[Early Access] No Stone Unturned – A Fowl Play

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• DEVELOPER: Wise Monkey Entertainment 
• PUBLISHER: Wise Monkey Entertainment 
• PLATFORMS: PC
• GENRE: Mystery / Comedy 
• RELEASE DATE: April 29, 2026 
• STARTING PRICE: 11,99€
• REVIEWED VERSION: PC

Why did the chicken cross the road? No matter which version of the punchline to this common riddle joke you know, it won’t be the answer proposed by the developers at Wise Monkey Entertainment in their debut game No Stone Unturned. 

This quirky title, which blends mystery and comedy, turns this generic joke into a complex and surprising crime story, the truth of which can only be uncovered by leaving no stone unturned. And even though the game is in Early Access and currently has only one episode, it already offers a rock-solid experience that stands out for its originality and creativity, as well as its ability to defy expectations. 

Time to ferret for answers

In No Stone Unturned, we take on the role of Detective Cox, a squirrel with amnesia who finds himself in the middle of a murder case involving a chicken that crossed the road. Without recalling the context of the entire case or the reasons for our presence in the small town of Orchard Under Hill, we continue our investigation by scouring the area, questioning locals, and uncovering connections that could be crucial to finding the culprit. As the story unfolds, it quickly becomes clear that everything is connected, but finding the right lead turns out to be more complicated than it seems at first glance. 

When it comes to the mechanics involved in investigating, we have the typical elements found in detective games, namely finding clues and making deductions. In both cases, however, they have been presented in a completely new style: when searching with a magnifying glass, we find relevant objects, and then have to recall their name or purpose, although it isn’t difficult when the options include funny and absurd answers that clearly don’t fit. 

Deduction, on the other hand, isn’t about simply connecting facts and arriving at the conclusions, but rather about presenting your line of reasoning by drawing previous events according to the prompts in our notebook. Of course, the game also features classic moments where you have to extract confessions from the residents and confront their statements with evidence. However, the ease with which we uncover the story’s layers means that, rather than complex logical puzzles, we focus on an unconventional narrative style that encompasses much more than just detective work. 

There’s a lot to unpack in the overall setting of this crime mystery, which also comes through in the gameplay. Exploring every corner of the world isn’t just about finding clues and hints, but it’s also about fixing it up and thereby increasing your chances of uncovering its secrets (in case anyone’s wondering, there’s an achievement for collecting stones, so the title should also be taken literally). 

Talking to the residents, of whom there are ultimately more than 20, reveals a great deal about the plot and the story’s background, although it also hints at the potential significance of choices and the possibility of building relationships, even though there weren’t many opportunities to see this in the first episode. However, regardless of the level of immersion in this world, the player’s experience is dominated by mini-games that come in various shapes and forms. 

To give you a general idea of the mix we’re dealing with here, within about two hours of playing through the first episode, we encounter: 

• arrow-key rhythm mini-games 

• stealth sections with an active threat 

• a battle straight out of a turn-based RPG 

• a Red Light, Green Light scenario 

• timing challenges 

• a lane runner sequence 

• a boxing mini-game 

The elements mentioned above are just a few examples from a wide range of activities that determine a player’s progression. Some of them are one-time events, but there are also those that recur at various stages of the game or return in a slightly modified form. The sheer number of mechanics and the accompanying side quests means that we sometimes end up straying from our main objective and simply following whatever comes our way, a tactic that’s also used to surprise us with plot twists and unexpected turns. 

After all, having to clean a kind grandmother’s house or jumping on clouds in a dream might seem like mere filler to pad out the story or interludes serving as comic relief, however it quickly becomes clear that even these less lofty moments contribute in their own way to our protagonist’s journey.

Noir with a comedic twist 

Just as with its diverse gameplay, No Stone Unturned isn’t limited to just one visual style. When we control our character, we move through a pixelated world, but during cutscenes and interactions with others, the game switches to a 2D style reminiscent of colorful comic books. At times, we may also come across the use of retro aesthetics imitating old computer screens, and even shots that mimic dynamic brushstrokes. 

Regardless of the style, however, the game always sticks to one main rule: everything is incredibly smooth – from the subtle movements of the character sprites to the dynamic cutscenes. This not only makes the events on screen a pleasure to watch but also makes them feel more firmly rooted in a noir setting. 

The game’s embrace of the noir style is evident from the very beginning, as it opens with dramatic shots punctuated by flashes that focus on details related to the murder. The influence of works from this subgenre of crime fiction can also be seen in characters who embody well-known archetypes such as the innocent soul, the tough guy, and the femme fatale. The same goes for the place where we meet most of them: a pub with live music and shady dealings going on behind the scenes also captures the distinctive atmosphere and even adds a touch of nostalgia.  

A few words should also be said about the music, which works brilliantly both in its instrumental form and in the vocal numbers. Combined with the highly engaging voice acting and fully voiced cutscenes, this creates a combination that brings a new level of quality to the game’s narrative. 

In most cases, it’s also accompanied by a generous dose of humor, which, like everything else here, comes in many forms: recurring visual gags, wordplay, meta commentary that breaks the fourth wall, or sequences in the vein of Undertale-style comedy. 

When sidetrack becomes the main track 

There’s a lot to discover and experience in the game, but it’s worth noting that while most games leave this up to the player in the form of side quests and secrets, No Stone Unturned tends to make any deviation from the main plot part of the main story. 

The fact that there are elements that cannot be skipped, which are not directly related to the criminal case and do not necessarily offer meaningful choice, may seem to some like an interesting way to keep them in suspense about what will happen next, but in other cases could be perceived as distracting. A lot here depends on the player’s personal style and their own expectations regarding detective stories, but from my perspective, it’s worth giving this approach a chance. 

Another aspect that could be seen as a departure from typical solutions in games of this genre is the minimal difficulty of the main puzzles and riddles. Not only can you guess most of the answers right away – if only because they’re juxtaposed with impossible and ridiculous ones – but whenever you hesitate, the game actively steers you in the right direction, which is actually pretty funny, since it takes the form of our detective’s stream of consciousness. 

Most likely, this is simply because the first episode serves as an introduction to familiarize the player with the mechanics. At the same time, however, there’s a sense that the narrative and humor will be the highlights of this experience rather than mind-bending problems. But there’s still a possibility of a complete turnaround on this issue, since new chapters are still being developed. 

Ending thoughts 

Based on what’s available right now, I find it hard to say anything negative about No Stone Unturned. Even though it’s still at such an early stage, this game has everything it takes to provide players with a memorable experience: humor, puzzles, plot twists, great graphics and music, and so on. 

The aspects that might be difficult to appreciate, and which I’ve added to the list of potential cons, largely depend on the player themselves and their approach, their level of interest in the game, and their openness to a bit of experimentation.  

From my perspective, this project looks very promising, and if the pace doesn’t slow down in the coming episodes and it maintains the consistency it’s shown so far, it will be one of the most original and entertaining takes on the increasingly popular blend of mystery and comedy. 

Review copy provided by the publisher