- 60-90 minute short thriller from Duck Detective developers… Free Steam demo released
- Someone is targeting Grandma… A full-voice mystery where the whole family are suspects
Apple Crumble, the new title from German indie studio Happy Broccoli Games, known for the Duck Detective series, will be officially released on December 3rd. Ahead of this, a free demo has been released on Steam that allows players to experience the game’s atmosphere and mystery in advance.
The developer announced the release date along with a new trailer on October 8 (local time). This marks the unveiling of a concrete release schedule and a playable demo approximately four months after it was first revealed at Day of the Devs: Summer Game Fest Edition 2026 last June.
‘Apple Crumble’ is a fully voiced interactive mystery thriller set at a grandmother’s 84th birthday party. It aims for a short, dense story lasting approximately 60 to 90 minutes and is scheduled to be released on PC via Steam on December 3.
[Related Article: Grandmother’s 84th Birthday Party Poisoning Case, ‘Apple Crumble’ Revealed]
Grandma’s 84th birthday, but someone is suspicious.
Grandma’s 84th birthday party, which should have been ordinary. However, an inexplicable sense of unease hangs in the air inside the house where the family has gathered.
As suspicions arise that someone is targeting the grandmother, the player must wander through the familiar childhood home, observe the family’s actions, and uncover the truth.
The suspects are far from ordinary. Everyone is a suspect, from the beloved grandmother and the heavily stressed mother to the uncle going through a midlife crisis, and even the mysterious man who suddenly appeared in the bedroom. Even the player themselves is no exception.
The developer emphasizes the game’s unique unsettling yet humorous atmosphere with a paradoxical introduction: “No one is trying to kill Grandma. Don’t suspect the family, and don’t worry about the strange man in the bedroom. Why don’t you just have some pudding?”
Who should you trust in the family?… A 60–90 minute short mystery
The game proceeds as a walking simulator in which you explore the inside of the house from a first-person perspective.
The player searches for clues to the case by exploring every corner of the house where they spent their childhood and conversing with family members they haven’t seen in a long time. The story centers on the process of determining who to trust by examining the relationships and behaviors of the seemingly ordinary family members one by one.
The total playtime is relatively short, ranging from about 60 to 90 minutes. Instead of a long playtime, it aims to be a short mystery thriller that focuses on a limited space and characters to present a fast-paced story and plot twists.
All character dialogue is provided via voice. Through the full voice acting of key characters—such as the grandmother, mother, uncle, and the suspicious man who appears in the bedroom—the awkwardness of the family gathering and the gradually growing anxiety are conveyed.
‘Apple Crumble’ is a work inspired by the psychological thriller game ‘MOUTHWASHING’ and the mystery film ‘Knives Out’. Unlike its warm and colorful visuals, it is characterized by bringing the suspicion and psychological tension surrounding the family members to the forefront.
A new mystery from the developer of ‘Duck Detective’
Happy Broccoli Games is a small indie game studio based in Berlin, Germany.
The series’ representative work is the comedy mystery adventure ‘Duck Detective’. It has received a positive response for its unique structure and humor, in which a duck detective investigates crime scenes and pieces together clues to uncover the truth of the case, and the series has recorded an ‘overwhelmingly positive’ rating on Steam with over 5,000 user reviews.
While ‘Apple Crumble’ shares the commonality of being a mystery, its atmosphere is much darker than its predecessor. If ‘Duck Detective’ focused on lighthearted deduction, this time it introduces distrust and psychological tension into the relationship of family, which should be familiar and comfortable.
When it was first revealed last June, it was only known to be scheduled for release in 2026, but this announcement has confirmed the release date as December 3rd. A free demo is also available to play on Steam, allowing players to experience the game’s atmosphere and story progression firsthand ahead of the official launch.
Steam Release on December 3rd… Free Demo Revealed
‘Apple Crumble’ weaves together a heartwarming birthday party, uneasy family relationships, and the question of “Who is trying to kill Grandma?” Happy Broccoli Games, who showcased witty deductions and characters in their previous work ‘Duck Detective’, takes on a short but much darker mystery this time.
Grandma’s 84th birthday, where everyone looks like a suspect but perhaps nothing will happen. It sparks curiosity about what truth and twists might be hidden behind an ordinary family gathering during the short 60 to 90 minutes.
Apple Crumble is scheduled to be released on Steam on December 3 for Windows, Mac, and Linux, and a free demo is currently available to play on Steam.
Information regarding ‘Apple Crumble’
| item | detail |
|---|---|
| Developer / Publisher | Happy Broccoli Games |
| Genre | Interactive Mystery Thriller / Walking Simulator |
| platform | PC (Steam / Windows, Mac, Linux) |
| Release date | December 3, 2026 |
| Playtime | About 60 to 90 minutes |
| characteristic | First-person exploration, family mystery, fully voiced, short thriller |
| inspiration | MOUTHWASHING / Knives Out |
| Developer’s previous work | Duck Detective series |
| language | English audio, interface, and subtitles |
| Steam Page | Shortcut |
