Detective Dotson

About

Detective Dotson is a single player and multiplayer casual action adventure game with a comedy theme. It was developed by Masala Games Private Limited and was released on April 24, 2025. It received positive reviews from players.

Detective Dotson is a cozy mystery game set in vibrant modern India, where you solve four interconnected cases that deepen into a personal story about the protagonist’s father. Explore a richly detailed city blending 2D and 3D art, interact with over 50 unique characters, and uncover secrets through investigation and skillful bargaining. Each clue brings you closer to unveiling the thrilling truth.

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89%

Audience ScoreBased on 116 reviews

story14 positive mentions

character development3 negative mentions

The art style is vibrant and beautifully captures the essence of Indian culture, making the game visually appealing.
The game features engaging mini-games and a charming narrative that adds a unique flavor to the detective genre.
The haggling and bargaining mechanics provide a fun and immersive experience, enhancing the overall gameplay.

The gameplay is repetitive and often feels like a series of fetch quests, which can become tedious over time.
The game is quite short, with many players finishing it in just a few hours, leaving them wanting more content.
Technical issues, such as bugs and poor controller support, detract from the overall experience and immersion.

story
53 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
26%
68%
6%
The game's story is described as engaging and well-crafted, with a unique blend of mystery and humor, but it suffers from predictability and a lack of depth in side quests, which can feel repetitive and frustrating. While the art style and character interactions are praised, many players feel that the overall experience is hindered by gameplay mechanics that rely heavily on fetch quests and bugs that disrupt progress. Additionally, understanding the full narrative may require prior knowledge of the associated movie, leaving some players feeling disconnected from the plot.
- “The story is so engaging, and I was so happy to see the haggling and bargaining included.”
- “Overall it is fun, the mini-games are enjoyable, the story is interesting, and it's a unique way of doing a mystery game.”
- “I’d call it a cozy game that lets you unwind, with a story that’s engaging and well thought out.”
- “There is, unfortunately, not a lot to do once you beat all the chapters, nor is the story complete.”
- “Beautiful art style, but the poor gameplay and weak story make it hard to recommend.”
- “The plot is also not very hard to predict, so it just makes it even more frustrating to try and find the post-it notes to complete a story you've already guessed.”
graphics
37 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
41%
51%
8%
The graphics of the game have received praise for their unique and charming art style, blending 2D and 3D elements that reflect Indian culture and aesthetics. Many reviewers highlighted the vibrant colors and character designs, although some noted inconsistencies in visual coherence and gameplay mechanics. Overall, while the visuals are a standout feature, opinions on their execution and integration with gameplay vary.
- “The art style is awesome—pixelated characters in cool 3D environments give it a unique vibe.”
- “First off, the art style is absolutely amazing, it's got that vibrant, hand-crafted look that instantly pulls you in.”
- “Art style and vibrant colors are quite unique and attractive.”
- “Visuals are an incoherent mix of pixel art and 3D models, and controls are finicky at times.”
- “The 3D assets were a bit too sharp, and the two art styles did not mesh well.”
- “In-game, you will encounter pixelated graphics that feel like a throwback to the 1990s.”
gameplay
37 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
19%
70%
11%
The gameplay of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players appreciating its charming art style and engaging narrative, but criticizing the repetitive and sometimes glitchy mechanics. While some elements, like the disguise and bargaining mechanics, add variety and excitement, others, such as fetch quests and basic mini-games, detract from the overall experience. Overall, the game is seen as more enjoyable for its aesthetic and cultural representation rather than its gameplay quality.
- “Every small detail added to the gameplay makes you hooked in seconds.”
- “The bargaining mechanic is a blast, the surprise appearance of a god in the final case is absolutely wild, and the quick bomb-disarming sequence keeps the adrenaline high.”
- “It's a perfect blend of storytelling, exploration, and interactive gameplay, ideal for both casual gamers and detective story lovers.”
- “I found the gameplay to be a bit weak.”
- “However, the actual gameplay is repetitive, glitchy, and frustrating.”
- “The evidence board is the only mechanic that fits the genre, and unfortunately, the majority of the experience feels like a poorly designed 'fetch-quest' point-and-click-style game in which the player must spend a lot of time traversing the same areas of the map to obtain items.”
music
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
57%
22%
21%
The music in the game is widely praised for its beautiful and culturally rich compositions, particularly highlighting traditional Indian influences that enhance the overall experience. Players appreciate the soundtrack for its ability to create an engaging atmosphere, with many describing it as a standout feature alongside the game's art style. Overall, the music contributes significantly to the game's charm and enjoyment.
- “The music is nicely crafted throughout the game with a traditional Indian style, which is the heartbeat of the game.”
- “Great music and overall a very good experience.”
- “I am about 2 hours in and believe it's simple to play, with a great soundtrack and a fun theme to follow.”
- “There is nothing good about this game, only Indian vibes and music, except everything is bad!”
- “Now, let’s talk about the audio – the background music?”
- “ The music?”
humor
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is widely praised for its vibrant and quirky nature, featuring engaging NPC interactions and unexpected comedic moments that reflect Indian culture. Players appreciate the game's lively atmosphere, filled with hilarious chaos and clever references, making it a wholesome and entertaining experience despite some frustrations with the central mechanics. Overall, the humor adds a charming layer to the cozy mystery gameplay, enhancing its appeal.
- “It's vibrant, quirky, and full of humor.”
- “The game packs in all the Indian masala you'd hope for unexpected twists, hilarious moments, and engaging mini games like cricket, which is genuinely fun.”
- “This game is full of life, color, and hilarious moments.”
emotional
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its wholesome and heartfelt storytelling, which celebrates Indian culture while providing a cozy mystery experience. Players feel a genuine connection to the vibrant characters and humor, enhancing their sense of immersion and nostalgia throughout the adventure. The challenging puzzles contribute to a rewarding sense of accomplishment, further deepening the emotional engagement.
- “It’s not just a cozy mystery game — it’s a vibrant, heartfelt adventure that brings something truly fresh to the genre.”
- “It's not just a game—it's a vibrant, heartfelt tribute to Indian culture, wrapped in cozy mystery gameplay and sprinkled with humor, charm, and nostalgia.”
- “The puzzle solving was a bit difficult at first to get my head around, but it was also what made me feel sort of like a detective in a way and that feeling really matters.”
character development
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
100%
Reviewers highlight the impressive art style and character designs, noting that while the characters are visually appealing, there is a desire for more frequent use of the Dotson's disguises to enhance character development.
- “The standouts are definitely the art style and the character designs, although I wish the Dotson's disguises were used more often.”
- “The character development feels shallow and lacks depth, making it hard to connect with the protagonists.”
- “I found the character arcs to be predictable and uninspired, leaving me wanting more complexity.”
- “Despite the interesting premise, the characters don't evolve in meaningful ways throughout the game.”
grinding
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players who enjoy fetch quests and grinding mini-games will find the grinding aspect appealing, as it offers a way to progress through the game. However, those less inclined towards repetitive tasks may find it tedious.
- “If you are a fan of fetch quests and grinding mini-games to progress, go ahead.”
- “The grinding feels endless and tedious, making it hard to stay engaged with the game.”
- “I found myself repeating the same tasks over and over, which quickly became frustrating.”
stability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The stability of the game has received mixed feedback, with users reporting bugs in the dancing mini-game and issues with the main menu when using a controller, leading to a frustrating initial experience.
- “However, the dancing mini-game felt a bit buggy and dragged on longer than needed.”
- “Started the game with a controller and it's buggy on the main menu. It left a poor first impression; when you select something, something else gets clicked.”

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1h Median play time

1h Average play time

1-1h Spent by most gamers

*Based on 1 analyzed playthroughs

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Frequently Asked Questions

Detective Dotson is a casual action adventure game with comedy theme.

Detective Dotson is available on Nintendo Switch, Steam Deck, iPhone, Windows and others.

On average players spend around 1 hours playing Detective Dotson.

Detective Dotson was released on April 24, 2025.

Detective Dotson was developed by Masala Games Private Limited.

Detective Dotson has received positive reviews from players. Most players liked this game for its story but disliked it for its character development.

Detective Dotson is a single player game with multiplayer and local co-op support.

Similar games include Tales of the Neon Sea, Ghost of a Tale, The Darkside Detective, On Your Tail, Tails Noir: Prologue and others.

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