Cold Verdict (2021)

Developer: Astronomic Games
Genres: Adventure, Casual, Indie
Rating: 4.5 of 5, 29 player ratings
Typical playtime: about 1.1 hours
Where to get it: Steam

The 3D catalog: game boxes on wooden shelves, with the cat sitting at the counter next to its greeting.

The catalog in 3D

The same catalog has a room you can walk around in. The cat behind the counter is the AI Catbot, and they pick real games from it when you tell them what you feel like playing. Nothing is for sale, here or in there. Go in from here and this game is already out on the counter, with more like it waiting on the shelf next to it.

More games like this

How it feels

You play as one of five strangers trapped in an abandoned building, slowly piecing together a dark mystery through conversation and choices under constant, low-key suspense.

mysterioustenseatmosphericstory drivensuspensefuldarkpsychologicalchoice heavy

What players say

Players describe it as a short visual novel inspired by Saw, where strangers wake up in a maze and choices decide who lives or dies. It takes under two hours to finish, with multiple endings and a tease for a sequel. Players split on the writing, some call the characters wooden and the grammar unpolished, others enjoy the story.

Screenshots

More games like this

More by Astronomic Games

This page is from Underplayed Gems, a catalog of older and overlooked games. Not quite it? You can browse by platform and genre, or take this one into the 3D catalog and ask the Catbot for something closer.