The 25th Ward: The Silver Case

Lore & Background

The 25th Ward: The Silver Case was created by Goichi Suda, founder of Grasshopper Manufacture, as a sequel to the company's debut title The Silver Case. While there was an idea to develop the game for the PlayStation 2, it ended up being developed on mobile platforms because Suda wanted to complete the project quickly. The project was a collaboration with Genki, and Suda wanted to write a long story that would be accessible for both newcomers and fans of the original game. Character designs and artwork were created by Takashi Miyamoto, while the music was composed by Masafumi Takada. The game used a monochromatic art style due to mobile platform hardware limitations and Suda's desire for a different artistic direction.

The story is set seven years after The Silver Case and is divided into three scenarios: 'Correctness', 'Matchmaker', and 'Placebo'. Each scenario is further divided into five episodes. The original mobile version used number inputs for gameplay. The game was first showcased at the 2005 Tokyo Game Show and began distribution through Genki's mobile portal on 3 October for DoCoMo, EZweb, and Vodafone. Episodes were released sporadically over the next year, with the final episode of the original version released on 3 July 2006. Distribution of the original version ended on 28 February 2007 due to license agreement changes, but resumed through Liveware on 17 December. The second mobile version shut down in May 2011.

A version for the Nintendo DS was originally planned by Suda, but never materialized. Following the success of the 2016 high-definition remaster of The Silver Case, a remake of The 25th Ward began development. Due to the game's age and initial platform, Suda decided upon a complete remake rather than a remaster. The remake was released for PlayStation 4 and Windows on 15 March 2018. The PlayStation 4 version was packaged with its predecessor in Japan under the title The Silver Case 2425. A port of The Silver Case 2425 for the Nintendo Switch was released in Japan on 18 February 2021, and for North America and Europe in July.

Reader's Guide

The 25th Ward: The Silver Case holds significance as a rare mobile-origin sequel that was later completely remade for home platforms. Its development history illustrates the challenges of mobile game distribution in the mid-2000s, with the original version changing providers multiple times before being shut down. The game's legacy is tied to its creator Goichi Suda, who referred to it as a 'ghost' game due to its unavailability after the mobile service ended. The 2018 remake allowed a new audience to experience the title, and its inclusion in The Silver Case 2425 compilation for PlayStation 4 and Nintendo Switch helped preserve the work. The game received 'mixed or average' reviews on Metacritic for its PlayStation 4 version, with OpenCritic noting only 38% of critics recommended it. Despite this, the remake ensured that a piece of Grasshopper Manufacture's early history remained accessible beyond the mobile platform for which it was originally designed.

Did You Know?

• The original mobile version of The 25th Ward used number inputs for gameplay.
• The game's title 'The 25th Ward' is not derived from the professional wrestling term 'matchmaking'.
• A sixth episode was planned for the original mobile version but never materialized.
• The 2018 remake includes a separate side story called 'Transmitter', which focuses on a different character rather than Sumio Kodai.