Dispatch Game Review - Is It Worth Playing?
Excellent superhero comedy with sharp writing and stellar voice acting
Reviewed on October 22, 2025 | Based on Episodes 1-2
Dispatch Game Overview & First Impressions
Dispatch is a superhero workplace comedy from AdHoc Studio, the studio formed by veteran Telltale Games developers. Featuring a star-studded voice cast including Aaron Paul, Laura Bailey, and Jeffrey Wright, this episodic narrative game launched on October 22, 2025, to 87% positive Steam reviews (over 3,996 reviews).
Unlike traditional superhero power fantasies, Dispatch puts you in the shoes of Robert Robertson (voiced by Aaron Paul), a former superhero known as "Mecha Man" who now works as a dispatcher for SDN (Superhero Dispatch Network). Your job: assign the right hero to each emergency while managing office politics, hero personalities, and your own personal struggles.
The premise is fresh, the execution is polished, and the writing is consistently sharp. After playing Episodes 1-2, it's clear AdHoc Studio has successfully captured what made Telltale games special while refining the formula with improved player agency and consequence systems.
Gameplay - Strategic Hero Management Meets Narrative Choice
Dispatch game blends two core gameplay loops: hero assignment strategy and choice-based dialogue. The hero management system is surprisingly deep for a narrative game.
Hero Assignment System (8/10)
Each emergency call displays required stat thresholds (Combat, Intellect, Charisma, Mobility, Vigor). You review your roster of 8 heroes, each with unique stat distributions, and assign the best fit.
Example Scenario:
A bank robbery requires Combat 6+ and Vigor 5+. You can send Golem (Combat 9, Vigor 10) for a clean victory, or send Flambae (Combat 8, Vigor 6) who succeeds but causes property damage. Sending Sonar (Combat 3) results in failure and injury.
What works: The stat matching creates genuine strategy. Poor assignments have consequences: failed missions, injured heroes (who become fatigued for the next episode), and relationship damage. This isn't just flavor—your choices directly impact story outcomes.
What doesn't: After you learn each hero's strengths, optimal choices become obvious. There's rarely tension about "who should I send" once you've internalized the tier list.
Choice & Consequence System (9/10)
Dialogue choices affect relationships with heroes and office staff. Unlike shallow choice games where decisions don't matter, Dispatch tracks relationship values that unlock unique dialogue, special missions, and story branches in later episodes.
Major story choices—like the Episode 1 finale decision between evacuating civilians or capturing the villain—have immediate and long-term consequences. Episode 2's starting conditions change based on your Episode 1 ending. See our all choices guide for detailed consequence breakdowns.
🎯 Verdict on Gameplay:
More strategic depth than expected for a narrative game, though veterans may find hero assignments repetitive after the first playthrough. Choice system is genuinely meaningful with visible consequences.
Story & Writing - Witty Workplace Comedy with Heart
Dispatch's greatest strength is its writing. The superhero workplace comedy angle is executed brilliantly, balancing laugh-out-loud moments with genuine character drama.
Tone & Humor (9/10)
The game nails the "The Office meets superheroes" vibe. Robert's internal monologue is consistently funny, heroes have distinct personalities that clash entertainingly, and office politics feel authentic. One standout scene has you mediating a dispute between your boss and the hero team over protocol—it's mundane subject matter elevated by sharp dialogue and comedic timing.
Character Development (8.5/10)
Aaron Paul's performance as Robert Robertson anchors the story. He brings vulnerability to a former hero struggling with obscurity, now doing the unglamorous work of dispatch. Each of the 8 heroes feels distinct—not just in stats, but in personality.
Standout characters (Episodes 1-2):
- Prism: The charismatic face of SDN who struggles with maintaining her public persona
- Sonar: Intellectual and reserved, with a mysterious transformation ability hinted at in Episode 1
- Coupé: The overconfident speedster with surprising emotional depth in optional conversations
Episode 2 introduces a personal crisis for Robert, and your choice of who to confide in (if anyone) sets up long-term relationship arcs. This moment demonstrates the writers' understanding that superhero stories work best when grounded in human emotion.
Plot & Pacing (7.5/10)
Episodes 1-2 are primarily setup, introducing mechanics and characters. The main plot—a mysterious villain who escapes in Episode 1—is relatively thin so far. However, the character moments and workplace comedy carry the experience.
Episode length concern: Each episode runs 1.5-2 hours. For $24.99 (8 episodes total), you're getting 12-16 hours of content. That's reasonable, but individual episodes feel short. Just as you're invested in a storyline, credits roll.
🎯 Verdict on Story:
Exceptional dialogue and character work elevated by A-tier voice acting. Main plot is slow to develop, but the journey is entertaining enough that you won't mind. This is character-driven storytelling at its finest.
Voice Acting & Presentation (9.5/10)
Voice Performance
Aaron Paul delivers one of his best performances since Breaking Bad. His Robert Robertson is weary but hopeful, cynical but caring. Laura Bailey and Jeffrey Wright round out the star-studded cast, bringing gravitas to their respective roles.
Every hero is well-voiced with distinct personalities. Prism sounds confident and media-trained, Golem's deep voice matches his bruiser appearance, and Invisigal's awkward delivery sells her as someone uncomfortable in social situations.
Art Style & Visuals (8/10)
Dispatch uses a stylized comic book aesthetic with bold colors and clean character designs. It's not groundbreaking visually, but the art direction is consistent and professional. Character portraits are expressive, and the office environment feels lived-in.
Music & Sound Design (8/10)
The soundtrack blends superhero orchestral themes with workplace comedy sitcom vibes. Sound effects for hero powers are satisfying, and the audio mix prioritizes voice acting appropriately.
Detailed Pros & Cons
✅ Pros
- Exceptional voice acting: Aaron Paul, Laura Bailey, Jeffrey Wright deliver top-tier performances
- Sharp, witty writing: Genuinely funny dialogue with heart. Workplace comedy angle is fresh
- Meaningful choices: Decisions have visible consequences across episodes. Your relationships matter
- Great character development: 8 distinct heroes with personality, not just stat blocks
- Strategic depth: Hero assignments require planning. Fatigue system adds roster management
- Replayability: Multiple story branches encourage 2-3 playthroughs
- Polished presentation: Clean UI, good art direction, professional production values
❌ Cons
- Episodic wait times: Waiting weekly for 1.5-hour episodes can feel slow. Full series ends Nov 12, 2025
- Limited gameplay variety: Core loop is assign heroes → dialogue → repeat. May feel repetitive to action fans
- Short episode length: 1.5-2 hours per episode. Pricey at $24.99 for 12-16 total hours
- Slow main plot: Episodes 1-2 are heavy on setup, light on major story developments
- Obvious optimal choices: Once you learn hero stats, assignments become predictable
- No manual saves: Can't reload to try different choices without replaying entire episode
Comparison to Similar Games
Dispatch vs. Telltale Games (The Walking Dead, The Wolf Among Us)
Similarities: Episodic structure, choice-driven narrative, strong character focus
Improvements: Dispatch has more meaningful gameplay (hero assignments vs. QTEs), better consequence tracking, and smoother technical performance
Trade-offs: Telltale's peak titles had more dramatic tension; Dispatch prioritizes comedy over thriller elements
Dispatch vs. Life is Strange Series
Similarities: Character-driven storytelling, relationship management
Differences: Dispatch has strategic gameplay layer (hero stats) that Life is Strange lacks. Life is Strange has supernatural mystery elements; Dispatch is workplace comedy. Both excel at different emotional tones.
Dispatch vs. This War of Mine / Papers, Please
Shared DNA: All feature role-playing mundane jobs with moral consequences
Key difference: Dispatch is story-first with lighthearted tone. TWoM and Papers Please are mechanics-first with heavy themes. Dispatch is accessible; those games are intentionally stressful.
Who Should Play Dispatch?
✅ You'll Love Dispatch If You:
- Enjoyed Telltale games (The Walking Dead, The Wolf Among Us) and want a refined version
- Appreciate character-driven stories over action-heavy gameplay
- Like workplace comedies (The Office, Parks and Rec) and superhero media (The Boys, Invincible)
- Value strong voice acting and sharp dialogue
- Want player choices that actually matter with visible consequences
- Enjoy planning/strategy elements (hero stat optimization)
❌ Skip Dispatch If You:
- Expect action gameplay or superhero combat (this is 100% narrative/management)
- Dislike episodic releases (though all 8 episodes complete by Nov 12, 2025)
- Want a long-form RPG (12-16 hours total vs. 40-100 hour epics)
- Prefer gameplay-heavy experiences to story-heavy ones
- Need fast-paced plots (Dispatch is character-focused, plot develops slowly)
Is Dispatch Worth It? Final Verdict
8.5/10 - Highly Recommended
Dispatch is an excellent narrative game that succeeds on the strength of its writing, voice acting, and meaningful player choice. The superhero workplace comedy premise is executed brilliantly, and veteran Telltale developers have clearly learned from past mistakes (better performance, more impactful choices, strategic gameplay layer).
Value proposition: At $24.99 for 8 episodes (12-16 hours), you're paying roughly $1.50-2 per hour of entertainment. That's expensive compared to sprawling RPGs, but competitive with other narrative games and cheaper than movies/streaming per hour.
Bottom line: If you loved Telltale games or character-driven narratives, Dispatch is an easy recommendation. It's one of 2025's best narrative experiences. Just know you're buying excellent storytelling, not action gameplay.
💡 When to Buy:
- Buy now if you want to experience episodes as they release (all out by Nov 12, 2025)
- Buy at launch discount - 10% off until November 1, 2025 (see Steam discount page)
- Wait for complete season if you prefer binge-playing all 8 episodes without waiting
- Wait for sale if $24.99 feels steep for 12-16 hours (expect 25-30% off during Winter Sale)
Score Breakdown
Related Guides
Back to Dispatch Game main guide for all walkthroughs, heroes, reviews, and more.