Introduction and review of "Detours in the Spiritual Night" (Mystery Death Game ADV)

This is an introductory article for the mystery death game adventure "Reiyo no Michikusa" by Rufabe.
This is a death game created with RPG Maker MV, following in the footsteps of previously released free games such as "Figure Detect," "Doll Recollect," and "Chandelier's Lingering Heat."

The completion time was approximately 3 hours.
(Until you view all the bonus content)

Purchase here (It contains depictions of blood, so it's rated R-15).
It's available on DLsite for ¥1,320 (as of April 2026).
*Trial version available

Game Overview

The story begins with a dead person, who has died for various reasons, killing each other over the right to be resurrected, with only one person able to do so.
The story progresses primarily by reading through the text, so it's similar in format to a novel.

You only need to move the cursor on the map when you're gathering evidence on-site.
However, since you're only moving things around on a single screen, you'll hardly ever get lost.

In the post-incident deduction section, you progress by choosing from options. First, select the option that seems odd, and then select the evidence that supports it.
If you answer correctly, you move on to the next step; if you answer incorrectly, your "confidence" parameter decreases by 1.
The game ends when your confidence level reaches 0.

Review (no spoilers)

Unlike previous titles, this game is a paid title, and I felt that they put more effort into the graphics and background music.
Both are original works created by the authors themselves at their own expense, so they have a sense of unity (the background music is partially from existing materials).

I felt the difficulty level was just right.
The number of possible combinations of choices has been reduced compared to previous titles, making it possible to clear the game by simply trying every possible combination.

Compared to previous works, I felt that the development of each individual case was more subdued.
In previous works, as the investigation progressed, the case would take many twists and turns, transforming into something completely different from what was initially seen.
Compared to previous installments, which saw increasingly complex plot developments, this one felt more streamlined and easier to understand, as the situation from the initial stages of the incident remained largely unchanged.
The culprit's desperate struggle was somewhat subdued, giving the film a less dramatic impression compared to previous installments.
Personally, I felt the story could have benefited from a bit more development, but that's a matter of personal preference.

On the other hand, this work has a major plot twist throughout the entire incident, and it's possible that this design was chosen to prevent that from becoming obscured.
If this structure is a result of prioritizing the overall theme over individual incidents, then I think it's reasonable.

Finally, the price of ¥1,320 for a game that takes 2-3 hours to play might be considered a bit on the expensive side considering the balance between playtime and price.
As a fan, I had no hesitation in buying it, but for those who are unsure whether to buy it or not, I recommend playing the demo or previous titles first.
As a fan who has followed their previous works, this was definitely a purchase I was happy with.
I intend to continue following this from the sidelines.