Ms. Holmes: The Letter M – Review

We loved Nancy Drew and other detective games so we tried playing the Ms. Holmes games and loved them. This is the sixth Ms. Holmes games in the series and the sixth one we’ve played (we played them in order, of course). Anyway, here is my review for Ms. Holmes: The Letter M.

Why The Letter M?

In Ms. Holmes: The Letter M, the brilliant detective Ms. Holmes is back to investigate a string of mysterious crimes linked by a cryptic calling card—marked only with the letter “M.” The game is a classic detective mystery with high-stakes intrigue, hidden identities, and clues scattered through elegant Victorian settings.

As the story unfolds, Ms. Holmes finds herself entangled in a deeper plot involving revenge, secret societies, and clever riddles, all while trying to outwit a cunning criminal mastermind.

As with most titles in the series and the HOPA genre, gameplay includes:

• Hidden Object scenes (both list-based and interactive)
• Inventory puzzles and key item usage
• A variety of mini-games and logic-based challenges

The game introduces a couple of new puzzle types and improved interactivity in hidden object scenes. Puzzle difficulty is moderate, making the game accessible without feeling too easy. Players familiar with the genre will feel right at home.

One feature fans will appreciate is the smooth pacing of gameplay and story progression. There’s a steady rhythm between puzzle-solving, dialogue, and exploration.

The Letter M continues the series’ tradition of strong visual presentation. Victorian London is rendered with beautiful, hand-painted backdrops, atmospheric lighting, and stylish character designs.

The soundtrack supports the mystery vibe with suspenseful strings and moody piano, and the voice acting is well-done—adding drama to the story without overacting.

The Collector’s Edition includes:

• A bonus chapter that wraps up lingering questions
• Collectibles (like morphing objects and tokens)
• Wallpapers, achievements, and a strategy guide
• These extras help extend gameplay for completionists.

How We Test Games

For testing games we use a Nintendo Switch firmware version 2H. Hardware includes Joy-con and Pro controller on a large screen TV. Tests are done with up to 5 players. We take turns playing and evaluating games.

Whenever possible we play multiple players. We also use a Nintendo 2DS, DS XL, and for PC games we use a Ryzen 7 1700x CPU, AMD RX580, running on Win 10. This game is up to 1-players on a computer/steam.

Pros

Engaging detective mystery with strong pacing.

High-quality visuals and immersive atmosphere.

Well-designed puzzles with good variety.

Memorable characters and plot twists.

Solid bonus content in the CE version.

Cons

Short playtime (4–5 hours including bonus chapter).

Genre veterans may find puzzles a bit easy.

Some plot elements feel familiar to HOPA fans.

In this game there’s some mild violence. This may be spoilers but within the game someone gets their thumb chopped off. It shows it at the beginning cutscene and during one of the puzzles (also near the beginning but later than the cutscene).

Summary

Overall, Ms. Holmes: The Letter M is another enjoyable chapter in the Ms. Holmes series. With its polished presentation, sharp detective story, and satisfying gameplay loop, it’s a perfect pick for fans of hidden object mysteries or Sherlock-style tales with a clever heroine at the center. Ms. Holmes: The Letter M Is a stylish mystery adventure with satisfying puzzles and great detective flair.

Read my other reviews of the Ms. Holmes series below here:

Ms. Holmes: The Monster of the Baskervilles

Ms. Holmes: 5 Orange Pips

Ms. Holmes: The Adventure of the McKirk Ritual

Ms. Holmes: The Case of the Dancing Men

Ms. Holmes: The Milverton Plot