The Darkside Detective vs Serial Cleaner
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both games, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
The Darkside Detective
Investigate bizarre and dangerous cases in Twin Lakes City as a paranormal detective. Solve mysteries involving tentacles, zombies, and occult phenomena. This comedic serial adventure features bite-sized cases and witty puzzles.
- 9 paranormal micro cases
- Comedic serial adventure
- Point-and-click investigation
- High definition pixels
- Original music score
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Grab your trench coat, tune your sixth sense and join the Darkside Division as they investigate the outright bizarre, the downright dangerous and the confusing cases of Twin Lakes. Flesh-hungry tentacles, mafian zombies, and the occasional missing sock are no match for The Darkside Detective. "Where cultists crawl, where demons dwell, where the occult… occults? *ahem* That's where you’ll find Detective Francis McQueen, the lead investigator of the criminally underfunded Darkside Division. When evil darkens the doorsteps of Twin Lakes City – hell, even when it just loiters around shop fronts or hangs out in shady alleyways – he’s there, ready to investigate the cases that nobody else will. He is The Darkside Detective. ----- The COMPLETE SEASON ONE collection of this multi award-winning comedic serial adventure sees Detective McQueen and his sidekick, Officer Patrick Dooley, investigating cases plaguing Twin Lakes and its colorful citizens. Point at everything in sight, click around mysterious and eerie locations, and use your wits (or borrow a friend’s) to lay these cases to rest! Feature List • 9 paranormal bite-sized micro cases to investigate around Twin Lakes City, including a Christmas Spectacular Special • At least three jokes • Cutting edge, high definition pixels • One free curse-removal, up to and including mid-level witch hexes • Music from Ben Prunty, the audiomancer behind gems such as Into the Breach, Subnautica, and FTL
Serial Cleaner
Step into the 1970s as a professional crime scene cleaner. Your mission is to discreetly remove evidence after mob hits without being detected by patrolling police. This stealth action game combines strategy, quick reflexes, and a funky retro aesthetic.
- Crime scene cleanup
- Stealth mechanics
- Environmental puzzles
- Retro 1970s aesthetics
- Funky 70s soundtrack
- Challenging gameplay
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Serial Cleaner is an action-stealth game set in the vibrant and gritty 1970s, where you play as a professional crime scene cleaner. Your job is to clean up after mob hits and other criminal activities without getting caught by the police, who are always on the lookout. The game blends humor, strategy, and fast-paced action in a unique way that challenges your tactical thinking. Serial Cleaner is all about balancing quick reflexes with smart planning. You need to stay unseen, time your movements, and use the environment to your advantage while cleaning up the mess left behind by criminals! You play as Bob Leaner, a regular guy who moonlights as a cleaner for mobsters, picking up odd jobs to earn money. Bob lives with his mother, and between taking her to bingo nights and doing chores, he gets calls from his shady underworld contacts to clean up after their messy work. The game embraces a funky 70s aesthetic, with bold colors, stylish minimalist art, and a soundtrack that evokes the period’s funky and jazzy vibes. It’s both lighthearted and gritty, offering a unique tone that stands out from more serious stealth games. Gameplay Overview: * Crime scene cleanup: Each level in Serial Cleaner is a crime scene where you must remove all evidence (bodies, weapons, blood, etc.) and make your escape without being spotted! You’ll need to sneak around, dodge police patrols, and time your actions perfectly to avoid detection. * Stealth mechanics: The game focuses on stealth. The police officers patrol the area, and it’s your job to study their movements and take advantage of blind spots to clean the scene staying unseen. If they spot you, they’ll give chase, and you’ll need to escape quickly before being caught. * Create your solutions: Each level can be approached in different ways. You can use distractions (like knocking over objects or turning on equipment) to lure the police away, hide bodies in certain spots, or even hide yourself in tall grass or closets. Adapt and use your environment to your advantage! * Challenging and Replayable: As you progress, the levels become more complex with additional mechanics like tighter spaces, more aggressive police, and more evidence to clean up. It's up to you to replay levels to improve your scores and times! Key Features: * Retro aesthetics: The art style is heavily influenced by 1970s pop culture, with bright, saturated colors, geometric shapes, and a minimalist design. This visual style helps the game stand out while giving it a nostalgic feel. * 70s soundtrack: The soundtrack perfectly complements the 70s vibe, with funky and jazzy tracks that keep the mood light yet intense, even during high-stress situations! * Real-time changes: As you clean a scene, the bloodstains you remove disappear, and the more bodies you collect, the fewer are left to deal with. This gives a satisfying sense of progression as you clear the crime scene, but also increases the tension as the police can stumble upon these changes if you're not careful.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: The Darkside Detective at 4.9 against Serial Cleaner's 4.5. The Darkside Detective also leads on review sentiment (77% vs 69%) and iOS requirement (12.0 vs 16.0). Serial Cleaner's advantage is price ($4.99 vs $6.99). On ratings volume, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS
The Darkside Detective costs $6.99 and Serial Cleaner $4.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
The Darkside Detective holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.5. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 47 and 47 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 77% of The Darkside Detective's written reviews are positive against 69% of Serial Cleaner's.
The Darkside Detective ships an update every 6 weeks, Serial Cleaner daily. Both last shipped on September 26, 2026.
| Parameter | The Darkside Detective | Serial Cleaner |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $6.99 | $4.99 — better |
| Rating | 4.9 (47 ratings) — better | 4.5 (47 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 76.9% of reviews — better | 68.6% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 47 | 47 |
| Update frequency | Every 6 weeks | Daily — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Paid | Free with in-app purchases — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 12.0 — better | 16.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 992 MB | 696 MB |
| Age rating | 12+ | 12+ |
| Developer | Akupara Games, LLC | Plug In Digital |
Customer experience
The Darkside Detective
Serial Cleaner
In-app purchases
The Darkside Detective
No in-app purchases
Serial Cleaner
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is The Darkside Detective free?
Is Serial Cleaner free?
Which has better reviews, The Darkside Detective or Serial Cleaner?
Do The Darkside Detective or Serial Cleaner have ads?
Which is updated more often, The Darkside Detective or Serial Cleaner?
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