First details leaked for Gaslight, the next Carol Reed mystery

• Announcements by Jack Allin
• Published:

Twenty-second game in the popular Swedish crime series to ring in the new year once more in 2027

The term "gaslight" has become popular in our modern-day lexicon to describe a form of deception meant to "cause (a person) to doubt their judgment, memory, or sanity through the use of psychological manipulation." It's mean, and hostile, yet rarely does it reach the level of criminal. But "rare" is not never, so leave it to Carol Reed to uncover a particularly malicious exception in her upcoming twenty-second case. (No, The Final Chapter was not really the end. That was just developer MDNA Games gaslighting teasing us.)

In the appropriately named Gaslight, one of Carol's clients who "already struggles with mental health issues" finds herself drawn into "a series of bizarre, seemingly unrelated and increasingly disturbing scenarios." Carol believes that it's all being carefully "orchestrated in a sinister attempt to make her client question her own sanity" and ultimately "push her over the edge." It's up to Carol (and players) to step in and assume the role of her troubled client in order to "uncover who is behind this, how far they are willing to go, and their ultimate objective."

That's a lot of unpleasantness crammed into one case, but rest assured that the rest of the Gaslight experience promises to be more Carol Reed comfort food. Longtime fans and series newcomers can expect more picturesque (and occasionally grungy) indoor and outdoor, rural and urban photos taken by the game's indie designer Mikael Nyqvist, filled with obscure clues, quirky locals and plenty of puzzles to solve along the way. And getting around Norrköping, Sweden will be as simple as ever using just the mouse to navigate the slideshow-style "classic adventure game interface," with a built-in journal and hint guide available should you happen to get stuck.

If you've been following Carol Reed through her many annual adventures, you already know when and where to expect the game. Sure enough, just like clockwork, look for Gaslight to be released exclusively on the MDNA website on January 1st for Windows and Mac. 

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