Microids gives Death of the Nile a '70s glow up in gorgeous new detective game

In a surprise to absolutely no one, I have a soft spot for Hercule Poirot. One of my mom's all-time favorite detectives, I've seen every iteration of every story, from Peter Ustinov to Kenneth Branagh, and everyone that came before. It's also hardly a shock, then, that Microids' upcoming Death on the Nile is an absolute must-play for me; I maintain that LA Noire is the best game ever made, and I sank hours into Nobody Wants to Die not too long ago - detective games are my thing. Reimagining Agatha Christie's classic story in virtual form and transporting it to the '70s, things look a little more groovy than I remember, but I'm kind of obsessed.

Death on the Nile is a story as old as time itself: a peaceful, honeymoon cruise aboard The Karnak ends with Linnet Doyle dead, a bullet in her brain, and all eyes immediately trained on her former friend Jacqueline de Bellefort, Linnet's new husband's vengeful ex. As you might expect in a detective game, your job is to work out who committed this heinous crime and bring the swift hammer of justice down upon them - but in Microids' retelling of the iconic story, there's two strands to the tale.

While Poirot works The Karnak case, private detective Jane Royce is tracking down a serial killer, who's dragged her all over the globe and, finally, to Egypt. The pair intersect at Abu Simbel, where a very large, very convenient falling rock narrowly avoids, you guessed it, Linnet. As the duo attempt to unravel the mystery on The Karnak, they'll follow their own unique leads and branch off to tell their own stories, reuniting for a finale that I can't wait to experience.

In Death on the Nile's new trailer, shared exclusively with PCGamesN, we catch our first glimpses of the core gameplay. Akin to other puzzle games, there's a diary hidden away in a lockbox (which is immediately broken open), as well as a photo slotted into the back of a rather ornate pocket watch. There's a traditional pipe-matching puzzle, and a rather odd-looking clock with a golden moustache - the plot thickens, and I won't lie, I kind of want the latter for my mantlepiece.

There's Assassin's Creed-like stealth sections, where you'll need to tail your suspects without getting caught. You'll also be able to listen for clues; be it under locked doors or the echoing reverberations of plans hatched in Abu Simel, you'll need to stay alert. And, of course, you'll have to interrogate your suspects LA Noire-style, with multiple dialog choices to help you pry the truth from their often very zipped lips.

As you start to piece things together, you'll be able to access a mind palace-esque menu, where you're tasked with slotting events into chronological order, and tying together seemingly disparate pieces of evidence. Sherlock would certainly be proud, unless you lower the IQ of the entire boat, then maybe not.

Microids has confirmed that the Death on the Nile release date is set for Thursday September 25. If you, like me, can't resist a good detective story, you can wishlist it right here. The deluxe edition includes the game's soundtrack and a virtual artbook, and there's a physical edition that includes the above, as well as a Karnak-inspired bookmark.

While you wait patiently for your flight to Aswan, check out our list of the best adventure games if you're looking for something to tease your brain with. Alternatively, if you're wondering where Death on the Nile will slot into your no-doubt already packed schedule, here's a list of all the upcoming PC games for 2025 and beyond.

If you're a detective game enthusiast like me, check out our community Discord server - ask me about that time I wrote a Masters' thesis on LA Noire, I'll wax lyrical.