Inspector Schmidt: The Ebbing

About

In this detective RPG you play Valentin Schmidt a civil servant whose holiday turns grim when a body washes up in a coastal town. As Inspector Schmidt you follow leads through foggy moors and quiet villages piecing together cryptic symbols tracking strange radio signals and dodging unseen threats. Conversations with locals reveal tangled motives while environmental puzzles tie the town’s secrets to a larger mystery. Choices matter as you balance investigation with survival in a setting where every shadow feels heavy. The game builds tension through sparse dialogue and atmospheric unease letting you uncover lore at your own pace. Active Fungus Studios crafts a slow burn mystery where the North Sea setting feels almost like a character. With no major mechanics beyond talking searching and decoding the focus stays on storytelling. Releases April 2025 for PC.

Storyline

Valentin Schmidt, a young civil servant, just wants to spend his well-deserved holiday on the North Sea. After an eventful boat voyage, he finally arrives in picturesque Havstedt - but then events take a turn for the worse: Bente Hansen's body is found at the telegraph station. Valentin's holiday seems to be over ... unless he uncovers the culprit and ensures safety in Havstedt again. However, he soon realises that every faction of the idyllic little town harbours its own dark, strange secrets. Who - or what - has Bente Hansen on their conscience? Will you be able to get to the bottom of the sinister happenings in Havstedt?