The Sherlock Holmes video game series has been going on since 2002, with Frogwares responsible for developing every game in the franchise. There have been eight titles so far, starting with The Mystery of the Mummy in 2002. The latest offering was The Devil’s Daughter in 2016. The new game will be a prequel story, centering on Holmes in his younger years. It is the first game in the franchise that will be published by Frogwares.
What Will be the Focus of the Game?
After having spent most of the series focusing on a fully developed Holmes, Frogwares has decided to take players all the way back to the start. This prequel will allow gamers to take control of a 21-year-old Holmes, and it takes place on a Mediterranean island which was supposedly his home when growing up. The young sleuth will have to use his fledgling skills to uncover a mystery and discover how it relates to him.
The developers have played a bit fast and loose with the character’s origin story here, but it isn’t totally out of sync with the Holmes canon. This is because not much is actually known about the detective’s life before Baker Street in Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s books. Taking Holmes back to his early days like this allows the creators to introduce brand new storylines and characters, but may not appease purists.
Sherlock is Ever-present in All Areas of the Gaming Industry
If the new offering set for release in 2021 isn’t a hit with everyone, there are plenty of other ways to enjoy Sherlock in the gaming industry. Indeed, the great detective has been ubiquitous in mainstream entertainment for decades.
One recent way to enjoy the characters and mysteries from Holmes is the Holmes and The Stolen Stones slot game. This is one of the most popular online slots out there because of its familiar theme, but also due to its progressive jackpot that can yield high returns. It’s an eye-catching game that will attract fans of Holmes-based content. There is also an additional themed slot titled Sherlock’s Casebook, for those wanting to experience a different take on the franchise,
For lovers of mobile apps, there are plenty of options that offer a classic Sherlock experience. For example, Sherlock: The Detective tasks players with uncovering clues in a crime scene, while Sherlock: Interactive Adventure allows readers to dive into one of the stories.
Will This Take The Series in a New Direction?
It remains to be seen how popular this origin story will be. With Sherlock being such a well-established character, it might shock players to see such a different take. However, if it does turn out to be a success, it may influence Frogwares to pursue a new direction with its series. It could go on to create future prequel games that path Sherlock’s years through young adulthood.
Sherlock Holmes: Chapter One will be available for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One, as well as for next-generation consoles. The exact release date is yet to be announced, but from the early gameplay reveals it looks as though it will be worth the wait. This could be the start of a brand new era for the legendary crime solver.