The game's razor‑sharp deduction engine fuels endless discussion about its puzzles. Overall, Return of the Obra Dinn enjoys an Overwhelmingly Positive rating on Steam, with 96% of the post‑release sample (n = 486) endorsing it.
What it's about: Perdu en mer, 1803 LE FIER VAISSEAU « OBRA DINN »
In-game
« Imma shamelessly steal someone's youtube comment: "i would give myself brain damage just to forget this game and play it again" »👍 anonymous review · 27 h played311« Most historically accurate 1800s game beacuse you get to a point where racially profiling is a viable strategy. »👍 anonymous review · 15 h played5421« I've never experienced anything else quite like Return of the Obra Dinn, this game is a must-play for anyone even remotely interested in mystery or investigation games. And PLEASE play it blind, I implore you. »👍 anonymous review · 12 h played1« Amazing concept for a game, awesome graphics choice and voice acting. ~8 hours to finish and a couple more to 100% Minor gripe: I just wish the fog trail didn't waste my time so much. »👍 anonymous review · 10 h played1« Loved it. The style, the unusual gameplay. Nicely done. But at some point, it gets very complex, I had to check out a walkthrough to fully complete it. * My son is re-paying it now, He'll add more to this review soon. »👍 anonymous review · 10 h played1
« Ne vaut pas sa description ni son prix »👎 anonymous review · 9 h played« didnt feel attached to the game, was expecting something cooler »👎 anonymous review · 1 h played« It's atmospheric, and very clever, but the core gameplay loop of find a corpse and watch a cut scene, multiplied by 60, just felt like admin work not fun. »👎 anonymous review · 6 h played« You get a notebook, a ship full of corpses, and your own brain. Smart design, striking style, no filler. Totally worth your money, especially if your interested in detective games. »👍 anonymous review · 14 h played1« Un très très bon jeu d'enquête, une histoire très prenante et une mécanique de jeu vraiment unique. Je recommande fortement. »👍 anonymous review · 14 h played
In players' words
« Imma shamelessly steal someone's youtube comment: "i would give myself brain damage just to forget this game and play it again" »👍 anonymous review · 27 h played311« Ne vaut pas sa description ni son prix »👎 anonymous review · 9 h played« Most historically accurate 1800s game beacuse you get to a point where racially profiling is a viable strategy. »👍 anonymous review · 15 h played5421« didnt feel attached to the game, was expecting something cooler »👎 anonymous review · 1 h played« I've never experienced anything else quite like Return of the Obra Dinn, this game is a must-play for anyone even remotely interested in mystery or investigation games. And PLEASE play it blind, I implore you. »👍 anonymous review · 12 h played1« It's atmospheric, and very clever, but the core gameplay loop of find a corpse and watch a cut scene, multiplied by 60, just felt like admin work not fun. »👎 anonymous review · 6 h played« Amazing concept for a game, awesome graphics choice and voice acting. ~8 hours to finish and a couple more to 100% Minor gripe: I just wish the fog trail didn't waste my time so much. »👍 anonymous review · 10 h played1« You get a notebook, a ship full of corpses, and your own brain. Smart design, striking style, no filler. Totally worth your money, especially if your interested in detective games. »👍 anonymous review · 14 h played1« Loved it. The style, the unusual gameplay. Nicely done. But at some point, it gets very complex, I had to check out a walkthrough to fully complete it. * My son is re-paying it now, He'll add more to this review soon. »👍 anonymous review · 10 h played1« Un très très bon jeu d'enquête, une histoire très prenante et une mécanique de jeu vraiment unique. Je recommande fortement. »👍 anonymous review · 14 h played
Anonymized excerpts from public Steam reviews — picked among those most voted "helpful" by the community.
What players say, by aspect
PositiveMixedNegative
Gameplay
93 % pos · n=134
Story / writing
96 % pos · n=67
Graphics / art
91 % pos · n=54
Audio / music
97 % pos · n=36
Interface / UX
0 % pos · n=5
Content / longevity
75 % pos · n=4
Performance
100 % pos · n=3
Value for money
100 % pos · n=2
Detailed data (table)
Aspect
Mentions
Positive
Mixed
Negative
Gameplay
134
125
2
7
Story / writing
67
64
0
3
Graphics / art
54
49
1
4
Audio / music
36
35
0
1
Interface / UX
5
0
0
5
Content / longevity
4
3
0
1
Performance
3
3
0
0
Value for money
2
2
0
0
Positive reviews by playtime
🎮 Players who like it have spent 12 h on median; those who dislike it: 6.4 h.
<2h
82 % (n=11)
2-10h
92 % (n=157)
10-25h
99 % (n=289)
>25h
97 % (n=29)
Fixed or still broken? Sentiment over time
➡️ Stable reception over time
% of positive reviews per month (months with ≥ 15 sample reviews).
💶 Price history
Steam price tracked automatically since Oct 19, 2018 · All-time low: €8.39 (Oct 16, 2020)
100% completion difficulty ("platinum")
7 %Moderate
of players have unlocked the rarest achievement — the upper bound of those who "100%'d" it. 16 achievements in total; the median achievement is unlocked by 45,5 % of players.
LIVEmcdaddo6 viewers
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Gameplay dominates praise: 125 positive mentions out of 134 (93% positive).
Story captivates players: 64 positive mentions out of 67 (96% positive).
Audio design receives near‑universal acclaim: 35 positive mentions out of 36 (97% positive).
Graphics are praised by the majority: 49 positive mentions out of 54 (91% positive).
Weaknesses
User interface draws criticism: 0 positive mentions out of 5 (0% positive).
Graphics receive some detractors: 4 negative mentions out of 54 (7% negative).
Story, while praised, still sees 3 negative mentions out of 67 (4% negative).
Who is it for?
Detective‑mind players who relish intricate puzzles and atmospheric storytelling will find this indie adventure irresistible. Those who expect flash‑heavy visuals should temper expectations, as the game's strength lies in its cerebral design rather than visual polish.
Is Return of the Obra Dinn worth it in 2026?
Yes — player reception is very positive: 97% of 34,679 Steam reviews are positive (player score 96/100). Most-praised strength: Gameplay dominates praise. Current price: 19,50€.
Verdict
Return of the Obra Dinn stands out as a near‑perfect example of investigative gaming, with its core mechanics and narrative resonating strongly across the community. Minor UI shortcomings and occasional visual critiques do not outweigh the overall brilliance. For anyone who loves a good mystery, it’s an essential experience.
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💬 Discussion
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