Duck Detective: The Secret Salami — Review

Every now and then, a game waddles onto the scene that’s so refreshingly weird and endearing, that it’s impossible not to smile while playing it. Duck Detective: The Secret Salami is one of those games.

With a name like that, you might expect a pun-filled, feathery romp—and you’d be right. But what you might not expect is how clever, charming, and surprisingly involved this short mystery adventure is. Beneath the paper-and-cardboard aesthetic lies a tightly constructed detective story filled with memorable characters, laugh-out-loud dialogue, and yes—plenty of salami-related intrigue.

Duck Detective - Eugene McQuacklin stares at a mystery board trying to deduce what's going on.

The Case of the Missing Lunch

Our story begins with the great Eugene McQuacklin—a weary, down-on-his-luck duck detective with a love for justice and snacks. He’s been called in by BearBus, a suspiciously tense bus company, to investigate a grave crime: someone’s lunch has gone missing.

At first glance, this appears to be a straightforward case of workplace theft. But the deeper Eugene digs, the more complicated things become. Is there a Salami Bandit on the loose? Could this be tied to corporate secrets, inter-office romance, or something even more fowl?

The narrative takes unexpected (and hilarious) turns, evolving from food theft to something almost resembling corporate espionage—with a side of office gossip. It’s delightfully ridiculous, and yet somehow still compelling.

Eugene McQuacklin encountering two more employees, a sheep named Margaret, and a penguin named Rufus in the kitchen at BearBus

Magnifying Glasses and “Deducktions”

The gameplay revolves around classic sleuthing mechanics: investigating rooms, inspecting suspicious objects with your trusty magnifying glass, and chatting with a colourful cast of characters. Every clue, object, or suspicious comment adds keywords to your detective’s notebook.

The real hook is the “deducktions“—clever fill-in-the-blank puzzles that ask you to piece together what you’ve learned. These deduction puzzles are simple but satisfying.

They never feel tedious, and they make you feel like a real detective—even if that detective is wearing a trench coat over feathers. It’s light, smart, and never overstays its welcome.

A Cast of Cardboard Characters

BearBus is populated by a wonderfully strange collection of anthropomorphic animals, from overworked bears to sneaky cats and stressed-out squirrels. Every character has their own quirks, secrets, and possible motives.

Despite the short playtime (you can finish the game in around 2–3 hours), the game gives each character just enough personality to make them memorable. And thanks to full voice acting, every interaction feels lively and engaging. It’s rare to see such strong character work in a game this short, but Duck Detective pulls it off with flair.

Duck Detective - Eugene McQuacklin meets arrives at BearBus, and meets Sophie, the receptionist at BearBus.

The Duck Detective has a journal where he writes everything down, notes, clues ect.
Even possible suspects, among them a crocodile named Freddy Frederson - An employee at BearBus.

A Storybook Style You’ll Remember

Visually, Duck Detective is an absolute treat. The game leans heavily into its pop-up book aesthetic, with environments that resemble handcrafted cardboard dioramas. Characters flip, slide, and wobble like paper dolls come to life, and every scene feels like it was lovingly assembled by hand.

This style isn’t just cute, it’s functional. The simplicity of the visuals keeps the game focused and readable, even as you poke around for hidden clues. Combined with a jazzy detective soundtrack and spot-on voice work, the whole package oozes personality.

A Short Case Worth Cracking

If there’s a downside to Duck Detective: The Secret Salami, it’s that it ends too soon. Clocking in for just a couple of hours, it’s a quick experience. But in this case, short doesn’t mean shallow. The story wraps up neatly, the humour lands, and it leaves you wishing for just one more case with Eugene McQuacklin.

This isn’t a game designed to eat up your weekend. It’s the kind of snack-sized indie gem you can enjoy in one sitting—perfectly paced, smartly written, and packed with heart.

Eugene McQuacklin thinking to himself or perhaps speaking to himself (You never know)

Laura - A hard working employee at BearBus.
Investigate and look for clues to help you quack the case.

Final Quackdown

Duck Detective: The Secret Salami is a delightfully oddball detective game that embraces its silliness without ever sacrificing heart or smarts. Between the clever clue system, memorable characters, and charming visuals, it’s a brief but brilliant case that fans of cosy mysteries (or ducks in trench coats) shouldn’t miss.

Sometimes the best mysteries come wrapped in cardboard, sprinkled with puns, and served with a side of salami.