Murder by Numbers is based on titles that are very popular with the non-gaming public: nonograms and the Ace Attorney-style investigation game. The mix of reflexive genres seems to make sense, and we're initially pleased with this rather outlandish idea. Playing as Honor Mizrahi, a newly laid-off actress and apprentice detective, we meet SCOUT, who can scan locations for clues, which serve as justifications for various nonograms. The picross grids follow each other through four different cases, which gradually gain in length. These alternate between discussions and puzzles, each one advancing the investigation: it is regrettable that these are rather simple and based on a formula of eliminating the culprits, which makes them rather trivial or uninteresting – the last one is undoubtedly the one that holds the most attention with its high stakes. While the cast of characters works really well and it's nice to have a decidedly progressive discourse on various social issues – despite a few clichés here and there – one can only regret that the actual gameplay mechanics don't mix all that well. There is a kind of narrative imbalance, which nullifies the investigations, excluding the player from the deductive process. There are also quality of life problems, especially with the interface, which lacks ergonomics, or the "sticky" nature of the controls for the picross game. The difficulty of the grids is never exceptional, but it is possible to have to start from scratch, since the title does not offer tools to undo the last markings. With a similar length to Ace Attorney games, Murder by Numbers definitely feels emptier, both because the humour, while charming, never manages to hit home in the same pungent way as its Japanese counterpart, and because the investigations never offer very clever, well-delivered moments. Still, the adventure is really enjoyable and Honor has an undeniable charm, counterbalanced by SCOUT and the rest of the characters. In the end, Murder by Numbers is an interesting attempt with undeniable potential, but it falls a bit flat, due to a lack of finish or budget, which we can only regret.