All tell “truth,” yet none are trustworthy. “病能探偵” uses cognitive anomalies to solve murder, survive with sister [Play Report]

On November 5, 2026, indie game studio PHOSEPO will release “The Sick Detective,” a death game mystery adventure that blends cognitive disorders with a full-fledged mystery.

The game’s protagonist, Lyle, is drawn—along with his younger sister, Rena—into “The Selection,” a death game organized by the mysterious religious group “Ri.”The winner—who commits
a murder without being exposed as the culprit—becomes a god and can have any wish granted. Amid this absurd death game, Lyle fights to protect his sister, using his own “disease ability” as a weapon.

“Mental Abilities” refer to the cognitive disorders each character suffers from. Throughout the story, various “Mental Abilities” appear, inspired by conditions such as obsessive-compulsive disorder, hemispatial neglect, and prosopagnosia. For example, characters may experience phenomena such as being unable to lie, being unable to perceive objects on their left side, or being unable to see other people’s faces.A world that seems abnormal to others but normal to the individual… These “disease abilities” are contagious not only to the person afflicted but also to others, and those possessing such powers are referred to in this work as “disease ability users.”

In this game, where all participants are “Ability Bearers,
” even testimony that appears consistent at first glance may actually be “the truth as perceived by the individual,” shaped by cognitive distortions. In this article, we’ll explore the gameplay experience of this unique “death game” (we received a game key for the purpose of this review).

“Psycho-Sleuth”: A Death Game-Style Mystery Adventure Where Distorted Perception Upsets the Case [TIGS2026] | Game*Spark - Domestic and International Game Information Site

At the end of a Werewolf game filled with suspicion and distrust, who will obtain the power of “God”!

https://www.gamespark.jp/article/2026/04/19/165369.htmlRead more »

● A terrifying death game based on the Werewolf game. “Who” and “what” should you suspect?

First, let’s take a closer look at “Ri,” the organization hosting the selection process that serves as the story’s setting.
“Ri,” a religion that emerged suddenly, expanded its influence at an astonishing rate, attracting a steady stream of fervent followers.Not only that, but “Ri” used technology beyond human understanding to create the “Sea Angel,” a miraculous power generator that requires no fuel and produces no pollution. In search of this mysterious energy, countless cities and nations fell under “Ri’s” control.

Then, one day, “Ri”—now the world’s largest religion—sent invitations to a very select few.
These are the very invitations to the selection process that serves as the setting for this story—.

The selection process is the “Werewolf” game we all know well. However, with each round, new roles—such as “Hero” and “Jester”—are added, gradually increasing the complexity.
And since it’s a death game, there will be casualties…Lyle isn’t the only one trying to survive the selection process. The other participants also take on the game, each with their own motives. They stand in Lyle’s way—sometimes as reliable allies, other times as formidable opponents.

Furthermore, the “illness abilities” each character possesses are troublesome and will turn against Lyle.

For example, Lyle’s younger sister, Rena, has an “illness-ability” that is an obsessive-compulsive disorder preventing her from lying. While Rena herself is constantly afflicted by this ability and never tells a lie, this does not apply to others, including Lyle.

However, they are “Ability Users”—beings who influence others through their own abnormal perceptions and conditions. When Lena activates her ability, “Only the Truth Remains,” no one within its range can tell a lie while it is active (anyone who tries to lie is struck by intense pain).
Even in such a state, however, strange remarks may still slip out. As long as it is the truth within the person’s own perception, there is no lie involved, and it poses no problem.

In this story, you must constantly consider questions such as “Who is lying?”, “Whose account is the truth?”, “Whose version of the truth has been distorted?”, and “To what extent can I trust what I’ve seen?”

● Gather evidence, point out contradictions in others’ statements, and win the debate

In this game, roles are assigned at the start of the game.

You’ll investigate using methods specific to your role to gather evidence and clues, then use those clues to engage in debates.

You have a limited amount of stamina and a time limit, and your stamina depletes with every mistake. However, time stops while you’re examining clues, so you can tackle the challenges with more leeway than you might expect. When a debate begins, be sure to read the presented clues carefully before jumping in!

One tricky aspect of these debates—as I’ve said many times—is that just because your opponent is contradicting themselves doesn’t necessarily mean they’re lying.
Those contradictions might stem from your opponent lying, or they might be the result of someone’s special ability.There may even be scenes where you can’t trust your opponent, the clues, or even the protagonist… While keeping everything in doubt, let’s unravel the truth.

Once you’ve won the debate and solved the murder case, you’ll wrap up the case at the end. The system for summarizing the case, reminiscent of a manga, might resonate with those in the know. You can really feel the respect developer Mr. Oka has for the games that influenced him.

"Disease Ability Detective," a death game mystery adventure where cognitive abnormalities spread and distort the crime scene, is set for release on November 5! Thirteen "Disease Ability" characters—including one who "can’t tell lies"—gather here. Achieve the perfect crime to become a god and have your wish granted | Game*Spark - Domestic and International Game Information Site

Abnormal perceptions spread to others and distort the crime scene itself.

https://www.gamespark.jp/article/2026/09/15/172272.htmlRead more »

There are also execution scenes—an essential element of any death game mystery adventure. In the anime’s depiction of these scenes, the werewolves employ a method that is both gentle and cruel: “showing the victims the world they wanted to see before killing them.” It makes you wonder: What kind of world did these werewolves live in, and what were their motivations for committing these murders…? You can’t help but ponder these questions.

Also, while this game does contain some gore and violent depictions—not limited to the execution scenes—if you’re someone who “can’t handle anything too gory…,” rest assured that you can adjust the display settings to your preference.

● Japanese voice acting included! Charismatic characters with various “illness abilities”

The participants in this death game include 13 individuals with unique “disease abilities,” as well as the android “Proxy High Priest” who serves as the game’s facilitator—all charming characters. In addition to beautiful still images, the characters move via Live2D even outside of animated scenes, and key moments—such as debates—feature Japanese voice acting, demonstrating the considerable effort put into the production!

As for the translation—which was improved based on feedback from the demo—while there are still a few stiff-sounding parts here and there, I felt it was generally good, with each character using different first-person pronouns and speech patterns.

By the way, my favorite characters are Alice, a famous stage actress, and Kotarie, a woman in a wheelchair.

As for what kind of “disease abilities” these two possess… you’ll have to play the game and see for yourself!

"Disease Ability Detective," a death game mystery adventure combining cognitive disorders with a full-fledged mystery, will be released for PC (Steam/STOVE) on November 5, 2026.