Duskwood - Detective Story review

Duskwood plays like a crime case that lands on your own phone. A girl named Hannah has been missing for 72 hours when her friends get a message from her phone containing only your number. From there the game runs inside a chat messenger: you receive pictures, videos, voice messages and phone calls, and Everbyte says your answers and decisions change what others reveal, whether they trust you, and the course of the story. Spy Mode lets you read other characters' chats, and mini games break up the conversations. The developer states the game is completely free to play and will stay free, with credit packs from $1.99 as optional support. Because the story ships in episodes, you may wait for new parts. It is rated 13+ with horror themes. We compared documented features and published prices; we did not play every episode.

Who it is for

players who like reading and making choices more than searching

Price

Free to play; credit packs start at $1.99 on the US App Store.

10 Credits $1.99
Quoted from the vendor pricing page on November 11, 2026.

Key features

• Story told in a chat messenger with photos, videos, voice messages and calls
• Choices change what characters reveal and how the story goes
• Spy Mode to read other characters' chats
• Mini games inside the investigation
• Released in episodes

Strengths and weaknesses

• Strength: Developer states it is completely free to play
• Strength: No fine-motor searching, so it suits reading-focused players
• Strength: 10 languages listed
• Weakness: Released in episodes, so the story arrives in parts
• Weakness: Rated 13+ with horror themes
• Weakness: Multimedia packs cost up to $12.99

Key facts

• Setting: Village of Duskwood
• Age rating: 13+
• Languages: English and 9 more
• Requires: iOS 14.4 or later

Where it ranks

Duskwood - Detective Story is No. 3 in our Best Free Mystery Games verdict.