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Detective Dotson Review: A Short Mystery Worth Solving
Platform(s): PC (version reviewed), Xbox (at a later date)
Genre: Detective Evidence Board Adventure Game
[Update: Base price has since changed from US$20 to US$15]
If you haven’t already, do yourself a favour and check out the Loot or Leave It? episode on Detective Dotson—especially if you enjoy your detective games with a side of absurdity, pixel-art charm, and yes, bird-related combat. But if you’re more of a reader or just want the written breakdown before you commit to the download, here’s the full review of Masala Games’ delightfully unhinged indie adventure.
Most detective games lean heavily into brooding atmospheres, cryptic clues, and broody protagonists who chain-smoke like it’s still noir o’clock. Detective Dotson does things a little differently. Instead of lurking in the rain, you’re sprinting through alleyways dressed as a sadhu, lobbing soda cans at aggressive pigeons, and solving mysteries with sheer optimism and a crime-solving pinboard that would give Charlie Day nightmares.
Set in a vibrant pixel-art version of modern India, Detective Dotson follows the titular Dotson—an excitable, slightly deluded wannabe sleuth with Bollywood dreams and an endless supply of charisma. The story kicks off with a solemn moment as Dotson spreads his father’s ashes… only for him to immediately declare his dad’s death suspicious and dive headfirst into an investigation. Less Bruce Wayne, more Main Character Syndrome: The Musical.
And that’s exactly what makes Dotson lovable. He isn’t solving crimes because he’s haunted—he’s doing it because he wants to be the hero in a Bollywood whodunnit. That blend of silliness and sincerity gives the game a unique tone that’s both heartfelt and hilariously self-aware.
Mechanically, Detective Dotson is a side-scrolling detective-lite game. You walk around town, talk to locals, gather clues, and stick them on a physical evidence board that grows more chaotic as the mysteries deepen. But there’s a twist: everyone wants something before they’ll give you info. Which means most of the gameplay is a charming cycle of social favours and small-town gossip.
It’s fetch quests galore—but unlike other games, it works here. Because you’re not just some guy—you’re Dotson. Everyone knows you. There’s an odd sense of community in how the game handles interactions. It feels more like nosy aunt diplomacy than investigative legwork, and somehow, that fits.
Also, yes—you get rewarded for throwing rubbish into bins. Coins and hints. Civic responsibility literally buys you shortcuts to clues. It’s ridiculous and brilliant.
Visually, Detective Dotson embraces chaos. It’s a strange cocktail of 2D pixel art layered over clunky 3D assets. On paper, that should be a mess. But in practice? It oozes personality. It feels handmade, like a diorama that someone’s older cousin modded using cardboard and dreams.
The colour palette is loud, joyful, and distinctly Indian. The soundtrack, composed by Nikhil Rao from Indian Ocean, adds modern Indian fusion vibes to every step of your investigation. It’s rare for a detective game to feel this alive, this playful. There’s a tabla beat to your clue-hunting that makes every conversation feel like a dance.
And while it may not look triple-A, it sounds and feels like something crafted with genuine love. The devs at Masala Games said they were tired of seeing India portrayed as either ancient or impoverished in games. So they made a game that feels real—lived-in, contradictory, modern, and most of all, personal.
Mission accomplished.
Now, let’s talk about the elephant in the auto-rickshaw: Detective Dotson is short. Roughly four to five hours short. The kind of game you can wrap up in a single sitting—perhaps with a few chai breaks in between. And honestly? That might be one of its best features.
The story ties up nicely and even sets the stage for a bigger case arriving this June as a free update—yes, free. In an era where most devs would happily charge extra for digital shoelaces, Masala Games is giving players a whole new mystery gratis.
And sure, there’s no real replay value beyond the satisfaction of solving it once. But Detective Dotson isn’t trying to be your next 60-hour open-world commitment. It’s a warm, funny, slightly chaotic detective experience that respects your time and fills it with culture, comedy, and cocky pigeons.
Plus, did I mention it comes with a bonus Bollywood-style animated movie? Yup. A full-fledged flick dubbed by actual voice talent from Avengers: Endgame, The Witcher, and Deadpool & Wolverine, complete with subtitles. It’s the kind of left-field surprise that turns an already charming experience into a no-brainer.
Detective Dotson is a glorified fetch quest wearing the hat of a detective game—but it’s also more than that. It’s a vibrant slice of modern Indian life stitched together with humour, heart, and post-it notes. It’s a little bit janky, a lot wholesome, and totally endearing.
Yes, it’s short. And yes, it costs US$20.00 (roughly RM80-90). But what you get is a lovingly crafted story that punches above its weight in personality and vibe. If you’re after polish and high replayability, this may not be your case. But if you value games that wear their soul on their sleeve? Then grab your sticky notes and get sleuthing.
Verdict: LOOT. Just be warned—the pigeons bite back.
And once again, if any of this has even slightly piqued your interest, do go watch the Loot or Leave It? episode on Detective Dotson. It’s packed with even more commentary, pigeons, and pixel-perfect nonsense. Trust me, you’ll have a blast.
Review code provided by publisher.
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