From Press Release:
SÃO PAULO – February 3rd, 2026 – Developer Mother Gaia Studio and publisher CriticalLeap today announced that The Posthumous Investigation will launch on PC via Steam on March 31, 2026.
In this hand-drawn noir thriller, death is not the end—it’s just the opening statement. You play as a private eye hired by a most unusual client: the victim himself.
Brás Cubas is dead, but his spirit is restless. Trapped in a purgatorial time loop in 1937 Rio de Janeiro, you must solve the mystery of his murder to break the cycle. Blending the deduction mechanics of Return of the Obra Dinn with the atmosphere of classic Film Noir, players must manipulate the schedules of 14 suspects, uncover contradictory alibis, and piece together the perfect crime before the day resets.
The Case File:
- The Client is the Victim: Investigate a murder where the only witness is the ghost who hired you.
- Master the Loop: You have one day to solve the case, but infinite chances. Learn the routines of 14 distinct characters, shadow them through a stylized 1930s Rio, and use knowledge from previous loops to unlock new dialogue paths.
- A Living Literary World: Inspired by the biting satire of “The Brazilian Shakespeare,” Machado de Assis, the game offers a witty, morally ambiguous narrative where no one—not even your client—is completely innocent.
- True Deduction: No hand-holding. Use your “Thinking Board” to physically connect clues, reconstruct timelines, and identify the killer through pure logic.
“We wanted to create a detective game where the setting itself is a puzzle,” said Bruno Toledo, Game Director at Mother Gaia Studio. “By combining the time-loop mechanic with the rich, satirical world of Machado de Assis, we’ve built a mystery that challenges players to think like a true investigator—where every failed loop is just another clue.”
Play the Demo Instantly:
A playable browser-based demo is available immediately via Spawnd, allowing press and players to step into the noir atmosphere without a download. [Link]The Posthumous Investigation launches on Steam on March 31, 2026. A Nintendo Switch version is currently in development.
Wishlist on Steam: [Link]
End
