Ares Games to distribute Detectives Vs Criminals

Ares Games and Italian publisher Dam Things Game Studio announce a distribution agreement for the English language retail edition of Detectives Vs Criminals, an innovative hidden movement board game for 2 to 4 players where two opposing teams face each other in a battle of deduction, deception and strategy. 

Detectives Vs Criminals is set across the streets of Europe. The Criminals move secretly across the map, planning heists and trying to escape with their loot, while the Detectives gather clues, investigate their movements and attempt to track them down before they can complete their plans.

Unlike traditional one-versus-many hidden movement games, Detectives Vs Criminals allows both sides to play as a team. Each player controls their own character and coordinates with their partner, sharing information and planning their actions while trying to anticipate the opposing team's strategy.

The game features asymmetric characters with unique abilities, investigation and combat mechanics, and multiple strategic options that make every hunt develop differently according to the players' decisions. The agreement marks a new step in the collaboration between Ares Games and Dam Things, which previously worked together on the development of Viking Route, published by Ares Games.
 
“Working with Dam Things on Viking Route gave us the opportunity to appreciate their approach to game development,” said Roberto Di Meglio, Director of Production at Ares Games.

“We are very pleased to continue this relationship by bringing Detectives Vs Criminals to the retail market. The game offers an interesting take on hidden movement, with two opposing teams and a strong focus on cooperation, deduction and strategy.”

Successfully funded on Gamefound in October 2025, Detectives Vs Criminals was Dam Things' first crowdfunding project. “Detectives Vs Criminals is the first building block of a brand that we intend to develop and invest in significantly in the years ahead,” said Luca Maragno, game designer and co-founder of Dam Things Game Studio.

“Taking our first crowdfunding project into international retail is an important milestone for us, but it is also the beginning of a much larger journey for Detectives Vs Criminals. We are grateful to Ares Games for the trust they have placed in the game and in Dam Things, and we are very happy to continue a collaboration that began with Viking Route.”

Dam Things Game Studio is an Italian board game development studio founded by Luca Maragno and Mathias Mazzetti, bringing together more than ten years of experience in board game design and development.