Cities are being damaged by unexplained earthquakes. Dr. Ambrose Ink follows the cause to a mountain town, then disappears. Agent Evangeline Glass has to find him and finish the investigation. Clockwork Tales gives its machinery a purpose immediately: these devices belong to a mystery with consequences outside the next locked room.

Big Fish identifies Hochwald and Castle Barber as the destination and introduces the soldiers, golems and engineer in Glass's way. Steam describes a mechanical raven companion and episodes involving disguise and flight. The setting is steampunk rather than supernatural folklore. That distinction makes it an appealing alternative for readers who want an illustrated adventure without another family curse.

Official descriptions: Big Fish · Steam.

The advertised activities still belong to a hidden-object puzzle game. Dramatic scenes involving machines do not establish a combat system or a flight simulator. Look at actual gameplay if those words are what caught your attention. The more reliable promise is a detective adventure whose tools and obstacles share a mechanical theme, with optional steambug collectibles adding another reason to inspect scenes.

Machines are clearer than some objectives

A Steam customer praises the machine designs and puzzles but criticizes the amount of background knowledge and intention the game seems to expect from the player. Another enjoys the collectible bug descriptions. Those comments suggest both the attraction and the limitation. A convincing-looking world can invite curiosity while leaving the next practical objective unclear.

Player accounts: Steam customer 1 · Steam customer 2. These are individual opinions.

Our interest is in that visual identity. A mechanical helper and an engineer's castle give the inventory tasks a common vocabulary. It is easier to become curious about what a device does when the whole place seems built around devices. That does not guarantee that every puzzle follows sensible logic, and the customer complaint about unclear objectives is a good reason to test the early investigation rather than buying from artwork alone.

The package descriptions mention Ink's Story, a bonus prequel. Save it until after the main adventure unless the game directs otherwise; an earlier point in the chronology does not necessarily make the best introduction. Compare Big Fish's Collector's Edition with Steam's current contents before buying extras twice. Choose Clockwork Tales for the mechanical setting and directed investigation, with the understanding that its world-building may suggest more than the story takes time to explain.

Research note: this editorial review compares the official Big Fish and Steam listings with the linked customer accounts. It is not a hands-on review. Sources checked September 26, 2026; prices, ratings and package contents can change.