Retro Detective: A Bloody Revival with Akupara Games

Akupara Games to Publish Mango Factory’s Kumitantei: Old-School Slaughter in 2026

Akupara Games has recently announced that they will be handling the publishing duties for Mango Factory’s upcoming murder-mystery game, Kumitantei: Old-School Slaughter.

The game is set to launch for Windows PC via Steam in 2026, with a playable demo already available for interested players.

According to creative director Selina Kibara, Kumitantei is a creative endeavor born out of a deep admiration for various forms of media. Kibara expressed the team’s desire to blend their favorite influences and create something entirely new, paying homage to the sources of inspiration that fueled their passion.

In a press release, Kibara shared, “Kumitantei is the product of us wanting to put a bunch of our favourite media into a blender and create something new from existing pieces, wearing our inspirations on our sleeve.”

Reflecting on the game’s development process, Kibara added, “So many developers now seem almost embarrassed to embrace the media that’s inspired them, whether out of legal concerns or fear of being called derivative. I’d rather make something derivative than something insincere.”

Game Overview and Features

Visually drawing inspiration from Urusei Yatursa and set in an alternate 1989 Empire of Japan, Kumitantei: Old-School Slaughter follows the journey of Himari Sanada, a barista forced into a deadly game alongside fifteen other Absolute students. Trapped within the Janus Institute’s underground bunker, these elite talents must navigate a treacherous path of survival, with the sinister Apathy Experiment looming in the background.

The game combines retro anime aesthetics with elements of psychological horror, challenging players to investigate crime scenes, participate in Clinical Trials, and form alliances with classmates to gain an advantage in the high-stakes competition. Strategic card-based debates require players to demonstrate sharp wit and keen deduction skills, where only the truth can lead to freedom.

Key features of Kumitantei: Old-School Slaughter include:

• Bonding with classmates to receive powerful cards
• Investigating grisly murders within the Nestrium
• Surviving the Trial by collecting evidence and presenting it in court
• Building a deck of cards for strategic dominance
• Engaging in retro gaming challenges reminiscent of arcade classics

Players are encouraged to explore the hidden secrets of the Nestrium, form meaningful connections with classmates, and unravel the mysteries of the Apathy Experiment. Will they choose collaboration and truth-seeking or succumb to the darkness that threatens their very existence?