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1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsMaster Detective Archives: RAIN CODE is a story-led detective adventure about investigating crimes, collecting clues and using them to solve surreal action-puzzle sequences called Mystery Labyrinths. Reviews praise its cast, atmosphere and inventive cases, while pointing to repetitive sections and technical compromises in the original Switch version. It is a good fit if you enjoy character-driven mysteries with supernatural twists—not if you want a realistic detective simulator or tightly varied gameplay throughout.
What kind of game is RAIN CODE?
Yuma Kokohead is an amnesiac detective-in-training in Kanai Ward, a city controlled by a megacorporation and haunted by unsolved mysteries. He investigates alongside Shinigami, the spirit bound to him. The game is a single-player detective adventure with supernatural action and puzzle elements.
The central loop moves between investigating the city and entering a Mystery Labyrinth. As the publisher puts it, “The story progresses through investigation in the ‘real world’ to collect clues needed to solve a case, then conquering the ‘Mystery Labyrinth’ with the clues gathered.”
Investigation and evidence
In the investigation sections, you explore locations, talk to residents, inspect crime scenes and gather Solution Keys. Detectives’ Forensic Fortes—special abilities that help reveal information—add another layer to clue-finding. The evidence you collect feeds into the case’s later challenges.
#1 Best Overall
- A New Project from the Team of Danganronpa - Experience the latest lucid-noir adventure written by Kazutaka Kodaka!
- 3D Detective Adventure - Explore the neon-drenched city of rain and its stygian counterpart in a full 3D environment to the fantastic phantasmal music of Masafumi Takada.
- Eccentric Cast - Meet the unique characters of the detective agency as they face an oppressive corporate-controlled security force designed by Rui Komatsuzaki.
- Puzzles and Paradoxes - Adventure through the paths of challenging dungeons and use deductions to fight Mystery Phantoms trying to bury the truth.
- Languages - Includes Japanese and English voice and Japanese, English, French, Italian, German, Spanish text
Mystery Labyrinths and Reasoning Death Match
The Mystery Labyrinth turns a case into a sequence of traps, puzzles and adversaries. One of its action-focused encounters is called Reasoning Death Match. These sections are where the game’s detective fiction becomes a supernatural puzzle-action game rather than a conventional investigation simulator.
What do reviews praise—and criticize?
The two cited Switch reviews agree on several strengths: the setting, mystery design and presentation can make the adventure memorable. Their main reservations concern repetition and the Switch version’s technical presentation, though their individual assessments are not identical.
Rank #2
- End the reign of mysteries in this lucid-noir detective adventure! Kanai Ward, the city of rain, is gripped by innumerable unsolved mysteries. Explore the city in a fully 3D environment and find Solution Keys that will help solve cases.
- Investigate cases alongside Master Detectives Yuma and Shinigami work with Master Detectives from the World Detective Organization, a group dedicated to solving cases.
- Each Master Detective has a supernatural ability known as a Forensic Forte. Using these abilities, they're able to gather facts and clues beyond the reach of an ordinary person. Mimic body types and voices with Disguise. Detect heart beats and whispers with Audial Aptitude. Witness past crime scenes with Postcognition. These abilities can be shared with Yuma under the right conditions. Utilize them to get closer to cracking a case.
- Amaterasu Corporation Amaterasu Corporation is the megacorporation controlling Kanai Ward. They view the World Detective Organization as their enemy. Deeply connected to the unsolved cases, they use their enormous influence to fabricate facts or conceal them when inconvenient and create obstacles to prevent the truth from being revealed.
- A new mystery-solving experience: The Mystery Labyrinth As the investigation progresses, a realm leading to the truth will appear, the Mystery Labyrinth. Inside, various gimmicks and traps will challenge you. Get to the heart of the case by advancing through this ever-changing maze. Mystery Phantoms will try to stop you from unraveling the truth. Dodge their claims and slash through contradictions with the Solution Blade!
| Review | What the reviewer liked | What the reviewer criticized |
|---|---|---|
| Nintendo Life, Ollie Reynolds; European Switch version, June 30, 2023; 7/10 | Large cast, satisfying cases, Kanai Ward’s appearance, music and voice acting. | Mystery Labyrinth sections can become repetitive; character interactions are limited; visuals can look washed out. Reynolds said the game ran fine overall in his experience but noted occasional long loading times. |
| GameSpot, Heidi Kemps; Switch version, July 6, 2023 | Art direction, varied obstacles, puzzles and the Mystery Labyrinth concept. Kemps found the first major narrative turn especially effective. | Kemps felt later cases did not reach the same high and reported muddy textures and slowdown on Switch. |
These are reviewers’ impressions of the Switch release, not results from a controlled comparison between platforms. Together, they suggest the game’s appeal depends partly on how much you enjoy its recurring investigation-to-labyrinth structure: its premise and atmosphere are strengths, but the repeated format may wear thin.
Is RAIN CODE like Danganronpa?
There is a creative lineage and some structural resemblance, but RAIN CODE is a separate detective story. It centers investigation, supernatural detective abilities and evidence-driven Mystery Labyrinth sequences. Expect character-focused mystery and dramatic confrontations, but not a realistic detective simulator—and not simply another entry in the Danganronpa series.
Rank #3
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Which version can you play?
| Version | Platforms | Release information |
|---|---|---|
| Original Master Detective Archives: RAIN CODE | Nintendo Switch | Nintendo UK lists June 30, 2023. The publisher also lists that date for the Switch release. |
| RAIN CODE Plus | PS5, Xbox Series X|S and Steam | The publisher lists a worldwide release of October 1, 2024. Steam lists July 17, 2024 as its release date and says support for English, French, Italian, German and Spanish was released October 1, 2024; storefront dates therefore differ. |
Spike Chunsoft describes RAIN CODE Plus as offering 4K compatibility and improved overall performance. Those are publisher-stated features, not an independent head-to-head technical assessment in the cited reviews. The performance comments above apply to the original Switch version.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What do the editions include?
Standard, digital deluxe and physical collector editions are not interchangeable. The extras depend on platform and edition.
Quick Recap
Best Value
Rank #4
Original Switch editions
- Standard edition: the game. The publisher lists Amazon among North American retailers for this edition; availability and price can change.
- Digital Deluxe Edition: the game, digital art book The Book of Death, digital soundtrack Noise of Neon, and a season pass with four detective-substory DLCs, according to Nintendo.
- Mysteriful Limited Edition: the physical game, a 6.5-inch Shinigami plush, The Book of Death art book, an outer box featuring exclusive Rui Komatsuzaki art, the Noise of Neon soundtrack composed by Masafumi Takada, and a Nintendo Switch SteelBook. Its present stock is not established.
RAIN CODE Plus editions
- Digital Deluxe Edition on PlayStation Store: the game, digital art book and digital soundtrack.
- Digital books and soundtracks: the publisher says these are separate applications, not content playable within the game.
- PS5 physical first-run copies: the publisher says they include a printed copy of How to Be a Master Detective: A Halara Nightmare Case, a newly written prequel supervised by main scenario writer Kazutaka Kodaka. The publisher’s stated digital PS5 preorder novel bonus had a preorder window ending October 1, 2024 PDT, so it should not be treated as a current offer.
Who should play it?
- Consider it if you want a long, plot-forward mystery, a quirky ensemble cast, a distinctive setting, and cases that mix clue gathering with supernatural puzzles and action.
- Think twice if you need realistic investigative procedures, dislike repeated gameplay structures, or are especially sensitive to muddy visuals, slowdown or loading delays on the original Switch release.
- Choose by platform: the original game is the Switch release; RAIN CODE Plus is the publisher-listed version for PS5, Xbox Series X|S and Steam. The publisher describes Plus as having 4K compatibility and performance improvements, but the cited Switch reviews do not independently test those differences.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
