Level-5 shows off DECAPOLICE's detective work and combat

Level-5 released a three-minute gameplay overview for DECAPOLICE, detailing the investigation mechanics and turn-based combat of the upcoming crime suspense RPG. The studio also confirmed the game is now planned for a 2027 release on PlayStation 5, Steam, and the Nintendo Switch 2.

First announced during the Level-5 Vision 2023 showcase, the game follows protagonist Harvard Marks. The new footage shows him operating inside DECASIM, a virtual simulation space that completely reproduces reality.

A perfect copy of reality

DECASIM isn't just a standard training environment. According to the official website, the virtual town contains the dormant memories of all past crimes. Players collect clues in this forbidden digital space to solve mysteries in the real world.

The trailer shows Harvard taking on an anthropomorphic cat avatar inside the simulation. The investigation phase heavily relies on an interactive Incident Board. Players physically connect photos, clues, and suspects with pins and red string to organize the case. It looks like a digital version of a conspiracy theorist's basement wall, and it serves as the main hub for tracking suspects. You'll need to piece together the timeline before moving forward.

Deduction and combat

Once enough evidence is gathered, the game shifts to a deduction phase called Thinking Vision. The interface visualizes theories as a floating puzzle cube. Players have to evaluate different case theories and assemble the cube correctly to identify the culprit.

When negotiations fail, DECAPOLICE switches to a turn-based tactical combat system. The battle screen uses a grid where positioning matters, and characters select abilities from a deck of cards to subdue suspects. The UI is busy, packed with character portraits, health bars, and ability descriptions. It doesn't look like a simple rock-paper-scissors system. The combat footage shows characters using standard police equipment alongside more exaggerated anime-style attacks. Enemies in the virtual space can take on monstrous forms, requiring the team to coordinate their positioning on the grid to avoid area-of-effect damage.

Level-5 has a history of building games around central gimmicks, from soccer RPGs to ghost-hunting watches. DECAPOLICE attempts to blend a police procedural with anime aesthetics and virtual reality tropes. The 2027 release window is a delay from earlier targets. It's a long wait, but adding the Switch 2 to the platform list alongside the PS5 and PC explains some of the extra development time. I'm curious how the card-based combat balances against the heavy investigation elements. Level-5 games tend to lean heavily into their minigames, so the puzzle cube deduction might end up being the core loop rather than just a stepping stone to combat.