Platforms: PC, PS5, Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo Switch
Years ago, episodic adventure games were ubiquitous, with Telltale Games leading the charge through the likes of The Walking Dead, offering bite-sized chapters consumed like TV. The idea faded after a while, but like an old favourite show getting rebooted for a new generation, Dispatch brings it roaring back, with a few welcome updates that modernise the format.
Set in an alternate modern day Los Angeles where superheroes and villains are commonplace, Dispatch follows the third Mecha Man, latest in a legacy of heroes who protect the city with an advanced battlesuit powered by a mysterious energy source. Well, he did – after the armour was destroyed by enigmatic hero-turned-villain Shroud, Mecha Man is just Robert Robertson III (and yes, that too-corny name is frequently a punchline). Struggling for direction, the reluctantly civilian Robert takes a role with the Superhero Dispatch Network, an ethically dubious heroes-for-hire outfit that turns crime fighting into a subscription scheme.
Over eight episodes, this proves as interested in its themes of redemption and second chances as it is in showcasing dynamic punch-ups.
Developed by AdHoc Studio – formed by Telltale veterans – Dispatch alternates between gorgeously animated interactive scenes driving the story, where key choices and quick-time events branch events into increasingly divergent paths, and fast-paced resource management sections where you assign heroes to tackle crises across the city, from grannies crossing roads to interdimensional invasions. Throw in the occasional time-critical hacking minigame where Robert gets to showcase his genius cyber skills, and Dispatch has a lot more “game” to it than the episodic outings of the 2010s.
Dispatch impresses with how beautifully it braids its threads together. Robert oversees the Z-Team, SDN’s lowest ranked agents, mostly ostensibly reformed supervillains. Mechanically, you’ll juggle matching their questionable superpowers (such as an asthmatic who can turn invisible… when holding her breath) to incidents you send them to, but also be drawn into their emotional lives during dramatic sequences. Over eight episodes, this proves as interested in its themes of redemption and second chances as it is in showcasing dynamic punch-ups.
The result is something like Invincible crossed with The Office, a blend of workplace dramedy and superhero smackdowns – but like Invincible, this isn’t kid’s stuff. On the PC and PS5 versions, expect graphic violence, nudity, and profanity aplenty, although there is an option to bleep the language and censor imagery like sizeable radioactive dicks (yes, really). The Nintendo releases are unfortunately censored by default, with no way to reveal the likes of nuclear knackers even to adult players, although the narrative of the game is untouched.
With a phenomenal voice cast led by Breaking Bad’s Aaron Paul, Dispatch matches the calibre of premium streaming telly – and when the credits roll and you’re hungry for more, you can binge it all over again for a wildly different experience (which beats waiting for years between seasons of Netflix shows. Dispatch channels a clear love of superheroes and comic books into a radical evolution of the episodic adventure game format that’s thrilling and full of heart. In short, it’s the best show you’ll play all year.
