she receives a phone call with knowledge of her past demanding she steals and delivers a single piece of evidence to a mysterious Inn.  Players must rush to determine who is within the inn’s walls as they unravel the mysteries of the evening and the Chief Inspector herself.

Nontraditional Gaming

Evidence 111 has more in common with a choose-your-own-adventure book than a typical gaming experience. The game has no visual display but instead opts for an entirely auditory experience. Players listen and analyze the events surrounding Chief Inspector Wells before being prompted with various decisions throughout the plot.  Each decision offers immediate and long-lasting consequences that players must discover as the narrative plays out.

 Evidence 111’s Loaded Gamble

By opting out of including any traditional gameplay or graphics, Play By Ears risks the entirety of its game on its ability to create tension and compelling characters through music, atmosphere, and competent writing. This gamble pays off in droves as the world built in Evidence 111 is enthralling from the opening moments of the prologue until the end credits. The game expertly crafts an interwoven narrative through the various characters that players encounter within the Harbor Watch Inn.

The first asset that players will realize Evidence 111 has at its disposal is its team of voice actors.  The acting in the game is prevalent constantly throughout the runtime as it will often be the thing that players have to pay the most attention to in each scene as the dialogue will provide the crucial clues to unraveling the mystery.

Between the exposition, numerous scenes seek to build out Allison Wells’ character and those surrounding her. From a washed-up detective to a pair of estranged parents, those that end up woven into the web of mystery at the Harbor Watch are as compelling as the chief inspector herself encouraging players to take their opportunities to engage with these characters for not only clues but also to explore the depth offered by each.

A Refreshing Difference

Play By Ears seeks to deliver a nontraditional gaming experience that provides a nostalgic experience reminiscent of Choose-Your-Own-Adventures stories that many explored in their youth. It accomplishes this expertly in Evidence 111, using elements of classic detective and haunting stories to weave an enthralling experience that hangs the best moments on the players’ choices.

These moments drive the narrative and stick with players as the credits roll. In addition to providing players agency, the game’s replay value is bolstered by the promise of multiple ways for the narrative to play out.

Carried by compelling writing and performances, Evidence 111 crafts an enthralling narrative. Despite lacking traditional gameplay, it can grab players from the opening moments and not let go until after its runtime ends.