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.
| Component | Positive | Quality (0-100) | Weight (pseudo-reviews) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Press reviews (OpenCritic) | – | 79 | 49 |
| All-time Steam reviews | 95% | 89 | 1000 |
| Metacritic user ratings | – | – | 0 |
| Post-patch Steam reviews (trust-weighted) | 92% | 87 | 1862 |
| Calibration prior (typical game) | – | 72 | 50 |
Scoring window: since the last significant patch (May 22, 2025) · 300 reviews sampled · 1862 total reviews in window · weighted 87.7 up / 9 down · computed 4h ago · full methodology →
Press & Creators reviews (32)
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.
- 80
“Throughout the approximate three-hour playtime of Duck Detective, players will be treated to delightful dialogue, charming artwork, excellent voice acting, and a satisfactory series of logic puzzles. While the short playtime and price point will be a turn-off for many, fans of the mystery genre will certainly enjoy it.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“Duck Detective: The Secret Salami is a nice relaxing game you can play for a few hours. The game mechanics won't impress anyone, but it compensates with fantastic dubbing and imaginative humor. The Happy Broccoli Games studio created an intense film noir atmosphere with cute visuals. Solving cases as a duck detective will keep you entertained and make you wish that the game would get a sequel as soon as possible.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Duck Detective: The Secret Salami is a send up of the detective noir, and it’s executed almost to perfection. The simple, yet highly effective mechanics do a tremendous job of steering you through the case, which is filled with engaging characters and bolstered by some wonderful voice-acting. The bright and playful visuals are adorable and almost belie the well-written mystery that plays out. Hampered only by its short runtime of 2-3 hours, I dearly hope this is just the first of many sleuthing stories for Eugene McQuacklin. Play it at the risk of being left with a serious hunger for bread… and justice.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“A well-constructed, if all-too-brief, take on the classic adventure game”
read full review ↗ - 70
“While Duck Detective: The Secret Salami has an incredible voice cast, colorful characters, and an intriguing plot, I was let down by the puzzles and gameplay. There were a few puzzles that I solved on my own with no issue, but many puzzles had clues that left me in the dark instead of guiding me.”
read full review ↗ - 75
“Duck Detective: The Secret Salami is a short adventure that immerses the player in an entertaining investigation, full of twists and turns. The full dubbing adds enormously to the fun. While I'd have liked more, I hope the developers will take advantage of this experience to offer a similar, slightly longer game in the near future. I particularly recommend the game to fans of narrative adventure and puzzles who are looking for a small, low-cost experience.”
read full review ↗ - 85
“It's about 2-3 hours of gameplay, and while I'm glad this particular case wasn't dragged out longer, I got to the end and just wanted more. Another case, more time with these characters, anything. That said, while I wish we had more Duck Detective, I'm happy that I got to spend time Duck Detecting as it is, and really hope I can get more adventures of Eugene McQuacklin someday.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“Overall, [Duck Detective: The Secret Salami] is a short game with a runtime of only about three hours, but it’s a fun experience. If you’re a fan of detective-style games like Case of the Golden Idol but want something a little more charming and light-hearted, I’d suggest giving this game a try.”
read full review ↗ - 60
“Duck Detective: The Secret Salami is a short and quirky mystery adventure starring a down-on-his-luck duck with a knack for deduction and dramatic quacking. While the gameplay is light and the case small-scale, its charming humor, voice acting, and cozy runtime make it a delightful enough snack of a game.”
read full review ↗ - 85
- 100
“Duck Detective: The Secret Salami is a twisty mystery featuring off-the-wall humor, a memorable cast of characters, and some truly spectacular voice acting. The Duck Detective may crave bread, but I crave more Duck Detective!”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Duck Detective is short enough to feel a bit lacking, and some of its mystery-solving gameplay could be polished into a more satisfactory experience. However, it's cute and charming, and it has a dedicated quack button. For a bite-sized experience playing as a duck detective, it provides an entertaining couple of hours.”
read full review ↗
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Patch history
- New Game Out Now + Huge QoL UpdateMay 22, 2025significant · resets scoring window
- Duck Detective March UpdateMar 18, 2025
- November UpdateNov 29, 2024
- September UpdateSep 26, 2024
- German Language & Workshop Support Update!Sep 22, 2024