Dispatch review: All in a day’s work

Seven years after AdHoc Studio was founded by former developers from Telltale Games, Ubisoft, and Night School, the studio has released its debut title: **Dispatch**. This original interactive narrative game takes heavy inspiration from the classics that made the genre a mainstay, building upon them to deliver one of the best narrative experiences I’ve had in years.

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### Rock Bottom

Dispatch follows the story of Robert Robertson, once the popular superhero Mecha Man. A third-generation hero, Robert lives in the shadow of his father and grandfather. After his suit is destroyed during the pursuit of the man who killed his father, Robert hits rock bottom. Powerless and vulnerable, he is recruited to join SDN (Superhero Dispatch Network), where he manages heroes from behind a desk.

The catch? The team Robert is assigned to—the Z-Team—consists entirely of former criminals. SDN’s goal is to rehabilitate these ex-villains and transform them into heroes through the “Phoenix Program.”

This unique premise is where Dispatch finds its narrative hook. Over the course of the story, I grew to love this crew of misfits and their shenanigans. Working with them helps Robert develop as a hero himself—even without his suit.

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### A Reinvigorating Experience

Dispatch’s exceptional writing blew me away. I went into this game knowing almost nothing about it, yet by the end of Chapter 1, I was fully hooked. AdHoc does an incredible job establishing the world, its key players, and the stakes involved.

A lot of this is bolstered by Dispatch’s star-studded voice cast. Robert is voiced by Aaron Paul, famous for his role as Jesse Pinkman in *Breaking Bad*. Alongside him are Laura Bailey (Invisigal), Jeffrey Wright (Chase), and Matthew Mercer (Shroud)—all phenomenal talents who perfectly capture the emotion and humor the story demands. Several Z-Team members are voiced by well-known content creators and artists, all of whom impressed me.

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### Classic Episodic Format Done Right

In classic Telltale fashion, Dispatch uses an episodic format, with two episodes released weekly throughout October and November 2025. This format can be hit-or-miss in video games, but Dispatch achieves nearly perfect pacing. Every chapter offers impactful decisions, unforgettable moments, and cliffhangers that made me eager for the next episode.

As an interactive narrative, Dispatch empowers players to influence the story. Choices range from trivial decisions—like what food to throw at someone in the break room—to major ones, such as deciding who gets cut from the Z-Team. The game ensures your choices feel meaningful, deepening immersion.

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### Favorite Character: Blonde Blazer

One standout character is Blonde Blazer, who welcomes you into SDN. She is a pillar of strength and bravery in the superhero community and one of the two romance options (alongside Invisigal). Following Blonde Blazer’s storyline proved to be one of the most rewarding parts of the game—providing a fascinating deconstruction of a classic superhero archetype, anchored by a flawless performance from Erin Yvette.

If it sounds like I’m gushing—that’s exactly what Dispatch does to you. It makes you fall in love with its characters in a way few games can.

By the time I reached the game’s climactic final chapter, my heart was pounding as I feared for the wellbeing of all the characters I’d come to adore.

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### Genre Limitations

While Dispatch does a fantastic job satisfying multiple playstyles, it isn’t without flaws. It suffers from some common constraints of branching narratives: certain story events are guaranteed to happen regardless of player input. This can undercut the impact of some decisions, especially on replay, when you realize that all dialogue options in a scene eventually lead to the same outcome.

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### Tuning In: The Secret Sauce—Music

Before moving on, I want to highlight what I believe to be Dispatch’s secret sauce: the music. Specifically, the carefully curated indie songs paired with key moments elevate the emotional impact.

Deep Dreem’s “Little Light” at the end of Episode 4 made me feel like I was levitating. “Radio” by Bushy, featured during the party scene in Episode 6, solidified it as my favorite moment in the entire game.

This also extends to the original soundtrack, which is equally impressive. Music is integral to the Dispatch experience, and I can’t imagine playing the game without hearing its meticulously selected soundtrack and OST.

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### Doing Good Work: The Gameplay

I knew Dispatch was a cut above many interactive narrative games from the moment I tried its dispatching minigames. Beneath the drama and romance, you actually have to do your job: dispatching heroes, assigning them tasks, and keeping operations running smoothly.

Often in games like this, management portions feel like a chore—the “vegetables” you must finish before dessert. However, AdHoc brilliantly made this part compelling too.

Dispatch gameplay functions as a management sim. You oversee a map of Los Angeles, dispatching heroes in response to citizen calls—from cats stuck in trees to fights at sporting events, and even kaiju terrorizing a beach. Each task requires specific traits, and you must use your knowledge of the Z-Team to choose the best fit.

For example, if a job requires persuasion, I’d send Prism, who has the highest Charisma stat on my team. Success depends on how well a character’s attributes match the task. Successful missions grant XP, helping heroes level up and improve their stats.

Strategic planning is essential. Heroes take time to travel to and from calls and require rest afterward. If you throw all your heroes at early jobs, you won’t have anyone left for later emergencies. Character synergies also add layers of strategy and encourage specific pairings.

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### What It Means to Be a Hero

Dispatch is my most pleasant surprise of the year. In a pop culture landscape crowded with superhero parodies and deconstructions, Dispatch carves its own unique path.

Its core message—that anyone can do good, regardless of their past mistakes or origins—resonated deeply with me. I won’t lie: I got a little emotional during the final credit roll.

Beyond its heartfelt message, Dispatch is a hilarious superhero romp with satisfying storylines and memorable characters I’m eager to see again.

If Dispatch sets the quality standard for AdHoc Studio, the future of the interactive narrative genre is in excellent hands.

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### Availability

This review is based on the Steam version of Dispatch. The game is available now for $29.99 USD on PC and PS5.

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*Experience the journey of redemption, heroism, and teamwork with Dispatch—an interactive narrative game that redefines what it means to be a hero.*
https://www.shacknews.com/article/146836/dispatch-review-score

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