桔梗花消逝的秋天

As this is a commercial game, many Chinese reviews exist; you might want to check them out too.

Played at: AK推理社
7 players (3 female, 4 male)

This is a belated review of a case I played in October, so my impression of it has grown somewhat vague.

Although part of the same season/flower-themed, Japanese-style series as《风信子不开的夏天》, 《桔梗花消逝的秋天》is quite different in feel and structure. It’s also slightly longer, with a runtime of 6+ hours.

There are still commonalities with its summer counterpart, including the need to read closely; some attempt at emotional resonance; and the pleasingly intricate way that the characters’ stories intertwine.

One of the murders is pretty silly, but I found the rest quite satisfying, including the big-picture 还原 aspect.

Try if you like: A substantial experience; intertwined storylines; melodramatic character backstories.

Not recommended for: Beginners; players with a low tolerance for slightly silly twists; players who dislike close reading.