Developer/publisher Frogwares has announced that its remake of Sherlock Holmes: The Awakened has gone gold, and will be releasing this April. The game first released in 2007 for PC, with a remastered edition launching in 2009. (Jason M. reviewed it for DDNet in 2013 when it was available for iPad). The game isn’t your typical Frogwares Holmes title, though, as it mashes everyone’s favourite detective together with Lovecraftian horror. The original was Frogwares’ first foray into Lovecraft, but since then its made 2019’s The Sinking City which was average at best. In addition, major shoutout to Frogwares, who has continued to make and publish its own games despite the war in its home country of Ukraine.
Rebuilt from the ground up, Sherlock Holmes: The Awakened has not only altered the graphics but also the gameplay and some of the story (the goal was to make it fit with recent prequel game Sherlock Holmes: Chapter One). Players take on the role of Holmes himself as he investigates a series of mysterious disappearances across Europe and the United States. These disappearances are apparently links to a dark cult that worships a certain Ancient God. Holmes either has to put a stop to it, or face the devastating consequences.
I think we all know Sherlock Holmes as a rational man of reason (I mean, he’s a bit kooky, but aren’t we all?) but this game’s original story has him facing an otherworldly entity for the first time; it defies all logic, and this discovery is both enlightening and shattering. Following his process towards the truth pushes Holmes closer to madness than ever, so much so this this is the only story that Watson never publishes (a super clever guise for an original story about a beloved character).
To celebrate the news, a new trailer was released that goes deeper into the cosmic horror of the game:
In addition to the April launch date, Frogwares has also announced the game’s three editions. First is the Standard Edition, available on all platforms, which is just the game. The Deluxe Edition is also available on all platforms, and includes the game, a side quests pack, and six exclusive outfits. The Premium Edition is limited to PC, and includes all of the same things as the Deluxe Edition plus a digital art book and soundtrack. All pre-orders (open now except for Nintendo Switch, which is coming soon) will receive three custom outfits for Holmes and Watson.
Developed and published by Frogwares, Sherlock Holmes: The Awakened will be released for PC via Steam, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series, and Xbox One on April 11.
