Crimen – Mercenary Tales may suit players after a brief, humorous VR sword-fighting adventure, but its combat variety and replay value are limited according to a named review. Tony Mowbray’s UploadVR review found enjoyable attack-and-defense exchanges, while criticizing repetitive encounters and short stories. He completed it in just under three hours; that is one reviewer’s experience, not a guaranteed playtime. Before buying, check that your headset supports the edition you want.
What kind of game is Crimen – Mercenary Tales?
Crimen – Mercenary Tales is a single-player, VR-only action-adventure from Carbon Studio, released on Steam on September 14, 2023. Its official listing describes an arcade slasher built around eight humorous adventures, narrated by expressive characters, with comic-like visuals and settings including castles, temples, and shipwrecks. The weapons draw on 17th-century Europe; the Steam description credits Arkadiusz Reikowski with the Slavic folk musical background. Steam store listing
UploadVR’s May 24, 2023 review describes a tavern framing story in which heroes recount adventures and players take the roles of eight protagonists. The stories play as linear hack-and-slash sequences with climbing and occasional simple puzzles. The game is therefore a better fit for someone seeking a compact, story-led VR action game than for a player expecting a sprawling campaign or a deep combat system.
What does the review say about combat, length, and replay value?
Combat has satisfying moments, but limited variety
In his UploadVR review, Tony Mowbray found the rhythm of attacking, blocking, parrying, and countering enjoyable at times. He also reported that encounters grew repetitive, citing limited enemy variety and surface-level differences between characters. That balance matters: the melee can feel engaging in the moment, but the review does not describe a system that keeps changing substantially as the campaign progresses.
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- IMMERSE YOURSELF IN A MYSTERY: Solve gripping crimes and mysteries in this thrilling board game that blends detective work with cutting-edge technology.
- INNOVATIVE GAMEPLAY: Utlizie the free smartphone app to examine crime scenes, question suspects, and follow leads in virtual reality.
- COOPERATIVE EXPERIENCE: Collaborate with friends to crack the case as you piece together clues and work against the clock.
- MULTIPLE SCENARIOS: Explore a variety of intriguing cases with unique storylines, ensuring endless hours of engaging gameplay.
- HIGH REPLAYABILITY: Dynamic storytelling and randomized elements make each playthrough a fresh and exciting challenge.
A short campaign with little reason to return
Mowbray reported finishing the game in just under three hours. Treat that as his completion time, not a promise: individual playtime can vary. He also found two character stories particularly brief and the ending abrupt, with no modes or collectibles encouraging replay. Humorous story moments and functioning climbing offered some variety, but did not overcome those concerns in his assessment. UploadVR’s review by Tony Mowbray, May 24, 2023
How comfortable is it to play?
The UploadVR review reports options for teleportation or continuous movement, adjustable vignette, snap or smooth turning, and movement-speed adjustment. These choices let players tailor several common movement settings. The reviewer also noted sequences that could be disorienting, so comfort options should not be taken as a guarantee that the game will feel comfortable for every player. The review covered Quest and Pico hardware around the game’s May 2023 launch; it is not a test of the later PC or PS5 editions.
Rank #2
- THIS IS AN ACCESSORY FOR THE CHRONICLES OF CRIME BOARD GAME: This is not a standalone product. You will need a Chronicles of Crime base game in order to use these VR goggles.
- IMMERSE YOURSELF INTO THE CRIME SCENE WITH VIRTUAL REALITY GLASSES: The Virtual Reality Module allows you to look at the crime scenes of Chronicles of Crime in a much more immersive way. Attach the VR Glasses to your mobile device and look at the crime scene all around you just like if you were there!
- MURDER MYSTERY GAME: Chronicles of Crime is an award-winning cooperative game of criminal investigation mixing a board game, an app and a touch of Virtual Reality. With the same physical components (board, locations, characters and items), players will be able to play plenty of different scenarios and solve many different crime stories.
- FUN COOPERATIVE GAME FOR FAMILY GAME NIGHT: You and your team will be put on crime cases, moving all around town, interviewing suspects or witnesses, and searching for clues in 3D scenes! The VR Module also contains a QR code to unlock the scenario "Secret Report" for free.
- NUMBER OF PLAYERS AND AVERAGE PLAYTIME: Chronicles of Crime is designed for 1 to 4 players and is suitable for ages 12 and older. Average playtime is approximately 60 to 90 minutes.
Which version works with your headset?
PC and PS5 editions have different requirements. Confirm the live store listing for your intended edition before purchasing, especially if you rely on a particular headset or PC setup.
| Edition | Requirements and supported hardware | Other listed details |
|---|---|---|
| Steam (PC) | Requires 64-bit Windows 10 or 11. Minimum: Intel i7-4790 or AMD Ryzen 5 1600, 8 GB RAM, and NVIDIA GTX 1060 or better for Oculus Rift. Recommended graphics: GTX 1080 or Radeon RX 5700 or better. The listing names SteamVR or Oculus PC and supports Quest 1/2 Link, Quest 3 Link, Quest Pro Link, Rift-family devices, Valve Index, HTC Vive-family devices, Pimax 5K, and HP Reverb G2. | Single-player and VR-only. The listing discloses frequent violence or gore and general mature content. |
| PlayStation 5 | PlayStation VR2 and PS VR2 Sense controllers are required. | Supports sitting or standing play, adjustable difficulty, and pausing during offline play. Subtitles cover the main story and main characters only. The listing displays Blood, Language, and Violence, and warns that PS VR2 is not for children under 12. |
Sources: Steam listing and US PlayStation Store listing. Store specifications and compatibility can change; check the relevant listing for current details.
Recommended Free Tools
Rank #3
- Follow the clues: Arrange all nine suspect tiles in a 3x3 grid using the case card's directional clues. When every clue fits, the center tile reveals the Prime Suspect.
- 45 cases, three levels: Solve 15 beginner, 15 intermediate and 15 expert cases. Choose the difficulty that suits you and check your solution on the back of the case card.
- Solo or solve together: Play at your own pace, or talk through the clues with family or friends. This Original edition includes one tile set for one puzzle at a time.
- Compact, screen-free play: Keep a hands-on deduction challenge ready for travel, quiet afternoons or family puzzle time. The cards and tiles pack into the included box.
- Inside the Original edition: Includes 45 case cards, one set of nine suspect tiles and directions. Each Solo edition has its own set of 45 cases. Recommended for ages 8 and up.
What do storefront ratings indicate?
Store ratings are platform-specific snapshots rather than directly comparable scores. Steam showed 68% positive from 25 user reviews and labeled the aggregate Mixed when its listing was accessed October 8, 2026. The US PlayStation Store showed 3.31 out of 5 from 70 ratings in a listing snapshot. These totals can change, so check each live store page if current ratings matter to your decision. A percentage of positive Steam reviews and a PlayStation average use different scales and should not be read as equivalent measures.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- Complex detective investigation using clues general knowledge and Antares Database
- 5 crime cases to solve all interconnected and telling one compelling story
- A fully cooperative immersive game night experience
- 1 to 5 Players ages 16 and up
- 120 to 180 minutes playing time.Can be played on video conferencing
Rank #4
- An immersive realistic mystery game
- Unravel an Antarctic Murder: Investigate the murder of Polar Station head Robert Kohler and question the accusation against Martin Moor.
- Immersive Murder Mystery Case File: Dive into a thrilling narrative with realistic evidence, including victim and suspect photos, crime scene photos, newspaper articles, other case evidence, online hints and solutions.
- Crack the Case Like a Detective: In Murder Mystery Party Case Files, investigate motive, means, and opportunity to solve the murder, mirroring a real detective's approach.
- America's Beloved Mystery Game: Discover Murder Mystery Party, a favorite among true crime fans since 1985. Perfect for a dinner party with friends and family or even solve the murder on your own!
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