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Top 30 mystery games for aspiring detectives

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Gaming - October 11th 2024, 22:30 GMT+2
Cropped About

About this gallery:

For this list, we decided to focus on games where your character is, in one way or another, a detective (or at least tasked with solving a criminal case). And since there are so many great videogames out there, we decided to include only one game per franchise.

Also, remember that this is a subjective list! If you think we missed a detective game that absolutely has to be here, why not mention it in the comments?

| © Capcom

The Raven Remastered

30. The Raven Remastered (2018)

This one's like playing Clue on a moving train...literally! Set against a backdrop of 1960s Europe, you’re chasing after a master thief who has a flair for the dramatic: the Raven. As a charmingly inexperienced Swiss constable, you’ll find yourself fumbling through glamorous museums and dark alleyways. Expect twists, turns, and a lot of "wait, what?" moments as you unearth who’s really behind the masked menace. Spoiler: it's not the butler... or is it? | © KING Art

Murdered Soul Suspect

29. Murdered: Soul Suspect (2014)

Imagine trying to solve your own murder. Yeah, talk about taking detective work to the next level. You play as Ronan O'Connor, a brooding detective turned ghost, wandering through a spooky, Salem-inspired city. The catch? You can possess cats (yes, really), read minds, and even walk through walls! It’s ghostly fun mixed with a good old-fashioned murder mystery, except this time, the detective is very much dead... which gives you a unique perspective, to say the least. | © Airtight Games

The Sinking City

28. The Sinking City (2019)

Detective work is already tough, but throw in a Lovecraftian nightmare city that’s half underwater, and now you’ve got your hands full. As Charles Reed, you’re here to uncover why everyone is going a little mad, yourself included. The Sinking City combines classic detective work—clues, investigations, and suspects—with tentacle monsters and mind-bending horror. If you like your mysteries with a side of cosmic dread, this is where you should sink your time. | © Frogwares

Whispers of a Machine

27. Whispers of a Machine (2019)

A cyber-noir detective story set in a future where AI has been outlawed. You play Vera, a detective enhanced with super-cool augmentations (think Minority Report meets Blade Runner) who is tasked with investigating a string of murders. The deeper you dive into the case, the more you realize it’s not just about bloodshed—it’s about technology, humanity, and whether AI should exist at all. Good luck deciding, detective! | ©

The Vanishing of Ethan Carter

26. The Vanishing of Ethan Carter (2014)

This game proves that small towns hold the creepiest secrets. As paranormal investigator Paul Prospero, you're unraveling the disappearance of a young boy, Ethan, and what you find isn’t just a regular missing person case—there’s dark magic, rituals, and enough supernatural oddities to make even the bravest detective second-guess their choices. With no hand-holding, the game trusts you to piece it together. The result? You might feel like you need a chalkboard to keep track of all the clues. | © The Astronauts

Deadly Premonition

25. Deadly Premonition (2010)

It's like Twin Peaks met an open-world game and things got weirder than expected. In Deadly Premonition, you play as Agent York, an eccentric FBI agent with a love for coffee and a peculiar split personality. The murder mystery at the heart of this game is surrounded by a quirky town, strange people, and events that make you question if you're solving a crime or slowly losing your mind. Spoiler: it’s probably both. | © Access Games

Fahrenheit

24. Fahrenheit: Indigo Prophecy (2005)

Ever start your day by waking up next to a dead body with no memory of what happened? Yeah, me neither—but Lucas Kane sure does in Fahrenheit. This is an interactive drama full of intense quick-time events and puzzles where every decision you make shapes the story. It’s a mix of murder mystery, paranormal happenings, and soap opera-level plot twists that’ll have you questioning reality by the end of it. And don't even get me started on the sudden Matrix-style fights... | © Quantic Dream

Sherlock Holmes The Devils Daughter

23. Sherlock Holmes: The Devil’s Daughter (2016)

Another day, another puzzle-filled case for our good friend Sherlock Holmes. Except this time, it's personal. The world's greatest detective is pushed to his emotional limits while juggling multiple mysteries, an estranged daughter, and a suspiciously high number of dangerous situations for someone who’s supposed to be solving crimes, not causing them. The gameplay? Classic Sherlock—deductions, interrogations, and moral choices that will have you second-guessing every lead. | © Frogwares

Blacksad

22. Blacksad: Under the Skin (2019)

Take a detective noir film, turn everyone into anthropomorphic animals, and set it in 1950s New York. That’s Blacksad: Under the Skin for you. You play as John Blacksad, a trenchcoat-wearing, cigarette-smoking, morally grey private investigator who just happens to be a black cat. The case you’re working on? The mysterious disappearance of a boxing club owner. What follows is a gritty, film noir-inspired whodunit where nothing is as simple as it seems. | © Pendulo Studios

Heavy Rain

21. Heavy Rain (2010)

How far would you go to save someone you love? That’s the question Heavy Rain forces you to answer as you track down the Origami Killer. You’ll play four different characters, each with their own part in this intricate mystery, and your choices matter more than you think. With intense scenes where a single decision could lead to someone’s death, this one’s a nail-biter. Just don’t forget your umbrella—it gets pretty rainy. | © Quantic Dream

Lacuna

20. Lacuna (2021)

In the not-so-distant future, you’re Neil Conrad, a no-nonsense, trench-coat-wearing detective solving a murder that has major political implications. Lacuna tosses you into a morally complex, dialogue-heavy investigation where your choices actually shape the ending. No pressure! It’s a noir detective story with sci-fi elements, where your investigation feels less like a traditional puzzle-solving adventure and more like an existential crisis. Keep your wits about you, detective—every clue matters, and yes, you can mess this up. | © DigiTales Interactive

Tangle Tower

19. Tangle Tower (2019)

Ah, a murder mystery set in a strange mansion full of oddball characters and wacky dialogue. Tangle Tower is delightfully quirky, with its hand-painted art style and a sense of humor that’ll keep you smiling as you untangle the mystery of a murder... committed by a painting? As detectives Grimoire and Sally, you’ll interrogate an eccentric cast and solve brain-bending puzzles to get to the bottom of this whimsical whodunit. And yes, even the art seems to be hiding something. | © SFB Games

Cropped Blackwell Epiphany

18. Blackwell Epiphany (2014)

In this final chapter of the Blackwell series, things get emotional as Rosa Blackwell, a medium, and her snarky ghost sidekick Joey investigate a case that might just tear the veil between the living and the dead. It’s a poignant mystery that involves lost souls, and the stakes are higher than ever. With its pixel art style and heart-wrenching narrative, Blackwell Epiphany blends the supernatural with classic detective work in a way that’ll have you questioning what it means to save someone. | © Wadjet Eye Games

Danganronpa V3

17. Danganronpa V3: Killing Harmony (2017)

In Danganronpa V3: Killing Harmony, the "Ultimate Detective" is Shuichi Saihara. At first, Shuichi is a bit reserved and unsure of his abilities, constantly doubting his "Ultimate" title. However, as the story progresses, he steps up and fully embraces his role as the group’s primary investigator. With his keen observation skills and logical thinking, Shuichi becomes a key player in unraveling the complex murder mysteries that arise in the killing game, even when things get bizarre (which, in Danganronpa, they always do). | © Spike Chunsoft

Cropped Phoenix Wright Ace Attorney Trilogy

16. Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Trilogy (2014)

OBJECTION! If you’ve ever wanted to combine legal drama with detective work, Ace Attorney is your jam. As Phoenix Wright, the spiky-haired defense attorney, you’ll investigate crime scenes, gather evidence, and battle prosecutors in dramatic courtroom showdowns. The cases range from the bizarre to the downright ridiculous, but beneath all the zany antics is a clever and intricate detective game. It’s all about thinking on your feet and pointing that finger at the true culprit with flair. | © Capcom

Contradiction

15. Contradiction: Spot The Liar (2015)

This game is part detective story, part interactive movie, and entirely bonkers. You play as Inspector Jenks, wandering through a quiet English village to solve a mysterious death by, well, spotting contradictions in people’s stories. It’s a low-budget, live-action mystery game with an irresistibly goofy charm. The beauty lies in catching the characters’ lies and figuring out who’s hiding something... or everything. Think of it as a quirky, modern-day Clue with real people. | © Baggy Cat

Frog Detective 2

14. Frog Detective 2: The Case of the Invisible Wizard (2019)

Here’s a detective game where everything’s a little silly. As the world’s second-best detective (sorry, Sherlock), you’re on a mission to find out who ruined the town’s party. The catch? The prime suspect is an invisible wizard. This light-hearted mystery lets you interview cute animals, inspect charmingly absurd clues, and use your... not-so-advanced detective skills to solve the case. It’s short, sweet, and wonderfully whimsical—perfect for anyone who wants their mystery with a side of laughs. | © Grace Bruxner

Paradise Killer

13. Paradise Killer (2020)

Welcome to the island of paradise, where gods and conspiracies mix in a neon-soaked, open-world detective game. You play as Lady Love Dies, a "detective from exile," trying to solve a murder that shakes the core of this bizarre, utopian society. With its striking visuals, colorful characters, and intricate web of lies, Paradise Killer feels like Blade Runner meets Clue, but with more neon, cosmic beings, and... jazz? It’s all about figuring out who’s lying, and trust me, everyone is lying. | © Kaizen Game Works

Return of the Obra Dinn

12. Return of the Obra Dinn (2018)

Get ready for some serious detective work, because in Obra Dinn, you’re not just solving one murder—you’re solving 60. Set aboard a ghost ship, your job is to figure out the fate of each crew member using a magical pocket watch that lets you relive their final moments. It’s like a jigsaw puzzle wrapped in a mystery, told in monochromatic glory. The real magic? Piecing together the most intricate detective case you’ll ever play, while feeling like Sherlock Holmes on a boat. | © Lucas Pope

The Painscreek Killings

11. The Painscreek Killings (2017)

Welcome to the most cursed town in video games. The Painscreek Killings has you exploring an abandoned town to solve a cold case murder, and let’s just say, the deeper you dig, the darker it gets. It’s like uncovering a twisted soap opera, but with more corpses. Armed with only your wits and a camera, you’ll find clues, read diaries, and unearth the town’s deepest secrets. If you’ve ever wanted to play Gone Home but with more death, this one’s for you. | © EQ Studios

The Darkside Detective

10. The Darkside Detective (2017)

If you like your mysteries with a healthy dose of supernatural weirdness and tongue-in-cheek humor, The Darkside Detective delivers. Detective McQueen and his sidekick Dooley take on cases that are less "whodunit" and more "what the heck is that thing!?" With retro pixel art, snappy dialogue, and cases involving ghosts, demons, and other dark forces, it’s a lighthearted romp through the world of paranormal investigations. Don’t take it too seriously... McQueen certainly doesn’t. | © Spooky Doorway

Tails Noir

9. Tails Noir: Prologue (2021)

Imagine Blade Runner but everyone’s an animal. Tails Noir is a gritty detective noir where you play Howard Lotor, a raccoon PI trying to solve a conspiracy in a dystopian city. It’s a bleak and atmospheric game, and the prologue gives you just enough of the world to want more. The mystery is dark, the characters are shady, and the world is filled with societal decay and corruption. As Howard, you’ll have to rely on your wits and moral compass (if you have one) to make it through. | © EggNut

Cropped Her Story

8. Her Story (2015)

Put on your metaphorical detective hat and get ready for some serious interrogation in Her Story. The game is entirely based on reviewing police interview footage of a woman suspected of murder, and it’s up to you to piece together the truth by searching for key terms in the police database. There are no traditional puzzles or objectives—just you, a search bar, and the puzzle of figuring out who this woman really is. It’s gripping, innovative, and makes you feel like a real detective. | © Sam Barlow

Who is Lila

7. Who’s Lila? (2022)

Ever wanted to play a detective game where controlling your character’s facial expressions is the main mechanic? Who’s Lila? takes mystery-solving into the uncanny valley, with its eerie, surreal atmosphere and bizarre characters. The game is about figuring out what happened to a missing girl, but the real mystery is wrapped up in your own psyche. With multiple endings and a cryptic story, this game keeps you questioning everything, including your own ability to smile at the right time. | © Garage Heathen

Unavowed

6. Unavowed (2018)

What happens when you mix a classic point-and-click adventure with a supernatural detective story? You get Unavowed, where you’re a former cop possessed by a demon, trying to rebuild your life by joining a group of supernatural detectives. It’s part mystery, part Buffy the Vampire Slayer, with engaging dialogue, fun characters, and plenty of moral choices. Solving the case is just as important as figuring out what kind of person (or demon) you are. | © Wadjet Eye Games

The Wolf Among Us

5. The Wolf Among Us (2013)

If you ever wondered what it would be like if fairy tale characters were caught up in a gritty noir detective story, The Wolf Among Us is your answer. As Bigby Wolf (aka the Big Bad Wolf), you’re tasked with investigating the murder of a fable in the seedy underbelly of Fabletown. The game is packed with tension, moral choices, and plenty of big bad moments. The story unfolds like a great noir novel—dark, brooding, and full of twists that’ll leave your jaw on the floor. | © Telltale Games

L A Noire

4. L.A. Noire (2011)

L.A. has never looked so good—or so corrupt. As detective Cole Phelps, you’ll solve cases ranging from petty theft to gruesome murder, all while navigating post-war Los Angeles. L.A. Noire is all about interrogations, and the groundbreaking facial animation tech means you’ll be reading people’s faces to catch them in a lie. It’s like watching a noir film come to life, complete with classic cars, jazz, and trench coats. Just don’t let the sunshine fool you—it’s as dark as noir gets. | © Team Bondi

Cropped Ghost Trick

3. Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective (2010)

In Ghost Trick, you’re a ghost solving your own murder (yes, another one of those), but the twist is, you have the power to manipulate objects in the real world. It’s part puzzle game, part detective story, and fully entertaining. As you hop from object to object, you’ll save lives, solve puzzles, and piece together the mystery of who you were and why you were killed. It’s quirky, colorful, and packed with a lot of heart for a game about a dead guy. | © Capcom

The Case of the Golden Idol

2. The Case of the Golden Idol (2022)

If you like your detective games with a heavy dose of weirdness, The Case of the Golden Idol delivers. It’s set in an alternate 18th century where a golden idol causes mayhem wherever it goes, and your job is to piece together the strange, often absurd, deaths that surround it. The game is like a detective puzzle where you reconstruct crime scenes using logic and a bit of dark humor. Expect the unexpected in this one, because things get... weird. | © Color Gray Games

Disco Elysium

1. Disco Elysium (2019)

You’ve never played a detective like this before. In Disco Elysium, you’re a washed-up cop with no memory, a hangover from hell, and a murder to solve. The game is all about choices—your dialogue, your skills, even your internal monologues shape the story. It’s part detective game, part philosophical debate on existence. Whether you solve the case or just spiral into an existential crisis is up to you. It’s witty, weird, and one of the deepest mystery games you’ll ever play. | © ZA/UM

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Are you ready to put on your detective hat and sharpen your sleuthing skills? Whether you're a fan of solving murders, uncovering conspiracies, or unraveling paranormal mysteries, we've got you covered with the Top 30 Mystery Games for Aspiring Detectives!

From noir-inspired whodunits to mind-bending supernatural cases, this list will take you on a journey through some of the best detective adventures gaming has to offer. So grab your magnifying glass, trust your instincts, and get ready to crack some cases! Just remember—nothing is ever quite as it seems.

Are you ready to put on your detective hat and sharpen your sleuthing skills? Whether you're a fan of solving murders, uncovering conspiracies, or unraveling paranormal mysteries, we've got you covered with the Top 30 Mystery Games for Aspiring Detectives!

From noir-inspired whodunits to mind-bending supernatural cases, this list will take you on a journey through some of the best detective adventures gaming has to offer. So grab your magnifying glass, trust your instincts, and get ready to crack some cases! Just remember—nothing is ever quite as it seems.

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