▶ A mystery game that transcends text, ‘Connected Clue’ takes on the global stage.
▶ Conquering domestic and international markets with participation in Steam Next Fest and the simultaneous launch of Stove
▶ From planning to sound design, he completed everything on his own… The unique background of a cartoonist draws attention.
Connected Clue, an adventure mystery game that captures the atmosphere of 19th-century detective novels through pixel art, will be launching globally via Steam on March 9th. The game is a new work by Alpheratz Games, a one-man Korean developer.
The game is set in the town of Salomon. A bank robbery results in the theft of three national treasures: a crown, a jewel, and a scepter. Players, as detective Diana, must trace the trail of the missing culprit and uncover the truth behind the case.
Beyond text, a detective game where you get to run and figure things out.
The biggest difference in “Connected Clue” lies in its gameplay . While existing mystery genres tend to focus on text-driven plot development, this game adopts a structure where players directly explore the scene, collecting clues and verifying suspects’ alibis.
Gamers will uncover the truth hidden in the suspects’ lies from a quarter-view perspective, reminiscent of 19th-century detective novels, and solve tricks placed throughout the map to deduce the true culprit. Connecting clues to reach a conclusion offers a uniquely immersive experience, reminiscent of a traditional detective novel.
From planning to sound… A true one-man development.
Seonghwa Jeong, CEO of Alperatz Games, is a solo developer who oversees all aspects of game production, from planning and storytelling to programming, sound composition, and translation. He has a unique background, having majored in comics creation in college before diving into game development.
He previously solidified his position as an indie developer by releasing emotional platformers like “Wicce” and “Nevaeh” on Steam. He is currently known to be continuing his development while supporting himself through after-school classes at high school. This background has led to user support and interest in his work.
Participating in Steam Next Fest… Final checks before launch
Connected Clue will be participating in Steam Next Fest, which runs from February 23rd, ahead of its official release on March 9th. Next Fest is a global event featuring hundreds of free trials, developer livestreams, and community interaction.
The latest demo version unveiled at this event will effectively be the final official preview opportunity before launch, providing a platform for a final assessment of global user response. Industry insiders are evaluating Steam Next Fest as transcending mere experience-based events and establishing it as an essential marketing channel for indie game developers. For indie developers lacking large promotional budgets, it offers a valuable window into the global market.
Simultaneous launch of stoves and parallel expansion into domestic platforms
Along with its global launch on Steam, the game will also be available on Smilegate’s PC platform , STOVE . A demo version is currently available on STOVE. It’s described as a quarter-view mystery adventure game inspired by 19th-century detective novels.
Stove, operated by Smilegate, is Korea’s leading PC gaming platform. In addition to major titles like Lost Ark, it actively discovers and distributes domestic and international indie games. Connected Clue’s simultaneous launch on both Steam and Stove is expected to significantly increase its accessibility to domestic users as well as international gamers.
Participating in a series of domestic and international festivals… Proving a consistent presence
Even before its launch, Connected Clue had been building awareness through active external activities. It participated in “BEAVER ROCKS,” held at DDP in Seoul from December 5th to 7th of last year, and also participated in domestic and international festivals, including “Women-Led Games: The Game Awards Edition 2025,” held online from December 10th to 19th, receiving positive responses.
A novel approach, a one-person development narrative, and the formation of supportive public opinion.
User reactions to Connected Clue are generally warm and anticipatory. Among gamers both domestically and internationally accustomed to text-based mystery games, the “hands-on” mystery adventure setting is a refreshingly novel experience. The introduction of the female detective Diana and the fact that a single developer was responsible for everything from planning to sound design are also generating positive feedback.
The developer, who used to draw comics, single-handedly wrote the code, composed the music, translated the dialogue, and finally brought the detective to life on stage. Alperatz Games CEO Seong Hwa-jeong, who never gave up on development even while earning a living by teaching after school, is finally ready to meet users around the world on March 9th.
From a global preview at Steam Next Fest, to expanding domestic user engagement on Stove, and finally to the Nintendo Switch, “Connected Clue” is moving toward a broader stage, believably the work of a small team. This work, which overcomes the limitations of being a “one-person development” through the power of its story, is expected to connect the dots and resonate with more users, as if connecting the dots of a case.
Steam Store Page:
https://store.steampowered.com/app/1777200/Connected_Clue/
Stove Store Page:
https://store.onstove.com/ko/games/101087
