Developer Mediatonic is best known for localising and remaking the bizarre bird dating sim/visual novel Hatoful Boyfriend for international gamers, which turned out to be an unexpectedly huge hit. Who knew romance with our avian friends would sell so well?

Now Mediatonic is working on a new game that doesn’t involve taking pigeons out on dates. Murder By Numbers is a murder mystery game set in the nostalgic era of 1996 Hollywood (via PCGamer). Players assume the role of TV detective Honor Mizrahi who must investigate the death of her boss just minutes after he fired her from her hit show.

Players will be joined by a robot companion named Scout, who will help uncover clues and solve puzzles in an effort to clear Honor’s name. The big draw of Murder By Numbers is obviously its 90s setting and tropes, which can be seen from the designs of the many supporting characters in the game’s trailer.

Personally, the game ultimately reminds me of of the Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney franchise (without the courts and legal battles, of course). The developer must already realise this, so that’s why they hired Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney composer Masakazu Sugimori for the music in Murder By Numbers.

Murder By Numbers is slated to release sometime in 2020 for the Nintendo Switch and PC (Steam). In the meantime, check out the trailer below.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Bl8KSritXU&w=560&h=315]