A superhero workplace comedy where the hero is just the guy behind the desk

Cultures · Published 9 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: In the episodic adventure game Dispatch, you play as Robert Robertson III, a former superhero forced into a mundane desk job after his mechanical suit is destroyed. Tasked with managing a team of unruly villains-turned-heroes, you must navigate complex social dynamics and high-stakes missions in an alternate Los Angeles.

Developed by AdHoc Studio and released in 2025, Dispatch subverts traditional superhero tropes by focusing on the logistical side of heroism. The protagonist, Robert Robertson III, is a third-generation hero who lacks innate powers, relying instead on a mechanical suit built by his grandfather. After a disastrous encounter with the supervillain Shroud leaves his suit ruined and his finances depleted, Robert accepts a position at the Superhero Dispatch Network (SDN). His new role involves managing the Z-Team, a group of reformed supervillains participating in the Phoenix Program, who are notoriously difficult to control.

The gameplay centers on narrative choices and strategic management. Players use dialogue trees to build rapport with characters like the invisible Courtney or the speedster Chase, whose powers have prematurely aged him to 80 despite being only 39. Beyond conversation, the player must navigate the SDN map to deploy heroes to specific events, balancing their unique stats and cooldowns. Hacking minigames and quick-time events add mechanical variety as the story unfolds across eight episodes, ultimately leading to a confrontation with the Red Ring, the criminal organization responsible for the death of Robert's father.

The production of Dispatch was as dramatic as its plot. Founded in 2018 by former Telltale Games staff, AdHoc Studio initially envisioned the project as a live-action series inspired by sports commercials. The COVID-19 pandemic halted development, and the team later struggled with funding after creative differences led them to leave a project with Telltale. To keep the studio afloat during the final stages of development, the founders went six months without pay. The game was eventually saved by a partnership with Critical Role Productions, allowing the team to complete the title, which has since sold over 4 million copies and received critical acclaim.

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