It takes a certain kind of person to take on the greatest evils of the world. A keen intellect. Relentless courage. An unstoppable desire to see justice done.
But you? You’re just trying to make rent.
You’re not special. You’re not a hero. Thrust into unfortunate circumstances, you find yourself with no other option than to unravel what might be your biggest case yet.
Get to work, detective.
ABOUT BACKBONE
Backbone is a post-noir roleplaying detective adventure, in which you step into the shoes of raccoon private investigator, Howard Lotor, and explore dystopian Vancouver, BC, beautifully rendered in high resolution pixel art.
After years of small-time cases, lonely evenings, and just barely scraping by, Howard Lotor is swept into a job quite unlike any other before it. What starts as a menial case slowly unravels into something much darker, pitting Howard against the oppressive, systemic power hierarchies of the City itself.
GAMEPLAY
Backbone's gameplay is a modern take on the classic point-and-click adventure, featuring stealth, exploration, and elaborate dialogues inspired by old school CRPGs.
As Howard, you will:
Make meaningful connections with a diverse cast of characters in pursuit of truth
Explore both flourishing and decaying districts of a now walled-off Vancouver
Uncover clues and collect evidence
Solve puzzles and sneak around
Be a raccoon
Features
Post-noir dystopia
Backbone’s Vancouver is a dangerous place, bleak and dreary, but not entirely without hope. It’s a tale of a cold and existentialist world, interspersed with genuine connections and a bruised but undying drive to make a difference. Everyone wants to change the world, but not always for the better.
Stunning visuals
The breathtaking combination of high-resolution pixel art and 3D effects like dynamic lighting, pouring rain, volumetric fog and neon lights bring the sprawling city to life.
Evocative and unforgettable soundtrack
An original soundtrack by Danshin and Arooj Aftab is expertly crafted to create a cinematic, atmospheric, and simply jaw-dropping soundscape. You’ve never heard dystopian doom jazz quite like this.
Login or register at the official Steam Website and download Steam client
Install and start application, login with your Account name and Password
Click the Games Menu.
Choose Activate a Product on Steam...
Follow the onscreen instructions to complete the process
After the successful code verification, go to the "MY GAMES" tab and start downloading.
News & Updates
2026-08-21
The Biggest Games to Steal the Show at Gamescom 2026
Gamescom 2026 is coming at the end of this month with more than 900 exhibitors and we just wanted to showcase some of the upcoming games in the AAA titles category that you should definitely check out! So, be sure to go through our shortlisted future release hits in most gaming genre types, as we get ready to once again explore the world of Gamescom…
ACE COMBAT 8 Could Be the Series’ Most Ambitious Entry
The upcoming Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve marks a completely new chapter in the popular flight shooting series, by effectively blending cinematic storytelling with the thrills of aerial combat like never before. Developed by Bandai Namco Aces Inc., the game will build upon the decades of established expertise in order to further boost the series’ strong sides…
Some in-game text is small and may be difficult to read
This game does not default to external Bluetooth/USB controllers on Deck, and may require manually switching the active controller via the Quick Access Menu
All functionality is accessible when using the default controller configuration
This game shows Steam Deck controller icons
This game's default graphics configuration performs well on Steam Deck