We’ve been watching Shadows of Doubt for a while – an interesting blend of procedural generation and immersive sandbox gameplay that offers players the chance to step into the shoes of a private investigator in an industrialized version of the 1980s. The PlayStation 5 version retains the core mechanics of the original Early Access PC release, with the game’s procedural city-building engine crafting a unique, living environment filled with potential suspects, witnesses, and secrets. The heart of the game lies in its deep investigative systems, which allow players to explore freely, follow leads, and uncover the truth behind a variety of cases.
The game’s setting is immediately striking, offering a noir-style dystopia where each citizen has their own job, apartment, and daily routine. Every person you encounter feels like a cog in a much larger machine, and it’s up to you to break into apartments, sift through private documents, and hack into security systems to gather evidence. The depth of interaction here is impressive and far greater than you’d initially think, with every location open for investigation, whether it’s a seedy bar or a corporate office. The attention to detail makes the environment feel lived-in, although the procedurally-generated world can occasionally feel a tad repetitive.
What makes Shadows of Doubt stand out is how open-ended the investigations are. You’re given a wide range of tools to pursue each case, from picking locks and cracking safes to piecing together clues using CCTV footage and phone records. This flexibility encourages players to think like a detective, rather than following a scripted path, and makes solving each mystery satisfying and every new run feel fresh. However, the sandbox approach also comes with small frustrations. Not every case plays out smoothly, and sometimes the randomized nature of clues can result in unclear objectives or situations that may lead to some trial and error.
The game’s controls, while functional, can be slightly clunky during more intense moments, particularly when players need to react quickly, such as in stealth sections. Additionally, although the variety of investigative mechanics is robust, there are instances where the interface feels cumbersome, slowing down the pace of gameplay. This is especially noticeable when managing multiple pieces of evidence or when navigating through complex environments.
Visually, Shadows of Doubt embraces a retro-futuristic aesthetic, with its sci-fi noir vibe capturing the gritty, industrialized world. The PS5 version offers smooth performance, but the art direction, while stylized, may not appeal to everyone due to its low-poly character models and minimalistic environmental textures. However, the sound design more than makes up for it, with atmospheric audio cues that enhance the feeling of being in a dark, oppressive world filled with secrets.
In terms of narrative, the game offers a solid central plot, though the randomized cases can sometimes lack cohesion. This means that while you might encounter thrilling cases of murder or espionage one day, other cases may feel like filler, not delivering the same impact. The overarching storyline involving a serial killer is engaging, but it can get overshadowed by the procedural mechanics at times, leaving some players craving a more structured and directed narrative experience.
Overall, Shadows of Doubt offers a unique and immersive detective experience that shines when its investigative systems align with the player’s instincts. Its combination of freedom and detail creates moments of feeling like a proper detective, but some rough edges in gameplay and the occasional disconnect between narrative depth and procedural generation may detract from the overall experience. For those who enjoy open-ended detective work in a rich, atmospheric setting, this is a game worth diving into – just be prepared for the occasional stumble as you navigate its world of intrigue.
Score: 7.0/10
Press Play Media 