South Korean developer BANJIHA GAMES and publisher Sandyfloor have announced Cold Case, a text-based detective game scheduled to launch on Steam in the first half of 2027. The upcoming mystery adventure challenges players to reconstruct fire-damaged police records, recover missing evidence, and investigate eight unsolved cases using keyword searches and digital forensic techniques.
Announced on October 27, 2026, the game emphasizes deduction, document analysis, and investigative problem-solving rather than traditional action gameplay. Players must identify meaningful words, restore incomplete records, and connect evidence to uncover the circumstances surrounding the death of a police inspector.
Cold Case Introduces Keyword-Based Detective Gameplay
At the center of Cold Case is an investigative system built around recovering information from damaged documents.
Players assume the role of a cold case investigator examining police records discovered inside the burned-down home of an inspector named Kimball.
The fire has left important documents and crime scene photographs damaged or unreadable, making conventional examination difficult.
Using an in-game computer, players enter keywords they believe might appear in the missing records. When a search matches information contained in the damaged files, previously inaccessible text becomes visible.
Each successful search reveals additional evidence, potentially providing new names, locations, events, or investigative leads.
Digital Forensics Plays a Central Role in Solving Mysteries
Unlike detective games that rely primarily on selecting dialogue options or examining physical objects, Cold Case makes text reconstruction its primary investigative mechanic.
Players must analyze the information already available and determine which keywords are most likely to reveal useful evidence.
Recovered passages may contain witness statements, descriptions of events, or other information relevant to an investigation.
As more text becomes available, players can identify connections between documents and develop new theories about what happened.
The process encourages careful reading and logical deduction, with each discovery potentially opening another line of investigation.
Eight Unsolved Cases Form the Foundation of the Story
The game revolves around eight unresolved investigations connected to records recovered from Inspector Kimball’s fire-damaged residence.
Players must gradually reconstruct the details of these cases, determining what happened and how the available evidence fits together.
Although each investigation presents its own mystery, the cases also contribute to a larger narrative.
The ultimate objective is to understand the connections between the investigations and uncover the truth surrounding Kimball’s death.
Reconstruct Events and Identify Connections Between Cases
Progression depends on interpreting recovered evidence and establishing the sequence of events associated with each investigation.
A newly discovered statement might provide a keyword needed to recover another document, while information from one case could offer insight into a different mystery.
This interconnected structure makes the investigative process central to both gameplay and storytelling.
Rather than presenting every clue immediately, Cold Case requires players to uncover information through repeated searches and careful examination.
Crime Scene Photographs Reveal Additional Evidence
Text reconstruction is not the only investigative tool available in Cold Case.
As players recover written information, accompanying photographs also become clearer, exposing details that were previously obscured.
These images can contain additional clues relevant to the investigation.
Recovered Images Create New Investigative Leads
The relationship between written records and photographs adds another layer to the game’s puzzle-solving mechanics.
A keyword search may reveal a document passage that helps restore part of a crime scene image.
Information visible in that photograph could then suggest another keyword worth investigating.
By connecting visual evidence with recovered text, players can gradually assemble a more complete understanding of each case.
The system is designed to reward observation and the ability to recognize meaningful connections between different pieces of evidence.
Players Must Report Findings to the Chief
Another important feature involves communicating investigative conclusions to a police chief.
After recovering sufficient evidence, players must review the available information and respond to key questions about the cases.
These responses serve as part of the process of resolving individual investigations and uncovering the broader mystery.
The questions also connect the eight cases to the circumstances surrounding Inspector Kimball’s death.
Successfully interpreting the recovered material is therefore essential to progressing through the story.
BANJIHA GAMES and Sandyfloor Target Early 2027 Steam Release
Cold Case is being developed by BANJIHA GAMES, the South Korean studio associated with Seoul 2033 and FAKEBOOK.
The upcoming title continues the developer’s work with text-focused interactive experiences, combining narrative exploration with a new keyword-based forensic system.
Sandyfloor is handling publishing responsibilities for the PC release.
The game has been announced for Steam, with its release currently planned for the first half of 2027.
An exact launch date and pricing information have not been disclosed.
Players can find the title on its official Steam store page.
Cold Case Focuses on Deduction Rather Than Traditional Detective Action
With its combination of damaged-document reconstruction, keyword searches, crime scene analysis, and interconnected investigations, Cold Case offers a text-centered approach to detective gameplay.
The central challenge lies in recognizing important details and using recovered information to uncover further evidence.
Scheduled for release on Steam in the first half of 2027, the game will invite players to investigate eight unsolved mysteries while piecing together the events surrounding Inspector Kimball’s death.
Nicholas Sparks is an award-winning American writer whose bestselling novels have captivated readers for decades. Renowned for his emotional storytelling and timeless themes of love and hope, he remains one of the most influential authors in modern romance literature.
