I love Snoopy and the whole Peanuts gang, and I really don’t know why. It’s not something I grew up obsessed with, but every time I see a Peanuts comic strip, if I watch the movie released a few years ago, or even if I just merely listen to “Linus and Lucy”, I just start smiling. There’s something about that franchise, and especially its main mascot Snoopy, that just makes me smile and feel good about myself. So when GameMill announced they were going to publish the first brand new Peanuts-themed game in more than a decade, I didn’t even bother it was being made by the same folks behind the console port of a truly bad TMNT game released a while back; I just knew I wanted to give Snoopy & The Great Mystery Club a go.

Snoopy & The Great Mystery Club is the quintessential kind of “family-friendly” game. It’s an adventure with a bit of mystery and puzzle-solving involved, as well as a handful of QTE-based minigames. In it, you primarily play as Snoopy, who just decides to become a private investigator, solving “mysteries” for Charlie Brown and his friends. I use the term “mystery” very loosely, as those quests are usually all about finding a missing item, such as socks or footballing equipment, and not a truly complex case involving many characters or big stakes. It’s all very laidback, joyful and easygoing.

It’s not complex in any shape or form when it comes to its gameplay. Playing as Snoopy, you have access to a micro open world comprised of the entire neighborhood. You’re given a task, you go to said place in the map, and use one of your many costumes and skills attached to them in order to proceed with the plot. Maybe you’ll dress up as a detective and use your Witcher-like senses to look for footprints. In other cases, you might want to dress up as a pirate, as, somehow, this is the only form that lets you wield a shovel to dig up treasure and hidden items. It’s a very simple concept, but it’s just enough of a brain teaser for a kid to have fun with for a few hours, or for an adult to enjoy this easygoing adventure without any kind of stress.

You do this for a few hours, and then the game is over. Even though there is a pseudo open world to explore, this is not the kind of game that actually features tons of collectibles and secrets. You can unlock a few outfits for Snoopy, sure, and you can also grab some secret comic strips, all classics from back in the day, which can be viewed from the main menu or a specific booth in the map. It’s not much, but again, it’s Peanuts. Even if it’s not the funniest thing in the world, it’s just too damn adorable.

In fact, if I had to describe Snoopy & The Great Mystery Club in one word, that would be “adorable”. The presentation in this game is shockingly good, considering how low the developmental budget for these licensed games usually end up being. It is clearly inspired by the Peanuts movie, released ten years ago (gasp, I’m getting old). Even if it’s not the most detailed game in the world, it looks exactly how a Peanuts game should look like, and it certainly sounds the part as well. I had to check on iMDB if the voice cast was the same from The Peanuts Movie. It feels a bit unprofessional, but that’s what you want from a Peanuts product. Furthermore, the music is exactly what you want from this kind of licensed product and it just makes you feel warm and fuzzy.

I had a shockingly good time with Snoopy & The Great Mystery Club, even if, admittedly, it’s a pretty basic game. It just made me smile and feel good about myself while playing, with its adorable presentation, great sound design, and easygoing gameplay. I have to take into account that this is, first and foremost, a family game: it’s meant for kids, and for parents to play alongside their children. In no moment did it feel challenging or complex, and to be honest, that’s totally fine. It never felt condescending, either. If there’s a flaw to be pointed out, I’d say that the game is a bit too short, making it feel a bit too overpriced. But even then, I have to recommend it if looking at Snoopy makes you smile. And given how you’re a human being with a pulse, I’m 99% sure that you’re part of this demographic.

Graphics: 8.0 Even if it’s not the most detailed game in the world, it looks exactly how a Peanuts game should look like. It’s absolutely adorable.	Gameplay: 6.5 It’s pretty basic. Some mystery-solving, clue-gathering adventure bits, which are as easy as they can be, coupled with a handful of QTE-based minigames.
Sound: 9.0 I had to check on iMDB if the voice cast was the same from The Peanuts Movie. It feels a bit unprofessional, but that’s what you want from a Peanuts product. Furthermore, the music is exactly what you want from this kind of licensed product and it just makes you feel warm and fuzzy.	Fun Factor: 7.5 A feel-good game, with absolutely no stakes or hardships. Good for kids, and equally enjoyable by adults, as Peanuts is adorable no matter your age. It’s a bit brief, however, making it a bit expensive for its asking price.
Final Verdict: 7.5

Snoopy & The Great Mystery Club is available now on PS5, Xbox Series S/X, PC and Switch.

Reviewed on Switch.

A copy of Snoopy & The Great Mystery Club was provided by the publisher.