Direct Investigation: A Sci-Fi Mystery Visual Novel Set in 2035 Seoul

10/15/2026, 3:14:16 PM

Release date: 10/15/2026

Tags: #visual-novel #sci-fi #thriller #mystery #adventure #simulation #investigation #interactive-fiction

Reference prices

Japan

¥ 905 (JPY)

Steam JP

$6.99 (USD)

Steam Global

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Live Store Snapshot

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Japan Price: ¥ 905
Global Price: $6.99
Price in Your Region: ¥905Prices as Steam lists them per country. What you are actually charged depends on your Steam account settings.Regional prices checked: 22 Oct 2026
Sale Status: Regular pricing
Price Checked At: 10/15/2026, 3:14:16 PM

Key highlight

A sci-fi mystery visual novel set in 2035 Seoul, where you play a verification specialist uncovering truths in a world of AI personas and blurred reality.

Who this is for

If you enjoy slow-burn mysteries with a sci-fi twist and a focus on investigation, this is worth checking out.

Details

Overview

Set in Seoul in 2035, Direct Investigation drops you into a city where the boundary between reality and fabrication has become dangerously porous. Autonomous taxis glide silently through streets, AI persona celebrities smile endlessly from giant screens, and people have stopped questioning whether the voice on the phone is truly a friend—because it hardly matters anymore.

You play as Park Eunkyul, a professional who verifies the things nobody wants verified, working out of a tiny six-pyeong office for Isu Information Integrity Consulting. This is a single-player adventure that blends visual novel storytelling with simulation and investigation mechanics, all wrapped in a sci-fi thriller atmosphere.

Highlights

Immersive near-future setting: A detailed 2035 Seoul where AI-generated personas and automated services blur the line between genuine and artificial.
Investigation-focused gameplay: Step into the role of a verification specialist, unraveling mysteries that others prefer to leave buried.
Mature narrative themes: The story includes text-based descriptions and news reports about criminal acts and suicide, though there is no explicit gore or graphic violence.
Multilingual support: Available in English, Korean, Japanese, and Simplified Chinese, making it accessible to a broad audience.
Developer pedigree: Created and published by Socopus Interactive, an indie studio known for narrative-driven experiences.

Who It's For

If you enjoy visual novels with a strong mystery core, or games that explore the ethical and social implications of AI and deepfakes, Direct Investigation should be on your radar. The simulation and investigation elements will appeal to players who like piecing together clues and making deductions.

Because the game deals with mature themes, it's best suited for a mature audience. The lack of explicit violence means it's more about psychological tension than shock value.