Bloodshore
Bloodshore
Game
Game2018
The Shapeshifting Detective
Developer D'Avekki Studios Ltd, Wales Interactive
The Shapeshifting Detective is an adventure game developed by D'Avekki Studios and published by Wales Interactive. The player investigates a murder mystery and interviews suspects, who answer via full-motion video. It was first released in 2018. A prequel, Dark Nights with Poe and Munro, was released in 2020. From Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)
210 reactions from 4 sources (Steam reviews, Bluesky, Lemmy, Mastodon) · newest Nov 3, 2026 · last updated Nov 4, 2026 · How this works
Audience score
72
Fresh
132 positive · 51 negative
95% range 65–78%
| Source | + | − | = |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steam reviews | 132 | 51 | 0 |
| Bluesky * | 4 | 1 | 20 |
| Lemmy * | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Mastodon * | 0 | 0 | 1 |
* shown, not counted in the score (label accuracy below our 85% bar or not yet audited).
Steam's own rating
Mostly Positive
563 of 705 reviews positive (all languages, per Valve)
What people are saying
A unique FMV mystery with a clever shapeshifting gimmick, but mixed execution.
Many players praised the game's unique concept and shapeshifting mechanic, calling it compelling and well-integrated. The atmosphere, acting, and story were also frequently highlighted as strong points. [3][4][14]
However, some found the gameplay tedious, repetitive, or lacking in interactivity. Others criticized the multiple endings and randomized killer as making the story feel pointless or the experience sour. [2][30][33]
Praised unique concept · shapeshifting mechanic · atmosphere · acting · story
Criticised tedious gameplay · repetitive dialogue · multiple endings · lack of interactivity
Summary drafted by an AI model from the 36 reactions it cites ([n] links open each post), then checked by code: every paragraph cites real posts and every quote is verbatim. Written Oct 9, 2026. Method
RottenBot@rottenbot · automated account
The Shapeshifting Detective sits at 72% positive across 183 opinionated reactions from 4 sources. Fresh or rotten — where do you land?
Critics, per Wikipedia
The Shapeshifting Detective received mixed reviews on Metacritic. Adventure Gamers wrote, "The Shapeshifting Detective is a unique game that provides a solid mystery with a creative twist on the usual means of information gathering." Gamereactor UK praised the acting, dialogue trees, and radio intermissions but felt the story was sometimes difficult to advance without trial and error. GameRevolution wrote, "The Shapeshifting Detective's pulpy charm and offbeat story show that it doesn't take a detective to figure out how enjoyable this game is." Push Square said the game was made with love, but its gimmicky gameplay is too basic. Criticizing the game's interactivity and pacing, Nintendo…
From the “Reception” section of Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. Critic context only — not part of the audience score.
Reactions
60 of 210 · most liked firstLate start today due to my current living situation (see past posts) but today I'm streaming The Shapeshifting Detective, another murder mystery game! Hoping streaming can help chill me out a bit, feel free to share & watch, live in 15m - www.twitch.tv/iggymaid Any/All tips will go to helping me
neutral · AI labelView post →NOW STREAMING: fmv mystery game The Shapeshifting Detective! twitch.tv/the_jenna youtube.com/watch?v=FA-nDDtyC1Y
neutral · AI labelView post →I can finally announce ‘Equinox’ is my next long form project as cinematographer! Starring beloved FMV actor Rupert Booth (Contradiction, The Shapeshifting Detective, The Dark Side of the Moon) in his next game and Exec Produced by legendary gaming YouTuber Jesse Cox.
neutral · AI labelView post →Not bad, but an ultimately mediocre FMV. I am giving it a thumbs down due to some unnecessary padding (~3 seconds transition after every interaction, gets really annoying over time) and no checkpoint / replay chapter option, so you have to replay the whole game to see different endings.
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →My Playtime: 8.1h (100% achievement, finished the game twice) My First Playthrough: 4.5h Grindy Achievement(s): No. Optional Achievement(s): Yes (19 achievements). Difficult Achievement(s): No. Intro The Shapeshifting Detective is an FMV where you have to investigate a murder. It has two unique mechanics compared to other detective games: shapeshifting ability and randomized killer. Pros: - Killer is randomized every playthrough - Multiple endings Cons: - No fast-forward or skip button…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →The Shapeshifting Detective is a FMV mystery adventure or, as I would prefer to call it, a talking-head watcher. It has no inventory or puzzles, just dialogue choices from time to time. Crisp, full-motion video in general but with visible film grain in certain lighting conditions. Surprised how often you did not have a choice of answers/inquiries at the start but that got better. The acting was hit and miss as is often the case in these productions. The police chief (same actor as the much…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →TL;DR - AVGN said it best: "This is a where the **** am I supposed to go type of game." While the story is intriguing, it's typical adventure game stuff. You just click randomly and hope you can advance. The game intentionally defies all logic. Which sucks. Because you are supposed to be a detective. It feels like you just can't win. Or often have no idea what to do. The primary gimmick is that you can shapeshift into other characters in the game. Then talk to other characters.…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →playing a game called The Shapeshifting Detective and I'm not sure 87.5% of my peers realized this
neutral · AI labelView post →This is a very fun and unique detective game. I don't want to spoil anything about it, but atmosphere, lighting, audio, characters, and world building are all really well done. Sad it wasn't super long, but I would definitely play another game like this. Leaves more questions than answers by the end, but I think it flowed well and I liked all the characters, especially their hidden conversations and scenarios. Super glad that they allow you to skip scenes on future playthroughs if you're…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Had plenty of fun on my first run, then came back years later to finish the achievements. It's not perfect; for example the randomized murder part is the usual cautionary tale on how multiple endings requiring multiple playthroughs can sour the experience. Some series embraced the concept and worked it into the game's mechanic graciously (e.g. the Zero Escape trilogy) and you do get the option to skip dialogue on subsequent playthrough; but it'll still require you to click a lot or smash the…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I have liked the solid production values and some of the acting and camera work. The story is intense and catch your interest until you finish it, but sometimes it gets really boring and too much repetitive to interrogate everyone so much, it's a bit tedious. It's not my favorite game of this style, unfortunately. 4/10
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I was entertained for some time. Everything falls apart at the end, tho. With multiple endings and multiple killers within these endings, the whole story is kind of a pointless waste of time, as there isn't a definitive answer to what is truly happening or who is actually at fault.
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →One of or maybe my favourites in this collection, and likely a good game even to buy alone. I had a blast the entire time I played, the concept is very compelling, and it is well-executed and believable in narrative, production and acting throughout. Overall, the dialogue usually goes the way you expect, and the compelling mystery is made even better by the shapeshifting twist. My only gripes are the unskippable repetition of the hourly radio segments between chapters, and the fact that I…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Very unique and fun! I love bothering Chief Dupont!
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Did you know... FMV game legend Chris Jones, aka Tex Murphy, provided voiceover for Radio August in The Shapeshifting Detective!
neutral · AI labelView post →its an ok game the story had me hooked from start to finish because it was interesting i coudnt get the achievement Book 'em Danny to unlock so a gave up :(
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →TLDR: Somewhat interesting gimmicky concept with a dull story. There are better FMVs out there. PROS: ✅Interesting concept with shapeshifting ✅Hints at a deeper narrative CONS: ➖Disjointed filming approach ➖Subpar acting ➖Unable to really find a deeper narrative Content (Game world/Narrative/Length) – [6/10] Game World: The Shapeshifting Detective (TSD) takes place in a town called August where a murder has just taken place. The entirety of the game takes place through conversations…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I didn't really get a grip on it. Also, no kind of exploration. Kind of felt like just watching a film and nothing more.
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →The idea of a shapeshifting detective is cool and all, but everything else with the gameplay I feel wasn't optimized very well, as you can go back and forth shifting from one character to the next and use up all your dialogue options (because you can) progressing through the story without being punished for it. This may have been the way I was playing this game or it wasn't my cup of tea, either way, it wasn't a fun experience for me, it's less of a detective game and more so just gathering as…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Clever idea, and well executed. Quite an immersive game experience, a bit like watching a theater performance from the front row. Why aren't there more games like this? And why hasn't Wales Interactive created a sequel already?
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →This game is dumb boring. Hours of dialogue that have zero impact on who you think the killer is and 4 of the sentences had valuable information. It was also mad easy finding the culprit as they hold your hand at the very end anyway. If your looking for a good murder mystery this aint the game for you. This is not a detective game where you go and gather clues at the crime scene to figure out what happened. As a matter of fact, you don't ever even step in the room of the crime scene a single…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →to be fair, quite good. 8/10 plot was decent, acting a bit cheesy but overall fun play.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Picked this game up because I had a couple bucks in my wallet I needed to spend. Honestly wasn't expecting much of anything out of it. Boy was I wrong. Completely blew me away. Great game!
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Absolutely good for an evening of mystery. I recommend playing this game together with a friend or a beloved person and puzzling through it together.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →The filming and post-production are on point, which really sets the eerie atmosphere nicely. The unique gameplay and cryptic storyline complement each other well. There's a ton of script and branching storylines that offer plenty of exploration.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Absolutely the best modern FMV game. I weirdly loved FMV games back in the Sega-CD era, even if I couldn't openly say so. This is the title that reinvigorated my interest in the genre. Unfortunately I haven't found anything that comes close since. But there are still quite a few enjoyable ones out there. The acting is pretty good the plot is interesting - and unlike the other two games in this loose trilogy - the actions you pick are coherent with what happens on screen. I like the other…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Decided to check this out. With some other FMV games I bought IN A bundle. Wasn't captivating.
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I’ve been trying to play Boyfriends Dungeon and Star Wars Podracer, but I fucked up my thumb last week and can’t use the left joystick without significant pain. It’s not broken, just fucked it up bad. So I downloaded The Shapeshifting Detective and a few other FMV games since I can play those 100% right handed
neutral · AI labelView post →♥ SCHEDULE ♥ This week will only have 3 streams due to IRL appointments Mo/Tue/Wed and my dad's birthday on Sunday. I'll see you on Thursday for Tarot pulls and to start our next Thursday game, Friday for the Shapeshifting Detective and Saturday for House Flipper 2. ♥ Art @beavilyy.bsky.social
neutral · AI labelView post →As soon as the title drops, you’re greeted with a clever concept: you’re a detective who can become other characters — and with that power in hand, you dive into a supernatural murder mystery where nothing is as it seems. The premise alone sets the stage for a unique experience. ✅ What I liked +The shapeshifting mechanic is genuinely intriguing and well-integrated into the story. Instead of simply talking to suspects, you can become them (or someone else), unlocking hidden dialogues and…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →If you want classics? the original Tex Murphy series is amazing. If you want new? Contradiction, The 13th Doll, Erica, The Bunker, The Mysterious Madness of Doctor Dekker, Late Shift, The Shapeshifting Detective, Dark Nights with Poe & Monroe, or the new Tex Murphy game The Tesla Effect.
neutral · AI labelView post →I liked this game a lot more than I thought I was going to. IMO, it's one of the better FMV games in the current era.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →3/5 It´s alright. Nothing close to Late Shift or The Complex but it´s fun. Great ambient music. Actors are nice. Interesting characters. Story is good. Fun shapeshifting mechanic. Have a nice day.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Had a lot of fun with this game. The actors had a lot of fun with their characters with some hilarious interactions. Spent a few hours finding Easter eggs!
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I bought The Shapeshifting Detective because some of the actors were the same as in Contradiction, which I enjoyed despite its flaws, and I can say the same thing is true for this game. The actors were doing a good job for the most part, even if Robert Booth (the Chief) seemingly has to overact every scene and character he plays. It's passable, though, because he feels genuinely invested and I'll take that over boring underacting in FMV games. As for the story, it was interesting enough to…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →7/10 I mean, it was interesting for a while but I never went back to it after years. I guess people who love these sorts of games will really like it but these aren't my fav type of games and when I do play them I'd rather play the older ones like the 90s x-files game or myst or something. So that's why I'm giving it a decent score and an up vote.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →It's okay. Can't say it's worth the time.
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I love Wales Interactive games, and I couldn't get through this one. I still love the content they put out but this felt super dated and like your decisions didn't really matter.
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →"Kill one man, and you are a murderer. Kill millions of men, and you are a conqueror. Kill them all, and you are a god." -Jean Rostand
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I dropped this game in middle because I was exhausted. Doctor Dekker was slow and oppressive, but it got atmosphere. Poe and Munro was not really intriguing, but it was just nice QTE-filled FMV adventure. This project takes good idea and bigger budget and then makes it nearly unplayable and somewhat boring menu-switching adventure. Main problem of this game for me is it's gorgeous FMV videos. Yes, I get it, you got budget and wanted every1 to feel themselves part of story, so you show this…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Today's gonna be a fun one as I'll be joined by my friend Apollo we get started on The Shapeshifting Detective, a game from the creators of Contradiction and At Dead of Night! www.twitch.tv/wardencdrrose
neutral · AI labelView post →This game is a pile of ♥♥♥♥. None of the choices even matter other than the fact that you can get one of the characters killed if you're a ♥♥♥♥♥♥ detective. Can't get freaky either, and the positive reviews are lies. 3/10
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →The acting of porn without any of the penetration. Perfect for the edging masters that want to spread town gossip. If you have a couple hours to kill and need to get drunk, this is your game but you should probably get drunk first cause holy ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ ass ♥♥♥♥ is this stuff dumb as hell. I never even got to know why Lexie has a glass buttplug in her room.
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →In progress, so maybe I'll find the story/media fine. But I already find the technical execution... acceptable, but constantly affecting the gameplay negatively. You'd guess that a detective FMV somewhat relies on the verbal communication. Also that if a FMV studio claims that a major language is supported then it is indeed on an acceptable level. Well there are many options to improve the official Russian translation here. AI, crowdsource, volunteers, a hired translator, a dedicated intern…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →It was alright. I like FMV games, and Wales Interactive did great things with both Dr Dekker and Contradiction, but when compared to just their own catalog, Shapeshifting Detective is kind of weak. I really wanted to like it. The performances were (mostly) great, but the storyline was kind of all over the place. Aliens? Demons? Travelers? Serial killers? It felt like a bunch of red herrings were stuck in just to give Poe and Monroe things to monologue at each other about, because their…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →🎨 Visual Vibes ☐ What planet is this?! ☐ Jaw-Dropping ☐ Slick & Sharp ✅ Gets the Job Done ☐ Meh Pixels ☐ Eyes, Why Have You Betrayed Me ☐ Retro Relic Feels like a British TV mystery with a moody noir filter — not stunning, but it works. 🎮 Trigger Thrill (Gameplay) ☐ Masterpiece Mechanics ☐ Solid Combat ☐ Functional, I Guess ☐ Kinda Boring ✅ Feels Like Homework ☐ Controller Screams in Pain Engaging concept, but clicking through dialogue over and over again can get tedious fast. 🎧 Sound…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →It's a FMV game so if you're here you either like the genre enough or you wanted to give it a try like me. This is a pretty good introduction. The story is interesting enough and I was surprised that the writing wasn't terrible. Obviously it's not Oscar level performances but it does it well enough.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Pandemic game, but kinda a cool story and without a guide could be a very fun path to navigate. Like many other WI games, the story has a lot of, "wait, what?" moments when a new character is introduced but its acted like hes been there the entire time type of thing.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Just finished The Shapeshifting Detective! My first FMV game and I enjoyed it, definitely worth playing. Thanks again for the opportunity!
positive · AI labelView post →Fun fact >> FMV legend Chris Jones, aka Tex Murphy, provides a voiceover cameo in The Shapeshifting Detective! Under a Killing Moon was the first FMV game we played together in the early 90s and we wrote "Vanessa", the story he read, on our 21st wedding anniversary together!
neutral · AI labelView post →The idea is interesting, but the implementation is terrible
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →This game is really fun and I was pleasantly surprised by how many variations each playthrough can have. I've played every d'avekki game, and they've all been fun, but the shapeshifting detective is by far my favorite. The atmosphere is amazing, and the writing and acting feels a little off at times, but in the best possibile way, actually adding to the charm of this game. I've played it twice by myself, and two more times showing it to friends who haven't played it. Each time was a blast, and…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →It's first mystery game I've played where it actually makes sense who the killer is if you pay close enough attention to the clues.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →The Shapeshifting Detective is an interactive game where you watch what the characters do and can make your choices after. It is relatively entertaining as you figure our the murderer in the house. The mystery was quite well hidden too, the suspense was built up well. Also, you get to shapeshift into anyone to interrogate them. The cast acting was decent too, the acting felt real. It was definitely an enjoyable ride. Recommended!
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →It's a nice short story, not the best. But good enough for a recommendation.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →0 to 10 scale. I give this a *5*. Average but playable. Been on a FMV game binge lately. Of all the games, The Shapeshifting Detective probably has the most intriguing premise. However, its execution is only average. First off, let me say the acting, story, and general atmosphere is overall good. Believability obviously varies by actor, but I'd say the majority of characters can act. Story is good, I was interested the entire time. Game play simple, which fits this type of game. The main…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →No idea why people gave this game bad reviews. I found it interesting. It was like a movie, I didn't feel as if I was doing a chore. Not sure if I would replay tho, but apparently You can play again and have a different murderer, and skips scenes You already watched. Working on Linux without issues, but needs unlocking h264 Start steam like this: steam steam://unlockh264/ at least once, then proceed to run the game. Use Experimental Proton. No freezes, no strange sounds. Kubuntu 26.04
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →A really great and interesting FMV concept that doesn't really hit the mark for me sadly. Most of the time you're just selecting dialogues boxes until you're able to move to the next chapter, there is no meaningful or impactful options that allow you to think before you decide you just choose any, right or wrong until you're able to progress to the next night which is a shame. Shapeshifting sounds cool on paper but you're basically doing the exact samething just with a different voice which…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →After playing this game once, it's become my new favorite game! I love the mystery on Travelers which leaves us wanting more. I'd love to play a sequel where we're Sam and get to go on an adventure for Traveler-hunting with Bronwyn, Lexie, and Rayne! Then we'd possibly get to know how the three met, more info on Travelers, what their 'reward' is for killing people, etc! I love the fictional town of August and the various people we meet (Zak can go to hell tho). 100/10 game. No words can…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I love choices matter fmv games! It was really fun to play, and after a couple of hours, I got all the achievements! minor spoiler: My fave character is Rayne! We also have the choice to romance him (˵ ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°˵)
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →
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