Press release:
China – August 5th, 2026. Every city has its secrets. Dark Tide City has buried theirs for decades. Today, developer Shadowlight and publisher Phoenix Games invite players into the rain-soaked streets of Dark Tide City as Kill the Shadow launches on PC via Steam. Available now for £14.99 / $16.99 / €16.99 with a limited-time 10% launch discount, the atmospheric detective RPG blends gripping investigations, meaningful player choice, RPG progression and a unique crime-scene reconstruction mechanic that allows players to witness the past exactly as it happened.
Launching today alongside a brand-new gameplay trailer, Kill the Shadow immerses players in a city haunted by forgotten memories, buried conspiracies and the consequences of long-forgotten choices, where every investigation uncovers another piece of a truth someone is desperate to keep hidden.
Players assume the role of Lucas, a former detective carrying an impossible burden. Bound to the mysterious Shadow fused to his back, he alone possesses the supernatural ability to reconstruct the final moments of the dead. Rather than changing history, the Shadow allows Lucas to observe crime scenes exactly as they unfolded, revealing hidden evidence, exposing deception and piecing together a conspiracy that has cast its shadow over Dark Tide City for more than a decade.
Every investigation begins with a single victim. What starts as the mysterious death of Captain Theo’s loyal companion soon unravels into a web of corruption, betrayal and long-buried secrets. From the disappearance of Master Reed during a crowded temple festival to the forgotten tragedies hidden beneath Shipwreck Wharf, every case draws Lucas deeper into the city’s fractured past, where justice is rarely black and white.
How the story unfolds is entirely in the player’s hands. Develop Lucas through a flexible RPG progression system, relying on deduction, persuasion, charisma or brute force to overcome obstacles, interrogate suspects and uncover vital clues. Every conversation, every investigation and every moral decision shapes the people around you and ultimately determines the fate of Dark Tide City through multiple possible endings.
Bringing its haunting world to life, Kill the Shadow combines richly detailed 3D environments with beautifully animated 2D pixel-art characters to create a distinctive visual identity inspired by Chinese cyber-noir. Explore abandoned factories, flood-ravaged docklands, bustling temple districts and towering walled cities, each concealing new mysteries, unforgettable characters and stories waiting to be uncovered.
Key Features
Investigate a City Full of Secrets: Solve interconnected murder cases while uncovering the hidden truth behind Dark Tide City’s mysterious past.
Reconstruct Crime Scenes: Harness the power of the Shadow to witness the final moments of the deceased exactly as they happened, revealing clues invisible to everyone else.
Become the Detective You Want to Be: Shape Lucas through RPG progression, using deduction, persuasion, charm or force to solve every investigation your own way.
Meaningful Choices & Multiple Endings: Judge, forgive or condemn those responsible as your decisions shape the future of the city and the lives of its citizens.
A Stunning Chinese Cyber-Noir World: Experience a striking blend of richly detailed 3D environments and expressive 2D pixel-art characters.
Meet an Unforgettable Cast: Discover the stories, motivations and personal tragedies of Dark Tide City’s diverse citizens, each hiding secrets of their own.
The truth refuses to stay buried. Now it’s your turn to uncover it.
Kill the Shadow is available now on PC via Steam for £14.99 / $16.99 / €16.99 with a limited-time 10% launch discount
Watch the brand-new launch trailer today, begin your investigation and uncover the secrets hidden within Dark Tide City.
For more information, visit the Steam page, join the official Discord community and follow Kill the Shadow on YouTube for the latest updates.
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Jonas “O.J” Ek
The Gaming Ground
Twitter: @TheGamingGround
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Tags: Cyber-noir, Detective, Indie games, Kill the Shadow, PC games, Phoenix Games, RPG, Shadowlight, Steam