Inspector Schmidt - The Ebbing Demo Available Now on Steam

Written by Brandon Hofer on February 13, 2025

News: A new detective RPG will arrive in April but you can get an early glimpse right now thanks to this new demo.

Munich-based indie developer Active Fungus Studios has announced that its detective RPG, Inspector Schmidt – The Ebbing, will launch on April 7, 2025. To celebrate the upcoming release, a brand-new demo is now available, featuring approximately two hours of gameplay, including a tutorial introducing the game’s mechanics and the first main quest.

True to the tradition of detective games, The Ebbing challenges players with intricate puzzles, including numerical, visual, search, and combination-based riddles. The demo offers a first taste of these mind-bending challenges.

Following in the footsteps of its predecessor, A Bavarian Tale, this new title brings a fresh atmospheric element to the series: mystery. Protagonist Valentin Schmidt finds himself entangled in a case full of eerie occurrences, leading him deep into a foreboding marshland, where he encounters a nameless terror. To match the heightened tension, the stealth mechanics have been completely overhauled.

At the same time, The Ebbing builds on the successful formula of A Bavarian Tale with engaging dialogues, quirky and humorous situations with eccentric NPCs, a complex, branching narrative with multiple endings, full voice and text support in both (Northern) German and English and a strong historical setting, deeply influenced by the 19th century

About Inspector Schmidt – The Ebbing

In this detective RPG, players must unravel a web of intrigue, lies, and secrets surrounding a mysterious death.

The Year is 1870. The first transatlantic telegraph cable has just been installed, ushering in a new era of communication between the United States and Germany. Industrialization is accelerating, social movements are gaining momentum, and public discourse is filled with tension and unrest. Meanwhile, the Franco-Prussian War looms on the horizon, raising fears of military conscription.

Valentin Schmidt, a young civil servant, simply wants to enjoy his well-deserved vacation by the North Sea. After an eventful journey, he finally arrives in the picturesque town of Havstedt – but then, events take a dramatic turn: Bente Hansen’s body is found at the telegraph office.

Valentin's vacation seems to be over… unless he solves the crime and restores safety to Havstedt. But he soon realizes that every faction of the idyllic town harbors its own dark, peculiar secrets. Who – or what – is responsible for Bente Hansen’s death?

Key Features

Explore an Open World: Roam freely through a detailed coastal town set in 1870.

Engage in deep Dialogues: Interrogate locals, gather valuable information, and uncover hidden truths.

Confront Suspects: Interrogate and expose those hiding secrets.

Search for Clues: Use the Detective Mode to uncover hidden evidence.

Don’t get caught: Sneak into forbidden areas and survive the dangers of the marsh—getting caught is not an option.

Solve Challenging Puzzles: Utilize hidden clues and your wit to unlock critical information.

Pass Skill Checks: Put your skills to the test in classic pen-and-paper-inspired dice rolls.

Level Up: Upgrade your character by improving skills that suit your playstyle.

Craft Useful Items: Gather resources to create tools and consumables that enhance your abilities.

Make Difficult Choices: Your decisions shape the story's outcome. Choose between charisma, diplomacy, or authority—but solve the case at any cost.

The demo isn’t the only treat. New subscribers to the Inspector Schmidt newsletter will receive an exclusive character handbook – a valuable in-game notebook to keep track of clues and suspects. The handbook also includes historical insights on the NPCs and their real-life inspirations from the 19th century. Additionally, subscribers can take a personality quiz to discover which NPC archetype they resemble the most.

Take a look at the trailer and tell us what you think. Will you be playing Inspector Schmidt - The Ebbing?