- A single day’s murder case set in Rio de Janeiro in 1937
- A noir mystery adventure combining hand-drawn artwork and Brazilian literature
Brazilian indie developer Mother Gaia Studio announced that it will release the time-travel murder mystery ‘The Posthumous Investigation’ on Nintendo Switch and mobile (iOS and Android) on September 17.
The new mystery adventure title ‘Afterlife Investigation’ is set in Rio de Janeiro in 1937, steeped in a strong noir atmosphere. The player receives a strange request from a deceased client to solve their murder case, and the game follows the story of a detective who must uncover the secret within a time limit of just one day.
Players approach the truth of the case by observing the suspects’ behavior and collecting clues within a repeating day. Key features also include hand-drawn black-and-white artwork and a narrative that reinterprets the literary world of Brazilian literary master Machado de Assis.
The PC version was first released on Steam last March and has maintained high user ratings to date.
[Related Article: ‘Postmus Investigation’ Launched, Combining Brazilian Literature and Mystery]
The case left by a deceased client, searching for the truth in repeating time
The player takes on the role of a private detective hired by a deceased influential businessman to uncover the truth behind his death. You have only one day to solve the case.
The 14 main characters each have their own routines, secrets, and motives, and the player must observe their actions and obtain information through conversation.
When the day ends, time returns to the beginning, but the information secured in the previous loop remains intact. The core fun of this game lies in using accumulated clues to break down suspects’ alibis, uncover hidden locations and leads, and tighten the noose around the culprit.
Players can explore every corner of Rio de Janeiro, from gloomy back alleys to postcard-perfect landscapes, collecting various clues such as notes and documents. The information gathered is organized at a glance through the in-game ‘Thinking Board’ system, which players utilize to uncover the crucial links in the case.
1930s Rio de Janeiro brought to life through hand-drawn artwork
The visuals of the work depict Rio de Janeiro in 1937 based on hand-drawn artwork. It is characterized by capturing the city and people of that era in a unique style, adding witty expressions to the dark atmosphere typical of noir.
The narrative incorporates elements that reinterpret the characters and themes found in the works of the Brazilian literary master Machado de Assis. It is characterized by viewing the case not merely by identifying the culprit, but by following the relationships between various characters and their hidden motives.
In particular, rather than presenting a single absolute answer, it is designed to allow players to use the information they have gathered to identify the culprit and determine the truth of the case based on their own logic.
Mother Gaia, a Brazilian indie studio with 15 years of experience
Mother Gaia Studio is an indie game studio based in Baurou, São Paulo, Brazil. With over 15 years of development experience, the studio has been active in overseas markets, releasing titles such as ‘Legend of the Skyfish’ and ‘Minesweeper Genius’.
With the release of the Nintendo Switch and mobile versions, the play environment is further expanded.
Bruno Toledo, Game Director at Mother Gaia Studio, noted that the new platform allows players to enjoy the game not only comfortably on the sofa but also while on the go or in bed before falling asleep, emphasizing the significance of enabling players to enjoy the work in a way that suits them.
‘Very Positive’ rating on Steam, favorable reviews on Metacritic as well
‘Aftermath’ was first released on PC (Steam) on March 31. As of the time of writing, it has received a ‘Very Positive’ rating on Steam, with 94% of the total 549 user reviews being positive.
On Metacritic, it scored 77 based on 10 critic reviews, and the user rating is also maintaining a score in the low 8s.
Overseas media outlets positively evaluated the unique hand-drawn artwork, the worldview with strong literary undertones, and the intricately intertwined relationships between the characters. On the other hand, some reviews pointed out disappointment regarding the pacing of the story and the ending.
‘The Posthumous Investigation’ is a work that combines a time-travel mystery system where clues are accumulated and the puzzle of a case is pieced together within a repeating day with noir-style visuals recreating 1930s Rio de Janeiro and the colors of Brazilian literature.
Having received favorable reviews on PC, the game is expanding its reach to the Nintendo Switch and mobile platforms, allowing players to enjoy this unique mystery adventure in a wider variety of environments. Attention is focused on whether the time-loop mystery and literary narrative will continue to be well-received on these new platforms.
Information regarding ‘The Posthumous Investigation’
| item | detail |
|---|---|
| Developer | Mother Gaia Studio |
| Publisher | Critical Leap, Infini Fun |
| Genre | Adventure, Indie, Mystery (Time-loop noir mystery game) |
| platform | PC (Steam), Nintendo Switch, iOS, Android |
| Release date | PC March 31, 2026 (Previously Released) / Nintendo Switch · iOS · Android September 17, 2026 |
| language | Unconfirmed based on press release (Need to check Korean support) |
| Reactions/Evaluations | Steam ‘Very Positive’ (94% positive of 549 reviews) / Metacritic 77 (Combined from 10 critics) |
| Steam Page | Shortcut |
