A Case of Fraud

A Case of Fraud is a short, non-linear detective adventure. The player investigates the disappearance of the CEO of Zoolingo, a startup that aims to build a translation app allowing people to understand their pets. The company has secured a large amount of investor funding, and the CEO has vanished under suspicious circumstances. The only evidence available is a collection of documents taken from her home and office.

The game is built around reading and deduction. The player works out the identities and roles of family members and employees, determines who had motive and opportunity, and builds a case against the fraudulent scheme. All documents are provided during play, so there is no searching for hidden clues. The challenge lies in interpreting the material, connecting clues, and forming theories without guidance. Progress depends on the player’s own reasoning, and evidence can be explored in any order. The case involves discovering missing identities, deciphering clues from the past, and making logical deductions.

The game is inspired by open-ended narrative deduction games such as The Roottrees are Dead. Players are also asked to work out the identities of the employees’ animal companions. The art was hand drawn in Procreate using an iPad and Apple Pencil.