It’s a mystery. Spin-off games from recent movies are not uncommon, but one from a 60-year-old film? As ever with Sherlock Holmes, things are not quite as they seem. This point-and-click adventure does actually come with a DVD copy of the Basil Rathbone adventure The Secret Weapon, but that is just a bonus with this excellent game.

The Case of the Silver Earring is a new story penned by a “true Sherlock Holmes fan”. The breadth of the storyline, about the murder of Sir Melvyn Bromsby at his country house, justifies this claim. You play as Holmes and Watson at various points across the five levels, interviewing suspects, examining clues and just trying to get your head around the wealth of information provided.

The Victorian settings are beautifully rendered and the voice actors well suited to their roles. The game does move at a slow pace, but with such a complex case to unravel this is no time to rush about, eh, Watson?

John McNamara