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Play Overview
Overboard (2021) is a murder mystery narrative game played in reverse. You murder your husband at the start of the game and then try and get away with it. It's played on a ship where the characters are affected by your choices and changes their actions accordingly. You have limited time to plant evidence, find accomplices and frame other people. When you fail, you try again from the start, but with the added knowledge of who knows what, when and where.
You move around the ship and talk to other passengers and the crew. Each decision not only impacts the outcome but also takes real game time. You not only need to figure out what you need to do but when you need to do it and in what order.
If you decide to lie that your husband slept with you last night, you better make sure you mess up the bedsheets. When you realise another passenger finds an incriminating earring on the deck, you better get there before them on your next attempt.
Blackmail a spy. Fall in love. Murder a rival. Cheat at cards. Drug a witness. Lie, befriend, betray, console, sneak, seduce, steal, borrow, pray and eavesdrop your way to innocence. Use every clue, piece of evidence, other suspects, accusation, secret and lie.
Our examiner, Andy Robertson, first checked Overboard 2 years ago. It was re-examined by Jo Robertson and updated 11 weeks ago.
You move around the ship and talk to other passengers and the crew. Each decision not only impacts the outcome but also takes real game time. You not only need to figure out what you need to do but when you need to do it and in what order.
If you decide to lie that your husband slept with you last night, you better make sure you mess up the bedsheets. When you realise another passenger finds an incriminating earring on the deck, you better get there before them on your next attempt.
Blackmail a spy. Fall in love. Murder a rival. Cheat at cards. Drug a witness. Lie, befriend, betray, console, sneak, seduce, steal, borrow, pray and eavesdrop your way to innocence. Use every clue, piece of evidence, other suspects, accusation, secret and lie.
Our examiner, Andy Robertson, first checked Overboard 2 years ago. It was re-examined by Jo Robertson and updated 11 weeks ago.
Kids not old enough for this yet? There are lots of games similar to Overboard. Here are some similar younger-rated games:
Play Style
This is a Brain Game and Point-and-Click game with Narrative and Simulation elements. This is a single-player game.
Duration
Play Time: It takes between half an hour and 45 minutes to play a round of this game. Every minute counts. You have eight hours to escape justice. Time is always ticking. Play once for a thrill, or multiple times to uncover all the secrets and achieve an ideal ending.
Benefits
Age Ratings
Content Rating
Rated for younger players in the US. Rated on Switch and Android as ESRB TEEN for Suggestive Themes, Language, Use of Alcohol, Mild Violence, and Simulated Gambling. This was updated by ESRB on 20th July 2023 to remove the Simulated Gambling descriptor as this didn't apply.
When included in the physical release of 80 Days and Overboard it was rated ESRB TEEN for Drug Reference, Language, Mild Violence, Suggestive Themes (but not Simulated Gambling). Both games contain dialogue and action choices that influence each story's outcome. Some sequences contain instances of violence: a character pushing a man off a ship; players' choices to stab, smother, or knock out other characters. One prolonged sequence allows players' character to engage in a suggestive/sexual encounter (e.g., “He kisses me, and starts to undo my buttons. He doesn't ask me for permission...I do exactly what he wants me to do.”). In one game, players can engage in various forms of trade; opium trade/use is referenced in several scenes. The word “sh*t” appears in the dialogue (e.g., "A man can make his fortune in opium...").
12+ on the Apple App store for 12+ Infrequent/Mild Mature or Suggestive Themes, Simulated Gambling, Sexual Content and Nudity, Profanity or Crude Humor, Cartoon or Fantasy Violence, Alcohol, Tobacco, or Drug Use or References.
In addition to the official ratings, parents should note that you can turn off Profanity. This changes words like *!@?*, *!@?*, *!@?* to non-offensive words. We spoke to the developer who confirmed there was no nudity in the game. The sexual content is an "encounter" that isn't graphically depicted but fairly euphemistically described. Kids will assume they're kissing and grown-ups will know better. The gambling aspect of the game is playing blackjack with another character for in-game money, betting and raising.
Skill Level
13+ year-olds usually have the required skill to enjoy this game. Still, it's important for parents and guardians to consider the maturity required to process the game content. The challenge of unravelling the different character’s plans and actions requires patience, attention and lateral thinking. Although the game includes a reference to gambling and the theme is murder, younger teenagers enjoy solving the unusual mystery in different ways.
Costs
Game Details
Release Date: 02/06/2021
Out Now: Android, PC, Switch and iOS
Skill Rating: 13+ year-olds
Players: 1
Genres: Brain Game, Point-and-Click (Narrative and Simulation)
Accessibility: 21 features
Components: 2D Side-On, Hand-Made and Text
Developer: Inkle Studios (@InkleStudios)
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