DeTechtive 2112 is a story-driven action-adventure game with RPG elements set in a cyberpunk future. Players take on the role of Detective Matthew Wallace in the year 2112, navigating the rain-soaked ruins of what was once England after the Third World War. The experience centers on a series of interconnected cases that blend investigation, narrative choices, and combat decisions against the backdrop of a neon-lit city controlled by powerful elites.
Gameplay
The core loop revolves around tackling individual cases as a private investigator. Matthew works with his secretary Abigail to gather clues, confront suspects, and piece together hidden truths. Each case unfolds across its own distinct map filled with atmospheric locations such as shadowed alleys and towering skyscrapers. Players decide how to handle encounters, whether through careful planning, direct confrontation, or quieter methods of avoidance. The game runs on Unreal Engine 5 and emphasizes a noir cyberpunk visual style with detailed environments that support exploration and tactical movement.
Progression ties directly to the case structure, where decisions made during one investigation can influence later events. Combat involves firearms and basic action sequences, while stealth options allow for silent takedowns. The single-player campaign forms the main focus, though the design supports cooperative play with up to three additional players on the same cases. Ten achievements track various accomplishments across the story and optional content.
Game Modes
The primary experience consists of five unique cases that form the main campaign. Each case presents its own self-contained story while contributing to the larger narrative about Matthew's past and the city's secrets. Completion of the campaign typically takes around three hours, with replayability encouraged by the modular case format that lets players experiment with different approaches on subsequent runs.
An additional Cyber Zombie Mode provides post-campaign action-focused gameplay separate from the story. This mode shifts emphasis toward survival elements against waves of enemies in the established environments. No further modes or seasonal content appear in the current release.
Story and Setting
The narrative follows Matthew Wallace as he returns from war and accepts an off-the-record assignment. Working alongside Abigail, he uncovers layers of corruption among the elite while facing personal demons. The setting depicts a dystopian England reduced to crumbling infrastructure under constant rain and artificial lighting. Interconnected cases reveal broader mysteries without expanding into open-world systems or additional factions beyond the core conflict.
Player choices affect how cases resolve, though the game maintains a linear overall structure focused on the detective's journey. Mature content includes gunfights and violence without graphic detail or sexual elements.
Is It Worth Playing?
DeTechtive 2112 suits players who prefer concise, narrative-driven experiences over lengthy campaigns. The mixed reception on Steam, with 46 percent positive from 60 reviews, reflects divided opinions on pacing and depth. Those drawn to short story adventures with co-op flexibility and choice-based problem solving may find value in the focused case structure and Cyber Zombie Mode extension. The game launched on January 29, 2025, and remains available as a complete package without ongoing updates or expansions noted in official listings. It appeals most to fans of indie action-adventure titles that prioritize atmosphere and replay through different solution paths rather than expansive systems or long-term progression.
