Owlskip Games' new mystery-puzzler The Ratline has a playable demo at Steam Next Fest that puts you in the shoes of a 1970s investigator asked to follow up on a troubling list of names. The game blends paper-based clue manipulation with a narrative about former Nazis who were helped to escape Europe after the war. The demo presents a compact slice of the core loop: examining fragments, linking evidence and narrowing suspects.

  • Setting and premise: You play a private investigator in the 1970s tasked with tracking down individuals tied to postwar smuggling operations revealed by a murdered priest's documents.
  • Mechanics: The Ratline centers on arranging, cross-referencing and interpreting notes and leads — a tactile, deduction-first approach rather than action combat.
  • Demo experience: Steam Next Fest offers a short playable segment that showcases the puzzle flow and the weight of moral and historical context underpinning the investigation.
  • Atmosphere and tone: The presentation aims for a grounded, archival feel, balancing grim subject matter with methodical detective work and period detail.

Source: Rock Paper Shotgun

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