Shadows of Doubt is a unique entry into the realm of detective games. Merging classic noir storytelling with immersive simulation elements. Developed by ColePowered Games, it allows players to step into the shoes of a private investigator in a procedurally generated city filled with intrigue, mystery, and a sense of palpable dread. As I navigated through its winding streets and dark alleys, I found myself not only solving crimes but also wrestling with the moral ambiguities that come with them. This is partly due to some new case types being added to the 1.0 and console release.
At its core, Shadows of Doubt combines stealth, exploration, and detective work. Players assume the role of an investigator tasked with uncovering the truth behind various cases as they pop up around the city. The game utilizes a unique blend of procedural generation and hand-crafted elements, creating a vibrant yet eerie city that feels alive. This is best felt in one of the pre-generated cities, where the crimes feel procedurally generated, but the city has a sense of purpose.
The standout feature is the investigative mechanics. Players must gather evidence, interrogate suspects, and piece together clues in a way that feels both organic and challenging. The game encourages a systematic approach: players can collect information in the shadows or confront suspects head-on, each method carrying its own risks and rewards. Do you take to the vents to try and break into a crime scene, or do you go through the front door hoping the authorities don’t see you enter?
“The narrative is one of the Shadows of Doubt’s most interesting and vital aspects, steeped in the classic noir aesthetic.”
The narrative is one of the Shadows of Doubt’s most interesting and vital aspects, steeped in the classic noir aesthetic. Each case feels like a chapter in a larger story, filled with colourful characters that build out the world. However, there is no actual connective tissue in the story, as the only real storied goal is to reach the top of the social ladder and enter retirement. This is where mileage may vary, as it is up to the player entering the world of Shadows of Doubt to be immersed in their city.
The atmosphere is beautifully rendered, combining a moody art style with an evocative soundtrack. The city feels alive, with rain-slicked streets and dimly lit corners creating a palpable sense of tension. The sound design enhances this atmosphere, with ambient noises adding depth to the environment. Whether it’s the distant sound of a jazz saxophone or the echo of footsteps, every audio element serves to immerse players in this world of shadows.
While Shadows of Doubt offers numerous paths for progression in its social credit ladder, it can sometimes feel overwhelming. New players may find the abundance of options and mechanics daunting. A more guided tutorial tied explicitly to side quests to pass the time as they wait for new bigger cases to happen could help ease newcomers into the game’s intricacies without diminishing the sense of discovery that comes from exploring the city and its stories.
“While Shadows of Doubt offers numerous paths for progression in its social credit ladder, it can sometimes feel overwhelming.”
One of the game’s challenges is its pacing. As players delve into investigations, the pacing can sometimes feel sluggish when they are out of leads and waiting for another crime to be committed, particularly during lengthy cases or when hunting for specific clues. There are moments when the game asks for patience, and while this can build tension, it may also test the resolve of players seeking constant action.
The city’s procedural nature means that some investigations may feel repetitive. While each case offers a unique twist, the underlying mechanics can lead to familiar patterns. The strength of the exploration mitigates this repetition but can burn players out if they are fully invested in the world they are generated in.
Visually, Shadows of Doubt presents a compelling mix of retro aesthetics and modern graphics. The art style pays homage to classic noir films while embracing a contemporary look that makes the game stand out. Character designs are expressive, and the city’s architecture reflects a blend of influences that enhances its unique identity.
However, there is a lot left to be desired when it comes to performance. Before that, I should mention that after a year of playing in Early Access on Steam, where the odd issue would pop up but nothing truly note-worthy, and where I should note, it is quite possibly one of my favourite games right behind Return of the Obra Dinn. I was highly excited to give the console versions a go since this would be an easier way to experience my love of Shadows of Doubt with my partner. I have never felt so disheartened as I did playing the PlayStation 5 version of this game.
The load times are significant. I timed them a few times, and it ranged from two minutes up to two and a half minutes. It’s rough, mainly because roughly every forty to sixty minutes, all sound would drop out of the game, forcing me to save and load to restore it. One night was particularly rough, where it was averaging every thirty minutes; it would drop out, meaning when I played for three hours that night, I had to sit through twelve minutes of loading. Talk about a buzz kill.
There were a bunch of issues like this: sometimes the cursor would disappear when I was trying to interact with my inventory, or menus would overlay on top of each other, making it nearly impossible to navigate the player’s journal where all the information is kept. But the worst contender to this is that frequently, and I mean FREQUENTLY, items would disappear off my information board. Names of suspects, locations, murder weapons, phone numbers, all of it. This made tracking cases increasingly difficult because you never knew what piece of information would disappear next. Not to mention the number of times my game just crashed or interacting with the world became impossible.
“If you had asked me a month ago, Shadows of Doubt would have easily been in my top five games of all time.”
If you had asked me a month ago, Shadows of Doubt would have easily been in my top five games of all time. After seeing the state the game’s port is in, I will be lucky if I ever look at it the same way. Never have I been so excited for a game only to have my hopes dashed so quickly and variously.
Shadows of Doubt is an ambitious and engaging look into the noir detective genre that successfully blends the essence of detective storytelling with immersive gameplay mechanics. Its strengths lie in its atmospheric world-building and its investigative nuances and depth. While it has a lot of issues and technical imperfections that really hold back the console ports.
For fans of noir, mystery, and immersive simulations, Shadows of Doubt on the PC is a must-play. It invites players to engage deeply within its world, encouraging problem-solving and record-keeping as no other game has before. As the shadows lengthen and doubts creep in, players will find themselves captivated by the stories that unfold in this beautifully crafted city of intrigue.
Whether you’re a seasoned detective or a newcomer to the genre, the game offers a rich tapestry of challenges. That is unless you are playing on a console, in which case you can’t go for more than an hour without running into issues, most games breaking to the point of frustration. I really hope Shadows of Doubt gets patches over time to become everything it is on PC because right now, it hurts me to say the console version of it is nigh unplayable between constant fighting with bugs and load times.
