Friday the 11th of July, 2025 Japan. Hold onto your sherwanis, adventure fans: Detective Dotson, the quirky, award winning and colorful cosy mystery sensation from Masala Games, is sashaying its way onto Nintendo Switch later this year. This creative India Indie has perfectly captured the charm and chaos of small-town India, and fans have fallen in love with the titular Desi detective and his Bollywood swagger. Japan publisher, Rainy Frog, noted for their previous stylish titles including Piczle deliver another not to miss title!
Dotson didn’t set out to be a detective - he craved the spotlight. But when his detective dad’s suspicious demise crashes his dreams, Dotson trades the big screen for an oversized magnifying glass. Cue Bollywood dance breaks, bargain-happy bazaars, and chase sequences.
You are Sherlock in Salwar Kameez
The game features four interconnected cases, each with its own bizarre twist: a pink painted dog, lost jewellery and notorious gangsters. Each mystery brings you a step closer to the dramatic reveal of what really happened to Dotson’s father.
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Talk to quirky townsfolk (some helpful, most nosy).
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Examine exotic environments for clues.
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Make deductive leaps in your clue board, which looks suspiciously like a glittery school project.
The game pairs retro 2D pixel characters layered over lush 3D backgrounds inspired by small-town India: markets, dusty roads, rooftop cricket pitches, and Holi festivals. All this is accompanied by an charming and foot-tapping original soundtrack perfect for exploring the streets of India.
Game Director’s Note
18 percent of the world lives in India — our home. It’s the most diverse and interesting place on the planet. But, you really don’t get to see it in games much do you? We’re pretty much non-existent. So we took it upon ourselves at Masala Games to fix that.
We want to bring our home to YOU!
India is often (incorrectly) shown as poor or ancient, in media. We would like help alter perception and to tell stories from modern India and represent our home more appropriately.
Detective Dotson is a love letter to India! Welcome to our home.
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