Following their 2025 release of a Star Trek: Picard murder mystery and a Star Trek: Strange New Worlds escape-room-in-a-box, Beadle & Grimm’s is set to expand its gaming lineup with two additional titles. Fans can soon immerse themselves in the hilarious antics of Star Trek: Lower Decks or step into a high-stakes investigation to clear the name of one of the franchise’s most dubious figures. The Kickstarter campaign for both Deep Space Nine: Holosuite Homicide and Lower Decks: Chaos Protocol officially kicks off on April 13.
“For all four of these games, our goal was to craft stories that felt engaging, compelling, and accessible—regardless of the player’s existing knowledge of the Star Trek universe,” explained Beadle & Grimm’s co-founder Bill Rehor in a video interview. “We avoided relying heavily on niche lore, ensuring that every narrative beat could be easily understood by anyone at the table.”
In Holosuite Homicide, players assume the roles of Starfleet Command junior investigators tasked with determining if the equipment at Quark’s Bar, Grill, Gaming House and Holosuite Arcade was truly to blame for a fatal incident. While such a delicate matter involving Quark’s eccentric business dealings would typically fall to Odo, the station’s security chief, the designers intentionally avoided assigning specific character roles to players.
Image: Beadle & Grimm’s
“One of the most rewarding aspects of this game genre is its flexibility,” Rehor noted. “By avoiding rigid character assignments, we keep the experience open and less restrictive, allowing for a more fluid style of play.”
Known for crafting premium accessories for Dungeons & Dragons and other tabletop RPGs, Beadle & Grimm’s brings that same meticulous design philosophy to these Star Trek props. The murder mystery box features three distinct envelopes to be opened during various stages of the investigation, each filled with clues requiring careful deduction. Additionally, players are provided with wearable, scanable badges that trigger augmented reality features, bridging the physical and digital gaming experience.
“It was an absolute thrill to produce materials that felt like they were written by Odo, Captain Sisko, or Quark,” said co-founder Jon Ciccolini. “We’ve developed concepts here that go beyond anything we’ve attempted for our D&D projects.”
Image: Beadle & Grimm’s
Ciccolini mentioned that learning from the Picard title, Murder on the Titan-A, where the included map served limited gameplay purposes, the team prioritized functional design this time. The map of Deep Space Nine’s promenade is now central to the puzzles, with other tasks requiring players to use physical props to play audio or even mechanically disassemble their badges. Crucially, none of the components are destroyed during play, ensuring the game remains reusable for friends or future resale.
The popularity of the animated series prompted the development of Lower Decks: Chaos Protocol. In this adventure, players tackle 10 escalating puzzles to rescue the Lower Decks crew from an inadvertently triggered Federation security system.
Image: Beadle & Grimm’s
The game balances challenge and satisfaction through extensive playtesting. For those who find themselves stumped, the digital interface allows players to call upon Q, the series’ iconic, omnipotent trickster, for subtle hints.
“The Star Trek universe offers the perfect built-in mechanic with Q—a character who is constantly observing and possesses infinite knowledge, making him the ideal guide for providing nudges,” Ciccolini explained.
Ultimately, Rehor hopes these releases act as a gateway, introducing Star Trek enthusiasts and casual board gamers to the broader world of tabletop role-playing. “There’s no need for a Game Master, no intense preparation, and no character creation required,” he said. “These games deliver that same sense of adventure with a significantly lower barrier to entry.”
The Kickstarter for Deep Space Nine: Holosuite Homicide and Lower Decks: Chaos Protocol begins on April 14. Early backers who pledge within the first 72 hours will receive an exclusive Deep Space Nine Pack for Star Trek Online.
Source: Polygon
