Murder at the Birch Tree Theater

Murder at the Birch Tree Theater is murder mystery puzzle game that takes place in a small community theater over the course of two decades. It is divided into ten levels, with each level focused on a particular murder, accidental death, or scheme gone wrong during a production. The player must gather clues to observe the scenes and deduce what happened.

The puzzle-solving mechanics are inspired by detective games that blend puzzle-solving with narrative design. The goal is for the player to find satisfaction not only by solving the mysteries, but by also intuitively piecing together the story.

The characters (all animals, by the way) are lovingly hand-drawn and have rich backstories, personal dilemmas, dreams, and desires. There isn’t a need for drawn-out exposition or “lore logs” though, the narratives are all inferred through clues and environmental storytelling.