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Released in Japan on December 12, 2024, *Mystery no Arukikata* (literally “Mystery Walk”) is a brand-new novel-style mystery adventure game developed by Toybox Inc. and published by Imagineer Co., Ltd. As the first installment in a planned three-part series, this fully voiced visual novel introduces players to the “Mystery Research Club” at Teito University. Under the guidance of a professor specializing in criminal psychology, a group of students travels to the scenic summer resort town of Narumizawa with a singular goal: to investigate the “Sanmei Manor Incident,” an unsolved murder case from 30 years ago.

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The game’s central hook is its protagonist, Doppo Akazawa, a young man who harbors a unique and closely guarded secret—the ability to “see into the past.” This power, which Doppo refers to as “past vision,” allows him to perceive “purple auras” emanating from people and objects, and by touching these auras, he can witness past events related to them. This narrative device becomes the core of the game’s investigative loop, as players must use this power to uncover hidden truths and navigate a web of long-buried secrets kept by a cast of seemingly cheerful characters.

A Tale of Two Eras

The plot of *Mystery no Arukikata* centers on the bizarre death of the famous landscape painter Suiryu Uchida. The artist was found murdered in the grounds of his home, Sanmei Manor, stabbed in the back and left lying face-down next to an unfinished painting, with a paintbrush protruding from the wound. The case quickly went cold when the primary suspect, Uchida’s wife, committed suicide before the investigation could be concluded, and it was assumed she had been driven to her actions by guilt. Despite the shocking nature of the crime, the incident was closed and, over the years, nearly forgotten.

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Three decades later, the members of the Mystery Research Club believe that the original investigators overlooked crucial details, reopening these old wounds as an academic assignment. As the students arrive in Narumizawa to dig deeper into the facts of the case, new information gradually emerges, suspects come into focus, and the hidden, often painful, emotions behind the characters’ cheerful exteriors are slowly revealed. What begins as a simple report into an old murder quickly evolves into a complex investigation that challenges the official story and uncovers a series of long-buried conspiracies.

A Unique Blend of Modern and Retro

One of the most distinctive features of *Mystery no Arukikata* is the way it visually and aurally represents time, reinforcing the narrative’s central theme of dual eras. The “present-day” segments of the game, set in 2024, are brought to life with detailed, realistic backgrounds and feature full voice acting from a talented cast, creating a rich, cinematic atmosphere. In stark contrast, when the protagonist uses his “past vision” to investigate the 1990s, the visuals shift dramatically to a nostalgic, 8-bit-style pixel art aesthetic, and the music changes from orchestrated pieces to classic chiptunes, while spoken dialogue is replaced with retro “burbling” sounds.

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This bifurcated style extends into the gameplay mechanics. During the modern investigations, players engage in conversation and interrogation scenes similar to a standard visual novel. However, the “past vision” sequences play out as command-based mini-games reminiscent of older Japanese adventure titles. In these segments, Doppo must re-enact a specific past event by selecting the correct actions from a menu, often working against a hidden timer before his vision collapses. Additional optional elements, such as a “Town Walk” feature to collect art cards and two fully-playable retro arcade games, add replay value and perfectly complement the game’s thematic exploration of past and present.

A Promising Start to a Trilogy

The critical reception to *Mystery no Arukikata* has been generally positive, with many reviewers praising its compelling central mystery, unique time-travel mechanics, and the charming, nostalgic atmosphere it creates. Famitsu noted the challenge of balancing narrative length with player expectations in an era of massive AAA experiences, with the developers ultimately aiming to provide a satisfying experience that respects players’ time. The game, which features a medium playtime of around 19 hours and 50 minutes, is designed to keep the story flowing regardless of player choices, but offers post-game rewards for those who ace all of its interrogation and deduction sequences.

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One point of critique some players have raised involves the personalities of the main characters, with a few reviewers finding their “intense” or “exaggerated” traits to be occasionally overbearing. Others noted that because this is the first part of a trilogy, some overarching mysteries and character relationships are left deliberately unresolved, though the core “Sanmei Manor” case is fully solved by the end. With a 12+ age rating, a commercial localisation by Aksys Games titled *Path of Mystery: A Brush With Death* scheduled for a Spring 2026 Western release on the Switch, and the developers firmly committed to completing the trilogy, *Mystery no Arukikata* stands as a solid and intriguing start to what promises to be a memorable mystery series.

Add-ons (DLC): Mystery no Arukikata Switch XCI