Time to pull that beige trench coat from storage! On Thursday, Irish game studio Spooky Doorway and publisher Akupara Games released the demo for The Darkside Detective: Backside of the Moon, the latest addition to the award-winning point-‘n’-click series, The Darkside Detective. The third installment follows the iconic case-cracking duo, Detective McQueen and Officer Dooley, as they take on more mysterious supernatural activity in the eerie town of Twin Lakes.
Using their trusty cursor, inquisitive players point, poke, prod, and press their way through town to find helpful hints, decode clues, and log insight from locals. Complete with cheeky dialogue, vibrant pixel-art visuals, and a compelling narrative, The Darkside Detective: Backside of the Moon is an adventure for all skill levels.
Seasoned sleuths already familiar with the supernatural IP will relish the franchise’s faithful return, while novice snoopers can use the approachable demo as a hands-on introduction to the series. As someone new to the franchise myself, I was able to hop right into the new demo with no issues.
Spooky Doorway, Akupara Games release demo for The Darkside Detective: Backside of the Moon
The all-new demo for The Darkside Detective: Backside of the Moon amplifies the series’ nostalgic elements. The featured story, “Honey, I Shrunk the Detectives,” follows protagonists Dooley and McQueen as they examine a case from a new perspective — literally — after being miniaturized by a mysterious artifact. Big cases, tiny investigators. What could go wrong?
Giggle, strategize, interrogate passers-by, and ultimately unshrink the duo in a bite-sized demo that offers about 30 minutes of playtime. As a chronic click-everything-er, I love that McQueen reacts when you interact with him.
I’m a first-time player, and I’m left admiring the demo’s atmospheric and eye-catching visuals, solid sound design, quirky dialogue, and challenging puzzles. Fear not, first-timers — The Darkside Detective: Backside of the Moon just might be the perfect stepping stone into the storied whodunnit series.
About The Darkside Detective
“Werewolves, cursed items, awry rituals, treasure hunts, and perhaps most terrifying monster of all – rich people – will put our pixelated heroes to the test but with your help, they might come out on top.“
The Darkside Detective, first released for Windows, Mac, and Linux PCs back in 2017, is a satirical point-and-click adventure set in the seedy supernatural Twin Lakes. The Twin Peaks-inspired titles are bursting with color and character, and the witty banter between McQueen and Dooley adds some “buddy cop” charm.
New to the franchise, too? There’s no better time than now to start the series! Check out the first game, The Darkside Detective (2017), as well as the second, The Darkside Detective: A Fumble in the Dark (2021).
While we can’t wait to see where the full game’s six cases take us, players can brush up on their investigative skills by joining Dooley and McQueen in the demo for The Darkside Detective: Backside of the Moon, available today on Steam, Mac, Linux, and Valve’s Steam Deck. For more info, stay glued to Akupara Games’ official X account as well as Spooky Doorway’s Bluesky.
