{{Short description|2019 video game}} {{For|the medical condition|Dry drowning}} {{Infobox video game | image = Dry Drowning cover.jpg | caption = | title = Dry Drowning | developer = Studio V | director = Giacomo Masi | designer = Giacomo Masi, Samuele Zolfanelli | programmer = Samuele Zolfanelli | writer = Giacomo Masi | composer = Giorgio Maioli, Alessandro Masi | artist = Giulia Carli, Samuele Zolfanelli | publisher = VLG Publishing, WhisperGames | engine = Unity | platforms = Windows, Nintendo Switch | released = '''Windows'''<br/>August 2, 2019<br/>'''Switch'''<br/>February 22, 2021 | genre = Visual novel | modes = Single-player }}
'''''Dry Drowning''''' is a cyberpunk mystery visual novel developed by Studio V and published by VLG Publishing and WhisperGames for Microsoft Windows on August 2, 2019. It was released on the Nintendo Switch on February 22, 2021.
==Gameplay== The player takes control of Mordred Foley and has to read through the story, while making decisions at certain points. Depending on the choices, the player can influence the relationship to other characters as well as the course of the game, discovering more than 150 story branches, and eventually reach one out of three different endings with variations.<ref>{{cite web|last=Craddock|first=Ryan|date=December 15, 2020|title=Investigative Thriller Dry Drowning Comes To Switch With Welcome Improvements|url=https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2020/12/investigative_thriller_dry_drowning_comes_to_switch_with_welcome_improvements|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201231065010/https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2020/12/investigative_thriller_dry_drowning_comes_to_switch_with_welcome_improvements|archive-date=December 31, 2020|access-date=February 12, 2021|work=Nintendo Life}}</ref> The game also includes passages where the player has to find clues or items on the screen by clicking on them. These can be used in interrogation scenes with certain characters in order to unmask them and discover their lies. Throughout the game, the player has access to an in-game operating system called AquaOS. With that, they can re-read their conversations, look at their found items, and read biographies of the characters encountered.
==Plot== The game is set in the fictional and totalitarian city Nova Polemos in Europa in 2066. Mordred Foley and Hera Kairis are private investigators and before the events of the game, they sent two of the most dangerous serial killers ever, Jennifer Kingston and Robert Herrington, to the electric chair. However, after their execution, their agency underwent an investigation for falsifying the evidence presented during the case, which completely destroyed its reputation. Now they want to restart their careers and lives, while dealing with their past traumas. Soon, Mordred is caught up in several cases that all led him to believe that the dreaded serial killer named Pandora has returned. In order to solve these cases, both Mordred and Hera have to face their pasts and fears, all while a racist political party is about to make the lives of refugees in Nova Polemos even worse.
==Development== The game was initially conceived by Giacomo Masi and Samuele Zolfanelli,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.smartworld.it/videogiochi/dry-drowning-visual-novel-interattiva-tutta-italiana-arrivo-pc-console.html |title=Dry Drowning è una visual novel interattiva tutta italiana in arrivo su PC e Console |work=smartworld |first=Lorenzo |last=Delli |date=July 3, 2019 |access-date=August 14, 2021 |language=it}}</ref> then developed by Studio V and directed and written by Giacomo Masi. It was originally written in Italian and translated into English, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, and German. The soundtrack was composed, written, and performed by Giorgio Maioli. The ending theme and Hera's pieces, performed on piano, were created by Alessandro Masi.{{Citation needed|date=March 2021}} The background and character artworks were made by Giulia Carli, other graphic elements such as the UI were created by Samuele Zolfanelli.<ref>{{cite web|last=Zolfanelli|first=Samuele|date=May 23, 2020|work=Twitter|url=https://twitter.com/Samdzeq/status/1264152497591115777 |title=Dry Drowning screenshot saturday |access-date=August 14, 2021}}</ref> The developers cited ''L.A. Noire'', ''Ace Attorney'', ''Blade Runner'' and ''Heavy Rain'' as some of their inspirations for the game.<ref>{{cite web|last=Kelly|first=Andy|date=July 23, 2019|title=Play as a shady detective in this Blade Runner-esque thriller|url=https://www.pcgamer.com/play-as-a-shady-detective-in-this-blade-runner-esque-thriller/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201021140541/https://www.pcgamer.com/play-as-a-shady-detective-in-this-blade-runner-esque-thriller/|archive-date=October 21, 2020|access-date=February 12, 2021|work=PC Gamer}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.everyeye.it/articoli/provato-dry-drowning-thriller-italiano-ispirato-blade-runner-havy-rain-44430.html |title=Dry Drowning: un thriller italiano ispirato a Blade Runner e Heavy Rain |work=Everyeye |first=Andrea |last=Fontanesi |date=July 1, 2019 |access-date=August 14, 2021 |language=it}}</ref>
=== Releases === ''Dry Drowning'' was originally released on Microsoft Windows through Steam, GOG, Itch.io, and Utomik in August 2019.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|last=Romano|first=Sal|date=January 26, 2021|title=Visual novel Dry Drowning coming to PS4, Switch this spring|url=https://www.gematsu.com/2021/01/visual-novel-dry-drowning-coming-to-ps4-switch-this-spring|url-status=live|access-date=March 3, 2021|website=Gematsu|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210126213458/https://www.gematsu.com/2021/01/visual-novel-dry-drowning-coming-to-ps4-switch-this-spring |archive-date=2021-01-26 }}</ref> In July 2019, Giacomo Masi announced the game would be released for Xbox One in 2020,<ref>{{Cite web|last=Masi|first=Giacomo|date=July 1, 2019|title=Psychological Investigative Thriller Dry Drowning to Hit Xbox One in 2020|url=https://news.xbox.com/en-us/2019/07/01/dry-drowning-xbox-one-2020/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201107234439/https://news.xbox.com/en-us/2019/07/01/dry-drowning-xbox-one-2020/|archive-date=November 7, 2020|access-date=March 3, 2021|website=Xbox Wire}}</ref> though it was not released that year. A Nintendo Switch port was released on February 22, 2021,<ref>{{Cite web|last=Calvert|first=Darren|date=February 18, 2021|title=Nintendo Download: 18th February (North America)|url=https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2021/02/nintendo_download_18th_february_north_america|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210218183309/https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2021/02/nintendo_download_18th_february_north_america|archive-date=February 18, 2021|access-date=March 3, 2021|website=Nintendo Life}}</ref> and a version for PlayStation 4 is set to release in 2021.<ref name=":0" />
==Reception== {{Video game reviews | MC =PC: 68/100<ref name="metacritic PC">{{cite web|url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/dry-drowning/critic-reviews/?platform=pc |title=Dry Drowning for PC Reviews |work=Metacritic |publisher=CBS Interactive |access-date=February 12, 2021}}</ref><br />NS: 80/100<ref name="metacritic NS">{{cite web|url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/dry-drowning/critic-reviews/?platform=nintendo-switch |title=Dry Drowning for Switch Reviews |work=Metacritic |publisher=CBS Interactive |access-date=March 3, 2021}}</ref> |OC=55% recommend<ref name="opencritic">{{cite web|url=https://opencritic.com/game/8047/dry-drowning|title=''Dry Drowning''|publisher=OpenCritic|access-date=January 20, 2026}}</ref> }}
According to review aggregator platform Metacritic, ''Dry Drowning'' received "mixed or average reviews" for PC based on 11 reviews and "generally favorable reviews" for Nintendo Switch based on 6 reviews.<ref name="metacritic PC"/><ref name="metacritic NS"/> Fellow review aggregator OpenCritic assessed that the game received fair approval, being recommended by 55% of critics.<ref name="opencritic"/>
''4players.de'' gave a positive rating of 80% and wrote: "Stylish noir thriller with an interesting story, but mechanical limitations – despite a variety of possible interactions."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.4players.de/4players.php/dispbericht/PC-CDROM/Test/41254/84093/0/Dry_Drowning.html |title=Dry Drowning - Test, Adventure, PC |work=4players.de |first=Benjamin |last=Schmädig |date=November 13, 2019 |access-date=February 12, 2021 |language=de}}</ref>
''Screen Rant'' gave a mixed rating of 3 out of 5 stars and wrote, "Dry Drowning may be a fair bit messy, but there's charm here. Players who are willing to embrace the cheesier elements will find some joy in its well-crafted setting and a decent murder mystery plot. The game is constrictive and lacks the genuine shock and engagement of top tier visual novels like Doki Doki Literature Club!, but there are some moments of clever world building and a strong enough mystery propelling it."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://screenrant.com/dry-drowning-review/ |title=Dry Drowning Review: A Compelling But Clunky Visual Novel |work=Screen Rant |first=Rob |last=Gordon |date=August 2, 2019 |access-date=February 12, 2021}}</ref>
The Italian review site SpazioGames gave a positive rating of 8.5 out of 10 points and wrote: "Dry Drowning is a very good game with great narrative experience. Every relationship between the characters is layered to increase player involvement, and each choice has different consequences. A thriller game that deserves to be played."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.spaziogames.it/halo-the-master-chief-collection-ad-agosto-potrete-importare-i-dati/ |title=Dry Drowning recensione |work=SpazioGames |first=Marino |last=Puntorieri |date=August 1, 2019 |access-date=February 12, 2021 |language=it}}</ref>
===Awards=== The game won Best of EGS 2019<ref>{{cite web|url=http://vlgpublishing.com/news/dry-drowning-at-egs-2019/|title=Dry Drowning at EGS 2019|work=VLG Publishing|access-date=February 12, 2021}}</ref> and Best of JOIN 2019 awards, an honorable mention at GAMEROME and was nominated as "Best Italian Debut Game" at the Italian Video Game Awards 2020.<ref>{{cite news|first=Alessio|last=Di Pietro|url=https://www.gamingitaliano.it/2020/07/15/ivga-italian-video-game-awards-2020-tutti-i-vincitori/|title=IVGA – Italian Video Game Awards 2020: tutti i vincitori|work=Gaming Italiano|date=July 15, 2020|access-date=February 12, 2021|language=it|archive-date=November 10, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201110084019/https://www.gamingitaliano.it/2020/07/15/ivga-italian-video-game-awards-2020-tutti-i-vincitori/|url-status=dead}}</ref> It was also declared Best Game at Join The Indie 2019.<ref>{{cite news|date=June 12, 2019|title=Our Third Award!|publisher=Studio V|url=https://store.steampowered.com/newshub/app/1077970/view/3931035846876989877|access-date=February 12, 2021|via=Steam}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== * {{Official website| https://leonardointeractive.com/game/dry-drowning/}} * {{vndb|25747}} * [https://www.mobygames.com/game/windows/dry-drowning/credits Game credits]
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