If you’ve ever watched or read Tsugumi Ohba’s Death Note and thought that you could do a better job than the detectives, then Demons’ Timeline is similar to that, only with a more supernatural vibe. As the cyber detective known as L (I told you this would be like Death Note), you scour the internet via point-and-click interactions to solve demon-related incidents (known as “Paradoxes”) alongside your demon partner Nyasuteria Hakouchi and two AIs. Developed by Japanese indie developer DigitalCats, Demon’s Timeline launched on Steam on April 30.
Unlike your run-of-the-mill devil, the term “demon” in Demons’ Timeline refers to a human with supernatural powers. Rather than visiting crime scenes, L and his companions conduct their investigations by reading witness statements, news posts, and social media messages found on the fictional social media webpage Parotter.
With the information gathered, you find clues that reveal a person’s age, gender, occupation, as well as the online identity of their personal and alternate accounts. Even deleted data can be recovered using restoration passwords, which can lead to Secret Boxes that hold vital information about the incidents. Once you have enough information, you can confirm your suspicions by using the hashtags from the Parotter timeline to complete the final deduction.
Chapters in Demons’ Timeline feature one or two timelines, incentivizing multiple playthroughs. While cases strictly have right-or-wrong answers, there are no time limits or game overs to pressure you. Should you find yourself stumped or overwhelmed by the sheer amount of text you have to read, a hint system will allow you to easily progress forward. Featuring seven chapters, each with a playtime of 1-2 hours, Demon’s Timeline pushes inquisitive players to their limits while still being accessible to those who want to play it exclusively for the story.
Demons’ Timeline is currently available for Windows (Steam) at 15% off. The first chapter can be played for free via the Steam demo, with save data carrying over to the full title.
