Cyber Manhunt 2: New World – Early Access

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• Developer: Aluba Studio
• Publisher: Spiral Up Games
• Platforms: PC
• Genre: Narrative / Puzzle
• Release Date: May 10, 2024
• Initial Price: €9.75
• Reviewed Version: PC

Cyber Manhunt 2: New World from Aluba Studio is an impressive sequel to the internet investigator game. Despite being in Early Access, it offers three complete chapters with 8–10 hours of gameplay. This installment shows significant improvements over the original, with better fluidity, visuals, added cutscenes, greater interactivity, unique mini-games and puzzles, and an excellent English translation. Cyber Manhunt 2 is the sequel to the original 2020 game, Cyber Manhunt, both developed by the aforementioned China-based studio.

You Can Always Count on Publisher Spiral Up Games

You can always rely on games from publisher Spiral Up Games, known for its keen eye for outstanding titles. Cyber Manhunt 2 is no exception. I was impressed by the amount of content, the extensive and interconnected AI-driven chapters, the modern and simple UI, unique puzzles, voice-acted characters, and the intriguing drama woven into the plot itself.

In this sequel, you play as an AI assistant helping Ashley, an employee of the Titan Corporation, to uncover the truth about murders, corruption, and more. The game explores themes such as the ethical use of AI, bullying, scams, and corporate malfeasance through various chapters focused on specific cases. These cases, from a corrupt nun to fraud rings, are long and complex, featuring subplots and diverse characters. If mature themes aren’t to your liking, unfortunately, this game is not for you.

Hacking and Information Gathering Mechanics Are Fun

The game starts each case with minimal information, often just a character’s name. You then search online, extract crucial details, and piece the story together. The mini-games and puzzles, such as hacking and editing news stories, add variety and challenge, keeping you on your toes the entire time. However, a major drawback is that some data cannot be collected until you follow a specific plot line. Even if you spot something important early on, you can’t uncover it until you complete the necessary preceding steps.

In the game’s hacking segment, you can collect information to progress the case. Starting from a suspect’s name and email, you can access their personal data like social media accounts, home address, birthday, and social security number. This information helps you crack passwords and delve into their social media or email for more clues. An interesting feature is sending phishing links to a suspect’s phone, which grants you access to their photos, notes, and files.

The game makes a strong effort to immerse you in the world of an AI detective, but its replayability is limited. Once you complete the chapters, there’s little left besides finishing some achievements. However, keep in mind that this is an Early Access title, and more content will be released later. This means there will be more to explore as new chapters come out, which should keep the story open and leave you craving more.

An Experience That Prompts Reflection on AI and Data Storage

One more thing to note is how thought-provoking the game is. As you play, you’ll often find yourself wondering if such scenarios are happening in real life. How much information about us is stored online, and how might governments use it? Questions about the security of your online data, the future efficiency of AI, and how it will change our lives are inevitable.

Unfortunately, you might not successfully figure out some of the puzzles during your playthrough. While the game is generally straightforward, meaning you won’t get stuck on specific sequences for long, some clues can be easily missed. This can be frustrating, as you’ll often find yourself revisiting all messages and emails to see what you missed. The next steps aren’t always explicitly clear. Also, there is a lot of reading, so if you skip text, you might miss important information. You must pay close attention as you play because there is no hint system to guide you on what to do next.

Is this game worth your time? Absolutely. It offers many improvements over the first game, with an engaging story and straightforward gameplay. Navigating the game is easy, and you’ll likely enjoy it more than you might initially expect. Cyber Manhunt 2: New World could be one of those unique games you’ll regret not trying sooner.

Review copy provided by the publisher