Get Ready to Become the Best Database Detective
Prepare yourself for some comedic investigation as Thomas Hsu has confirmed that Database Detective: Minor Crimes Division will launch on Steam on July 17, 2026, giving players a unique detective experience that blends mystery-solving with learning SQL, the popular database query language.
Set in the fictional city of Los Zorangeles, the game puts players in the role of a newly recruited Database Detective tasked with helping the city’s Minor Crimes Division clear a growing backlog of unsolved cases. You’ll investigate everything from littering incidents to suspects who overstayed their hotel bookings, using SQL queries to search databases, uncover clues, and identify the culprits.
Don’t let the SQL aspect scare you, though. Database Detective: Minor Crimes Division is designed with beginners in mind. Every player receives a short in-game textbook that explains the basics of SQL in fewer than 20 pages. If you run into trouble, the game provides detailed error messages to help fix incorrect queries, while a built-in assistant is always available to answer questions about both investigations and SQL commands.
As the cases become more challenging, players will need to think beyond the database. Later investigations require piecing together evidence, exploring more than 40 in-game websites, and using deductive reasoning to solve increasingly complex mysteries.
The game also features fully voice-acted mission briefings, hand-drawn artwork, and 10 cases that gradually increase in difficulty, offering around 8 to 10 hours of gameplay.
With its mix of detective work, puzzle-solving, and beginner-friendly SQL lessons, it looks like the game will offer a refreshing and educational mystery adventure when it arrives on 17th July.