How to Play

The Mermaid Mask is a point-and-click detective adventure—explore hand-crafted scenes, collect inspectable clues, solve environmental puzzles, and confront eight voiced suspects using evidence. You guide Detective Grimoire with partner Sally Spears across Silkwirm-on-Sea and the Mortuga Submarine over roughly twelve hours and fifty clues. No combat, timers, or fail states: progress gates are purely narrative and puzzle-based, making free hints a legitimate support tool rather than crutch.

Core Gameplay Loop

Each act follows investigate → collect → puzzle → interview rhythm. Click hotspots (or use controller cursor) to examine; new items enter notebook inventory automatically. Combine items on select interfaces—cauldron deduction in prologue demonstrates structured logic boards. Open notebook Tab for map travel after unlock, suspicion tab after crew milestones, and evidence log mirroring wiki checklist. Dialogue choices rarely branch outcomes; thoroughness matters more than optimal conversation trees.

First Hour Checklist

At Stonetop Inn: talk to all NPCs, inspect museum cauldron, copy Mess Hall schematic, complete cauldron deduction. Board Mortuga when prompted; sweep Parlor and Mess Hall before deeper rooms per submarine walkthrough. Learn keyhole icon early on first puzzle—it confirms solutions and offers hints per puzzle completion guide. Platform controls vary—see controls hub.

Embedded video walkthrough below covers cursor modes and notebook UI visually for players preferring motion tutorials over text.