GameDec Guide for Beginners

Last Update: August 26, 2023 8:07 PM /

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GameDec - Key Art

So, you’ve just booted up GameDec and now you’re wondering what this whole ‘Videogame Detective’ malarky is all about. Well, we’ve got some help for you there, with this GameDec guide for beginners. This guide will give you all the information you need to start solving cases and busting heads, at least figuratively. Read on to become a master detective.

GameDec guide for beginners Skills Explained

GameDec - Stats
Each bar is supposed to represent how many times you've given that sort of answer, but some of these groups seem a bit off at times. 

One of the most important elements of GameDec that you need to wrap your head around is the skill system. It might seem a little confusing at first, but once you’ve got the basics under control, it’s a surprisingly intuitive system. Like most RPG mechanics, you gain points that you can then spend to unlock various skills, mostly affecting the options that you can choose from in dialogue. The main difference here is how you gain points to unlock skills in the first place.

As you converse with the other characters in GameDec, you should notice a symbol sometimes appears in the dialogue box after you make a choice. These symbols match one of the four types of skill points, each one assigned to a different sort of response. The chart above details the different points and the sorts of responses they’re awarded for, although figuring out exactly which responses will net you the right points is trial and error.

GameDec - Skill Tree
The different skills require different combinations of skill points, but be careful of those top skills. They can leave you lopsided in the points department.

How GameDec's Deduction System Works

Another integral system for mastering GameDec is the deduction system. This is literally how you make progress in the game, as it's the in-game mechanic that forces you to choose between different paths in a case. Depending on the choices you make here, each case can take on vastly different directions. Because this can affect how well you do in a case, it's really important that you get to grips with this system as quickly as you can. 

First up, the brain/synapse-esque image you're looking at is the deduction panel. You use this to connect different information you have to make progress in the case. The first screen you're greeted with is an overview of your current objectives. For example, in the image below the two objectives you have are discovering Fredo's nickname, and figuring out where Fredo went after logging in. Though, you should note that the second objective is only unlocked after completing the first. 

GameDec - Deductions
This part of the deductions menu presents you with a list of questions that you need to answer.

Once you click on a node, you get a more zoomed-in look at the objectives. On the left of the screen is all of the clues you've gathered for this objective so far. If all of the spots on the left are populated, that means you have all the available information you can get, if not, there's still some sleuthing to do somewhere in the level to discover more clues. If possible, you should always try to get as much information as you can, as some information could be misleading without other clues to back them up. 

On the right of this page, you'll see decisions, which only become available once you have enough information to justify that choice. Once you've picked the most likely solution to your current problem, select that answer by holding your cursor down on it for a few seconds. Be careful here! Once you've made a choice there's no way back. You'll be locked out of trying any of the other paths unless you load a save. Make sure you have all the information you need before locking in a choice, or at the very least save before you make your deduction. 

GameDec - Advanced Deductions
Make sure you think about your decision before you make it, as you're locked into it. 

GameDec Beginner Guide - Final Tips

As well as the two integral systems mentioned above there are a few other tips and tricks that can help you to get by in the world of GameDec.

Save Often

If you want to experience everything the game has to offer, you need to make sure that you're not making the wrong decisions. Saving before major decisions or before paying for upgrades can prevent you from wasting your time or upgrade points and hitting a dead end. 

Conversation is Everything

When it comes to GameDec there is no combat, at least, not really. Sure you can pull out your gun and just shoot some people, but whether it goes well or not isn't something you have control over. Because of this, most of your agency is over the way that conversations play out. Don't just speed through dialogue options, take time to read them, and come to a good decision about how to proceed. 

Actions have Consiquences

Like many narrative-driven games, GameDec is a game where your choices will matter later down the line. We're not talking about your upgrades, although that is a factor, decisions you make in your early cases will come back to haunt or help you in later cases. Be sure you're not siding with someone, or hindering them, frivolously or you might end up regretting it. 


If you found this guide helpful, you should check out some of our other guides as well. We've covered some of the early game decisions, such as helping Hor Ney or Bob Zappa, or whether or not Fredo deserves freedom. Meanwhile, you can also check out our preview and previous coverage of the game. 

Have a tip, or want to point out something we missed? Leave a Comment or e-mail us at tips@techraptor.net


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| Staff Writer

Will has been writing about video games professionally since 2016 and has covered everything from AAA game reviews to industry events and everything in… More about William

More Info About This Game
Learn more about Gamedec
Game Page Gamedec
Developer
Anshar Studios
Publisher
Anshar Publishing
Platforms
PC, Nintendo Switch
Release Date
September 16, 2021 (Calendar)
Genre
RPG, Indie
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