Dispatch is one of those games that comes out of nowhere and completely steals your heart. Made by former Telltale Games devs at Ad Hoc Studio, Dispatch brings back that tried-and-true branching choice design I’ve missed since Batman: The Enemy Within (2017).

You play as Robert Robertson III, the third-generation Mecha Man. After his mech is destroyed in battle with his father’s killer, Robert takes a job at the Superhero Dispatch Network (SDN) to oversee and lead a team of misfits from Sucks to ♥♥♥♥♥.

GAMES GOOOOOD SON—MY GOD.

Every character has a moment to shine, and the way they bounce off each other sells the reality of their world perfectly. My favorite team member (outside of the obvious) has to be Chase—dude swears like a sailor but somehow manages to be the most grounded 39-year-old genius alive. Bonus points for saving Visi.

Speaking of, Invisigal.

She’s by far my favorite character. I’ve always had a soft spot for characters who genuinely want to change—to improve—to be a hero. Some people were quick to boot her off the team in Episode 8 or just flat-out dissed her, but the Z-Team is all about redemption and second chances. Yeah, Visi may have been a traitor, but it’s clear that after running with the Zs, she believes she can be better. And I’m a firm believer that we rise together by helping each other grow, not by tearing each other down. I chose Invisigal as Robert’s romance option, but even if that choice didn’t exist, I’d still stand by her. She deserves that support to flourish.

Now, the Dispatching gameplay loop—aside from the choice-making—is fun as hell. The difficulty ramps up perfectly, all the way to the most intense mission of all: Episode 8 – Phase 1 and 2. ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥. I had to lock in like I was Robert. Almost lost everything… until—BAM—Blonde Blazer joins as a dispatchable hero. An absolute clutch. And don’t get me started on the hacking sections—my goldfish-ass memory was put to the test. Thankfully, I’m a retired Helldiver, so that muscle memory kicked in.

I… I love this game so, so, so much. I want a second, third, fourth, and fifth season in this universe. Ad Hoc had my attention during the 2024 Game Awards trailer—but they stole my heart with every single episode release.

10/10.