Summary
- Players interact with realistic simulations of WeChat, QQ, web browsers, and corporate portals to solve puzzles and uncover clues.
- Four distinct endings encourage multiple playthroughs and reward careful investigation.
- ntegrates Groq’s LLM API for real-time, context-aware character conversations that enhance player immersion.
- Built with Next.js and deployed on Vercel and Cloudflare Workers for seamless, serverless delivery.
- Achieved 907k+ views and strong community engagement on Xiaohongshu.
Zhang Wei Missing Case is an interactive web-based alternate reality game (ARG) that immerses players in a psychological mystery thriller. Set in 2026, players take on the role of someone investigating why their close online friend, Zhang Wei, has suddenly stopped responding.
Through a meticulously crafted digital environment, featuring simulated social media apps, search engines, corporate websites, and chat interfaces… players piece together a dark conspiracy involving a pharmaceutical company conducting illegal consciousness-transfer experiments.
The narrative unfolds across multiple branching paths, with four distinct endings that reward thorough investigation while punishing careless decisions. Built with Next.js and deployed on Vercel and Cloudflare Workers (in 2 branches) , the game seamlessly blends storytelling with interactive web mechanics, creating an experience where players genuinely feel like digital detectives uncovering hidden truths.
The game features AI-powered chat interactions using Groq’s high-speed inference API, enabling dynamic conversations with in-game characters. This integration allows NPCs like Zhang Wei and Li Jing to respond naturally to player inquiries, maintaining character consistency while adapting to the investigative context. This makes each playthrough feel unique and the mystery more immersive.
Since its release, the project has resonated strongly with audiences, accumulating over 907,000 views, 7,826 likes, 4,701 saves, and 791 comments on Xiaohongshu (RedNotes). This engagement reflects the game’s ability to captivate players through its emotionally compelling narrative about loss, corporate ethics, and the implications of emerging technology.