Dispatch is not your average superhero game. The workplace comedy puts players in the shoes of disgruntled ex-superhero Robert Robertson, otherwise known as Mecha Man. Robertson, voiced by Breaking Bad star Aaron Paul, finds himself at a loose end when his suit is destroyed in battle, and he doesn't have the funds to repair it. He takes a job as a dispatch agent in order to pay for the repairs, and in doing so finds himself embroiled in the lives of several other failed superheroes.
The Best War Games saw a preview of Dispatch in action. The blend of visual novel and strategy management sim elements makes for an interesting and unusual combination. AdHoc Games is also releasing the game's full story in a weekly episodic format, with two episodes each week for four weeks, in a bid to generate more hype among the community as the narrative unfolds.
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Dispatch Flips the Superhero Script on Its Head
The team at AdHoc Games comprises several ex-Telltale Games employees, meaning the studio is extremely well-versed in building compelling visual novel games. Robertson's role puts him directly in charge of a team of what can only be described as Z-list superheroes, who he must send out to perform a variety of different missions ranging from entertaining guests at a party to saving innocent people from danger.
Working for the Superhero Dispatch Network (SDN for short), the player will be making decisions both big and small, controlling everything from the levels of office banter at the water cooler to deciding which superhero attends which mission. To accomplish this, players must have a solid understanding of the team's strengths and weaknesses, from both interactions with team members and their core stats across five main categories: Defense, Mobility, Charisma, Intelligence, and Attack. For example, a hero with high Charisma will be more suited to attending parties and entertaining guests.
Dispatch Puts an Emphasis on Player Choice
Of course, just like in real life, mistakes can happen, and sometimes sending a superhero who isn't particularly suited to the mission can result in things going awry for both the hero and Robertson. Getting to know the team and building strong relationships will be a key component in ensuring that as many heroes are successful in their missions as possible, which will ultimately aid Robertson in his overall goal of repairing his suit.
As relationships deepen, the heroes will earn stat points and XP for missions, allowing them to unlock new skills and abilities, which can in turn be used to increase their chances of completing missions. However, unsuccessful missions can result in heroes getting injured, which reduces their effectiveness for future missions. Sometimes, players must complete time-sensitive activities, which can influence mission outcomes. The decisions made over the course of eight episodes, debuting two at a time for four weeks, will shape the game's ending, with multiple possible endings depending on choices at key moments in the story.
Dispatch's Visual Style and Star-Studded Cast Could Help it Attract a Larger Audience
AdHoc has described Dispatch's visuals as 'evergreen,' almost reminiscent of a TV show, immersing the player in the characters and their environments with a strong emphasis on character interaction. Episodes begin with a recap of previous events, and end with a stat screen showing the player exactly what they accomplished in each one, with progress directly carrying over to the next.
The hope is that the game's visual style, coupled with its unusual premise and strong voice cast, which is headed by Paul but also includes names like Laura Bailey as well as several YouTubers and influencers, Dispatch has the potential to appeal to a large audience, some of whom may not even be regular gamers. Dispatch launches on October 22 for PC and PS5.
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 87 /100 Critics Rec: 96%
- Released
- October 22, 2025
- ESRB
- Mature 17+ / Blood, Crude Humor, Intense Violence, Nudity, Sexual Content, Strong Language, Use of Drugs and Alcohol
- Developer(s)
- AdHoc Studio
- Publisher(s)
- AdHoc Studio
WHERE TO PLAY
- Genre(s)
- Strategy, Point-and-click, Adventure
