Dispatch is one of my favorite superhero stories in years — between the great characters, humor, and romance, I’m already hungry for a Season 2

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As an analyst, I get a real thrill when finishing a game leaves me instantly wanting to jump right back in and play again. It’s a sign of truly engaging design, and honestly, it just feels good!

I really enjoyed playing all eight episodes of Dispatch, the first game from AdHoc Studio. Dispatch tells an original story, but it focuses on the often-overlooked, more mundane aspects of being a superhero.

Okay, so our hero, Robert Robertson III, has been pulled off active duty! It’s a bummer, but he’s now in charge of the Z-Team – a bunch of former supervillains who are trying to turn their lives around. The Superhero Dispatch Network, SDN, is giving them a chance, and Robert’s basically their manager, keeping things in order from behind a desk. It’s a really interesting setup, seeing how it all plays out!

That central idea runs throughout the entire game, and it’s a big part of why I enjoyed playing it so much.

(The following contains some light spoilers).

Like a phoenix from the ashes

Superhero stories have gone through a lot of changes. For a while, dark and troubled heroes were all the rage, but lately, we’re seeing a comeback of more optimistic and genuinely kind characters.

I won’t get into a detailed analysis, but having enjoyed a wide range of shows and movies – from gritty ones like *The Boys* and *Invincible* to recent superhero films like *Thunderbolts* and the new *Superman* – I was really impressed with how *Dispatch* strikes a balance. It feels mature without being unnecessarily crude or shocking.

As a researcher observing this production, I was immediately drawn to all the characters – each one felt either genuinely fun or interestingly complex. I particularly want to highlight Aaron Paul’s performance as Robert. He played the role with a subtly melancholic and sarcastic edge that was surprisingly relatable, but he managed to avoid making Robert just another ordinary, forgettable character. It was a really nuanced performance.

Erin Yvette voices Blonde Blazer and Laura Bailey voices Invisigal, and both characters offer engaging romantic possibilities that fit well within the game’s narrative, though their approaches are quite different. Both are connected to the main character’s job as a dispatcher – Invisigal as a chaotic new trainee, and Blonde Blazer as someone who seems much more composed.

Honestly, I’m really impressed with how they’ve handled Robert’s storyline. Whether he gets involved with either of the characters romantically feels totally natural, especially considering he’s trying to rehabilitate a team of villains in this program called the Phoenix Program. It’s a tough job – earning their trust, figuring out the best way to use everyone’s skills… it can be really challenging, and things can definitely go wrong. But even when things *do* get difficult, it actually makes the whole experience more rewarding. It’s not frustrating, it just feels… good.

As an analyst, I’ve noticed the writing skillfully balances comedic timing with the seriousness of the potential consequences. It’s a delicate act – finding the humor without downplaying the gravity of the situation – and it’s handled really well.

When to make decisions matter

Dispatch builds upon the foundation of Telltale Games, as many of its developers previously worked on popular titles like The Wolf Among Us and Tales from the Borderlands.

Telltale games often face criticism that player choices don’t have lasting consequences. For example, a player might save one character in an episode, only to have the other character die later on, regardless of their decision.

The core design is evident in Dispatch, but it’s been improved in a few small ways that seem to be working well so far. Letting players choose between two heroes, then having the unchosen one appear later as a draft pick, feels like a good system and doesn’t make the initial choice feel pointless.

Okay, so it still feels a bit like everyone’s working from the same basic template – we all get the same general story beats, but the actors get to add their own little touches. But the really great thing is, even with those personal additions, Robert never feels like he’s playing someone he’s not. He stays true to the character, which I really appreciate!

So, what could be next?

Dispatch has been very popular, reaching over two million players by November 19th. The developers are hinting at another season, although it hasn’t been officially announced. They may also have other projects in the works.

AdHoc Studio wrote the script for Telltale Games’ The Wolf Among Us 2 before working on Dispatch. However, it’s still uncertain whether The Wolf Among Us 2 will ever be released. But playing Dispatch, with its sharp writing and impactful choices, has definitely increased my anticipation for the next chapter in Bigby Wolf and Snow White’s story, if it ever comes.

If Dispatch continues, I’m really interested to see what the main story will be about and how player choices will affect things moving forward. It’s clear certain key details will need to be remembered, like the specifics of any relationship Robert ends up in.

I’m really fascinated by Robert’s dual role. It makes me wonder how he manages being a Dispatcher and then suddenly switching to being Mecha Man in the field. It raises some interesting questions – is he more effective as a hands-on hero, or by guiding others? I’d love to see a deeper look at whether he can truly excel at both.

I’m looking forward to finding out the answers.

I’m really hoping AdHoc will release Dispatch on Xbox someday – that would give me a great reason to play it again!

Dispatch is now available on Windows PC and PlayStation 5. It will be released on Nintendo Switch 2 on January 28, 2026.

Did you play Dispatch? What did you think of it? Let me know in the comments and vote in the poll!

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2025-12-30 20:10