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Labyrinth City: Pierre the Maze Detective

Labyrinth City: Pierre the Maze Detective

Darjeeling · released Jun 21, 2021

AdventureCasualIndiePCNintendo SwitchiOS (iPhone/iPad)

Adapted from the bestselling children’s book series Pierre The Maze Detective, play as Pierre in this adventure/puzzle game and recover the stolen Maze Stone. Journey through breathtakingly hand-drawn illustrations, meet eccentric characters, and solve puzzles to save Opera City!

88
VGC Score
Improvingmedium confidence
90%
At launch
96%
Steam all-time
76%
Press
100%
Recent sentiment

Screenshots & trailers

Review sentiment over time

Weekly positive-review rate (green) and review volume (bars). Dashed lines mark significant patches; the amber line is the start of the current scoring window. Hover the dots to see what drove a dip or a jump.

How this score was computed

The VGC Score is a weighted blend on a press-comparable 0-100 quality scale. Steam approval rates are first calibrated (95% positive on Steam ≈ 89.5 quality, since Steam approval skews high). Press and tracked creator reviews each count ~2x a player review and share one cap against player evidence (creator buy/skip calls pool into an approval rate, calibrated like Steam approval); all-time sentiment is capped and halved (it's context, not verdict); reviews of the current build carry the most weight when a fresh patch anchors the window; and a 'typical game' prior keeps small samples from pegging the scale. Because press reviews and Metacritic user aggregates describe the launch build, their weight decays as the game ages (3-year half-life after a 1-year grace). That's how a game that launched rough can outgrow its old reception once updates win players over. Reviews under 2h playtime (the refund window), non-Steam activations, and free copies are downweighted.

ComponentPositiveQuality (0-100)Weight (pseudo-reviews)
Press reviews (OpenCritic)7613
All-time Steam reviews96%901000
Metacritic user ratings0
Post-patch Steam reviews (trust-weighted)100%972
Calibration prior (typical game)7250

Acclaim gate: the raw blend lands at 89.3, but scores above 88 must be earned in front of a mass audience; this verdict rests on 2,270 player reviews, a largely self-selected fanbase. As more players weigh in, the ceiling rises (full scale unlocks at 100,000 reviews).

Scoring window: last 30 days (no significant patch detected) · 4 reviews sampled · 5 total reviews in window · weighted 3 up / 0 down · computed 2h ago · full methodology →

Press & Creators reviews (19)

Individual verdicts from outlets we track: scored reviews first, most trusted outlets first among them. The small badge is each outlet's trust score: how well its scoring history aligns with players.

  • 85
    trust 80Jul 30, 2021

    It’s hard to find much fault with this ambitious, albeit niche, game beyond the fact that you’ll wish there were more of it. Labyrinth City: Pierre the Maze Detective dazzles with so much creativity, you’ll never think of mazes the same way again. It’s a bit cheaper than one of the books and much livelier, thanks to the brilliant audio/visual touches. Replay perks also broaden the audience who might not gravitate towards the books. If it looks interesting to you, don’t let plot concerns or repetitiveness scare you off. I’m confident you won’t be disappointed with your purchase. I hope to see another entry soon!

    read full review ↗
  • 60
    trust 76Jul 15, 2021

    If you're worried that you won't like the game, don't despair. It may be aimed at teenagers, but that doesn't mean it won't be enjoyed by adults. At the very least, you'll enjoy the pop culture references that are around every corner, and that the maze has plenty of them. And finally, there's the design, which will take your breath away and awaken your classic childlike joy. Don't expect groundbreaking gameplay or story here, this game is really more for slowing down and enjoying every detail in it. The most you'll enjoy from the gameplay itself are the minigames, but they don't come in abundance. However, if you want to get into a different atmosphere, switch off a bit and play something fabulous, you might find Labyrinth City a good fit. When rating, we take into account the fact that the game is aimed at younger players.

    read full review ↗
  • 90
    trust 70Jul 15, 2021

    As much as I've tended to see people bemoan the "kiddie" nature of Nintendo systems over the years, it can actually be a challenge to find games on Switch that are easy to recommend for green, younger gamers who may not have their coordination together yet...

    read full review ↗
  • 60
    trust 67Aug 9, 2021

    Labyrinth City: Pierre the Maze Detective is an adaptation of the children's book series and it does a marvelous job at transposing the literary world into an interactive format, thanks to its unique visual environment and many fun moments. Where Pierre the Maze Detective falls short of expectations is when its level of challenge comes into place, as this is clearly an effort aimed at less experienced players which won't thrill those more versed in similar games.

    read full review ↗
  • 80
    trust 66Jun 27, 2021

    A gorgeous virtual recreation of The Search for the Stolen Maze Stone, this game is damn near essential for fans of the Pierre the Maze Detective book series. It won’t be for everyone, but it brings some stunning artwork to life and adapts the concept of the book into an enjoyable game.

    read full review ↗
  • 100
    trust 64Jun 22, 2021

    Labyrinth City: Pierre the Maze Detective is a fantastic game that perfectly represents the books it is based on. An amazing and delightful game to play with young children with the family gathered around the computer screen. In saying that, it is not exclusive as a family game, I played the game on my own and had a blast with it, so it is suitable for all ages to play and enjoy. I highly recommend becoming Pierre the detective and join the hunt for Mr X.

    read full review ↗
  • 80
    trust 63Jul 21, 2021

    Labyrinth City is a great children's video game, with enough to do to appeal to adults looking to relax, though a few off-color characters are off-putting.

    read full review ↗
  • 80
    trust 61Jun 22, 2021

    It’s only a simple game, but it’s hard to sit down with Labyrinth City: Pierre the Maze Detective and not be taken in by its charm. Its labyrinths never frustrate, instead opting to entertain players with unadulterated humour as they make their way through them. And when coupled with both a quirky soundtrack and sumptuous 2D visuals that are a treat for the eyes, you have an easy-going puzzle adventure that’s suitable for all ages and skill levels. A feel-good gem, that’s what Labyrinth City: Pierre the Maze Detective is.

    read full review ↗
  • 80
    trust 61Jun 22, 2021

    Labyrinth City: Pierre the Maze Detective is the game that captures the best of the original book series of ‘Pierre the Maze Detective’. It breathed life into the paperback maze craze of the original. The overall gameplay time is relatively short but you will get the best animated and memorable experience and interactions that aren’t like any other puzzle solving, maze revolving games out there.

    read full review ↗
  • 90
    trust 59Jul 15, 2021

    Labyrinth City: Pierre the Maze Detective is a unique and charming experience that’ll appeal to both younger and older gamers. I had a whole lot of fun exploring its selection of beautiful environments, whilst the sheer level of interactivity each one offered ensured there was plenty for players to discover. The only real problem came with how easy the game could be, though it’s hard to hold that against Labyrinth City: Pierre the Maze Detective too much, especially since the gameplay itself is meant to be simple and appeal to all ages. With the gorgeous visuals, abundance of collectibles, and charming world, there’s plenty to love about this whimsical adventure. Whether you’re looking for a fun little game to play with your kids or just fancy exploring some mazes yourself, Labyrinth City: Pierre the Maze Detective is definitely worth adding to your Nintendo Switch library.

    read full review ↗
  • 80
    trust 59Aug 1, 2021

    It’s been a long and stressful couple of years, and finding distractions has been a difficult business. The most effective games I’ve found have fallen into one of two categories. My first category includes involved games that require you to pay attention, like The Dungeon of Naheulbeuk. As for the second, it’s been peaceful, hand-drawn games like Wind Peaks.

    read full review ↗
  • 80
    trust 56Aug 3, 2021

    Labyrinth City: Pierre the Maze Detective is a wholesome, whimsical stroll through a lively and beautiful world of mazes. Its relaxed gameplay might not appeal to everyone, but it’s so charming that it’s difficult not to recommend it. As a final observation, this game made me smile so much that I had to briefly ponder my legendarily sardonic nature. There’s something to be said for an experience that creates such happiness.

    read full review ↗

…and 7 more tracked reviews.

Patch history

  1. Bug fixing: Version 1.0.6 is up!
    Aug 12, 2021significant · resets scoring window
  2. Bug fixing: Version 1.0.4 is up!
    Jul 8, 2021significant · resets scoring window
  3. Bug fixing: Version 1.0.2 is up!
    Jun 25, 2021significant · resets scoring window
  4. Bug fixing: Version 1.0.1 is up!
    Jun 23, 2021significant · resets scoring window