Small first glimpse into Little Problems revealed

• Announcements by Jack Allin
• Published:

Cozy detective game inspired by The Case of the Golden Idol coming in early 2025

Many adventure games see players tackling epic challenges to solve murders, uncover conspiracies, or even save the world. They're fun, but not particularly relatable. For a game whose obstacles will be a little more familiar, look no further than the appropriately named Little Problems, by solo Shanghai developer Posh Cat.

Mary may dream of dramatic mysteries at night, but like the rest of us her waking hours are filled with far more mundane tasks. But life has plenty of obstacles of its own, especially for young adults still learning to find their way, whether it's figuring out who broke a mug or how to order the correct lunch. To make matters worse, on this particular day Mary has overslept, missed her first lecture, failed to turn in her school assignment, and is due to meet her study group but can't remember where. There are lots of "minor inconveniences, everyday misunderstandings, and of course, little problems" to solve, and it's going to take some exploration, careful observation and "minor sleuthing" to make the day a success. 

Inspired by The Case of the Golden Idol, Little Problems takes a much gentler, more family-friendly approach to its subject matter. Presented in a charming cartoon art style, it's not so much a kids' game as a cozy game for all ages meant to "celebrate the subtler, more relatable side of detective work." Representing a "refreshing departure from the typical narrative of grandiose conflicts and complex villainy," solving mysteries here is about "connecting with your friends, understanding the small yet significant daily life issues, and finding joy in the simplicity of resolution." You'll need to scour scenes like the rooms in Mary's house and the Cheesy Delights restaurant in search of details and clues, which can then be used to fill in Mad Libs-style puzzle screens that ask you to "piece together clues and deduce culprits, one little problem at a time."

There is no firm target release date just yet, but Little Problems is due to arrive on Steam sometime in early 2025 for Windows, Mac and Linux, with a demo expected out before that. To learn more about the game while you wait, be sure to check out the colourful dev diary on the game's official website. 

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