Detective Dotson review

The main plot? Solve the Dad puzzle. Simple enough. But first, you’ve got to untangle a few smaller knots – local kerfuffles that, wouldn't you know it, all tie together. Your first case involves a damsel apparently distressed enough about her fella to consider inspecting a well from the inside. We won't spoil the juicy bits, as there are only about three main cases to crack in the whole thing, which should keep you busy for a solid three, maybe four, hours tops.

The setting is absolutely endearing and rare to see in a video game. This is proper modern-day India, the sort you rarely see pixelated. None of the mysticism and jungle stuff that Uncharted: The Lost Legacy and most western games try to spin. We're talking bamboo scaffolding around unfinished buildings, aunties having a good old gossip at kitty parties, street vendors flogging their wares, and the odd wedding procession bringing traffic to a standstill. It’s brilliantly recognisable, a cracking 3D backdrop for the 2D characters milling about. Top marks for authenticity.

India runs on trade, right? From Bollywood bigwigs to hopeful prayers, everything’s got a price tag. And in Dotson’s world, haggling isn't just encouraged, it's practically the main event. Need info? Need a trinket? Get ready to bargain. You’ll be bartering with street hawkers (go on, haggle hard!) and trying your luck at the slightly less flexible mom-and-pop shops.

 

 

 

 

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You’ll spend a fair bit of time trotting about, swapping goods and info. Oh, and the streets are a bit messy, so pop any litter you see in a bin – you get points towards hints for your detective board. Sticking clues together feels a bit like being an errand boy initially, but once you foil your first bomb plot (as you do), things perk up, and you actually start feeling like a proper sleuth.

Dotson’s also got a dressing-up box. Don the Sadhu disguise to read minds (dead handy!) or slip into the Karishma outfit to infiltrate kitty parties for prime gossip (just as handy!).   

Here’s the rub. Just as you're getting into the swing of things after the third mystery, the game… well, it sort of stops, teasing more to come. It feels a tad like it’s still in Early Access, and maybe you should treat it as such. The devs promise more free content is dropping in June, including couch co-op for PC later on, and a console version is supposedly due around August/September.

Now, about those promises of more stuff coming down the pipe... usually, we'd take that with a pinch of salt, but the crew behind this, Masala Games, aren't just any old hopefuls. We're talking folks with a hefty 20 years knocking about in the games and film biz. Some of the team even have shiny Pixar Oscars on their mantelpieces (three of 'em, from six films worked on, no less!) and did time at EA wrangling creatures for Spore. So yeah, they've got the chops to back it up.

ALSO READ: Stuff Meets Shalin Shodhan, Director at Masala Games

While it aims for that 'cosy detective exploration' niche, it currently lacks the sheer addictive loop of something like Dave the Diver. The mini-games – finding hidden bits and bobs, a spot of cricket, and a bonkers wedding dance-off that’s like Guitar Hero but with flying dosa – are fun for a bit, but the shine wears off.

Look, it's missing a fair chunk of promised stuff at launch, but the few hours you do get are genuinely engaging. The humour, poking fun at everything from Sadhus pitching AI start-ups to the price of bribing officials, lands well, sometimes subtly, sometimes like a slapstick pie to the face. And did we mention how brilliantly it nails the feel of modern India?

As a detective romp, it’s not trying to be Return of the Obra Dinn; the cases are mildly taxing rather than Sherlock-level brain-busters. As a cosy wander, it needs more carrots to keep you exploring. But the real charm? It’s the characters. They’ve all got their own little lives, grudges, and gossip going on, giving the game heaps more heart than its current runtime might suggest. And sometimes, that’s quite enough. Worth a look, especially with more chapters promised.