Sherlock Holmes: Phantom’s Hour (Wolf Escape Games) // Review

Sherlock Holmes: Phantom’s Hour is the latest game from award-winning online escape game company, Wolf Escape Games. So far they’ve transported players to a spooky abandoned house in Hallows Hill and the Miami Bay in 1985 to pursue justice. Now, we must venture to a very familiar address in London 1896: 221B Baker Street…

Players: 1-6 // Age: 10+ // Playtime: 2+ hours // Difficulty: 3/5

What you need: A laptop or desktop computer, a compatible browser (Chrome, Edge, Firefox, Opera) and a fast internet connection.

Story

“When a stranger writes in dire need, accused of a heinous crime, Sherlock and Watson are drawn into a chilling case that defies all logic. Could the killer truly be… a ghost?

London 1896 – Deep in the shadows of Victorian London, a deadly game is afoot. Step into the shoes of Sherlock and Watson in a race against dark forces that only the world’s greatest detectives can escape.”

First impressions

After such a fun experience playing Hallows Hill, I was excited to hear that a new game was launching from Wolf Escape Games. Phantom’s Hour thrusts players into London in the late 1800s where they must team up with the famous Sherlock Holmes and John Watson to investigate a murder. You’ll work alongside them to piece together clues and unravel a mystery full of twists and turns. Fans of Arthur Conan Doyle and his fictional detective will also be delighted by the inclusion of other well-known characters, such as Mrs. Hudson.

The game is split into four chapters, which take place across a range of settings. A handy progress bar at the top of the screen indicates how far along you are at any point. Each chapter contains a variety of distinctive puzzles to complete and these allow you to progress through the narrative.

Gameplay

Getting started

The game is completely browser-based so you don’t have to deal with big file downloads and installing special software. Just load up the game, enter the unique code you were emailed after purchase and follow the on-screen instructions.

If you’ve played a Wolf Escapes game before, you’ll be very familiar with how the web interface works. If you haven’t, it is very simple to use and the game guides you through the key features. These include how to move around, access your inventory and where to find hints if you need them. You’ll also be able to turn subtitles on and off and tweak the difficulty level. You don’t need to be a gaming expert to play this!

I completed the game in one sitting as I found it to be so compelling, but it is possible to pause at any point. When you want to resume, simply load up the game and it will pick up right where you left off.

Presentation

Phantom’s Hour is a visual feast. Its lavish locations are full of incredible detail, with realistic 3D rendering of period-specific decor. Reflective surfaces and convincing lighting all add to the realism. 221B Baker Street is beautifully brought to life, alongside a raft of other locations that offer their own distinct look and feel. The cinematic direction really elevates the storytelling, with a camera that zooms in on key items and glides around each location, showing off its rich set dressing. The use of animation at one point in the game helped make a particular concept more digestible (no spoilers).

Visuals are just part of the full experience. The music, sound effects and voice acting are all top-tier. The score feels so distinctly Sherlock, with its mix of whimsical notes and sinister tones that amplify the atmosphere of a given sequence. Well-designed sound helps transport players to the 1800s and some brilliant voice acting brings the well-known cast of characters to life.

Puzzles

I was delighted to find that all of the puzzles fit seamlessly into the story, while still being varied and interesting. The gameplay is linear, so you will be focusing on one puzzle at a time and unlocking the narrative as you progress. Each correct answer reveals a key piece of information that will help to solve the case and ultimately reveal the truth behind the crime.

One of my favourite puzzles involved an autopsy of the victim and piecing together the various details required to issue their death certificate. This involved using a selection of items and skills of observation. A puzzle involving mixing the perfect blend of ingredients had me reaching back to my Chemistry knowledge (no degree required). I also enjoyed the more logic-based puzzles, including one where you have to piece together some characters, their job and their location based on various telegrams.

Difficulty & Hints

The puzzles on the whole weren’t overly difficult, although some were more difficult than others. It can be easy to overcomplicate things sometimes when the real solution is much simpler to find. For me this sort of experience isn’t always just about hugely complicated puzzles, it is about a balance with a compelling story.

There is a very useful hint system in the game, however, it will cost you. Each hint used incurs a time penalty that gets added to your overall completion time. How much you buy into the timed element of the game is entirely up to you, so if you are less competitive you can ignore it altogether.

Teaming up

You can team up to play Phantom’s Hour remotely with friends or family. The team at Wolf recommend that you use a video chat with screen and audio sharing, such as Zoom or Microsoft Teams. This will allow for optimum performance.

To ensure that no one feels left behind, you are able to set up a Digital Backpack which grants members of your team access to examine the clues on their own phone or tablet. One person remains in control of the game itself, but this allows other users to look at what they want and contribute to the solution.

Bonus content

Upon completion, you can download a newspaper article that has been written about you/your team saving the day. This includes the total time you took to complete the game, along with any penalties you incurred.

If you haven’t already, be sure to check out my interview with Sam and Sally, the brains behind Wolf Escape Games. They give a real insight into crafting the games and share some dream collaborations as well.

Verdict

About Wolf Escape Games

Disclaimer: Wolf Escape Games kindly provided me with a copy of this game in exchange for an honest review. This in no way influences the content of my review.