DUAL PROTOCOL: The Case of Eva & Miles
Our verdict
7/10
- Difficulty: Easy
- Players: 2
- Playtime: 1–2 h
Dual Protocol is a two-player online co-op detective puzzle with a 90s noir look. One player is field agent Eva, searching the Castellari Manor for clues behind locked doors; the other is analyst Miles, working CRT terminals and archives back at the desk. Neither sees the other's screen, so every symbol, object and lock has to be described out loud. It suits pairs who enjoy talk-it-through games in the style of Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes.
Four of the first five Steam reviewers recommend it. Players who liked it praise the communication puzzles, the mystery mood and the detective styling, and one duo lost track of time playing. Reviewers call it light and relaxing rather than tough, though some puzzles stalled when one partner struggled to relay details.
It is short: most players finished in under two hours, and one pair requested a refund because it was over quickly and felt easy. Both players need a copy. Worth it for a cosy evening with a talkative friend, ideally on sale; skip it if you want a hard or lengthy case.
Pros
- Asymmetric field-agent and analyst roles force constant talking
- Noir manor murder with CRT terminals and 90s tech flavour
- Relaxed difficulty suits a laid-back evening with a friend
Cons
- Players finished in under two hours
- Some reviewers found nothing really challenging
- Online co-op only; needs a partner
About
Track clues behind locked doors as Agent Eva, or manage the operation from analog terminals as Analyst Miles. One is in the heart of danger on the field; the other is at the desk, buried in data. You cannot see each other's screens, yet you must become each other's eyes and mind. Dual Protocol is a pure Noir asymmetric detective experience where your voice and the information you relay are your only weapons.
In this investigation, the only way forward is to keep talking. You must instantly describe every complex symbol, every mysterious object, and every lock you encounter to your partner. A single miscommunication or a missing detail in the halls of the Castellari Manor could lead to the case being closed forever.
The mysterious murder at the city’s most prestigious estate is too deep to be solved from a single perspective. As Eva, touch the physical evidence on the ground; as Miles, dive into the archives to decrypt technical blueprints. Eva finds the clues Miles cannot reach; Miles analyzes the complex data Eva cannot decipher.
A bleak universe where the technological texture of the 90s collides with classic noir atmosphere. Search for the truth amidst CRT flickers, heavy shadows, and the tactile clatter of vintage computers. Manually enter terminal commands, scan documents, and piece together the Castellari murder bit by bit.
Cross-Data Verification
Connect the dots by matching real-time field info with hidden central records.
Asymmetric Operation
One player physically triggers mechanisms in the manor while the other reads complex system manuals to guide the way.
Critical Deduction
When Miles's data and Eva's observations unite, the veil of mystery over the Castellari murder will finally lift.
