The Hunt for the Zodiac Killer - True Crime Meets Interactive Audio Story
True Crime You Don’t Just Listen To
It’s a cold and rainy night in 1968. San Francisco is preparing for the New Year – when a brutal murder shakes the city. But this time, you’re not just listening. This time, you’re the detective.
The Hunt for the Zodiac Killer is a gripping interactive audio story based on real events. It invites you to dive into the mind of a killer, follow the clues, and make decisions that will shape the outcome of the investigation.
Step into the Role of Detective Carter
You take on the role of Detective Alex Carter, a seasoned homicide investigator. A double murder on a remote road seems like an isolated case – until it becomes clear you’re dealing with a serial killer. He sends taunting letters, encrypted codes, and leaves a trail of terror: it’s the Zodiac Killer.
Investigate, Decide, Repeat
This isn’t a passive story – it’s a case you actively solve. Every step of the way, you’ll need to make choices:
Do you search the crime scene or question the witness?
Do you follow a hunch or stick to the facts?
Can you decode the killer’s messages before time runs out?
And when you finally face a line-up of suspects – will you recognize the real killer?
Every decision matters. Every playthrough is different. And only sharp minds will get to the truth.
A Student-Led Project with Serious Impact
This immersive story was written by Emily Lindner and Elias Kühn, students at Macromedia University in Leipzig. In our interview, they shared what it was like working on such a complex and sensitive case:
What was the biggest challenge when writing the story?
“One of the initial challenges was developing a suitable concept. The biggest difficulty was shortening the story without distorting its core, while still maintaining ethical integrity. Overall, we were walking a fine line between content reduction and ethical responsibility.”
What advice would you give to players before they start?
“Be open to something new and approach it with an open mind. Pay close attention – and most importantly: Have fun!”
Are there any other projects or stories you’re planning?
“First, we want to see how the genre and story are received by the players. However, we’re generally open to developing more true crime stories in the future – even though it requires a significant amount of work.”
What makes your story special? Why should someone play it?
“Our story closely follows the real events, allowing listeners who are unfamiliar with the Zodiac Killer case to gain a clear and engaging insight. At the same time, this project marks an important first step for EarReality and TWIST Tales in the true crime genre.”
Conclusion: For Those Who Want to Solve, Not Just Listen
The Hunt for the Zodiac Killer is more than just a gripping story – it’s an audio-based investigation that puts your instincts and memory to the test. Whether you’re a true crime fan or just love a good mystery, this story lets you experience what it’s like to be in the middle of an unsolved case – and maybe, just maybe, crack it.
🎧 Ready to catch the killer? Dive in now on the TWIST Tales app or web player.
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Want to publish your own interactive stories and grow your portfolio? JOIN OUR WRITER’S POOL to create and release your work using TWIST, our no-coding game engine. Plus, get the chance to work on paid client projects and level up your storytelling skills.
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If you are interested in creating your own interactive audio story, you can apply for our WRITER’S WEBINAR! It will introduce you to our interactive story game engine, TWIST, and teach you how to use it to create interactive audio stories.
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