Casefile Noir is an immersive top-down detective RPG that combines classic pixel art aesthetics with cutting-edge AI. Players step into the shoes of a 1940s detective, investigating crimes by collecting evidence, interrogating suspects, and using Gemini AI to detect contradictions and solve cases.

This project was created for the Gemini 3 Hackathon, showcasing how AI can enhance gameplay through:

• Dynamic contradiction detection using Gemini's reasoning capabilities
• Intelligent NPC dialogue generation
• Context-aware evidence analysis

• Top-down RPG exploration with smooth WASD/Arrow key controls
• Evidence collection system with interactive notebook UI
• Suspect interrogation with branching dialogue trees
• AI-powered contradiction detection that analyzes player-collected evidence against suspect statements

• Atmospheric noir aesthetic with rain effects and day/night cycles
• Dynamic minimap with full-screen toggle (press M)
• Synthesized ambient soundtrack with noir-themed background music
• Grain & vignette post-processing for authentic film noir feel

• Gemini-powered logic engine for case solving
• Real-time contradiction analysis between evidence and testimonies
• Intelligent hint system when players are stuck

• Procedural NPC spawning with A* pathfinding
• Advanced collision detection with stair navigation
• Tiled map integration with 50+ custom layers
• Responsive UI with mobile-friendly controls

• Node.js 18+
• npm or yarn
• A Gemini API key (Get one here)

1. Clone the repository

git clone https://github.com/yourusername/casefile-noir.git
cd casefile-noir

2. Set up the backend

cd server
npm install

# Create .env file
echo "GEMINI_API_KEY=your_api_key_here" > .env

npm run dev

3. Set up the frontend

cd ../client
npm install
npm run dev

4. Open the game Navigate to http://localhost:5173 in your browser

⚠️ IMPORTANT: Always use npm run dev to start the Vite dev server. Do NOT use Python's http.server or any other static file server - Vite is required to bundle Phaser and process ES modules.

• Phaser 3 - Game engine
• Tiled - Map editor
• Vite - Build tool
• Web Audio API - Synthesized music

• Node.js + Express - API server
• Google Gemini API - AI logic engine
• Multer - File upload handling

• Python scripts - Sprite processing & map validation
• Custom tileset - Victorian-era pixel art
• A pathfinding* - NPC navigation

casefile-noir/
├── client/                 # Frontend Phaser game
│   ├── src/
│   │   ├── scenes/        # Game scenes (StartMenu, Game, etc.)
│   │   ├── utils/         # Utilities (AudioManager, Minimap, etc.)
│   │   └── ui/            # UI components (Notebook, Evidence Modal)
│   ├── public/
│   │   └── assets/        # Sprites, maps, tilesets
│   └── index.html
├── server/                # Backend API
│   ├── routes/            # Express routes
│   ├── services/          # Gemini integration
│   └── server.js
└── README.md

1. Evidence Collection: Players explore the Victorian city, interacting with objects marked with glowing indicators
2. Interrogation: NPCs can be questioned, with responses generated dynamically
3. AI Analysis: When ready, players submit their evidence to Gemini, which analyzes contradictions
4. Case Resolution: The AI provides hints or confirms the solution based on collected evidence

This is a hackathon project, but contributions are welcome! Feel free to:

• Report bugs via Issues
• Suggest features
• Submit pull requests

This project is licensed under the MIT License - see the LICENSE file for details.

• Google Gemini Team for the incredible AI API
• Phaser Community for excellent documentation
• Tiled Map Editor for the powerful tilemap tools
• OpenGameArt for inspiration on pixel art assets