Ghost in the SQL Data Is a Detective Game Where You Solve Crimes Using SQL

Ghost in the SQL Data is coming to Steam — a detective game where players will investigate crimes using the SQL programming language. The developers have already launched the game's page on Valve's storefront, although a release date has yet to be announced.

Instead of searching for clues around locations, players will work with databases containing information related to their cases. To uncover the necessary details, they'll have to write real SQL queries. The game will compare the results with the correct answers and point out errors in the code.

The developers promise to teach players SQL as they work through the investigations. Each case begins by explaining how the data in the database is structured, with new language constructs gradually introduced through assignments. Players will be able to save and examine the results, create charts based on them, and use them as evidence.

The cases will cover a variety of crimes, from thefts and arson to murders and mysterious disappearances of money. One of the cases, for example, revolves around a fire that was reported 14 minutes before it actually started.

Visually, Ghost in the SQL Data is designed to look like a physical evidence board, complete with newspaper clippings, notes, masking tape, pushpins, red string, marker annotations, and photographs laid out on graph paper. However, the developers emphasize that this isn't merely a visual gimmick — the core gameplay is genuinely built around working with databases and writing SQL code.

The creators also plan to release new investigations after launch, so the number of cases is expected to grow over time.

What do you think about the idea of investigating crimes using SQL queries?