The Red Pearls of Borneo

About The Red Pearls of Borneo

The Red Pearls of Borneo is a detective mystery game by bushmonkey games that drops you into the role of a psychic investigator in 1948 London. You explore psychic echoes of a 1941 Borneo plantation disaster, figuring out who caused the chaos amid wartime tensions. It leans into visual novel and adventure game traditions, with heavy inspiration from Type Help and Return of the Obra Dinn. The browser-based game is single-player only, focusing on deduction and narrative choice. Expect a mix of historical mystery and eerie supernatural elements, all wrapped in a 1940s setting.

Gameplay

You navigate through a point-and-click interface, piecing together events from fragmented psychic impressions. Each scene is a static image where you can zoom in on details, click on objects, or select dialogue options that influence the story. The core loop involves analyzing clues, cross-referencing memories, and making logical deductions to progress. There are no combat sections or real-time mechanics, every session feels like solving a puzzle with shifting rules. The story branches based on your choices, and missing a key detail can lock you into a dead end. The browser format keeps it lightweight, but the interface occasionally feels clunky compared to modern standards.

What Players Think

The game holds a 4.3/5 average rating from 1,250 PlayPile reviews, with 72% of players completing the full story. Average playtime is 5.5 hours, though some sessions stretch beyond 10 if you chase every branching path. Community moods are split: 68% positive, 24% neutral, and 8% negative. Critics praise the "atmospheric storytelling" but note the "slow pacing" in early chapters. Achievement data shows 23 total unlocks, with 78% of players earning at least 10. A common gripe is the lack of autosave, forcing players to rely on screenshots for notes.

PlayPile's Take

Priced at $19.99, it’s a niche pick for fans of cerebral mysteries and visual novels. The story is tightly written but may feel underwhelming to players seeking action or variety. With 23 achievements and a completion rate above average, it offers decent replay value. Skip if you dislike slow-burn narratives, but it’s a solid buy for $20 or under. The browser port is convenient, but the clunky UI might be a turnoff for some.

Storyline

London, 1948. Jeremiah Goodwill's tobacco plantation was supposed to be a paradise. But on the night of December 16th, 1941, as the Japanese Imperial Navy loomed on the horizon, the estate fell into chaos. Sort through the lies. Reveal the faces of the strangers. Discover what truly happened in the Goodwill estate that fateful night. Can you piece together the truth before the memories fade?