Detective Frizbee – Case Study

Subtitle

An open-world puppy detective murder mystery • By Niket Kalia • In Development (2024–2025)

Project Overview

• Role: Designer, Writer, Developer
• Genre: Narrative-driven RPG / Murder Mystery
• Platform: Windows (UE4 prototype) + Web (Twine Visual Novel)
• Tools: Unreal Engine 4.27, Twine, Pixel & Low-poly Art Pipeline
• Status: In development as of mid-2025

Game Summary

Detective Frizbee is a narrative-driven murder mystery where the player takes on the role of Frizbee, a puppy detective.

Frizbee has an extraordinary gift: he can perceive human nature and instinctively knows who the killer is. But there’s a catch—he cannot speak human language.

The player must guide Frizbee through the town, collecting clues, fetching items, and piecing together evidence to save an innocent man wrongly accused while exposing the true culprit. The game blends cozy aesthetics with dark undertones of crime, creating a unique tonal contrast.

Design Goals & Inspirations

• Blending Cozy & Grim: Inspired by Studio Ghibli’s warmth and detective thrillers’ tension. The world feels calm and inviting, yet the story carries real emotional stakes.
• Silent Protagonist Challenge: Designing a detective story where the main character cannot speak but must still communicate through actions, cues, and evidence.
• Accessible Mystery: Avoid overwhelming systems—focus on intuitive exploration, observation, and player choice.