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Canadian studio Lofty Sky Entertainment has announced the release of the demo for Hope in the City, its upcoming narrative mystery game, during its participation in the Choice Matters Festival, hosted by Telltale on August 10. The title is also part of the official Busan Indie Connect selection in South Korea, expanding the project’s presence at events focused on the independent game scene.

The story follows Hope Song, a 17 year old girl who returns home to discover that her parents have disappeared. Faced with a lack of answers, she decides to conduct her own investigation, exploring the Chinese city of Shenyang in search of clues that could reveal what happened. The setting combines colorful, stylized streets with a seemingly peaceful atmosphere, creating a contrast with the secrets hidden beneath the city’s surface.

The investigation is built around a sketchbook that Hope uses to record observations, gather evidence, and establish connections between different discoveries. Collected information can be transformed into new thoughts and then combined to generate breakthroughs that help move the case forward, placing the interpretation of clues at the center of progression.

The case structure also allows players to decide which leads to pursue and in what order as they investigate the disappearance of Hope’s parents. Exploring the city complements this system by presenting different locations and details that can reveal new evidence, while the stylized visual identity reinforces the contrast between Shenyang’s welcoming appearance and the events being investigated by Hope.

Narrative progression is directly connected to discoveries made during the investigation, with custom cutscenes triggered as new breakthroughs are achieved. The approach aims to ensure that each conclusion has an impact not only on solving the mystery but also on gradually understanding the story, keeping discovery as a central part of the experience.

Developed by the team behind Sky of Tides, winner of the Best in Play award at GDC 2026, and Eternal Spring, an Annie Award nominated production, the project presents a different approach to narrative mystery by combining exploration, sketchbook based investigation, and thought building mechanics. The demo is now available on Steam, offering players a first look at Hope’s investigation.