Short But Ultimately Fun and Featuring Some Enjoyably Goofy Performances

If you're interested in something more dramatic or if you're looking for a serious murder mystery, Uncle Marcus probably won't scratch that itch. While the game is ultimately a mystery, it's also equally a comedy and I think it works on that level. I wouldn't describe the game as subtle or sophisticated in trying to elicit laughs, the humour is deliberately broad but I found myself laughing consistently at this ridiculously dysfunctional family and it never bothered me or interrupted my enjoyment of the game overall.

FMV games are more reliant on the acting from the performers and luckily for Who Pressed Mute on Uncle Marcus? The cast is up to the task. Andy Buckley and Abigail Hardingham get the most screen time respectively as Uncle Marcus and our protagonist Abby. Both are good provided you take the tone into consideration, I think Hardingham was suitably constrained as the buttoned-up Abby and Buckley is setting the tone as the shady Marcus. My favourite performance came from Georgia Small as the vapid socialite Lottie but I have to tip my hat to the entire cast. They're all really going for it and I'd prefer someone overdo it instead of phoning it in. Who Pressed Mute would have collapsed in on itself if the cast weren't game and I think they definitely got the job done.

The game is structured as a murder mystery being investigated over a group zoom call and I think there's enough there to keep the player involved and the intrigue of Marcus' potential killer alive. The game encourages more than one playthrough and if I had a chief criticism of Who Pressed Mute, it's that actually accusing one of the family requires a surprising amount of work. We are Abby, the quiet and unassuming member of the family and we're tasked by Uncle Marcus (who claims he's been poisoned) at rooting out his potential killer during Felicity's birthday Zoom call. You choose who to spend time with over each segment of the game and collect evidence through their gossip. You cannot point the finger until a requisite amount of evidence is collected and this isn't a given. You have to ask the right questions or you'll be left empty handed. As much as I enjoyed this game, it can be difficult for a game that comes across as being breezy and light. I could see players getting frustrated with the duality of a game that's clearly not taking itself too seriously but featuring a strict pass or fail mechanic. You may have to repeat the game a few times over (the evidence you collect carries over from the previous playthrough) and that might not be everyone's cup of tea.

I'll admit I may be grading Who Pressed Mute a little lax but I picked the game up on a heavy sale and I got a surprising amount of enjoyment out of my playthrough. I wanted to figure out the mystery, I laughed throughout and the game mechanics were fresh enough to keep me engaged. I'd actually grade it as a 7.5/10 but I'm rounding up. Low expectations probably helped but I do think this is a better-than-expected game and I stand by that. I played this game alone but I think it would be entertaining to play in a group and have a few more voices in the room in trying to figure out Who Pressed Mute on Uncle Marcus.

The mystery genre features the investigation and solving of a puzzle, typically a crime or an enigmatic event. Mysteries are known for their suspenseful narratives, intricate plots, and the challenge they present to readers or viewers to piece together clues and solve the central mystery alongside the characters.

Jack Nicholson, Faye Dunaway, and Kelvin Harrison Jr. in Chinatown (1974)

Someone has attempted to murder Uncle Marcus at the family meeting. Uncover the truth in the yearly family quiz before it's too late.

The Biggest Movies and TV Coming in September

"The Gentlemen" and "Slow Horses" return this fall, while the "Reacher" spin-off series "Neagley" makes its debut. See our guide of the biggest Fall TV and streaming releases.

2026 Fall TV and Streaming Watch Guide

&quot;The Gentlemen&quot; and &quot;Slow Horses&quot; return this fall, while the &quot;Reacher&quot; spin-off series &quot;Neagley&quot; makes its debut. See our guide of the biggest Fall TV and streaming releases.

Get a closer look at these actors from their many TV and streaming series roles.

Streaming Stars, Then and Now

Klemens Koehring and Leah Cunard in Dark Nights with Poe and Munro (2020)

Rosie Day and Charlie Maher in Ten Dates (2023)

Al Weaver, Michelle Mylett, and Kim Adis in The Complex (2020)

Georgia Small, Sinéad Harnett, Paul Raschid, Marisa Abela, Mandip Gill, Demmy Ladipo, Georgia Hirst, and Taheen Modak in Five Dates (2020)

Sherlock Holmes: The Devil's Daughter (2016)

Sherlock Holmes: Crimes and Punishments (2014)

Robbie Kay in Who Pressed Mute on Uncle Marcus? (2022)

Al Weaver in Who Pressed Mute on Uncle Marcus? (2022)

Georgia Small in Who Pressed Mute on Uncle Marcus? (2022)

Andy Buckley in Who Pressed Mute on Uncle Marcus? (2022)

Who Pressed Mute on Uncle Marcus?

Photos5

Top Cast8

User reviews5

More like this

Related interests

Storyline

Top picks

Details

Tech specs

Contribute to this page

More to explore

Recently viewed