If you love Ace Attorney and constantly wonder when the next iteration of Phoenix Wright or any of his spiky-haired pals will appear, you’ll be absolutely delighted by this short and sweet mystery. Arcane Investigations, released last month on PC and Mac (via Steam), is a debut title from very indie developer What’s All That Racket. And yes, the protagonist has spiky hair.
Arcane Investigations tasks players with solving a robbery on a train before it reaches its destination, but with the added complication that a transportation rune has been used. You’ll need to search the scene, talk to witnesses, and counter-argue your way through an impromptu trial before it’s too late!
Ace Arcane
Arcane Investigations bills itself as a mystery comedy for fans of Phoenix Wright, and that it certainly is. Your rival, Oberon, is a bird-man who bears a strong resemblance to another pointy-haired, grumpy prosecutor. The protagonist is woefully nervous about his first gig. There’s equal parts humor and investigation.
Arcane Investigations plays similarly to the opening tutorial chapter of any Ace Attorney game: You learn the ins and outs of the world, courtroom, and investigation while on the job. The gameplay is intuitive, and the story is well-paced. As someone who loves a good mystery video game, I enjoyed both the homages paid and how the creators played with the formula.
I wasn’t surprised by the details of the plot, but what the game lacks in subterfuge, it makes up for in world-building and character-driven writing. I felt I learned an impressive amount about how magic works in this universe without ever feeling bogged down. Mystical powers add a new complication to the tried and true Ace Attorney formula. Similar to its inspiration, each character in Arcane Investigations is written with love and curiosity.
Style and Substance
The writing was the highlight of Arcane Investigations for me. I frequently smiled and even chuckled out loud to myself. Presenting clues and investigating a suspect’s room elicited playful conversations. The words are well augmented by well-timed music cues that got me appropriately amped, and charming artwork that makes the landscapes and characters feel alive.
The protagonist, Kalibi, an anxious newly-certified defense lawyer, is an elf who can spend most of the game in his pajamas if he’s too excited to go back and change. As Kalibi, players can have a thoughtful series of conversations with a robot adjudicator who’s reflecting on its own moral duties. You’ll also gain assistance from Willa, a tree-person who serves as a professional mystical empath. All of the characters feel impressively thought out for the relatively short game time.
My playthrough clocked in at about 80 minutes, so it’s not a long adventure. However, the price tag matches the expectation — Arcane Investigations is only $4.99. I’ve enjoyed other short mysteries with much higher price points, and this one is an easy purchase to justify, partially because the game makes good use of its hour-ish runtime. I finished the game in a single sitting as a way to relax after work on a weeknight, and it was delightful.
Arcane Investigations knows exactly what it’s here to accomplish. It’s a tight, short-and-sweet mystery that doesn’t overstay its welcome. If this were a test, I’d call it a successful one.
Another Potion
Arcane Investigations feels like it could be the beginning of something more. There’s a lot of heart in this world, and I would be happy to spend more time with characters like Kalibi and Willa.
According to the game’s credits, Arcane Investigations is a passion project made by just four people (led by Ian Rickett — his first full video game!). And that music I mentioned earlier? It’s all sourced with Creative Commons licenses but was chosen so intentionally and lined up at just the right moments — scrappy and clever! I’m always impressed by those who try to make new things, and this studio delivers.
Arcane Investigations is unlikely to impress anyone who isn’t already interested in at least one of the following categories: fantastical worlds, mysteries, visual novels, Ace Attorney vibes. The good news? It’ll delight anyone who is.
Score: 8.9/10
Arcane Investigations, developed by What’s All That Racket, was released on April 18, 2025, for PC and Mac (via Steam). MSRP $4.99. Version reviewed: PC.
Disclaimer: A review code was provided by the developer.
Amanda Tien (she/her or they) loves video games where she can pet dogs, punch bad guys, make friends, and have a good cry. She started writing for the site in 2020, and became an editor in 2022. She enjoys writing about mystery games, indies, and strong femme protagonists. Her work has also been published in Unwinnable Monthly (click here to read her cover feature on Nancy Drew games), Salt Hill Journal, Poets.org, Litro Magazine, Public Books, and more. She was the Co-Founder and Editor-in-Chief of Columbia University's Culinarian Magazine, and served for two years as the Managing Editor of Aster(ix) Literary Journal. She recently graduated with a MFA (Master of Fine Arts) in Creative Writing from the University of Pittsburgh. Her writing, art, graphic design, and marketing work can be viewed at www.amandatien.com. She does not post a lot on social, but you can find her on X and on Instagram.
Ahh I love this! I’ll pick this up on Steam!