Unsolved Case

Unsolved Case is the free standalone prequel to the cooperative point-and-click puzzle series Cryptic Killer, designed as a 30-to-60-minute entry point that lets players experience the franchise's signature collaborative gameplay at no cost. The game requires two players, each with their own copy on mobile, tablet, PC or Mac, plus an internet connection and voice communication. The whole experience is built around forcing the two players to talk to each other.

The story picks up years after the twisted Cryptic Killer was put away behind bars at the infamous Anagram Asylum. Today, he's back — or seems to be — taunting the detectives. Did they catch the wrong person, or is this a copycat killer? A mysterious locked box arrives at the addresses of detectives Ally and Old Dog, sending them once again on a chase that will challenge them unlike any case before. Players step into the detectives' shoes and return to where the franchise began.

The split-screen puzzle design is the game's mechanical signature. Through separate screens, you and your partner each see half of any given puzzle — different items, different clues, different angles on the same problem. The only way to solve a puzzle is to communicate, collaborate and trust your partner's descriptions. Hand-illustrated environments inspired by noir novels give every location distinct character. A notebook and pen can be whipped out at any time to draw notes and scribble on the environment — you cannot solve a case without taking notes. Hurry up, or risk losing more than just the case.