Info about Shadows of Doubt:

Official game description:
**A procedurally-generated sandbox stealth game with a whole city of secrets at your fingertips!**
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_**Shadows of Doubt**_ is set in an alternate reality in the hyper-industrialized 1980s. Think like a detective and use a variety of gadgets as a private intelligence investigator, gathering evidence and making money by solving cases, finding and selling information and more.
Play your own way in a fully simulated world with hundreds of citizens. Discover, meet and tail individual citizens, each with their own name, job, apartment and daily routine, in unique, procedurally-generated cities. Each case has different culprits, clues and experiences for you to test your investigative skills.
Explore _**anywhere**_ in the city! Every nook of every trashy bar, every place of work, every seedy hotel room… This dystopia is your oyster. Break into apartments, rifle through secret documents or hack security systems - even a discarded receipt can be the key to cracking a case. Trace the receipt back to an individual location, scour CCTV footage and match the time up to the receipt to find out who it belonged to!
The entire world is _**fully simulated**_. Each citizen has an apartment, job, daily routine, favorite things to do, places to go, and people to interact with. They live out their lives independently, in a world that moves on with or without you— uncover this knowledge and use it to your advantage!
Become a private investigator in a truly unique detective experience. Think like a detective to solve the cases around you: check call histories, find passwords, read private emails, speak to persons of interest, watch CCTV footage and more to retrieve evidence and build your case. Store information on your investigation board and link evidence together as you piece together the ful picture.
Features
*   Become a private investigator and track down a serial killer in a fully-simulated sci-fi city. Think like a detective and use a variety of gadgets to gather evidence and solve cases in this truly unique detective experience.
*   Meet individual citizens, each with their own name, job, apartment and daily routine, in unique, procedurally-generated cities.
*   Take on new cases to earn cash, purchase new gadgets and equipment, and customise your apartment.
*   Gather evidence to build your case - scan fingerprints, check call histories, read private emails, watch CCTV, and find key pieces of evidence to gather information and accuse your suspect.
*   Play your own way - pick locks, break down doors, sabotage security systems and bribe citizens for information, or stick to the law and play by the book. There are multiple ways to approach each case.
*   Explore every room in every building, and talk to every citizen. Lose yourself in a detailed sci-fi noir world.

Release date: Sep 26, 2024

Categories: Detective Gameplay, Procedural Generation, Open-World Exploration, Stealth Gameplay, Investigative Gameplay, NPC Interaction, Non-linear Narrative, Mod Support

Feature scans:
- MTX: score 15; verdict: Mixed Monetization Approach; summary: The game receives mixed reviews regarding its monetization and content quality. While some users appreciate the lack of microtransactions and paid DLCs, others criticize the game for being overpriced and lacking updates. There is also a mention of offensive content which could be a concern.
- Wiki: score 10; verdict: Needs Improvement; summary: The game suffers from significant issues related to bugs and glitches, which disrupt the user experience and require external solutions. Additionally, the complex mechanics and lack of sufficient guidance make it difficult for users to fully enjoy the game without additional resources.
- Steam Deck: score 75; verdict: Tinkering Required; summary: The analysis of user feedback reveals significant issues with the game's performance and optimization on the Steam Deck. Users have reported frequent stuttering, poor optimization, and difficulties with launching the game despite its verified status. Additionally, there are usability issues such as the need to switch to Proton GE for certain functionalities and cumbersome menu navigation. These issues collectively hinder the user experience and investment in the game.

- Hardware Profile: No data
Feature extractions:
- Community Price:
  - Community fair range: $15.00 - $25.00
  - Reasoning: The evidence shows that users generally find the game worth the price, especially when purchased on sale. Many users mention that they would be willing to pay full price given the enjoyment they derived from the game. The sentiment suggests that while the game has its issues, the overall experience justifies the cost, particularly when considering the hours of gameplay it offers.
- Playtime Metrics:
  - Game completion: 40.0h
  - Story completion: 10.0h
  - Session length: 2.0h
  - Endgame: 10.0h
  - Reasoning: The evidence suggests that players typically spend around 2 hours on individual cases, with some cases taking longer due to complexity or bugs. The game completion time is estimated based on the cumulative time spent on multiple cases and the overall gameplay experience. The story completion time is derived from players' experiences with the main cases. Session length is inferred from the time players spend on individual cases before taking breaks or switching activities. Endgame hours are estimated based on the additional time players spend after completing the main story, engaging in side activities or additional cases.
- Time-to-fun:
  - Summary: The game is initially fun during the tutorial but becomes repetitive and less enjoyable afterward due to bugs and lack of depth in gameplay mechanics.
  - Stance: Fun then drops
  - Anchor: Completing the tutorial
  - Time to anchor: 2h 0m
  - Friction: Repetitive gameplay; Bugs and glitches; Lack of meaningful progression; Tedious tasks; Limited information to solve cases
  - Unlock drivers: Completing the tutorial; Learning the game mechanics
  - Conditions: Playing with mods that add more content; Role-playing and adding personal narratives; Playing on higher difficulties
- Player Archetypes:
  - Procedural Detective (buy)
    - Motivation: Enjoying the challenge of solving procedurally generated cases.
    - Playstyle: Thoughtful and immersive, focusing on gathering evidence and puzzling out clues.
    - Experience: familiar
    - Purchase stance: buy
    - Labels: detective; thinker
    - Reference games: Deus Ex
  - Roleplaying Detective (sale)
    - Motivation: Enjoying the roleplaying aspects and immersing themselves in the detective role.
    - Playstyle: Immersive and detailed, focusing on roleplaying and creating personal stories.
    - Experience: mixed
    - Purchase stance: sale
    - Labels: roleplayer; storyteller
    - Reference games: N/A
  - Performance-Conscious Player (no buy)
    - Motivation: Seeking a well-performing and bug-free gaming experience.
    - Playstyle: Critical and demanding, focusing on the technical aspects of the game.
    - Experience: veteran
    - Purchase stance: no buy
    - Labels: performance-conscious; bug reporter
    - Reference games: N/A


Below are summaries of things people say about the game per category.
Each point is assigned a weight that represents how often it is mentioned across all reviews.
What players like:
- Varied case-solving methods (weight 0.21): The game offers multiple ways to solve cases, providing players with the freedom to approach investigations in various ways. This non-linear approach encourages creativity and makes solving cases more engaging and satisfying.
- Excellent game concept (weight 0.16): The game's concept is widely praised for being unique, well-thought-out, and ambitious. Players appreciate the innovative ideas and the promising potential of the game's design.
- Overall enjoyable experience (weight 0.15): Players find the game to be highly enjoyable and fun, with captivating gameplay and a relaxing atmosphere. The game is praised for being very good and brilliant overall.
- Engaging interactions (weight 0.13): The game offers engaging interactions with the environment and unique gameplay mechanics. Players find the high level of interaction and engaging case stories to be enjoyable and immersive.
- Unique detective gameplay (weight 0.13): The game stands out for its unique blend of detective and sandbox genres, offering an open-world experience with procedurally generated mysteries. Players enjoy the realistic investigation gameplay and the unique art style.
- Alive procedural world (weight 0.13): The game's procedurally generated world feels alive and dynamic, with impressive procedural generation. Players appreciate the detailed and consistent generation of the world.
- Engaging problem-solving (weight 0.12): The game provides exciting and rewarding problem-solving experiences, encouraging logical thinking and creativity. Players find the detective work fun and satisfying.
- Unique gameplay experience (weight 0.12): Players appreciate the unique and refreshing gameplay experience, with memorable and challenging moments. The game offers a unique detective experience that stands out from other games.
- Noir atmosphere (weight 0.1): The game's noir atmosphere, combined with its cyberpunk aesthetic, creates a moody and immersive experience. Players enjoy the noir vibes and the futuristic atmosphere.
- Game has potential (weight 0.08): Players find the game engaging and full of potential. The game is praised for its atmospheric and engaging qualities, showing promise for future development.
- Detailed investigation mechanics (weight 0.06): The game features detailed and integral investigation mechanics, with clues and case boards. Players enjoy the player choice in investigation methods and the freedom to explore and solve cases.
- Well-executed game (weight 0.06): The game is praised for its amazing execution and beautiful craftsmanship. Players find the game to be beautifully crafted and amazing overall.
- Engaging gameplay scenarios (weight 0.06): The game provides engaging and immersive gameplay scenarios, with enjoyable and humorous moments. Players find the gameplay to be detailed and atmospheric.

Common complaints:
- Frequent bugs and crashes (weight 0.36): The game is plagued with numerous bugs that range from minor issues to game-breaking problems. These bugs can cause crashes, prevent case completion, and generally ruin the gaming experience.
- Repetitive and unsolvable cases (weight 0.34): Many players report that cases in the game are often repetitive, lack variety, and can become unsolvable due to bugs or insufficient information. This leads to frustration and a lack of enjoyment.
- Poor NPC interactions (weight 0.21): NPCs in the game lack depth and advanced behavior, often exhibiting robotic and lifeless interactions. This makes the game world feel less immersive and engaging.
- Game feels unfinished (weight 0.2): The game suffers from poor performance, clunky controls, and a general lack of polish. Many players feel that the game is unfinished and needs more development.
- Technical issues and optimization (weight 0.16): The game has various technical issues, including loading problems, performance issues, and poor optimization. These issues affect the overall gameplay experience negatively.
- Lack of updates (weight 0.11): Players are disappointed with the lack of meaningful updates and improvements. The slow development pace and minimal content updates contribute to this sentiment.
- Difficulty and balance issues (weight 0.06): The game has difficulty balance issues, with some cases being too easy or too difficult. This inconsistency affects the overall enjoyment and fairness of the gameplay.
- Save file issues (weight 0.05): Save files in the game are prone to bugs and can become corrupted or lost due to various issues. This poses a risk to player progress and can be frustrating.
- Clunky controls and mechanics (weight 0.05): The game's controls and mechanics are often described as clunky and unintuitive. This makes the game harder to play and enjoy.
- Weak combat and stealth (weight 0.05): The combat and stealth mechanics in the game are poorly implemented and explained. Stealth, in particular, is often broken and unrealistic.

Gameplay feedback:
- Complex investigation mechanics (weight 0.3): The game includes detailed and challenging investigation mechanics such as fingerprint analysis, hacking, evidence collection, and crime scene investigation. Players need to gather evidence, identify suspects, and make judgments.
- Detective gameplay in open world (weight 0.27): The game features a strong emphasis on detective gameplay, set in an open-world sandbox city with a noir atmosphere. Players take on the role of a detective solving various cases, ranging from petty thefts to murders.
- NPC routines and interactions (weight 0.22): NPCs in the game have daily routines, relationships, and unique behaviors. They interact with the world and each other, adding depth to the game's simulation.
- Procedural generation of content (weight 0.21): The game utilizes procedural generation for cities, citizens, cases, and evidence. This creates a dynamic and varied experience with unique cases and environments.
- Open-ended and sandbox gameplay (weight 0.17): The game offers open-ended gameplay with emergent storytelling and a free-roaming open world. Players can approach investigations in multiple ways and explore the city freely.
- Variety in cases (weight 0.15): The game offers a variety of cases, although some players note a lack of diversity in certain types of cases. The cases involve solving mysteries, gathering evidence, and making arrests.
- Stealth and infiltration mechanics (weight 0.11): The game incorporates stealth and infiltration mechanics, allowing players to sneak into buildings, rob houses, and engage in minor combat scenarios.
- Mod support and multiplayer (weight 0.07): The game supports modding, allowing for additional content and community contributions. It also includes multiplayer support, enhancing its replayability and community engagement.

Performance notes:
- Performance and optimization issues (weight 0.25): Many players report poor optimization leading to slow performance, low FPS, and various technical issues. The game struggles even on high-end hardware.
- Frequent crashes and instability (weight 0.14): The game is reported to be highly unstable, with frequent crashes, especially on launch. This severely impacts the gameplay experience.
- Game-breaking bugs (weight 0.11): There are numerous reports of bugs that can break the game, including unsolvable investigations and texture loading issues.
- DLSS performance and quality issues (weight 0.04): Players report issues with DLSS, including struggles to maintain high FPS and concerns about its impact on visual quality.

Recommendations:
- Highly recommended despite flaws (weight 0.18): Many players recommend the game due to its ambitious mechanics and unique experience, despite acknowledging some flaws. It is often suggested to buy the game on sale.
- Recommended for specific player types (weight 0.06): The game is recommended for players who enjoy exploration, investigation, and using ingenuity. It is also suggested for those who like choosing their own path and true investigations.
- Worth trying out (weight 0.06): The game is considered worth the time and effort to try out, with some players suggesting to try it for a couple of hours.
- Modding and future updates (weight 0.05): There is strong support for modding and hopes for continued updates and improvements. Players are willing to pay for DLCs or donate for continued development.
- Recommendations for specific playstyles (weight 0.05): The game is recommended as a comfort game and for those who enjoy atmosphere and role-playing. It is also suggested to play with difficulty sliders and turn off certain mechanics if not enjoyed.
- Suggestions for gameplay improvements (weight 0.04): Players suggest adding more dialogue and relationship depth, as well as improving home interaction mechanics. There are also requests for more player weapon options.
- Recommended for fans of specific genres (weight 0.03): The game is recommended for fans of noir and detective genres, as well as those who enjoy procedural generation and replayability.
- Mixed recommendations based on preferences (weight 0.03): The game is recommended for those who enjoy slow mysteries and deductive gameplay, but it is suggested to skip if looking for challenge and mastery.
- Suggestions for purchasing (weight 0.03): Players suggest buying the game on sale due to its current state and recommend waiting for the release of the Steam Workshop.

Other player notes:
- Multiplayer Mode Suggestion (weight 0.02): There is a suggestion from players for the addition of a multiplayer mode, indicating interest in more social gameplay options.
- Early Access Gameplay (weight 0.02): Many players have experienced the game primarily during its early access phase.
- Gifted by Friends (weight 0.02): Some players received the game as a gift from friends, indicating it might be a popular choice for gifting.

Emotions:
- Frustration (weight 0.33): Players are frustrated primarily due to the high number of bugs and performance issues that plague the game. These bugs often break side cases, make quests uncompletable, and cause frequent crashes, significantly hindering gameplay. Additionally, the game's difficulty, unclear menus, and misleading achievement requirements contribute to the frustration, as players spend more time troubleshooting than actually playing and enjoying the game.
- Enjoyment (weight 0.19): Players enjoy the immersive and unique gameplay mechanics that make them feel like true detectives. The fun and engaging gameplay, along with the freedom to explore and solve crimes in a detailed and alive world, contribute to a captivating experience. Despite some bugs, the overall fun and rewarding gameplay loop, along with the game's atmosphere and narrative, provide a satisfying and enjoyable experience.
- Disappointment (weight 0.16): Players express disappointment due to the game's unfulfilled potential and numerous bugs. The repetitive gameplay and lack of meaningful updates or improvements contribute to a sense of missed opportunities. Additionally, the game's unfinished state, technical issues, and lack of depth make it feel rushed and overshadow its positive aspects.
- Excitement (weight 0.09): Players are excited about the game's unique and immersive detective experience. The innovative concept, engaging gameplay scenarios, and the freedom to act as a corrupt detective or play as a rat add to the thrill. The unpredictable and detailed narrative, along with the game's atmospheric and dynamic nature, create an engaging and unique experience.
- Satisfaction (weight 0.06): Players feel satisfied with the game's unique and immersive detective experience. Solving cases correctly and the engaging gameplay loop provide a sense of accomplishment. The game's detailed investigative mechanics, atmospheric gameplay, and overall quality contribute to a rewarding and satisfying experience.
- Hope (weight 0.03): Players hope for future improvements and the potential of the game if issues were fixed. The desire for more content, gameplay modes, and the potential for mods or a sequel keep players hopeful. The roadmap showing future improvements and the game's potential with simpler touches give players a sense of optimism.
- Enthusiasm (weight 0.03): Players are enthusiastic about the game's unique and immersive detective experience. The rich world, potential for character customization, and the game's ambitious mechanics contribute to their excitement. The positive aspects of the game, along with its unique gameplay mechanics and open-world nature, fuel their enthusiasm.
- Amusement (weight 0.02): Players find amusement in the game's humorous and chaotic gameplay scenarios. Unexpected legal consequences, unique and humorous gameplay experiences, and funny bugs provide moments of laughter. The game's jank and challenging moments, along with reckless tactics and low stakes, add to the amusement.
- Positive (weight 0.01): Players have a positive experience with the game, appreciating its completeness and the developers' engagement with the community. They find the game fun, immersive, and recommend it as a comfort game. The unique concept and overall enjoyment of the game's mechanics contribute to their positive feelings.
- Joy (weight 0.01): Players experience joy from the game's fun and unique qualities. The sense of accomplishment and the game's atmosphere and mechanics contribute to their happiness. The overall fun and engaging gameplay bring them joy.
- Disappointed (weight 0.01): Players feel disappointed because, despite enjoying the game, they cannot recommend it due to technical issues. The repetitive nature and lack of variety, along with the bugs, compel them to give negative reviews. They want to like the game but are held back by its flaws.
- Admiration (weight 0.01): Players admire the game's execution and personality. The impressive simulation and atmosphere, along with the procedural generation and detective mechanics, evoke a sense of admiration. The game's unique qualities and immersive experience are highly regarded.
- Anger (weight 0.01): Players are angry about the game's broken state and lack of updates. The numerous bugs and lack of improvement, along with developers focusing on console ports instead of fixing issues, fuel their anger. The game's technical problems and unaddressed fundamental issues contribute to their frustration.
- Boredom (weight 0): Players experience boredom due to the repetitive cases and lack of murders, which make the game feel monotonous. The repetitive gameplay loop and lack of meaningful interactions contribute to their boredom. The game's lack of depth and variety in cases makes it less engaging over time.
- Nostalgia (weight 0): Players feel nostalgia from memories of playing the game and its unique and fun experience despite its flaws. The game's unique qualities and the fun moments they had contribute to their nostalgic feelings. The memorable cases and overall enjoyable experience bring back fond memories.
- Frustrated (weight 0): Players feel frustrated because the game no longer works, preventing them from playing it. The bugs and updates that seem to make the game worse, along with the game's broken state, contribute to their frustration. The inability to play and enjoy the game due to technical issues fuels their frustration.
- Fascination (weight 0): Players are fascinated by the dynamic and immersive gameplay experience. The unique blend of open-world investigation with procedurally generated mysteries captures their interest. The game's innovative concept and engaging gameplay scenarios contribute to their fascination.
- Delight (weight 0): Players experience delight from engaging interactions and acts within the game. The fun and unique gameplay moments, along with the game's atmospheric and immersive mechanics, bring them joy. The detailed narrative and engaging gameplay scenarios contribute to their delight.}