detective RPG | GameTrader.SG

Level-5’s long-awaited crime suspense RPG DECAPOLICE has slipped into 2027. The delay was confirmed during the LEVEL5 VISION 2026 II broadcast on 10 September, alongside a new gameplay trailer and a playable demo announcement for Tokyo Game Show 2026 later this month.

DECAPOLICE LEVEL5 VISION 2026 II Trailer — via LEVEL5ch【公式】 on YouTube

DECAPOLICE delayed to 2027 — again

DECAPOLICE first surfaced in 2022, targeting a 2023 window. It missed that, slid to 2025, moved again to 2026, and is now officially a 2027 title. CEO Akihiro Hino acknowledged the wait in the broadcast, stating plainly that the team needs more time to get the game into shape. No specific release date within 2027 has been given; the window simply reads “2027” for PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch 2, and PC via Steam.

For Singapore fans picking up a Switch 2, it is worth noting that DECAPOLICE has no confirmed pricing or regional availability yet. Level-5 games typically reach Southeast Asia through standard digital storefronts, so check the PS Store and Nintendo eShop for confirmation closer to launch.

What is DECAPOLICE?

DECAPOLICE is set in Broadstone, a sprawling, crime-ridden metropolis. Players step into the shoes of Harvard Marks, a rookie detective leading the Special Investigation Unit’s new squad. Solving cases involves visiting Decasim — a perfect virtual recreation of Broadstone that preserves the memories of past crimes — to gather evidence, interrogate witnesses, and piece together what really happened.

Harvard Marks, DECAPOLICE protagonist detective, standing in the neon-lit Broadstone cityscape — Image courtesy of Level-5

The Case Board is the heart of the game: clip collected evidence onto it, draw connections, and identify the culprit through deduction. When investigations escalate, so does the action — Crime Beasts, manifestations of criminal intent, must be confronted and taken down in real-time battles. The mix of cerebral detective work and stylish combat places it somewhere between the Judgment series and a classic Level-5 adventure.

DECAPOLICE Case Board interface showing evidence cards and connections pinned across the investigation board — Image courtesy of Level-5

New SCRAP case revealed: The Three Mafioso Murders

The Vision 2026 II trailer showed a brand-new case designed in partnership with SCRAP, the creators behind Japan’s hugely popular Real Escape Game events. SCRAP’s case, titled The Three Mafioso Murders, casts the player as an alternate avatar investigating a triple homicide in a mob-world setting, culminating in a boss battle to arrest the culprit. It is a sign that Level-5 is bringing external puzzle-design expertise to flesh out the case variety.

Harvard Marks battles a towering Crime Beast in DECAPOLICE's real-time combat, set against Decasim's neon-lit city backdrop — Image courtesy of Level-5

Anime adaptation also in the picture

A television anime was announced alongside DECAPOLICE back in 2024, planned to release simultaneously with the game. With the game now landing in 2027, the anime is expected to follow suit, though Level-5 has not yet given an updated premiere date. The game’s theme song, “City of Love,” is performed by MARiA of GARNiDELiA — a duo well loved in the Singapore anime community for their work on Guilty Crown and Cross Ange.

Playable at TGS 2026 this month

The first hands-on opportunity comes at Tokyo Game Show 2026, running September 19–21 (public days) at Makuhari Messe in Chiba, Japan. DECAPOLICE will have a playable demo at the Level-5 booth, with players taking home an original pin badge themed after the game. If you are flying to TGS, it is one of the booths to prioritise.

Cannot make it to Japan? The Level-5 team is expected to share impressions and footage through their official channels in the days after TGS. Keep an eye on our TGS 2026 Singapore Watch Guide for stream times and coverage links, and check the other events we are tracking this season.