The mobile gaming world has finally gotten a detective thriller that really hits the spot.

Early this year, *City of Silver* launched its first online beta test. The game left a deep impression on me with its realistic graphics, intense boss battle sequences, and unique Victorian-style world. At the time, I felt the game had “laid the groundwork and just needed to expand its content.”Six months later, *City of Silver* launched its “Second Beta Test.” I was invited to get an early look at the game’s new version and discovered that the changes to the game’s content went far beyond simply “fleshing out the content.”

The thought of having to replay the prologue all over again when I returned to Baiyin City made me feel a bit weary, so much so that I wasn’t really paying attention during the opening cutscene.

But I soon noticed something was off: the boss battle against Cinderella at the start of the first playthrough was gone, replaced by a scene where the protagonist siblings board the royal airship to receive their honors. Even though I hadn’t chosen the male protagonist, I was still able to control him to conduct reconnaissance as the story progressed.This series of changes made me realize that the development team had made major changes to the prologue.

Even if you haven't selected a male protagonist, you can still control the male lead in the prologue.

Earlier, while recruiting players for the "binary test," I noticed a large number of new scenes, characters, and gameplay features. At the time, I assumed this would be a routine content update. However, after actually experiencing it, the new content exceeded my expectations, delivering an immersive experience on par with AAA games.

(The following impressions are based on the game’s second beta version; the game is still in development and does not represent the final quality.)

01

The plot flows more smoothly, and the production quality remains just as high.

Generally speaking, the prologue and its levels in a service-based game should be among the first elements to enter production and be finalized during development. For most games, the prologue typically undergoes only minor adjustments after the first beta test. However, the development team behind *The City of Silver* chose to make significant changes to the prologue’s structure and content.

The first test employs a flashback structure, opening with a show-stopping boss battle against Cinderella before cutting back to the main storyline—the protagonist, a detective, returning to Silver City after three years.

While this approach certainly has visual impact, and the first ten minutes of gameplay are incredibly gripping—helping to keep players engaged—it left me with some questions on a narrative level: What exactly happened in Silver City three years ago?Why are the NPCs in the city so unfriendly toward the protagonist, even viewing “me” as a harbinger of doom? And where does the subplot involving the younger brother mentioned in the story lead?

These plot points were not resolved in the first beta test, which, to some extent, affected players' understanding of the subsequent storyline.

The second beta version adopted a chronological narrative approach, beginning with the airship assassination case that occurred three years ago and clearly laying out the origins of the entire storyline. The unresolved mysteries from the first beta were addressed in the second beta. The plot flow is now more seamless and better aligns with the way most players typically follow a story.

After the prologue was remade, some parts of the storyline no longer seem out of place.

I don't think players need to be disappointed that the Cinderella boss battle was removed from the prologue. In fact, the revised prologue boss battle is just as impressive in terms of presentation—and in some ways, even better.

The prologue level also features a spectacular boss battle. While maintaining the high quality of the presentation, the development team slightly toned down the boss’s intimidating presence, preventing me from getting flustered due to my lack of familiarity with the controls.A section featuring standard enemies has also been added before the boss battle, allowing the prologue to better serve as a combat tutorial and helping new players get up to speed more smoothly.

The new boss battle in the prologue is equally spectacular.

In my opinion, the Cinderella boss battle exemplifies the high standards of level design in *City of Silver*. Players can still face off against Cinderella in the weekly challenge dungeons.

02

The suspense is palpable, and the story unravels layer by layer as it draws closer to the truth.

Whether in terms of its overall tone or plot development, *City of Silver* exudes a deep sense of suspense. In the main storyline, cases are intricately intertwined, with one crisis following another in rapid succession, creating a fast-paced narrative. We won’t go into too much detail about the main storyline here—we invite players to jump into the game and experience it for themselves.

In this playthrough, I was very impressed with the side case “The Mystery of the Resurrected Corpse.” Its high production value really struck a chord with me.

This side story begins with the mysterious death of a friend, prompting our detective protagonist to launch a thorough investigation alongside his “assistant,” Fasso. As the investigation progresses, a conspiracy lurking behind the mysterious death is gradually revealed.

The development team has crafted a classic "locked-room murder mystery" framework inspired by detective novels, while incorporating supernatural elements—such as resurrection and werewolves—that align with the game’s worldview, continually drawing players deeper into the investigation as they inch closer to the truth.

When the case hit a dead end, the Clue Board helped me sort through the clues, organize my thoughts, and complete my deduction. Ultimately, by integrating with the Mindspace system, I was able to reconstruct the modus operandi and brilliantly pinpoint the killer. That thrilling sense of unraveling the mystery layer by layer and closing in on the truth step by step is something I rarely find in other games.

Recreating the Killer's Modus Operandi

What's even more interesting is that the "Mystery of the Resurrected Corpse" case features multiple endings. After completing the true ending, I went back to the branching point to re-experience this mystery from different perspectives.

The production team devoted an extraordinary amount of resources to this side case—far more than is typical for a side case.The entire case features full voice acting and CG animations, along with a specially produced hand-drawn animation sequence, making it feel as though you’re reading a short detective novel. This production standard is indistinguishable from that of the main storyline. This detail clearly demonstrates the development team’s exceptionally high standards for the narrative presentation of detective stories.

Creating an immersive experience in detective-themed games has always been a challenge. While previous games in this genre have largely focused on the design of case puzzles, *The City of Silver* builds on the groundwork laid by its predecessors and utilizes advanced graphics technology to enhance the visual presentation, delivering a more immersive detective experience and offering a fresh approach to puzzle-solving within the genre.

03

A vast, explorable game world

The second beta version of *City of Silver* represents a quantum leap in scale. The City of Silver map is several times larger than that of the first beta, and the density of explorable content has also increased significantly. If the City of Silver in the first beta was more like an exquisitely crafted miniature garden, then the second beta presents a vibrant, Victorian-style metropolis.

More areas of Silver City have been opened in the second beta version.

As I progressed through the main storyline, I was frequently interrupted by all sorts of unexpected events. For example, I’d step in to stop a street gang from robbing someone, get sidetracked by a treasure chest guarded by werewolves, or get absorbed in all kinds of interesting little puzzles.Even when traveling on the Liquid Silver Pegasus, I couldn’t help but be drawn to collectibles scattered throughout the sky. Often, by the time I came to my senses, I was already a long way from my mission objective.

Addicted to Casual Games

Silver City also features a variety of mini-games that fit seamlessly into its world, such as the Royal Equestrian Tournament, which offers a horse racing experience; the Coffee Workshop, where players test their reflexes by crafting drinks; and even the City Real Estate System, which incorporates simulation and management gameplay.

Coffee Shop Mini-Game

Each of these gameplay elements has its own unique charm and blends seamlessly into the game world, making it incredibly easy for me to get lost in them and lose track of the main storyline. If you were to tally it up, the second beta version offers over 40 hours of gameplay!

The Silver City created by the production team combines the classical elegance of the Victorian era with the fantastical aura of liquid silver, giving rise to an aesthetic that blends the vintage with the futuristic. As you wander through it, splendor and danger coexist, making it the ideal setting for a detective drama.

04

With a triple-A gaming experience, it's hard not to look forward to the future.

The new version of *City of Silver* has put a great deal of effort into refining the storyline, while also undergoing extensive restructuring of the combat system.

The development team has divided defensive actions into two categories—“Dodge” and “Parry”—which share a single stamina bar, thereby enhancing the range of possible maneuvers and the strategic depth of the defense system.A successful Precision Dodge triggers a spectacular time-stop effect, allowing you to land high-damage counterattacks. Parrying, on the other hand, primarily blocks enemy standard attacks; a successful parry deals counter damage and restores stamina.

Perfectly dodge the red beam and launch a counterattack

It’s easy to imagine that skilled players will develop a thrilling playstyle featuring sharp counterattacks that leave monsters helpless.

With its exhilarating combat, immersive storytelling, stunning visuals, and full support for controller gameplay, *City of Silver* delivers a true AAA gaming experience in every way.

The card-drawing animation has also been carefully crafted

From the first closed beta to the second, *City of Silver* has evolved from its "foundations" to a "prototype" over the course of half a year.Whether it’s the narrative ambition showcased in the reworked prologue, the commitment to deepening the mystery-detective genre, or the comprehensive updates to the combat system and city scale, all of these elements indicate that the development team has consistently aimed for AAA production standards and has meticulously refined the game’s content.

It’s becoming increasingly exciting to see just how high the quality of *The City of Silver* will ultimately reach.