Detective Turner: If Looks Could Kill Turns Fashion Into a Murder Mystery

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Revealed during the Story-Rich Showcase 2026, the debut project from solo South African developer Riker called Detective Turner: If Looks Could Kill throws players into a glamorous world of fashion, secrets, and murder where paying attention to every word could mean the difference between solving the case or missing the truth entirely.

You step into the shoes of Detective Turner, an old-school investigator who wants nothing to do with modern technology. Instead of browsing databases or hacking computers, Turner relies on notebooks, Polaroid photographs, and good old-fashioned detective work. His latest case revolves around the murder of Margot Voss, the influential founder of fashion magazine Mirage, who is found dead during a private gathering attended by friends, lovers, and business associates.

What immediately stands out is the game’s unusual investigation system. Rather than simply examining objects, you literally read your surroundings. Text is woven directly into the environment, appearing across walls, floors, and evidence. Certain words can be inspected, moved, or investigated further, creating a detective experience built around observation and deduction.

Polaroid photography also plays a major role. Suspicious details can be captured and stored in Turner’s diary before being used during interrogations. Presenting the right evidence at the right time can expose contradictions and pressure suspects into revealing information they would rather keep hidden.

Detective Turner: If Looks Could Kill looks poised to offer a new spin on the genre when it launches for PC via Steam in 2027.