Murders in Venice

Murders in Venice is an adventure game developed by Cobra Soft and released by Infogrames initially for Amiga and Atari ST in 1989. One year later, it was ported to MS-DOS.

In this game, you are a private detective and need to solve a mystery related to a terrorist attack in Venice. The developers were obviously fans of Humphrey Bogart since the detective has his face, and probably the story is inspired by the vacation Lauren Bacall & Humphrey Bogart had in Venice in 1954. The city is clearly a fantastic setting. Venice is a city like no other, with its winding streets, charming canals, and rich history. In Murders in Venice, you can explore this enchanting city and immerse yourself in its unique atmosphere. From the iconic gondolas gliding through the canals to the stunning architecture of St. Mark's Square, every corner of Venice is waiting to be discovered.

In terms of mechanics, the game is interesting because it's a so-called real-time adventure: you have 5 hours to solve the mystery, and there are events that happen at the right time in the right place, so you must be there or you will lose them. This is very similar to the gameplay of Infocom's Deadline. During this time, you must take pictures with your camera, collect evidence, and talk with suspects like a real investigator. Instead of the classic "inventory," you have a full organizer with pictures, notes, a word processing tool, and more. This was very advanced for an adventure game released in 1989. At the end of the game, you will need to disarm a bomb with a sort of minigame.

Murders in Venice is not an easy game; the time constraint makes it even more difficult than a standard adventure. That's why we suggest a tutorial if you want to play this title. Anyway, it's highly recommended.