由日本一軟體（Nippon Ichi Software）開發，並於2019年在PlayStation 4與Nintendo Switch平台推出的《殺人偵探：開膛手傑克》（Murder Detective: Jack the Ripper / 殺人探偵ジャック・ザ・リッパー），是一款風格鮮明且充滿惡意美學的視覺小說冒險遊戲。以19世紀末霧都倫敦為舞台，巧妙結合歷史上知名的懸案人物「開膛手傑克」，並透過獨特的「理智與瘋狂」抉擇系統，引領玩家進入一場關於法律、正義與殺戮本能的倫理辯論。

故事背景設定在陰暗潮濕的倫敦醫療街。主角亞瑟·修瓦茲（Arthur Hewitt）是一名經營偵探事務所的青年。在調查連續殺人案的過程中，他因一次強烈的精神衝擊，開始看見自稱為「開膛手傑克」的神秘幻影。這個虛幻的殺人魔在亞瑟耳邊低語，誘惑他放棄繁瑣的法律程序，改以暴力和私刑去「懲罰」那些逍遙法外的惡人。隨著劇情推進，玩家需要在冷酷的警官、地下黑幫以及隱藏在都市深處的陰謀之間周旋，亞瑟必須在保持偵探自律與墮入殺手狂氣之間做出終極抉擇。

遊戲的核心系統是「分支導向的劇本結構」。雖然主要玩法以文字閱讀為主，但玩家在面臨關鍵時刻時，需選擇進入「偵探路線（Detective Route）」或「殺手路線（Killer Route）」。偵探路線強調邏輯推理與守法精神，需透過收集證據合法解決案件；殺手路線則展現主角內心黑暗面的覺醒，以暴力與私刑結束惡行。兩條路線的劇情走向、角色命運與結局完全不同，極大地豐富故事層次與深度。

此外，加入「地圖探索與思考」元素。在簡化的地圖上選擇地點進行調查，並與各具特色的NPC互動。值得一提的是遊戲中的「死亡結局（Bad End）」設計，當玩家做出錯誤判斷時，往往會進入極為慘烈且帶有黑色幽默感的失敗結局，而內建的「獎勵劇場」則透過Q版角色引導玩家重新檢視錯誤，使沉重的故事氛圍中穿插輕鬆吐槽，平衡長篇文字閱讀帶來的疲勞感。

本作在市場上獲得獨特的迴響，被公認為「具濃厚日系 cult 風格的心理驚悚作品」。評論特別讚揚其「精緻且帶有病態美感的人設與配樂」，高野友由筆下的角色魅力十足，尤其是開膛手傑克狂放不羈的幻影形象深受玩家喜愛。遊戲對倫敦底層社會的描繪，以及對「正義定義」的探討，也引發玩家深刻思考。

雖然部分評論指出遊戲的推理元素較淡，且殺手路線的血腥描寫對部分玩家可能過於刺激，但其鮮明的視覺風格與大膽劇本設計，使它在眾多文字冒險遊戲中脫穎而出。總結而言，本作並非傳統意義上的解謎遊戲，而是一場關於靈魂墮落與救贖的感官體驗。它成功利用歷史名號，編織出充滿現代感與衝突性的偵探傳奇，是喜愛黑暗幻想與劇本衝突的玩家不可錯過的佳作。

Developed by Nippon Ichi Software and released in 2019 for the PlayStation 4 and Nintendo Switch, Murder Detective: Jack the Ripper (殺人探偵ジャック・ザ・リッパー / Murder Detective: Jack the Ripper) is a visually striking adventure visual novel that combines a dark, malevolent aesthetic with intense narrative depth. Set in foggy, late-19th-century London, the game cleverly integrates the infamous historical figure “Jack the Ripper” and employs a unique “Sanity vs. Madness” decision system, immersing players in an ethical debate about law, justice, and the primal instinct to kill.

The story takes place in the grimy, rain-soaked streets of London’s medical district. The protagonist, Arthur Hewitt, is a young detective running his own investigative agency. While probing a series of murders, Arthur experiences a powerful psychological shock and begins seeing hallucinations of a mysterious figure claiming to be Jack the Ripper. This phantom murderer whispers in his ear, tempting him to abandon the slow, methodical legal process and take justice into his own hands through violent means. As the story unfolds, players navigate a world filled with cold-blooded police officers, underground criminals, and hidden urban conspiracies. Arthur must make a critical choice between maintaining his detective discipline or succumbing to the frenzied instincts of a killer.

The gameplay centers around a branching narrative structure, which is the game’s core system. While the experience is primarily text-driven, players are repeatedly confronted with key choices: to follow the Detective Route, emphasizing logical deduction and lawful investigation, or the Killer Route, exploring the protagonist’s dark awakening through violent vigilante actions. These divergent paths result in vastly different story developments, character fates, and endings, greatly enriching the narrative’s depth and complexity.

The game also incorporates visually impactful exploration and investigation mechanics, allowing players to navigate a simplified map and interact with a variety of distinctive NPCs. Notably, the “Bad End” system delivers graphic, often darkly humorous failures when players make incorrect decisions, while the built-in “Reward Theater” uses chibi-style characters to guide players through mistakes, providing comic relief and balancing the intensity of extended text sequences.

Critically, Murder Detective: Jack the Ripper received acclaim for its unique dark style and emotional impact, and it has been recognized as a psychological thriller with strong Japanese cult influences. Reviews praised the artwork and soundtrack, which are both intricate and disturbingly beautiful, particularly the wild, spectral depiction of Jack the Ripper created by artist Tomoyuki Takano. The game’s depiction of London’s underbelly and its exploration of moral ambiguity inspired deep reflection among players.

While some critics noted that the game’s detective elements were less pronounced and that the gore in the Killer Route might be too intense for some players, the game’s bold visual style and daring narrative direction make it stand out among text-based adventure games. Overall, this is not a conventional puzzle game but an immersive experience exploring the descent and redemption of the human soul. By weaving historical notoriety with modern narrative conflict, it stands as a must-play for fans of dark fantasy and story-driven adventures.