Frogwares' upcoming remake of its 2006 title, Sherlock Holmes: The Awakened, has received a brand-new gameplay trailer. The footage shows off what fans can expect as they embark on the latest Sherlock Holmes adventure.
Frogwares has been in charge of Sherlock Holmes video games since 2002's Sherlock Holmes: The Mystery of the Mummy. Each game tells its own unique Sherlock Holmes story, giving fans of Arthur Conan Doyle's classic stories a reason to pick up the titles. The last game in the series, Sherlock Holmes: Chapter One, was positively received by fans, garnering praise for its open world. The game was the studio's first attempt at an open world in the series, and it paid off.
The trailer for Sherlock Holmes: The Awakened is extremely in-depth, and wears its Lovecraftian inspirations on its sleeve. It teases a dark, gritty plot that takes Holmes and Watson across the globe, to several semi-open world environments including the dark alleys of Victorian London, and the treacherous Louisiana wetlands, among others. Promising a trail of kidnappings, murders, and rituals, the trailer is forthcoming about the game's no-hand-holding approach to detective work. Fans of the franchise will be excited by the news, as they'll be getting a truly authentic Sherlock Holmes experience when the game finally launches. Sherlock Holmes: The Awakened's previous trailer was released at the end of 2022, although it wasn't nearly as detailed as the newer showcase.
Sherlock Holmes: The Awakened is a remake of a game of the same name from 2006, although there are some major changes that completely change how the game is played. The most obvious is the shift in perspective. While the original was a first-person experience, the remake is entirely third-person, which has become more common for adventure games in recent times. The title boasts of an "expanded storyline" on its Steam page, although it's unsure how much additional content there will be compared to the original. No matter what, it's impressive that Frogwares has managed to develop any games at all recently. The studio's headquarters is based in Kyiv, with Frogwares continuing its work despite the Russian invasion.
Despite its age, the Sherlock Holmes franchise continues to appeal from generation upon generation. While Steven Moffat's Sherlock TV series remains on an indefinite hiatus, Netflix's Enola Holmes 2 shows there's still a home for the classic detective on TV. With no confirmed plans to continue either version, it's unknown where Sherlock Holmes' next TV or film appearance comes from. The character entered the public domain in January 2023, so it surely won't be long until there are plenty of adaptations looking for a piece of the Sherlock Holmes pie. In the meantime, it's presumed that Frogwares will continue its efforts on the video game front.
Sherlock Holmes: The Awakened releases in 2023 for PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X.