Database Detective: Minor Crimes Division

I really really liked this game!!! It teaches you some basic SQL without making it feel like you’re doing homework or sitting in a database class lol. SQL is more like a tool you use while doing the actual detective work, which I think works really well. You actually have to look at the evidence, connect things, find clues and figure out who the culprit is. And I LOVE that the game has so many little details and background stories. Some of them are genuinely so cute and funny and you can tell a lot of thought went into them. Really fun game, especially if you like detective games and want to learn a bit of SQL along the way. Definitely recommend!!!

Super fun game with just the right amount of challenge. All the little write ups within the game provide so much depth into creating this cohesive fictional world and they're written with great humour. If only I could wipe my memory and play this game again! Such a gem. 10/10

it doesn't feel like trainer for sql, it 100% is a game with its finely drawn world that is fun to play

Great game to learn SQLs and how to use a query (if I'm using those terms correctly). Funny, easy at first, gets more and more complicated while keeping you interested. Would Recommend.

Super fun and charming game. After learning SQL for work I would often have large gaps in time where I wouldnt touch it again so I have been loving playing this game to keep my skills sharp and also get a good laugh in.

A good detective game flavored with humor. If you think "Oh, sure I have good SQL knowledge. Should be piece of cake. I'll just one-shot every task" you're dead wrong, the detective parts come to the fore by a lot and SQL becomes just your tool to go further in solving the case. The cons are mostly quality of life things: limited amount of rows in notes, not resizable query window with a limit of SQL you can put in(for example in chapter 8 my final query was only 26 lines and I had to uglify/minify it to fit into the window) and limited amount of SQL features(god, I hated that there's no CTEs. Yes, you can save result as a table but it feels off)

Have you ever wanted to be a database detective? No? Too bad, you've been hired. Database Detective uses a real life programming language called "SQL" (pronounced "sequel") in order to solve crimes. It blends actual detective work with coding, which is not only rare, but special. It's not often games create the availability to teach the player hard skills beyond those advertised as educational games (and we all know how much fun those are... /s) Due to the nature of detective work, there's many ways to solve the cases. Meaning there's multiple ways for the player to attack the problem and catch the criminal. You don't have to be a stellar programmer in order to solve each case. You just have to be able to read the manual and learn some basic queries. (Seriously, it's STRONGLY recommended you learn how to use the queries). My only complaint is that the level of difficulty scales exponentially. If you're new to SQL (like I was), the case progression can feel like getting pushed off the big water slide before you're ready. This had me running to the Steam discussion pages multiple times for help and hints. I don't think this means the cases should be made easier, but rather there should be more instruction. This would allow the player better opportunity to learn what they're about to apply. Better yet, add on some extra cases to practice what they've just learned, allowing the lessons to become automated. Even if programming isn't your jam, I recommend giving it a try. It might come in handy when the robots take over. Either way, good luck. 7/10

Genuinely fun. As someone who plays hacking games (Bitburner, HackRun, etc), this was a nice change of pace to something more whimsical, humorous (SO much good humor here) and goofy. If you've never used SQL before - I can imagine it gets daunting quickly, probably by like the 3rd or 4th investigation. But hey, you can always arrest a best guess! (Just not Zoran. Don't even suggest that LMFAO PLZ (iykyk)) Otherwise, know that this leans further and further into detective work where you are just using SQL to compile and search through the multiple pieces of data you are collecting. Thomas did great work with this game - particularly because I believe he did literally EVERYTHING himself (sans a VO or two?). His YT and Twitch are worth checking out too. Great work Thomas, and I hope people snatch this up to learn something and have a great time solving puzzles as they do!

My only complaint is that there wasn't more. I get that setting up these puzzles takes a lot of work, but I wish we could start off with some easier cases to explore new concepts rather than diving straight in and scaling up the difficulty exponentially. I thoroughly enjoyed learning the basics of SQL through this game. The thing is, this isn't simply just an online class to get you to do SQL homework, they are well thought out, well made puzzles that require you to use your brain outside of SQL also, and gives you the freedom to arrive at your answer in whatever creative query you wish. I highly recommend this game for anyone wanting to learn SQL yes, but also anyone who are into escape-room like detective puzzle solving.