When I first came across Detective Dotson, I was interested in its potential: a warm detective mystery in the vibrant, colorful streets of contemporary India, coated in Bollywood-sounding storytelling and filled with Indian culture. Being an Indian-born gamer who’s spent their whole life surrounded by the sounds, sights, and pandemonium of Indian cities, I couldn’t wait to experience a game that didn’t simply utilize India as a background but embraced it with authentic enthusiasm and detail.
Having played a considerable amount of time with the game before its April 24 release date, here’s my uncensored opinion of what makes Detective Dotson an impressive indie game, and where it could have done better.
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A Story That Feels Like Home (With a Twist of Masala)
The narrative is the heart and soul of Detective Dotson. You are Dotson, an aspiring Bollywood star whose aspirations are suddenly thwarted when his father is killed under strange circumstances. thrust into service as a detective, Dotson travels through the colorful Indian streets, navigating his Bollywood dreams alongside the seedy job of cracking cases.
I love how the story captures the energy of old-fashioned Bollywood masala movies—everything from drama, humor, eccentric characters, to surprises. It’s not simply a mystery but an Indian culture fiesta from the disheveled street stalls to the big fat weddings and everything in between. The exchanges of dialogue between the characters had sprinkles of local slang terms and allusions that tickled me, and the interactions themselves felt natural as opposed to forced.
The episodic format does indeed work very well, each case being the equivalent of a mini-movie unto itself.
Gameplay – Charming, But Sometimes Clunky
Gameplay in Detective Dotson is a mix of exploration, light platforming, dialogue puzzles, and clue gathering. The core mechanic revolves around collecting evidence and piecing it together on an evidence board—a classic detective trope done well. Organizing clues and connecting dots gave me a genuine sense of accomplishment, and it’s satisfying to see the mystery unfold logically.
One of the game’s most unique features is Dotson’s ability to don disguises, each granting special powers. For example, the Karishma disguise lets you make NPCs dance and loosen their tongues, while the Sadhu disguise allows you to read minds. These mechanics add a fun layer of strategy and variety to the gameplay, encouraging you to think creatively about how to approach each case.
That said, the platforming segments felt a bit inconsistent. Early on, I struggled with some of the jumping and movement controls, which felt a little floaty and imprecise. Thankfully, the game is forgiving—Dotson never takes fall damage, and checkpoints are generous—but these moments did break the otherwise smooth flow. I am sure they have fine-tuned this aspect for the launch.
The side quests, while charming and full of local flavor, sometimes felt like filler. Tasks like finding flowers for a grandmother or kites for a child add to the world-building but rarely offer meaningful rewards or impact the story. I would have preferred if some of these side activities had more tangible outcomes or tied more closely into the main narrative.
While the main story wraps up in about five hours, it leaves enough threads dangling to keep you eager for the free content update coming in June. As someone who enjoys stories that don’t overstay their welcome, I appreciated this balance.
Visuals and Audio – A Feast for the Senses
Where Detective Dotson really excels is in presentation. The art style is a clever blend of 2D hand-drawn character sprites against a richly detailed 3D backdrop. The streets are vibrant with color—tea stalls, painted walls, paansellers, and crowds of people all rendered with loving care for detail. Having visited these streets in person, it felt like walking into a digital postcard of India.
The soundtrack, done by Nikhil Rao of Indian Ocean fame, is another gem. The music complements the game’s atmosphere perfectly—sometimes light and cheerful, sometimes dark and contemplative. It’s the sort of soundtrack that lingers long after you’ve set down the controller.
Cultural Authenticity – More Than Just Skin Deep
Detective Dotson isn’t just set in India; it feels Indian. From the way NPCs interact to the cultural references sprinkled throughout, the game captures the essence of everyday life in a way few games have attempted. It’s a refreshing change from the usual generic urban settings or stereotypical portrayals.
The humor is often dry and self-aware, poking fun at Bollywood clichés while still celebrating them. This balance makes the game accessible to both Indian players who’ll catch the nuances and international players who get to peek into a vibrant culture without feeling lost.
What Could Be Better?
No game is perfect, and Detective Dotson has its rough edges. Beyond the platforming quirks I mentioned earlier, the pacing can sometimes feel uneven. Cases zip along with interesting puzzles and conversations at times, and others lag behind with repetitive fetch quests or conversation trees that don’t necessarily go anywhere significant.
The side quests, as much as they added flavor, did at times feel like padding. I would like to see future patches bring in more variety or further integration with the primary story. In addition, although the disguise powers are enjoyable, I found myself having to mostly use a limited amount of them, as some seemed underused.
Finally, the game’s relatively short length might leave some players wanting more, but the promise of free content updates and console co-op down the line is encouraging.
Final Thoughts – A Cozy Detective Adventure with Heart
Detective Dotson is a welcome exception—a game that proudly announces its cultural roots and provides an enjoyable,comfortable detective outing without attempting to be something other than what it is. It’s not some bloated, overly ambitious epic or some meat-and-potatoes puzzle, but it is an affectionate, vibrant tale that is about as warm a cup of chai on a stormy day can get.
For $20 worldwide or INR 500 in India (with launch discount), it’s a good bargain, given the bundled movie version and forthcoming free content. The game’s humor, charm, and cultural correctness more than compensate for its shortcomings.
Detective Dotson isn’t trying to be the next big AAA blockbuster. Instead, it’s a lovingly crafted, bite-sized adventure that feels like a weekend getaway into the heart of India. The mysteries are light, the humour is on point, and the setting is unmatched in its authenticity. If you’re after a palate cleanser between your big-budget epics, or just want to see your world reflected in a game, Detective Dotson is well worth your time.
SKOAR! – 7/10
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Vyom Ramani
A journalist with a soft spot for tech, games, and things that go beep. While waiting for a delayed metro or rebooting his brain, you’ll find him solving Rubik’s Cubes, bingeing F1, or hunting for the next great snack. View Full Profile
