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A Case of Distrust

A Case of Distrust

|United States|Point-and-click, Indie

8.0 /10

Aww Great!

Niche

627 ratings
Rating sources
Steam · Player score8.2/10609 ratingsIGDB · Critic score7.9/103 ratingsIGDB · Player score6.9/1015 ratings
Trailers & screenshots
Why play it

A Case of Distrust is a narrative mystery from 1924 San Francisco. Play as private investigator Phyllis Cadence Malone in this historical 2D adventure game. Explore underground speakeasies, smoke-filled billiard halls, classic barber shops, and more. Catch suspects in lies by using evidence, statements, and your wits. Intrinsic challenges face our heroine, as she struggles against a pushback on emancipation, leading to many doubts, both internal and external. Uncover the truth in a mystery full of deception!

Story and worldbuilding

PC Malone takes her freshly rolled cigarette, sticks it in her mouth, and lights it. She exhales blue smoke and, looking through it, spots the stack of papers near her desk — all old cases from the force that she’d quit long ago. She begins to wonder about her future as a private investigator. Whether the modern world will ever give her more than just thankless adultery cases. Emancipation still has a long way to go. More smoke fills her lungs and she sighs another plume. “Is this life worth what I’ve given up?”, she wonders. “Maybe I should help Green…”

Game highlights
Rating momentum

Aww Great!: 8.0/10 across 627 ratings. Word of mouth is strong — if you like the genre, go for it.

Play style

Leans into Point-and-click, Indie, Adventure — a quick read on whether that fantasy matches what you usually enjoy.

Reviews

16 media reviews

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PC GamerPhil Savage · 2 Mar, 2018
7.8/10

A well-formed slice of noir mystery, beautifully presented. Some writing issues aside, A Case of Distrust is well worth your time.

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PolygonColin Campbell · 12 Feb, 2018
9/10

At three hours long, A Case of Distrust held my attention all the way, but that's not to say it's without imperfections. The main character, I think, lacks the energy of her associates. She's rightly angry about how she was treated as a woman on the force, but her feminism falls somewhere between overly earnest and glib. Despite a strong backstory, she lacks emotional force and presence.

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Game InformerMatthew Kato · 15 Feb, 2018
6.8/10

The world is more enjoyable than the mystery therein, but the experience is intriguing overall

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Hardcore GamerTyler Robertson · 31 Jan, 2018
7/10

Hopefully Wander is able to focus on getting the story right in his next effort, because there's a ton of potential in A Case of Distrust. So much so that it's worth checking out despite its flaws. Its art style alone could warrant a purchase and coupled with the animation, transitions and music, it has a really great noire feel to it. The story is just OK, but A Case of Distrust is cool and different, and it deserves a look.

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Pure NintendoTrevor Gould · 8 Nov, 2018
7/10

A pretty good release for the bookworm crowd, A Case of Distrust will keep you entertained, even if it's only for a few hours.

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33bitsPablo Jiménez Martín · 2 Nov, 2018
6.5/10

In A Case of Distrust we are faced with a noir-like narrative adventure. With a unique and very characteristic artistic section, we will be unraveling the story by investigating each scenario and questioning different suspects. In spite of some problems with control and not having a translation into Spanish, the game compensates for its failures with a typical plot of film noir but well written, and its artistic section.

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NintendoWorldReportJames Jones · 30 Sep, 2018
8.5/10

A Case of Distrust is a really fun adventure game/visual novel. It has a solid, if telegraphed, mystery and a unique cast of characters. It succeeds in capturing Roaring Twenties San Francisco and the evolving social mores of the interwar period. Its style is captivating, and positively contributes to gameplay. This is a strong recommendation for anyone who loves a good murder mystery.

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Worth PlayingLauren Hall · 5 Apr, 2018
8.5/10

Essentially, A Case of Distrust is everything a narrative adventure game should be. It's engaging, humorous, and progressive. The characters are likeable and relatable, even though they're 95% silhouette and 5% deliciously vintage, and the story is entertaining.

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Jump Dash RollRob Kershaw · 15 Mar, 2018
9/10

The Wandering Ben has delivered a riveting crime caper, revelling in the clichés of the period, but not beholden to them. If you enjoy mystery, noir or simply an atmosphere to get lost in for a few hours, A Case of Distrust is essential.

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OnlySPRhain · 1 Mar, 2018
6/10

With A Case of Distrust, developer Ben Wander takes players on an intriguing narrative experience, with complex characters and intricate gameplay cleverly accompanied by a beautiful art style and charming soundtrack. For his first game as an independent developer, Wander has knocked it out of the park. For any fans of narrative games, or detective fiction in general, A Case of Distrust is a must play.

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