Indie studio Cosmo D Studios has announced that its new surreal, jazz-infused narrative RPG, Moves of the Diamond Hand, will launch in Early Access on Steam on April 13. The title is a first-person urban RPG driven by dice and intrigue, promising an immersive experience in which every decision can directly influence the fate of an entire city.

Priced at $19.99, the game will initially include its first two full chapters, which already surpass the size and scope of all the studio’s previous projects combined. As new content and chapters are added throughout Early Access, the price will increase, while further details about the roadmap will be revealed at a later date.

The experience blends dice-driven narrative mechanics with immersive sim elements, creating a unique identity that reflects Cosmo D’s creative vision. Set on the uncanny streets of Off-Peak City, the story unfolds within a single dense city block filled with possibilities, characters, and unexpected events.

In the story, players take on the role of someone determined to join the legendary Circus X, an elite artistic collective that also functions as an actual circus. However, gaining entry into this exclusive group is no easy task, as the organization is not hiring and many others are competing for a share of its magic and money.

As players explore the neighborhood, they encounter a cast of eccentric characters, each with their own motivations, perspectives, and secrets. Gradually, these interactions draw them into one of the strangest mayoral elections in the city’s history, where one of the candidates is not even a real person, but the clone of a mayor from a hundred years ago.

Meanwhile, a mysterious figure known as The Diamond Hand manipulates events behind the scenes, pitting everyone against one another. No one knows who they are or what their true intentions might be, leaving players to decide whether they will become an ally or merely another pawn in this intricate game.

The game builds upon the ideas introduced in the award-winning Betrayal At Club Low, which won the Seumas McNally Grand Prize and the Nuovo Award at the IGF Awards 2023, further expanding its dice-driven gameplay and narrative depth. One of its standout features is the way character attributes are represented, entirely through dice. Items, conditions, and even disguises take the form of dice, allowing for extensive customization and creating moments rich in both strategy and unpredictability.

The narrative also stands out for its twists and turns, immersing players in a jazz noir mystery where every choice directly influences how events unfold, all the way to the final outcome. Additionally, the game introduces three distinct mayoral candidates, each with strong personalities and contrasting worldviews, making player decisions even more impactful and filled with consequences.

Another highlight is its atmosphere, with a city brought to life through unique characters, some of whom may have connections to previous Cosmo D titles, although prior knowledge is not required to enjoy the experience.

Finally, the studio is embracing a transparent and collaborative approach during Early Access, providing in-game tools for bug reporting and feedback, ensuring continuous improvements, balance adjustments, and quality-of-life updates throughout development.