The Portopia Serial Murder Case

About

You play as a detective in 1980s Japan investigating the murder of a bank executive. The Portopia Serial Murder Case tasks you with exploring a mansion, talking to suspects, and solving item-based puzzles to uncover the killer. This early point-and-click adventure blends text-heavy dialogue with inventory puzzles, setting a template for future mystery games. Released in 1983 for home computers and the Famicom, it feels more like a paper-based detective game brought to life through simple graphics and branching choices. Though not widely known outside Japan, this title was a quiet revolution. It helped define the visual novel format and inspired later developers including Hideo Kojima. The game’s influence extends to Yuji Horii’s career, his work here laid groundwork for the Dragon Quest series. With its focus on atmospheric investigation over combat, it carved out a space for narrative-driven gaming long before such stories became mainstream.

Storyline

Kouzou Yamakawa, the president of the Loan and Savings Company, was found dead inside his mansion. A detective and his assistant arrive at the scene for further investigation. The player must resolve the mystery of a murder by searching for clues, interacting with characters, and solving item-based puzzles.