In times when everybody seems to be infatuated with either post-apocalyptic grey-brown wastelands or yet another medieval fantasy realm where dragons circle ominously overhead, Detective Dotson crashes the party like that uncle who shows up to family gatherings with too many sweets and impossibly colourful shirts. t’s a vibrant, unapologetically Indian detective adventure that trades grimdark aesthetics for an unusual 2D-3D mix technicolor charm.
Created by Masala Games, this scrolling detective adventure arrives as a "love letter to India,” with the lofty ambition of challenging Western gaming's perception of India as merely relegated to exotic ancient temples and snake charmers. It's the rare game that doesn't just use its setting as wallpaper – it embraces modern India with such unbridled enthusiasm that you can almost smell the chai and hear the autorickshaw horns through your screen.There’s literally the word “Masala” in the name of folks who’ve created it, you dare expect any less.
Curious how a pixelated detective navigates the chaos of Dotcity? I stepped into the shoes of Dotson, deciphering clues amid honking traffic, haggling with pixel vendors, and occasionally getting sidetracked by impromptu cricket matches. Every moment felt like a chaotic dance, with the city’s rhythm pulling me in every direction. So, what happens when a clueless detective is dropped into a case this strange? The game’s about to get interesting.
Death, drama, and the Dotson
Our story begins at a ghat where Dotson performs the final rites for his father, the Dotson Sr. This solemn moment transitions into a vibrant introduction to Dotcity, a pixelated playground bursting with life and secrets, the big one is, who killed Dad. I'm just amazed at how this mystery that feels straight out of a 90s Bollywood thriller, never fails to work. But, if you're expecting a brooding noir detective nursing whiskey and regrets, adjust your expectations – Dotson is cut from different cloth. A failed Bollywood extra whose crowning achievement was being trampled by Salman Khan 's horse in a blink-and-you-miss-it scene, our hero stumbles into detective work with more enthusiasm than expertise.
The game wastes no time establishing its tone, starting with what appears to be a simple case involving a missing pet dog named – I kid you not – Papadam. Look, I'm as baffled by this name choice as you are. Papadam? For a dog? So, I have question for you Shalin, Can we have a cat named Chutney in the later drops? That aside, this starter investigation serves as both a tutorial and a gentle introduction to Dotcity's ecosystem of quirky characters and cultural touchpoints. The trail of clues leads our protagonist through four interconnected cases that become increasingly complex and personal.
Dotcity, now how do I explain it? It’s like a mashup of Mumbai’s energy collided with Delhi’s monuments and Kolkata’s soul, that feels equal parts heartfelt and hilarious.
The city’s is not the only thing that has the vibrant charm, the cast everyone of them, has a charm that would put even the most over-the-top Saas Bahu shows (soap operas, I mean) to shame. There's Dr. Rangeela, whose laboratory seems lifted straight from a 90s Bollywood mad scientist fever dream; Sadhu Bot , merging spiritual wisdom with unexpected tech-savviness; and the scene-stealing Nosy Aunty, whose gossip network would make intelligence agencies worldwide hang their heads in professional jealousy.
What makes the story compelling isn't just the central mystery but how it weaves together seemingly unrelated incidents. That wedding musician being attacked by pigeons? Not just comic relief, but a crucial plot point. The high-society kitty party gone wrong? A treasure trove of secrets and passive-aggressive compliments that would make Miss Marple reach for a stronger cup of chai.
However, just as you're getting invested in the deepening conspiracy, the game pulls a classic streaming service move – it ends on a cliffhanger. This is perhaps Detective Dotson's most frustrating narrative choice. After roughly 2-5 hours of gameplay (depending on how thoroughly you investigate), you're left hanging like a dramatic Ekta Kapoor serial freeze frame. Masala Games has promised to continue the story in June, but it's a bit like being served an incredible thali only to have the dessert held back for later.
Hues and harmonies of Dotcity
The moment you step into Detective Dotson's world, you realise you're experiencing something unique. The game employs a hybrid visual approach that director Shalin Shodhan describes as "2D meets 3D." Pixel art characters move through richly detailed 3D environments, creating a visual language that feels both nostalgic and innovative – like finding your grandmother's vintage polaroids reimagined as interactive art installations.
"We did an experiment where we put our pixel character in a photograph, and we just animated him coming out of a, like, a picture of an abandoned house and that looked so compelling that we were like, we've struck gold in here in terms of style," Shodhan shares.
This artistic choice pays off magnificently. The environments feel more like living, breathing spaces rather than just simplistic backdrop, filled with details that anyone familiar with urban India will recognize instantly. From bamboo scaffolding hugging unfinished buildings to the vibrant chaos of street markets, from aunties gossiping in neighborhood parks to the inevitable wedding procession bringing traffic to a standstill – it's all rendered with an authenticity that feels like digital déjà vu for those who've experienced these scenes firsthand.
Walking into buildings like the Police Station, DMC office, or Rangeela's lab reveals environments so meticulously crafted you'll find yourself pausing just to soak in the details. During a Holi sequence, the world explodes into vibrant pinks, greens, and reds as NPCs throw colored powder with abandon. The juxtaposition of 2D characters against these rich backdrops elevates both elements.
While your eyes feast on this visual smorgasbord, your ears are treated to a soundtrack that's nothing short of spectacular. Composed by Nikhil Rao of Indian Ocean fame, the score blends traditional Indian instruments with contemporary beats – think street drums paired with funky bass lines, or flute melodies floating over synthwave beatsit elevates it, making you feel like you're the star of your very own masala detective flick. It's the kind of music that has you unconsciously bobbing your head while piecing together clues on your evidence board.
The soundscape extends beyond music to include the ambient noise of Indian streets – the perpetual honking that serves as urban India's unofficial national anthem, the calls of vendors, the buzz of conversation – all adding layers of authenticity to Dotcity's digital streets.The attention to aural detail is so precise that different neighbourhoods have subtly different ambient sound mixes.
Dotson’s not your typical detective
Detective Dotson's gameplay is a masala mix of classic point-and-click adventure, platforming, and mini-games. Now, it’s the perfect kind of mix, you’d expect from a detective title, but when I said masala mix, I meant it. What could have been standard genre fare is transformed through distinctly Indian gameplay mechanics and cultural touches that feel both novel and authentic.
At its core, investigation works like you'd expect – you talk to suspects, collect evidence, and connect clues on your evidence board. But where Western detective games might have you looking for fingerprints or DNA samples, Detective Dotson might have you analysing the spice mix in a suspect's kitchen or deciphering the meaning behind a particular rangoli pattern outside someone's home. The game encourages you to think about evidence through a cultural lens.
Dotson still does the usual detective work, following leads, interrogating suspects, and collecting evidence. The core gameplay loop revolves around an evidence board where you connect clues, suspects, and motives – a mechanic that feels satisfying when the pieces finally click together. However, the case logs could use some refinement; they often feel cluttered and make it difficult to track important information, especially as cases grow more complex.
To gather evidence, you'll need to traverse Dotcity's sprawling landscape, which unfolds as a continuous side-scrolling environment with light platforming elements. The game wisely avoids making these platforming sections too challenging – you're a detective, not an acrobat – but they add welcome variety to the gameplay loop.
Conversations aren't just dialogue trees – they're delicate dances of social cues where reading between the lines becomes crucial. That passive-aggressive comment about someone's new sari? That's a clue.
What truly distinguishes Detective Dotson's gameplay is its mini-games and culturally specific mechanics. The bargaining system stands out – almost every transaction in the game involves haggling over prices, whether you're buying street food or trading for crucial evidence. Each NPC has different bargaining patterns, and mastering these negotiations becomes its own meta-game. You get three attempts to make an offer to characters, after which you must decide to take the deal or walk away – a system that captures the essence of real-world Indian market negotiations with surprising accuracy.
To earn money for these transactions, you'll participate in various mini-games scattered throughout Dotcity, and these offer a mixed bag of diversions.
The Hidden Objects game, where you search detailed environments for specific items within a time limit, is genuinely enjoyable and showcases the artists' attention to detail. The cricket mini-game, where you face increasingly challenging bowlers in a simplified batting interface, feels like it could support its own spinoff game with its addictive "just one more over" appeal.
Less successful is the rhythm-based wedding dance-off, which suffers from timing issues that make it more frustrating than fun. There's also the quintessential puzzle mini-game where you reassemble scraps of paper to reveal clues.
One of Detective Dotson's most delightful mechanics is the disguise system. Throughout your investigation, you'll unlock various outfits that grant special abilities. As "Karishma," you can infiltrate women's social gatherings to gather intel. Don the "Sadhu" robes, and you suddenly gain mind-reading powers – a supernatural twist that somehow feels right at home in the game's cheerfully absurd universe. Just so you know, these disguises aren't just cosmetic; they're essential for solving certain puzzles and accessing restricted areas.
The game's pacing also deserves a special mention – Detective Dotson knows when to let you marinate in its atmospheric world and when to propel you forward with urgent developments. The cases escalate naturally in complexity, with the final case weaving together threads from previous investigations in a satisfying tapestry of intrigue. That is, until the aforementioned cliffhanger cuts things short just as they're getting most interesting.
Masala Maar Ke, and then some
Detective Dotson is definitely a love letter to India, and one that manages to avoid both sterile tourism and exploitative poverty porn. Instead, it presents a living, breathing vision of contemporary India that feels authentic in its joyful chaos and rich cultural texture. It's not just a good game with an Indian setting; it's a good game because of its Indian setting – because its mechanics, its narrative, and its soul are all infused with cultural specificity that enhances every aspect of the experience.
Is it perfect? Not quite. The relatively short campaign, which I have complained about quite a few times now, ends too abruptly. Some mini-games feel more fully realised than others. Technical issues to come, but I am giving them a pass, considering I’ve been playing the pre-release build.
Yet these flaws don't diminish what Masala Games has achieved. They’ve created a culturally rich, visually stunning, and mechanically inventive detective adventure that stands out in an increasingly homogenised gaming landscape. And with free DLC promised for June, plus console ports and couch co-op coming later this year, Detective Dotson's universe is set to expand.
Like a perfectly balanced curry, Detective Dotson combines familiar gameplay ingredients with unique cultural spices to create something greater than the sum of its parts. Despite its flaws and abbreviated length, it leaves you craving more – and isn't that the mark of any truly satisfying experience, especially when you know there’s more coming of it.
Our rating: 4/5
Detective Dotson is available on PC through Steam for Rs 500 or $15.
Created by Masala Games, this scrolling detective adventure arrives as a "love letter to India,” with the lofty ambition of challenging Western gaming's perception of India as merely relegated to exotic ancient temples and snake charmers. It's the rare game that doesn't just use its setting as wallpaper – it embraces modern India with such unbridled enthusiasm that you can almost smell the chai and hear the autorickshaw horns through your screen.There’s literally the word “Masala” in the name of folks who’ve created it, you dare expect any less.
Curious how a pixelated detective navigates the chaos of Dotcity? I stepped into the shoes of Dotson, deciphering clues amid honking traffic, haggling with pixel vendors, and occasionally getting sidetracked by impromptu cricket matches. Every moment felt like a chaotic dance, with the city’s rhythm pulling me in every direction. So, what happens when a clueless detective is dropped into a case this strange? The game’s about to get interesting.
Death, drama, and the Dotson
Our story begins at a ghat where Dotson performs the final rites for his father, the Dotson Sr. This solemn moment transitions into a vibrant introduction to Dotcity, a pixelated playground bursting with life and secrets, the big one is, who killed Dad. I'm just amazed at how this mystery that feels straight out of a 90s Bollywood thriller, never fails to work. But, if you're expecting a brooding noir detective nursing whiskey and regrets, adjust your expectations – Dotson is cut from different cloth. A failed Bollywood extra whose crowning achievement was being trampled by Salman Khan 's horse in a blink-and-you-miss-it scene, our hero stumbles into detective work with more enthusiasm than expertise.
The game wastes no time establishing its tone, starting with what appears to be a simple case involving a missing pet dog named – I kid you not – Papadam. Look, I'm as baffled by this name choice as you are. Papadam? For a dog? So, I have question for you Shalin, Can we have a cat named Chutney in the later drops? That aside, this starter investigation serves as both a tutorial and a gentle introduction to Dotcity's ecosystem of quirky characters and cultural touchpoints. The trail of clues leads our protagonist through four interconnected cases that become increasingly complex and personal.
Dotcity, now how do I explain it? It’s like a mashup of Mumbai’s energy collided with Delhi’s monuments and Kolkata’s soul, that feels equal parts heartfelt and hilarious.
The city’s is not the only thing that has the vibrant charm, the cast everyone of them, has a charm that would put even the most over-the-top Saas Bahu shows (soap operas, I mean) to shame. There's Dr. Rangeela, whose laboratory seems lifted straight from a 90s Bollywood mad scientist fever dream; Sadhu Bot , merging spiritual wisdom with unexpected tech-savviness; and the scene-stealing Nosy Aunty, whose gossip network would make intelligence agencies worldwide hang their heads in professional jealousy.
What makes the story compelling isn't just the central mystery but how it weaves together seemingly unrelated incidents. That wedding musician being attacked by pigeons? Not just comic relief, but a crucial plot point. The high-society kitty party gone wrong? A treasure trove of secrets and passive-aggressive compliments that would make Miss Marple reach for a stronger cup of chai.
However, just as you're getting invested in the deepening conspiracy, the game pulls a classic streaming service move – it ends on a cliffhanger. This is perhaps Detective Dotson's most frustrating narrative choice. After roughly 2-5 hours of gameplay (depending on how thoroughly you investigate), you're left hanging like a dramatic Ekta Kapoor serial freeze frame. Masala Games has promised to continue the story in June, but it's a bit like being served an incredible thali only to have the dessert held back for later.
Hues and harmonies of Dotcity
The moment you step into Detective Dotson's world, you realise you're experiencing something unique. The game employs a hybrid visual approach that director Shalin Shodhan describes as "2D meets 3D." Pixel art characters move through richly detailed 3D environments, creating a visual language that feels both nostalgic and innovative – like finding your grandmother's vintage polaroids reimagined as interactive art installations.
"We did an experiment where we put our pixel character in a photograph, and we just animated him coming out of a, like, a picture of an abandoned house and that looked so compelling that we were like, we've struck gold in here in terms of style," Shodhan shares.
This artistic choice pays off magnificently. The environments feel more like living, breathing spaces rather than just simplistic backdrop, filled with details that anyone familiar with urban India will recognize instantly. From bamboo scaffolding hugging unfinished buildings to the vibrant chaos of street markets, from aunties gossiping in neighborhood parks to the inevitable wedding procession bringing traffic to a standstill – it's all rendered with an authenticity that feels like digital déjà vu for those who've experienced these scenes firsthand.
Walking into buildings like the Police Station, DMC office, or Rangeela's lab reveals environments so meticulously crafted you'll find yourself pausing just to soak in the details. During a Holi sequence, the world explodes into vibrant pinks, greens, and reds as NPCs throw colored powder with abandon. The juxtaposition of 2D characters against these rich backdrops elevates both elements.
While your eyes feast on this visual smorgasbord, your ears are treated to a soundtrack that's nothing short of spectacular. Composed by Nikhil Rao of Indian Ocean fame, the score blends traditional Indian instruments with contemporary beats – think street drums paired with funky bass lines, or flute melodies floating over synthwave beatsit elevates it, making you feel like you're the star of your very own masala detective flick. It's the kind of music that has you unconsciously bobbing your head while piecing together clues on your evidence board.
The soundscape extends beyond music to include the ambient noise of Indian streets – the perpetual honking that serves as urban India's unofficial national anthem, the calls of vendors, the buzz of conversation – all adding layers of authenticity to Dotcity's digital streets.The attention to aural detail is so precise that different neighbourhoods have subtly different ambient sound mixes.
Dotson’s not your typical detective
Detective Dotson's gameplay is a masala mix of classic point-and-click adventure, platforming, and mini-games. Now, it’s the perfect kind of mix, you’d expect from a detective title, but when I said masala mix, I meant it. What could have been standard genre fare is transformed through distinctly Indian gameplay mechanics and cultural touches that feel both novel and authentic.
At its core, investigation works like you'd expect – you talk to suspects, collect evidence, and connect clues on your evidence board. But where Western detective games might have you looking for fingerprints or DNA samples, Detective Dotson might have you analysing the spice mix in a suspect's kitchen or deciphering the meaning behind a particular rangoli pattern outside someone's home. The game encourages you to think about evidence through a cultural lens.
Dotson still does the usual detective work, following leads, interrogating suspects, and collecting evidence. The core gameplay loop revolves around an evidence board where you connect clues, suspects, and motives – a mechanic that feels satisfying when the pieces finally click together. However, the case logs could use some refinement; they often feel cluttered and make it difficult to track important information, especially as cases grow more complex.
To gather evidence, you'll need to traverse Dotcity's sprawling landscape, which unfolds as a continuous side-scrolling environment with light platforming elements. The game wisely avoids making these platforming sections too challenging – you're a detective, not an acrobat – but they add welcome variety to the gameplay loop.
Conversations aren't just dialogue trees – they're delicate dances of social cues where reading between the lines becomes crucial. That passive-aggressive comment about someone's new sari? That's a clue.
What truly distinguishes Detective Dotson's gameplay is its mini-games and culturally specific mechanics. The bargaining system stands out – almost every transaction in the game involves haggling over prices, whether you're buying street food or trading for crucial evidence. Each NPC has different bargaining patterns, and mastering these negotiations becomes its own meta-game. You get three attempts to make an offer to characters, after which you must decide to take the deal or walk away – a system that captures the essence of real-world Indian market negotiations with surprising accuracy.
To earn money for these transactions, you'll participate in various mini-games scattered throughout Dotcity, and these offer a mixed bag of diversions.
The Hidden Objects game, where you search detailed environments for specific items within a time limit, is genuinely enjoyable and showcases the artists' attention to detail. The cricket mini-game, where you face increasingly challenging bowlers in a simplified batting interface, feels like it could support its own spinoff game with its addictive "just one more over" appeal.
Less successful is the rhythm-based wedding dance-off, which suffers from timing issues that make it more frustrating than fun. There's also the quintessential puzzle mini-game where you reassemble scraps of paper to reveal clues.
One of Detective Dotson's most delightful mechanics is the disguise system. Throughout your investigation, you'll unlock various outfits that grant special abilities. As "Karishma," you can infiltrate women's social gatherings to gather intel. Don the "Sadhu" robes, and you suddenly gain mind-reading powers – a supernatural twist that somehow feels right at home in the game's cheerfully absurd universe. Just so you know, these disguises aren't just cosmetic; they're essential for solving certain puzzles and accessing restricted areas.
The game's pacing also deserves a special mention – Detective Dotson knows when to let you marinate in its atmospheric world and when to propel you forward with urgent developments. The cases escalate naturally in complexity, with the final case weaving together threads from previous investigations in a satisfying tapestry of intrigue. That is, until the aforementioned cliffhanger cuts things short just as they're getting most interesting.
Masala Maar Ke, and then some
Detective Dotson is definitely a love letter to India, and one that manages to avoid both sterile tourism and exploitative poverty porn. Instead, it presents a living, breathing vision of contemporary India that feels authentic in its joyful chaos and rich cultural texture. It's not just a good game with an Indian setting; it's a good game because of its Indian setting – because its mechanics, its narrative, and its soul are all infused with cultural specificity that enhances every aspect of the experience.
Is it perfect? Not quite. The relatively short campaign, which I have complained about quite a few times now, ends too abruptly. Some mini-games feel more fully realised than others. Technical issues to come, but I am giving them a pass, considering I’ve been playing the pre-release build.
Yet these flaws don't diminish what Masala Games has achieved. They’ve created a culturally rich, visually stunning, and mechanically inventive detective adventure that stands out in an increasingly homogenised gaming landscape. And with free DLC promised for June, plus console ports and couch co-op coming later this year, Detective Dotson's universe is set to expand.
Like a perfectly balanced curry, Detective Dotson combines familiar gameplay ingredients with unique cultural spices to create something greater than the sum of its parts. Despite its flaws and abbreviated length, it leaves you craving more – and isn't that the mark of any truly satisfying experience, especially when you know there’s more coming of it.
Our rating: 4/5
Detective Dotson is available on PC through Steam for Rs 500 or $15.
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