
In 1960, they reunited in an airport, after both of their wives died in a tragic plane crash.


Both married and each had a daughter: Mila and Jenny, respectively. Evans inherited his family's art gallery, while Dunning wanted to become a professional painter. In the past, Robert Evans and Dunning Smith were friends at college, but went their separate ways. The order of the discovery of these elements within the game will depend on choices players make, and as such, the summary below is the chronological order of the larger story. Kyle finds that the hotel has many mysteries as well as connections to his past, and begins to look into these further. Kyle Hyde, a former New York City detective and now working as a salesman for Red Crown, has arrived at the hotel in his search for his former partner, Brian Bradley, and is given Room 215, a room rumored to be able to grant wishes. The game takes place at Hotel Dusk, a fictional, rundown motel outside of Los Angeles, in 1979. It gives three pages to write in, with a simple pencil/eraser system. There is also a journal to write in, which is used by several other characters as well, though all critical in-game story notes are copied automatically. Movement is made by leading an iconic representation of Kyle around a map of the hotel on the touch screen or d-pad while a first-person three-dimensional view is shown on the other screen. The game is filled with adventure-style puzzles, most of which involve using the touch screen to perform a simple task.

This can result in Kyle being forced to retreat to his room or, later in the game, getting kicked out of the hotel, leaving him unable to solve the mystery. This is usually indicated by a darkening of the character in question. If he asks the wrong question, makes a wrong assumption, behaves rudely, shows the wrong item, gets caught with something that isn't his, or encounters someone (usually an employee) in a restricted area or room (either by noticing him or getting their attention), he may confuse or anger the person. By asking the right questions, Kyle will uncover the information he needs. The player can show the characters items that Kyle has collected, or ask questions that have been brought to Kyle's attention. Throughout the game, the player must speak with the various hotel patrons and employees in order to uncover vital information. The DS is held rotated 90 degrees from normal, like a book, with an option in the game to allow the player to switch which side the touchpad is on depending on which hand is dominant. The player, as Kyle Hyde, moves around and interacts with the environment using the DS's touch screen and must solve a variety of puzzles using the handheld's various features including the touch screen, microphone, and closeable cover. Screenshot of gameplay showing both DS screens in their vertical format.
