Dispatch

Dispatch (AdHoc Studio): The Superhero Workplace Comedy

Dispatch (released episodically in late 2025) is a narrative adventure game that skillfully combines the signature Telltale-style choice-and-consequence storytelling with light management and strategy elements.

 Narrative and Premise

The game's protagonist is Robert Robertson III, formerly the hero Mecha Man. After his powerful mech suit is destroyed in a battle with his nemesis, Robert is left without his powers, in debt, and forced into early retirement. He takes a transitional role as a dispatcher at the Superhero Dispatch Network (SDN) in Los Angeles.

His task is to manage the Z-Team, a dysfunctional and cynical crew of reformed supervillains being put through a rehabilitation program. The story's core focus is less about punching villains and more about office politics, messy personal relationships, and Robert’s quest for identity without his suit. The narrative, spread across eight episodes, explores mature themes with a darkly comedic and often crude script, praised for its razor-sharp writing.

Gameplay: Strategy and Choice

The game consists of two main gameplay components:

1. Dialogue and Moral Decisions: In the tradition of narrative adventure games, the player engages in frequent conversations where choices made under pressure affect Robert's relationships with his team, their loyalty, and the ultimate direction of the story.

2. Dispatch Management: The player uses a strategic map of the city to manage incoming emergencies. They must assess the situation and decide which hero or heroes from the Z-Team roster are best suited for the job based on their specialized skills, unique quirks, and even their current emotional state (office politics!). The challenge involves juggling missions, managing hero cooldowns, and ensuring the successful completion of tasks—even if the actual success rate is often dependent on the narrative.

The game is highly rated for its compelling characters and engaging story, positioning itself as a strategic look at the logistics and drama behind the superhero genre.

 Alternative: Dispatch (Short Horror Game)

A much shorter, completely different game titled Dispatch (by TwoShoedLou, 2021) is a brief, story-driven horror game that puts the player in the role of a police dispatcher who receives a terrifying and disturbing emergency phone call. Gameplay involves making quick, difficult decisions via dialogue choices to guide the caller's actions, with a focus on atmosphere and emotional tension.