[Amsterdam, Netherlands] September 16, 2024 — Mystery City Games, in partnership with independent publishing platform indie.io, is proud to announce that A Death in the Red Light will officially launch on Steam on September 23, 2024. Players will experience a noir adventure puzzle game inspired by real-life events, as they explore the gritty streets of Amsterdam in 1988, in the shoes of a washed-up police detective who gets his last chance at redemption.
Discover A Death in the Red Light on Steam
Discover A Death in the Red Light on Steam
As a hard-boiled detective ripped straight out of Dutch history, players will have to solve an apparent murder in the most infamous, seedy street of 1988 Amsterdam: Zeedijk, the Heroin Alley, a place where regular police don’t go without back-up. Players will experience the seedy underbelly of Europe’s most notorious city, torn apart by drugs, illicit sex, and social unrest. Surrounded by urban blight, they will interact with the poor and the downtrodden trying to survive, the predators of the mob preying on them, and the underfunded, besieged social workers and police officers trying to stop the powder keg from exploding.
A Death in the Red Light is a story-driven puzzle experience crafted to provide an authentic detective experience and is structured to be non-linear. Clues can be collected, analyzed, and linked in any order and every detective’s prowl through the streets of Amsterdam will be different. Solving the case will not be easy, requiring players to meticulously gather and analyze evidence using a range of police and forensic techniques. They will question witnesses, run ballistics, perform blood tests, and decode cryptic messages, all to piece the clues together to find and interrogate suspects. Each technique is represented by a unique puzzle that will further the investigation.
This design is based on the original, critically acclaimed escape game of the same title, which received the 2020 Bullseye Award for the Best “Mystery” Genre of the Year. However, it is not a simple port: The game has been rebuilt from the ground up with new graphics, audio, and most importantly, an expanded storyline with completely new puzzles, all to leverage the advantages of the video game format and provide an unique experience - even to those who previously enjoyed it as an escape game.
The city is the star of the game, and solving the murder relies as much on puzzle-solving abilities as it does on the ability of the players to immerse themselves in the atmosphere of a city on the brink. In 1988, reforms to clean up the city and tackle its many problems were yet to take effect. Setting the game in this dark moment of Amsterdam’s history was a conscious decision, rooting the story in real life and providing an opportunity to tell the story of its darkest hour from a new perspective, mixing fact and fiction for a unique experience.
The city is the star of the game, and solving the murder relies as much on puzzle-solving abilities as it does on the ability of the players to immerse themselves in the atmosphere of a city on the brink. In 1988, reforms to clean up the city and tackle its many problems were yet to take effect. Setting the game in this dark moment of Amsterdam’s history was a conscious decision, rooting the story in real life and providing an opportunity to tell the story of its darkest hour from a new perspective, mixing fact and fiction for a unique experience.
"This story in particular is close to my heart. I've lived and worked in this part of Amsterdam for years, and it was great fun to try and inject the game with an authentic Amsterdam vibe,” said Ben Sillevis, lead designer and creative director of Mystery City Games.
Mystery City Games is no stranger to games that challenge players’ wits while simultaneously immersing them in local history. Founded in 2018, Mystery City Games has created escape games and treasure hunts set in nearly a dozen European cities, from Dublin to Athens to Amsterdam itself. Combining meticulous research with non-linear designs, each adventure is unique and designed not just to entertain, but let players see famous cities from a completely new perspective.
A Death in the Red Light will be available on Steam on September 23. Follow Mystery City Games on Instagram, for the latest updates and community support.
ASSETS
STREAMING TRAILER
Mystery City Games is no stranger to games that challenge players’ wits while simultaneously immersing them in local history. Founded in 2018, Mystery City Games has created escape games and treasure hunts set in nearly a dozen European cities, from Dublin to Athens to Amsterdam itself. Combining meticulous research with non-linear designs, each adventure is unique and designed not just to entertain, but let players see famous cities from a completely new perspective.
A Death in the Red Light will be available on Steam on September 23. Follow Mystery City Games on Instagram, for the latest updates and community support.
ASSETS
STREAMING TRAILER
ABOUT MYSTERY CITY GAMES
Founded in 2018, Mystery City Games is a company that specializes in creating unique experiences: Treasure hunts and escape games set in nearly a dozen European cities, including Lisbon, Amsterdam, Dublin, and Athens. Each adventure is unique, designed to challenge the participants’ wits and immerse them in meticulously researched local history. A Death in the Red Light represents their first, ambitious foray into the video game market. Learn more about Mystery City Games on their official website.
Founded in 2018, Mystery City Games is a company that specializes in creating unique experiences: Treasure hunts and escape games set in nearly a dozen European cities, including Lisbon, Amsterdam, Dublin, and Athens. Each adventure is unique, designed to challenge the participants’ wits and immerse them in meticulously researched local history. A Death in the Red Light represents their first, ambitious foray into the video game market. Learn more about Mystery City Games on their official website.
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