Mystery Mansion
- Brand
- Penhaligon's
- Year
- 2017
- Objective
- Engagement
- Industry
- Fashion & Beauty
- Mechanic
- Puzzle
- Platform
- Web
- Agency
- KOTA
Objective
Penhaligon's built the game to launch its Portraits fragrance collection, using a point-and-click whodunit to make the collection's cast of fictional Victorian aristocrats memorable to new customers rather than just listing them in a catalogue. A detective format was itself a departure for a luxury brand whose audience skews older than typical gamers, betting the novelty would draw fresh attention.
Solution
An animated opening sets up the mystery: Lord Truthsbury has vanished from his forest estate, and the player is introduced to a handful of suspects living in the house, among them a baroness and a cantankerous old manservant. From there the player explores the mansion freely, clicking through illustrated 3D rooms and clicking on furniture and objects to turn up clues — vials of poison, rings, cryptic notes — building a case as they go. On mobile the same exploration works by touch and swipe instead of clicking. Once enough evidence is gathered, the player names the culprit to close the case; those who solve it correctly are entered to win the full Portraits collection.
- 1
The player opens a standalone promo site for a fictional Victorian manor, separate from the brand's e-commerce site, and watches a short animated intro that sets up the mystery: Lord Truthsbury has vanished from his forest estate.
- 2
The same intro introduces the suspects — a charming baroness, a society lady, and a grumpy old manservant — all characters from the brand's Portraits fragrance-collection universe.
- 3
The player takes control and explores the manor room by room, clicking through the scene on desktop or using touch gestures on mobile to move between richly furnished rooms.
- 4
In each room, the player searches for and collects clues, including poison vials, rings, and cryptic notes.
- 5
Once enough clues are gathered, the player accuses a suspect, closing the case of the missing lord and ending the game.
- 6
Players who solve the mystery are offered the full Portraits fragrance collection as a prize.
