Masala Games has announced Detective Dotson, a Mystery-Adventure 2D Platformer game for PC.
Detective Dotson is scheduled for release in the third quarter of 2024.
On Monday, Masala Games, an independent game studio based in Ahmedabad, announced Detective Dotson, a mystery-adventure game for PC. A demo of the game has been uploaded to Steam and is currently playable, with the full version slated for release later this year. Set in modern India, the 2D platformer game draws inspiration from Bollywood and Indian TV shows such as CID, according to the publishers. Masala Games has previously launched Word Mess, a word game, for iOS and iPadOS.
The main character of the game, Detective Dotson, is a budding Bollywood actor who finds himself thrust into the role of an unwilling detective following his father’s enigmatic demise. Now, he embarks on a quest to apprehend wrongdoers, gather evidence, adopt disguises, surveil adversaries, and assemble a team to unravel the mystery and apprehend the culprit. A gameplay trailer showcasing the predominantly 2D platformer gameplay interspersed with stylish cut-scenes was shared on YouTube.
According to the company, the game is situated in contemporary India, with cultural elements prominently featured throughout. Additionally, numerous non-playable characters are available for interaction and recruitment to aid in missions. The trailer indicates that the game includes standard genre controls such as vertical, horizontal, and zipline movement, as well as projectile throwing and traversal across diverse landscapes. Furthermore, players have the opportunity to customize their characters.
Detective Dotson
The demo currently features a single mission titled “Who Killed Dad?” with Masala Games announcing plans to include more missions upon the game’s full release. The game is slated for public availability in Q3 2024, as indicated on its Steam listing. Developed using Unity, the game boasts an original soundtrack created in collaboration with Nikhil Rao of the Indian rock band Indian Ocean.
Masala Games assures that the game will be compatible with a wide range of PCs due to its modest system requirements. For Windows PCs, the minimum specifications include an AMD FX-4300 or Intel Core i3-3240 processor (or higher), 8GB RAM, Radeon HD 7750 (1024 VRAM) or GeForce GT 640 (2048 VRAM) graphics card (or equivalent), 1GB storage space, and Windows 10 or later operating system.
For Apple PCs, the minimum requirements include an Intel Core i3-3240 processor or equivalent, 8GB RAM, Radeon HD 7750 (1024 VRAM) or GeForce GT 640 (2048 VRAM) graphics card or equivalent, 1GB available storage, and MacOS Sierra or later operating system.
Detective Dotson will be featured at the Courage XL pre-GDC (Game Developers Conference) event in San Francisco on March 17 at 9:00pm PST (9:30am IST). Attendees of the GDC will have the opportunity to play the game and participate in a Nintendo Switch giveaway at the Masala Games booth from March 20 to March 22.
