Set the Record Straight is a single-player deduction adventure game built around careful research and logical correction of historical credits. Players step into the role of a researcher in 1998 who uncovers the real stories behind official attributions in music, film, comics, theatre, and architecture. The experience centers on trawling a simulated period internet filled with webpages, Usenet posts, zines, liner notes, and clippings to identify who actually performed the work behind credited names and fronts.
Gameplay
The core loop involves searching a hand-built recreation of the 1998 web for relevant documents and images. Players read sources, cross-reference details, and then submit corrections to a master credit sheet. Each correction requires three accurate elements: the originally credited party, the true events that occurred, and the individuals who performed the actual labor. Submissions only succeed when all parts align, preventing partial or guessed answers. Photographs appear throughout cases, requiring players to match faces to names and positions based on evidence gathered from multiple sources. The process emphasizes reading and deduction over speed or reflexes, with no fail states or time pressure attached to individual searches.
Cases remain self-contained, allowing players to tackle them in any order while building familiarity with the interface and search tools. A guided tutorial introduces the period search engine and credit sheet mechanics early on. All content stays fictional, with invented bands, films, comics, and publications designed specifically for the puzzles.
Game Modes
The game operates entirely in single-player mode with an anthology structure. Each case functions as an independent puzzle set within the broader collection of credit-correction scenarios. Players progress by completing the three-part credit sheets and identifying individuals in photographs for every case they choose. No competitive or cooperative elements exist, and the focus remains on methodical exploration of the provided documents rather than branching narratives or multiple endings per case.
Early Access plans include expanding the anthology with additional cases across the same creative fields, but the foundational mechanics of web trawling, batch confirmation, and photograph identification stay consistent from the initial release.
Story and Setting
The narrative framework places players in 1998, where official credits often mask the true contributors through fronts, pen names, or borrowed identities. Research draws from a desktop environment stocked with era-appropriate materials that players must navigate without modern search conveniences. The setting highlights the limitations and quirks of late-1990s online resources, including fragmented Usenet discussions and physical clippings that require careful interpretation. Each case reveals layers of misattribution tied to specific projects in music, film, comics, theatre, or architecture, encouraging players to piece together timelines and relationships from scattered evidence.
Who It Is For
This title suits players who enjoy puzzle-driven experiences centered on reading, cross-referencing, and logical deduction. Those interested in historical research simulations or slow-paced adventure games will find the mechanics align closely with deliberate investigation rather than action or exploration in a traditional sense. The absence of twitch elements and fail states makes it accessible for casual sessions, while the anthology format supports both short and extended playthroughs depending on how many cases a player completes in one sitting.
Is It Worth Playing?
Set the Record Straight enters Early Access as a fully playable experience with complete core mechanics and a substantial initial set of cases. The single-player deduction focus delivers consistent depth through its credit-correction system and photograph identification tasks. Players seeking a thoughtful, document-based adventure without competitive pressure or complex systems will find the current version rewarding. Continued development will add more cases over time, with player feedback shaping refinements to existing content and new additions. Those who prefer games that reward careful reading and precise logical submissions over fast reflexes or open-ended creativity will likely appreciate the structured yet flexible approach to each case.