After years spent relying on theAce Attorneygames as one of their only reliable options, fans of deductive adventure puzzle games haven’t been wanting for experiences the last several years. Between remastered collections of both theApollo JusticeandPhoenix Wrightgames in theAce Attorneyseries,CaseandRise of the Golden Idol, and Nintendo’s surprise revival of theFamicom Detective Clubfranchise withEmio: The Smiling Man, puzzle games with detective elements seem to be experiencing a bit of a moment. But one new game from developer Hakababunko seems to somehow scratch the same itch as all three of the aforementioned franchises, and it’s currently grabbing lots of players' attention on Steam.
Following a fairly robust demo that dropped in October 2024, this past week saw the officialrelease ofUrban Myth Dissolution Center, and the title is already off to a strong start in terms of its critical reception. The title currently has a 90% “Very Positive” user score on Steam alongside a respectable 79% positive critical aggregate score on OpenCritic. Between its excellent visuals, soundtrack, and atmosphere, and its unique use of an in-game social media platform as a tool for investigation and deduction,Urban Myth Dissolution Centeris a wholly original detective mystery that fans ofAce AttorneyandCase of the Golden Idolshouldn’t miss.
Urban Myth Dissolution Center’s Visuals and Atmosphere Exude Style
The mystery at the core of any great detective puzzle game is usually only as good as the visuals, soundtrack, and other presentation elements that support it, and it’s in these areas thatUrban Myth Dissolution Centerdefinitively makes a mark. The first thing players will likely notice is the game’s effective use of pixel art along with a monochromatic color scheme that calls back to theGame Boy Color, albeit with the benefits of modern technology making it look much better than any game ever did on Nintendo’s handheld. While most characters and environmental assets are a mixture of different gradients of teal and white, the game occasionally introduces splashes of color to great effect, adding to the game’s suitably creepy atmosphere.
The intangible “creepy” factor ofUrban Myth Dissolution Centerdoes a lot of the heavy lifting for the game’s story and atmosphere, pulling players in with a series of cases that start simple enough but gradually reveal themselves to be as complex and multi-layered as some of the best “whodunnit” mysteries in any medium. Though it’s not ahorror gameand more of an interactive visual novel, there are genuinely disturbing and frightening moments inUrban Myth Dissolution Centerthat the game’s presentation works overtime to really hammer home, underscoring how its vibe is equally as important as its gameplay.
A Unique Approach to Deduction and Puzzle Solving Help Urban Myth Dissolution Center Stand Out From the Pack
Of course, all ofUrban Myth Dissolution Center’s style would be for naught if its gameplay didn’t offer any substance. Thankfully, the core elements of investigation and deduction are both strong and unique enough to help setUrban Myth Dissolution Centerapart from a lot of itsmystery gamecontemporaries. Each investigation begins with the game’s protagonist, Azami, investigating social media posts and using her special “clairvoyance” glasses to spot connections that draw her deeper and deeper into the web before she begins her field investigations.
Once those field investigations begin, players will go through similar motions as many other adventure games, interacting with objects, taking notes in a virtual journal, and talking to NPCs. But with both the social media investigations and the fieldwork, Azami will need to put on their thinking caps to deduce solutions using “fill-in-the-blank” style puzzles akin toCase of the Golden Idol.Urban Myth Dissolution Centertakes a unique approach to both of its main gameplay inspirations —narrative adventure gamesand survival horror — and it’s a title that fans of either (or both) shouldn’t miss.
