犯人当てラジオ is an indie adventure visual novel centered on solving short mystery stories through structured deduction. Players step into the role of a radio host for a mystery program, working alongside an energetic partner and the show director to unravel cases across six standalone scenarios. The game emphasizes reading narrative text and actively extracting evidence rather than passive storytelling, with a total estimated playtime of around eight hours on PC.
Gameplay
The core loop splits into two distinct phases that repeat across each story. In the mystery phase, players read the scenario presented in standard visual novel style, with occasional quizzes that test attention to details. Text can be revisited freely at any point to ensure nothing is missed. Once the narrative section ends, the deduction phase activates. Here, players scan the previously read text to identify key details and convert them into clue cards. These cards can then be combined in pairs or groups to create new, higher-level clues. Building a deduction chart through repeated search and combination steps leads to identifying the culprit and resolving the case. The system rewards careful note-taking and logical connections between seemingly unrelated pieces of information.
Game Modes
Single-player mode forms the primary experience, allowing solo progression through all six stories at the player's own pace. A separate multiplayer mode supports online co-op sessions where friends can join the same story. Only the host performs critical actions such as final culprit identification, while additional players contribute by examining text, creating clue cards, and discussing possibilities in real time. This setup encourages collaborative reasoning without requiring every participant to handle the full deduction workload. Stories span varied settings, including a chained storehouse, a remote island with poltergeist legends, a space station incident, a shipboard doll theft, a detective's locked-room challenge, a mind-reading drug case, and a seventy-year-old mystery involving Torito Haize.
Story and Presentation
Each of the six independent tales functions as a self-contained mystery with distinct tones and premises. Locked-room puzzles appear alongside occult elements and science-fiction scenarios, providing variety without shared continuity. The radio program framing ties the stories together through the protagonist's interactions with the partner and director, adding light character moments between deduction segments. Text-heavy presentation keeps focus on reading and analysis rather than extensive visuals or voice acting.
Is It Worth Playing?
Players who enjoy visual novels with active problem-solving will find the clue card and deduction chart mechanics a refreshing departure from standard choice-based narratives. The anthology format allows short sessions per story while the multiplayer option adds a social layer for groups interested in cooperative mystery solving. As an upcoming title planned for 2026 release with no user reviews available yet, its appeal rests on the described systems and the developer's focus on deduction gameplay. Those seeking traditional point-and-click adventures or fast-paced action should look elsewhere, but fans of logical puzzle mysteries and collaborative story experiences may appreciate the structured approach once it launches.
