About This Game

The Empty Desk is the first chapter of the Detective Bennett: Solved Cases saga—a psychological thriller with narrative adventure elements and hints of horror. It immerses the player in a true crime story while exploring the effects of a mind trapped in a cycle of repetition and emotional burnout. In this first installment, veteran homicide detective Thomas H. Bennett, just one week away from retirement, faces one final and unsettling case that could change him forever.

The story centers on the mysterious death of business tycoon Arthur Blackthorn and the inexplicable disappearance of his daughter Emily. Everything unfolds within the headquarters of Blackthorn & Co Insurances, a company hiding far more than simple contracts behind its polished walls. What starts as a routine homicide case quickly spirals into a surreal, harrowing experience. As Bennett explores the dark hallways of Blackthorn, he finds himself trapped in a nightmare where time and space warp, pushing him to the brink of sanity.

As you delve deeper into the game, reality crumbles before your eyes. The Blackthorn offices become a hostile, ever-shifting limbo where every corner hides disturbing secrets, and each door you open may bring you closer to the truth… or take you further from your own salvation. The title, The Empty Desk, symbolizes much more than a physical absence; it reflects the emotional exhaustion and the sense of emptiness felt by those, like Arthur Blackthorn, trapped in a life of monotony and despair—a mirror of Bennett’s own weariness after years on the force.

PLAY YOUR WAY

Throughout the chapters, there are certain moments where unexpected scares may appear.

You can play with the scares enabled or without them—it's your choice. If you enjoy the thrill of the unexpected, keep them on. But if you don't like jump scares and prefer to focus on the story, you can disable them for a more immersive experience.

Key Features:

• A complete story you can finish: Between 2.5 and 3.5 hours of gameplay, designed to deliver the full experience from beginning to end. No filler, no distractions—just a narrative adventure made to be played and completed.

• Deep narrative: Follow Detective Bennett’s final mission as he confronts a homicide case that devolves into something far more unsettling and emotionally devastating.

• Psychological exploration: The game tackles themes of mental health, emotional burnout, and workplace alienation through Bennett’s experiences and the dark mysteries of Blackthorn.

• Tense atmosphere: Blackthorn & Co's offices are a changing, disorienting environment where reality distorts, and every step reveals new threats and secrets.

• Accessible and fluid investigation: Use your detective intuition to examine scenes, uncover clues, and reconstruct events without the fear of getting stuck. Puzzles are seamlessly integrated into the narrative to keep the story flowing and ensure an immersive, smooth experience.

• Start of a saga: The Empty Desk is the first chapter in the Detective Bennett: Solved Cases series, with more missions and mysteries to unravel in future installments.

An Immersive Story:

The title The Empty Desk is far more than a literal reference. At its core, it symbolizes the empty hearts of those trapped in a monotonous, repetitive work cycle, in an office environment where daily routine can become an invisible prison. As Bennett uncovers the secrets of Blackthorn & Co, he must also face the reality of his own life—a life spent solving other people’s mysteries while ignoring the emotional emptiness consuming him.

Will you solve the case before the truth devours you too? This is only the beginning of a saga where each case will challenge you on a psychological, emotional, and narrative level.

AI Generated Content Disclosure

The developers describe how their game uses AI Generated Content like this:

Optional voiceovers, localization, and minor 2D elements.

MY VISION: AI = Tools, Art = Artists.

All core creative content—story, game & level design, original music, sounds, vfx, and 3D assets—WAS MADE by PROFESSIONAL HUMAN ARTISTS, whose work remains ESSENTIAL and irreplaceable in bringing any video game to life.

Mature Content Description

The developers describe the content like this:

Includes mature content: suicide, blood, and unsettling scenes—woven into a noir investigation of corruption, loss, and the line between justice and obsession.