Solve a murder mystery by flying people around on your giant crane in the Disco Elysium and Chinese folktale inspired The Crane Rider’s Tale
The Crane Rider’s Tale is an upcoming visual novel and adventure game hybrid developed by the creator of Butterfly Soup. The game combines murder mystery gameplay with an unconventional mechanic: players ferry townspeople around on a giant crane to investigate and solve a serial murder case.
The narrative follows the player character after a friend has been killed by a serial killer on the loose. To identify the culprit, players must interact with local townsfolk by transporting them via the giant crane, creating opportunities for dialogue and investigation in the game’s medieval Chinese-inspired setting.
The game draws creative inspiration from narrative-focused titles like Disco Elysium and Zero Escape, incorporating their detective and mystery elements into its own unique framework. Its aesthetic is rooted in medieval Chinese painting and woodblock print traditions, creating a visually distinctive experience that complements the murder mystery theme.