The Deed

The indie adventure/RPG The Deed is currently being given away for free on Windows — absolutely free to keep — in a limited-time Indiegala’s giveaway offer! Don’t miss it: even though The Deed is already not expensive at all, when it’s free… we’ll take even a shot in the arm!

The Deed is a dark indie adventure/RPG in which the player takes the role of a murderer and must get away with the crime after committing it inside a family mansion. It was developed by Pilgrim Adventures in collaboration with GrabTheGames Studios and released on November 23, 2015, for Windows.

The game features a 2D perspective with custom graphics that still resemble the style of some RPG Maker games — which is, in fact, the case here — giving it a retro aesthetic similar to 16-bit console RPGs. The soundtrack is minimal but well used to enhance the mysterious atmosphere.

Published by GrabTheGames and WhisperGames, The Deed currently holds thousands of Very Positive reviews on Steam (as of the latest update of this post). Some members of the gaming press also seem to have received it quite well.

You can get the game here!

Trailer

Gameplay

The Deed is a narrative-focused 2D interactive adventure, entirely set within the Bruce family mansion, Dunshiel House, in the year 1945. Players take control of Arran Bruce, a young man returning to the family estate with the intention of murdering his sister after discovering he’s been disinherited in her favor.

Although The Deed was built using RPG Maker, some argue it’s not a traditional RPG, since it lacks genre staples such as combat, character progression, or stat management. However, given that you do play a role and make meaningful choices, one could argue that it still fits within the broader definition of a role-playing game.

A full playthrough is divided into four main phases, all of which are shaped directly by the player’s choices:

1. Exploration and Preparation

In this initial phase, you can freely explore the mansion using the keyboard to move around and interact with objects and characters. You may speak with all six members of the household — Arran, his father, mother, sister, the butler, and the maid — and these interactions will influence how the story unfolds.

During this stage, the player must collect two essential items:

• One weapon (to carry out the murder)
• One piece of evidence (to frame someone else)

The inventory allows you to carry only two items. As soon as you pick up the second item, the phase ends automatically, and the family dinner begins.

2. Family Dinner

This phase is entirely dialogue-based, focused on social interactions. The way you speak and behave as Arran can either raise or dispel suspicion, while also affecting how other characters perceive one another.

3. The Deed

After dinner, the player must plant the piece of evidence in one of the mansion’s rooms, then murder the sister using the chosen weapon. No further exploration or item collection is allowed during this stage.

4. Detective’s Interview

In the final part of the game, the protagonist is interrogated by a police detective. All previous actions — including which items you picked, where you placed them, and how you handled conversations — are analyzed in detail and can lead to different outcomes:

• An innocent character may be framed.
• The murder might go unsolved.
• Arran may be caught and arrested.
• Or he could get away with it and inherit the estate.

The game offers multiple endings, encouraging replayability. A full session typically lasts between 30 and 60 minutes, though experienced players can complete it in just a few minutes. The dialogue system is branching and non-repeatable within each phase, requiring thoughtful decision-making.

About the game

A keenly dark twist on the traditional murder mystery setting, The Deed is an Adventure/RPG game about getting away with murder.

Arran Bruce, the rightful heir to Dunshiel House, returns to his family home after discovering that his abusive father has decided to disinherit him from his Will in favour of his sadistic, deranged young sister. In a fit of anger and greed, Arran has decided to remove his sister from the equation in order to restore his own inheritance. Can he manage to get away with such a foul deed?

• Meet the Family: Explore Dunshiel House and encounter Arran’s twisted, dysfunctional family and their servants. Take care, though – everything that you say or do can have an impact on the outcome of The Deed!
• Choose the Weapon: A rope, a candlestick or good old-fashioned rat poison? There are many household items that can be put to a dark and nefarious use. Choose carefully from ten possible murder weapons, bearing in mind who might become a suspect as a result of your selection.
• Plant the Evidence: Father, mother, maid, butler … any of these individuals could take the blame for your heinous act, if you can find the right evidence, plant it in the right location and manage to raise the suspicions of the Inspector.
• Face the Inspector: When the deed is done, it’s time to face the music and be interviewed by the wily, perceptive Inspector. Can you dodge his questions and avert his suspicions? Will you walk away a free man? Many possible endings await…

Screenshots

More info and adventure

• The Deed @ Steam – Store’s listing.
• The Deed @ Gaming Room – Source, with more info and media. In Portuguese.
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