The Final Pin is an interesting take on the low-poly subset of games, being a noir-inspired walking simulator where you play as a desperate detective trying to solve a murder mystery. Made by Jordan “JordiBoi” Lindgren, the game effectively uses PS1-inspired graphics and lighting to create a beautifully stunning presentation. An hour-long experience made to be played in a single sitting, The Final Pin promises a complete story, a voice-acted cast, and horror elements that will keep players on the edge of their seats. Does the game deliver?

Who is the Crow Killer?

The story begins in 1968. The unnamed player character gets a job as a police officer to provide income for his family. On his first proper day of police work, they arrive at a grisly crime scene and meet one of their partners, Tony. The murderer had left a calling card in the form of a pool of blood left in the shape of a crow—a Batman villain in the making. Because of the bird motif, the perpetrator was dubbed the Crow Killer.

A time skip takes us to the mid-eighties. The Crow Killer is still at large. The detective has let the case grow into an obsession. They need to be the ones to bring the unknown criminal to justice. It has been several years since the first murder, and more victims are piling up. Disturbingly, their targets begin to hit closer and closer to home. The story is easily the strongest aspect of the game. It ends with a neat final reveal as to the identity of the killer, too.

It’s just a burning memory.

Throughout the game, there are flashbacks of the protagonist, his wife, and son. These serve as a wonderful narrative hook. Not only do they show what the protagonist has to lose, but they also show what they’ve already lost. Early on, the game reveals that the relationship between everyone involved has become fraught. It makes sense that the detective is so hellbent on catching his perp even several years later.

These segments are enhanced with The Final Pin’s use of moody jazz music. No noir story is complete without melancholic jazz that makes you reflect on your life during late hours into the night! The soundtrack mixes obscure originals and remixes from Leyland Kirby’s The Caretaker. The latter highlights the intrigue and atmospheric sides of the gloomy detective story and makes the light horror elements more subtly eerie. While purists of Everywhere at the End of Time might call it blasphemy to use its music outside the dementia-inspired contexts, it works well for a low-budget indie title.

A web of troubles

The Final Pin has a few hiccups. The unfortunate part is that there is not a lot of deduction or crime-solving that the player does. I described the game upfront as a walking simulator for a reason. It is a linear experience, as the player goes from one scene to the next. If someone goes into The Final Pin expecting to do super in-depth detective sleuthing, they will not be able to get much out of the experience. To a slightly lesser degree, I would also say that the game would barely qualify as a horror title, being more inspired by low-poly horror in its atmosphere at best. So, it would be best to set your expectations accordingly.

As someone who loves walking simulators, I could look past that aspect, but I had a few other critiques about The Final Pin. The narrative’s pacing felt off. As one can expect in a whodunit, several named characters have something terrible happen to them, and some even die. Most of the time, their personalities are not as developed. There is one part of the game where, after one of the other officers is murdered, his boyfriend talks fondly about their relationship when brought into the police for questioning, giving the character who we only saw once or twice more depth and insight. It works well, especially as they are in the character’s P.O.V. during the flashbacks. If there were any way to expand on the game and its setting, I would like to see future games go in this direction.

Final Thoughts

Alright, detectives. We have examined the files. Is The Final Pin worth your time? The answer is yes if you have about 1-2 hours to spare. The Final Pin has a lot of style and an intriguing narrative. If you want a film noir-themed whodunit story where you do not need to solve the crime, just experience the atmosphere and the world such a tale has to offer, this game is worth checking out. The Final Pin is free, so the only thing that would hold you back is not being able to play through in one sitting. But if the game is up your alley, it is a strong recommendation.

The Final Pin is available on PC through itch.io and was released for free.