D-Topia promo screenshot
Image: Marumittu Games & Annapurna Interactive

Given the state of... everything, it's easy to be pessimistic about the future of science and humanity in general, but some still dream of that easy-going, post-scarcity world. D-topia—from Japanese indie outfit Marumittu Games—makes its debut today, published by Annapurna. A cozy sci-fi puzzle adventure about being one of the few human problem-solvers in a conflict-free world mostly run by well-meaning robots.

It's a setup that just feels like there's a penny about to drop at any moment. A shocking reveal that actually all of this good stuff might secretly be bad, and that dreaming of a comfortable future where people don't have to work 8+ hours a day just to afford basic survival is a terrible mistake. Not to spoil too much, but based on what I've heard of the game, that's not the case. While not perfect, D-Topia's utopian world is largely functional, and it's your job to help push that up to 'fully functional'.

After playing an earlier demo version, I wouldn't quite describe D-Topia as a point-and-click adventure. There's not much in the way of traditional inventory or world-interaction puzzles. Instead, you're mostly going around walking, talking, and navigating dialogue branches and solving problems through full-screen logic puzzles, each with their own set of mechanics and rules.

The end result is more of a gentle narrative experience punctuated with little bits of Game to keep your brain up to speed, which seems honestly about right given the game's themes. The game's whole soundscape and aesthetic is a good match, too. Upbeat but not-too-intense synth noodlings, spotless clean walls and abstract computer interfaces. Perhaps a bit too polished a utopia for me, but I can still see myself unwinding in a world like this, and a game like this, too.

D-topia is out now on Steam for £16/$20, with a 10% launch discount running until July 28th. The demo has sadly disappeared into the ether - clearly one of those little flaws in our perfectly polished utopian future.