Many games have drawn heavy inspiration from the works of H.P. Lovecraft, but The Sinking City hopes to set itself apart. Set in Oakmont, Massachusetts in the 1920s, players assume the role of private investigator Charles Reed, a war veteran slowly slipping into the grips of insanity. The city is suffering from flooding caused by something supernatural, and Charles must survive the descent into madness while uncovering the mysteries plaguing the town.
Developer Frogwares is adamant that The Sinking City will not hold players’ hands. This means no objectives on the map, no obvious or straightforward quests, and no waypoints. Instead, players need to use their own cunning alongside the detective skills of Charles Reed to stave off madness and solve the mysteries of Oakmont.
One of Charles’ prime abilities is his Mind’s Eye, which helps him notice small details in crime scenes. He also has Retrocognition, which lets him recreate a crime if the player is smart enough to figure out the puzzles. Charles can also cross-reference records from the library, city hall, and the police station using his Mind Palace, helping him draw conclusions based on evidence.
You can see Charles’ detective abilities in action in the new trailer below.
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The Sinking City launches on PS4, Xbox One, and PC this year.
Source: Game Informer Dive Into The Unique Detective Mechanics Of The Sinking City