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How to play

Everything you need to investigate a mystery.

Just say what you mean

Each mystery is authored by hand with a fixed solution, and you play the detective investigating it. There are no commands to learn, no menus, and no special syntax. Just type what you want to say or do in plain language, the way you’d tell a real partner, and the game responds with narration, dialogue, and changes to the world.

“Examine the broken vase.” · “Henshaw, what did you see tonight?” · “Follow the footprint to the library.”

You’re a character in the scene, not a user typing commands at a computer — so you don’t need to talk to the AI or narrate yourself from the outside. Speak to people directly, and describe what you actually do.

Instead of “Have Henshaw bring me the letter,” say “Henshaw, would you bring me the letter?” · Instead of “Is there anything unusual in the room?” try “I search the room for anything out of the ordinary.”

Both styles work — the game understands either — but staying in character keeps you inside the story and usually earns a richer reply.

Press Enter to send, or Shift + Enter for a new line. The ♪ and ◐ buttons in the top nav control ambience and theme.

What you can do

You never need special words or commands. Describe what you want in your own words and the game understands. For example, you can:

Question anyone. Talk to suspects and witnesses however you like. They remember what they told you.
Examine the scene. Look at objects, clues, and locations to uncover evidence.
Move around. Go to another room or area. Exits are described in the narration. In mysteries with multiple locations, you can also open the map (the map button at the top of the game screen) and tap a location to travel there (you'll be asked to confirm) — as long as the way is open to you (not locked or otherwise blocked).
Present evidence. Show what you’ve found to challenge someone’s story.
Use what you carry. Try keys, tools, and other items on the right objects.
Make an accusation. When you think you know the truth, bring a formal charge (see below). That is how you solve the mystery.

Making an accusation

Solving a mystery means making a formal accusation— naming who is responsible, and usually how and why. The mystery is scored against the authored solution, not against whether you collected every clue (though evidence still shapes the ending).

The Accuse button (recommended)

Tap Accuse at the top of the game screen — the red button in the toolbar, next to the dossier and map icons (on a phone it shows as a red gavel icon).
The game asks you to confirm before anything happens. Choose Gather them to go ahead, or Not yet to keep investigating.
It then sets the scene: the household (or whoever should hear the charge) gathers. You are not filling out a form — you are about to speak into a real moment.
In plain language, state your accusation: who did it, how it was done, and why. Example: “I accuse Margaret Ashmere. She shot him from the hall below the gallery because he was abusing her granddaughter and the police would not help.”
Send as usual. If the charge is clear, the mystery is judged and the aftermath begins. If you only float a theory, the game may ask you to confirm before it counts.

If you tap Accuse by mistake, choose Not yet on the confirmation. Even after the household has gathered, you can say you are not ready (for example, “never mind” or “not yet”) and the gathering dissolves with no judgment.

Without the button

You can still accuse in free text at any time, for example: “I accuse Henshaw of the murder.” Formal wording like that is treated as a real charge. Casual talk (“I think it might be Vale”) is usually just conversation until you commit.

What counts as solving

Who — name the culprit clearly.
How and why — most mysteries also need enough of the method and motive for the charge to hold. Say them in your own words.
You may accuse before you have every piece of evidence. A correct theory can still win; a wrong formal accusation can end the mystery.

Tips

The truth is already written. The AI doesn’t invent the killer; it performs the characters and the world.
Evidence matters for pacing and endings, but a correct accusation can solve the mystery even without every clue.
Wrong formal accusations have consequences. Be sure before you commit.
A mystery can be lost: by a wrong charge, running out of time, pushing the wrong person, or letting the killer act.

Why turns take a moment

Turns take around 10–20 seconds. That’s how long the AI takes to process a turn and return a response, and the AIs can’t go faster — we use some of the fastest AIs in existence, but they still have limits.

Subscriptions & tiers

One full mystery, The Fall of Alan Thorne, is free to play for everyone with an account. A subscription opens more of the Gallery, and new mysteries are published often. Your tier automatically includes every new mystery that fits it, at no extra cost.

Sleuth. Every Easy and Medium mystery in the Gallery.
Master Detective. Every mystery, including the Difficult ones.
Genius. An invitation-only tier of exclusive mysteries. It can’t be bought. You earn the invitation by solving 3 Difficult mysteries.

See all plans on the Subscribe page, and view or manage your plan, including its renewal date, on your account page.