PITTSFIELD, Mass. — For centuries, the Berkshires have inspired art in every form: painted on canvas, lined into poetry, and written into novels. 

 

And now, rendered in pixels 

 

"Murder Is Game Over: The Blackinton Curse" is the fourth game in a series of stand-alone murder mystery games developed by Matthew Myers of HitherYon Games.

 

Although not a Berkshire native, Myers spent three years in Berkshire County which influenced the latest entry in his 2D whodunit.  

 

"The mix of cultural and historical tourism, the rust-belt vibes, and the mountain wilderness scenery make Berkshire County unique and special. There's also some real darkness in the Berkshires that I connected with," Myers said. "The view of Mount Greylock conjured up legendary images of a monstrous white whale for Herman Melville. King Phillip's War was a brutal conflict, and Gilded Age industry came with unintended disasters and consequences. I find the dichotomy between the glitz and the grit of Berkshire County intriguing. I wanted to channel some of my visceral reactions based on history, personal experience, and imagination."

 

The games, at their core, are detective stories set in Role Playing Game (RPG) inspired exploration gameplay. Players can expect visual novel elements, as well as puzzle and horror aspects within the series. 

 

"The Blackinton Curse" entry in the series brings the game's two main characters, Detective Guy and his dog, Cleo, to the Berkshires to solve a series of murders. 

 

The heirs to a family fortune reunite at their childhood home after their matriarch passes away. They inherit the family's Victorian mansion, sprawling acreage, millions of dollars, and a family curse. A masked figure warns them they'll be the next victims of the curse that dates back to the Gilded Age. Another murder occurs and Detective Guy and Cleo are called upon to solve the 150-year-old mystery.

 

"'Murder Is Game Over' games have a signature spooky fun aesthetic accented by moody pixel art, ominous music, and inspiration from real regional ghost legends," Myers said. "I've particularly enjoyed researching local history and supernatural lore, and letting my imagination run wild trying to create something that feels original yet authentic."

 

The player guides Guy and Cleo through the game. Each character offers distinct mechanics to crack the case.

 

"The detective can speak to people. The dog can find hidden clues. Connections are gradually made between suspects and evidence," Myers said. "Eventually, through answering questions about the mystery, the player explains how the murder was committed and exposes the culprit who is brought to justice."

 

Berkshire County locals will likely recognize some familiar sights and stories in the game. Myers openly draws from the region's landmarks and history to influence both the storytelling and design.

 

"My approach was to take real landmarks, towns, and natural features and adapt them to the beats of the story. The opening scene shows hawks circling over the Hoosac Range, which was something I used to see frequently while jogging through the Hoosic River valley," he said. "The spooky hillside cemetery is based on a real cemetery in North Adams. There's a Lenox-inspired Gilded Age mansion that resembles Ventfort Hall. There are wind turbines, a marble stone church, and an enchanting main street with shops. There's a mill which has been converted into a museum with help from a local college. These elements from Berkshire County are all condensed into one, fictitious town that's meant to be an amalgamation of Berkshire County geography and features."

 

The game's lore is also Berkshire County-inspired. 

 

"There are references to the evil Wampanoag spirit called Hobbomock. There are mining disasters inspired by Hoosac Tunnel and Davis pyrite mine," he said. "There are Gilded Age robber barons and eccentric artists residing in opulent mansions. Even the name 'Blackinton' is lifted directly from Berkshire County history."

 

Myers goes deeper, noting that the game's atmosphere and tone are devised from social issues and his own observations of Berkshire County. 

 

"The themes of preserving nature versus industry and modern convenience, and the lives of the ultra-wealthy versus the people on the outside looking in are addressed," Myers said. "There are children playing in nature parks with rivers, pools, and waterfalls. The notoriety for creative arts that has persevered in Berkshire County and its inhabitants is represented."

 

Myers started creating video games in 2020 during the pandemic. By 2022, he had honed his skills enough to start building Murder Is Game Over. Since then he has released three other entries: the original "Murder is Game Over" and "Streaming Death" and "Deal Killer." 

 

Myers is a solo developer and does all of the writing and scripting. He does rely on freelancers who helped with the visual art and textual editing. He said he started developing the specific entry in 2024 and actually began creating the game in mid-2024.

 

As for building the world, he tried to create a sense of scale using pixels to capture Berkshire landscapes.

 

"I aimed to create environments with a sense of height and depth, including panoramic views on high peaks and below mountain walls in valleys," he said. "I used appropriate tiles to replicate historic mansions and mills, as well as a variety of trees. I built simulated wind, rain, and fog systems. If you're unlucky, you might encounter a rockslide while exploring a mine."

 

"The Blackinton Curse" will be for sale on GOG, Steam, and itch.io stores which all sell PC games. Earlier entries in the series can also be purchased on these platforms.

 

The earlier games have been ported to current generation consoles already, including PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch. There are plans in motion to port this game to consoles later as well.

 

Myers created an exclusive coupon link called "Berkshire Gamers" where the game is available for a 50 percent discount for iBerkshires.com readers. 

 

The game's trailer can be viewed here.