Dispatch game Review – Fantastic Superhero TV
If you’re someone who loves superheroes but feels a little tired of the same old action movies, then Dispatch might seriously surprise you. Developed by AdHoc Studio, this game doesn’t just throw you into capes and powers; it casts you behind the scenes in a world of super-workplace comedy, choice-driven storytelling, and quirky management gameplay. In many ways it plays more like a high-budget animated TV show than a typical game.
Released in late 2025 for PC (Windows via Steam) and PlayStation 5, Dispatch launched in episodic format and quickly made waves. Reviews are strong: PC Gamer awarded it an 89/100, calling it “one of the best superhero TV shows around.” Metacritic shows overwhelmingly positive feedback.
Let’s dive into what makes Dispatch special, where it hits the mark, what could be better, and whether it’s worth picking up right now.
A Fresh Take on Superheroes
The core idea of Dispatch is simple but clever: you play as Robert Robertson III (voiced by Aaron Paul), a former superhero known as “Mecha Man” whose suit was destroyed in a showdown. He’s forced into a desk job at the Superhero Dispatch Network (SDN), where his job is less flying and punching and more assigning missions to rehabilitated super-villains turned heroes.
Setting the story in this dispatch office and making you manage the mess of misfit heroes gives the game a vibe unlike most in the genre. Your decisions matter: who you send, when, and what you make them do, but it’s wrapped in jokes, awkward team dynamics, office gossip, and hero fatigue. It’s as much a comedy about super-work life as it is about heroics. PC Gamer puts it well: “full of heart and jokes.”
Gameplay & Structure
The game is structured as eight episodes released in weekly pairs between October and November 2025. Each episode runs like an animated show with you helping steer the story via dialogue choices and management decisions. A large part of the gameplay centers on a dispatch map where you assign heroes to calls based on their stats, suit abilities, cooldowns, and the type of incident.
For example, a villain-turned-hero might still struggle with public trust or have weird powers; do you send them on a high-stakes heist or a petty cat-in-a-tree job? Your choices ripple through the story. Reviewers note this blend of narrative and strategy is exactly what makes Dispatch feel unique.
The presentation is slick. It looks like a premium animated series with rich voice-acting (including Aaron Paul, Jeff Wright, and Laura Bailey), well-drawn characters, and heartfelt moments. The casting alone gives it a polished feel.
What Works Well
There’s plenty to like here. First, the tone. It strikes a balance between superhero spectacle and grounded office satire. That means it avoids the cliché “save the world” fluff and instead treats heroic work like a messy job. Beebom even called it “one of the best superhero stories gaming has seen in recent times.”
Second, the writing and character work. The heroes and villains feel human. They argue, they make mistakes, they complain about hangovers, and they do dispatch reports. This makes the story hit emotionally. You care about the characters and what they’re going through.
Third, the delivery. The episodic format draws you in, sort of like watching a TV show where you have to come back for the next installment. The visual quality, voice performances, and animation all raise the standard for narrative games. Also, commercial success followed. It sold over 1 million copies within 10 days, which is remarkable for this kind of game.
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What Could Be Better
No game is perfect, and Dispatch has some flaws. One recurring critique is that while choices exist, many of them don’t feel as impactful early on. Some reviewers say the feeling of branching paths is a bit shallow for much of the game.
Also, gameplay depth may not satisfy players looking for heavy mechanics or freedom. If you expected big open-world hero fights, you may be disappointed. Instead, this is a story-first experience with light strategy layers. One reviewer described it as “the game equivalent of those YouTube brain-rot videos your edgy teen nephew can’t stop watching.”
That’s not a knock for many, but it’s worth knowing what you’re buying: a game more like interactive narrative TV than full-on action.
Who Should Play It
If you love good writing, smart characters, and superhero stories with a twist, Dispatch is definitely for you. Especially if you enjoyed classics like Telltale’s The Wolf Among Us or narrative series where your choices matter (or at least feel like they do).
On the other hand, if your ideal game is Twitch-based combat, open exploration, and high-score ladder grinding, this might not be your first stop. But if you want something fresh, thoughtful, comedic, and emotional, you’ll likely enjoy it.
Dispatch delivers one of the most refreshing superhero-themed games of 2025. With its office-based hero saga, strong audiovisual delivery, and unique gameplay blend, it stands out in a crowded genre. While not a mechanical powerhouse, it doesn’t try to be; it succeeds by telling a great story.
Reviewers across the board say it’s “like watching a fantastic superhero TV show that you control.” That’s high praise, and for many players it rings true.
Score-wise, if I had to put a number on it, it would fall in the high 80s (and that matches many critic scores). It’s a strong recommendation. If you’re ready for something different in the superhero space, go for it.
