Games Like Jay Schilling's Edge of Chaos

Erased memories, scattered clues. What will you uncover, and what will you leave buried? As an amnesiac detective, investigate crime scenes with limited focus. You can't analyze everything. Strategically choose your leads to shape the case and reclaim your lost past. Start now.

Why similar: Interactive Fiction 33.6%, Crime 31.3%, Detective 17.8%, Adventure 16.2%, Singleplayer 1%

A darkly comedic legal sim where your goal is to get disbarred—spectacularly. Play as a defense attorney or prosecutor in ethically disastrous cases full of bad decisions, weird clients, and Kafkaesque courtroom chaos. Succeed, and you lose.

Why similar: Interactive Fiction 34.4%, Text-Based 29.3%, Crime 19.8%, Comedy 11%, Adventure 4.7%

A text adventure game about a 19th century explorer who finds himself stranded and alone.

Why similar: Interactive Fiction 45%, Text-Based 37.6%, Adventure 17.3%

Thaumistry: In Charm's Way is an all-new comedy text adventure from award-winning Infocom and Legend Entertainment author Bob Bates.

Why similar: Text-Based 31.9%, Interactive Fiction 30.9%, Adventure 22.4%, Comedy 13.5%, Singleplayer 1.3%

I found myself at the station. The story unfolds as you type commands on your keyboard. As the days repeat, I keep wondering what I can do for her. A command-driven adventure steeped in nostalgic pixel art and sound.

Why similar: Interactive Fiction 46.4%, Text-Based 38.6%, Adventure 14.9%

The most anticipated game since chess! A text-based comedy adventure in which you interact with the world by slamming one of two brightly colored buttons: Harm or Other

Why similar: Text-Based 33.5%, Interactive Fiction 29.5%, Comedy 22.4%, Adventure 13.9%, Singleplayer 0.8%

Interactive fiction starring Molly the Werezompire - a grad student who jumped into a portal, was killed by a werewolf, a zombie, and a vampire, and became a heroic werezompire! Also includes the sci-fi parody, Epiphany in Spaaace! Originally released on XBLIG.

Why similar: Interactive Fiction 37.1%, Text-Based 30.5%, Comedy 19.5%, Adventure 11.5%, Singleplayer 1.4%

Alchemy, puzzles, and a crashed starship. Old-style interactive fiction — a classic text adventure. No graphics! No dialogue trees! No point-and-click! You type your commands, and read what happens next.

Why similar: Interactive Fiction 50.4%, Text-Based 40.5%, Adventure 9.1%

CLOSED HANDS is a groundbreaking work of interactive fiction that explores the tangled intertwined stories of five people thrown together by a fictional terror attack.

Why similar: Interactive Fiction 43.5%, Text-Based 34.8%, Adventure 20.1%, Singleplayer 1.6%

Experience a race against time written by a former forensic investigation expert. As detective JACK, you are the last hope to rescue the US President's kidnapped daughter. With only 1% battery left on her phone, use authentic detective techniques to find her before the screen goes black.

Why similar: Interactive Fiction 28.6%, Text-Based 23%, Crime 22.9%, Detective 15.8%, Adventure 9.2%

Welcome to the Detective Club! Led by the troublesome and shy president Alice Baskerville. Follow this comedy story where together you will solve cases using your deductive powers!

Why similar: Interactive Fiction 26.6%, Text-Based 22%, Crime 19.8%, Detective 12.4%, Comedy 10.9%

Find the Golden Pineapple and the crimes against the Mayans. In Pineapple Legend, solve investigations with amusing and humorous situations. Explore the city of Takitani: investigate, solve puzzles, collect cards, equip accessories, fish, garden, fight in the arena, and increase your affinity!!!

Why similar: Interactive Fiction 25.1%, Crime 23%, Text-Based 17.1%, Detective 15.7%, Comedy 11.3%

A short narrative deduction game set in the overly litigious bowels of Hell. A simple text-based investigative game about asking the right questions of the right people. When surrounded by pathological liars always remember, the detail's in the devils. A simple text-based investigative game.

Why similar: Interactive Fiction 32.4%, Text-Based 29%, Detective 19.4%, Crime 11.4%, Comedy 7.5%

Immerse yourself in a dark fantasy world that is inspired by traditional text-based adventure and interactive fiction games.

Why similar: Interactive Fiction 45.3%, Text-Based 41.7%, Adventure 11.3%, Singleplayer 1.7%

In the kingdom of Bruneva, an unlikely hero embarks on a magical mission full of humor. With eccentric characters, comedic challenges, and witty dialogues, "The Adventures of Bruneva" guarantees laughter at every turn.

Why similar: Interactive Fiction 51.2%, Adventure 25%, Comedy 22.1%, Singleplayer 1.7%

A Battle of Wits with AI: Solve the case by conversing with a suspect robot using GPT to gather evidence. What single truth emerges from countless dialogues and pieces of information?

Why similar: Crime 28.2%, Interactive Fiction 26.9%, Text-Based 22.6%, Detective 16.4%, Adventure 5.9%

A gritty, semi-kinetic visual novel about broken people and notorious gangsters, featuring six individualized routes with six different endings.

Why similar: Interactive Fiction 31.6%, Text-Based 22.8%, Crime 20.3%, Detective 20%, Adventure 4.8%

Writing on a blog and using her obscure ability, the mysterious Nightingale has been helping people in danger for years. Now, she’s forced to disappear, facing threats from a killer... one of those people she helped in the past. An interactive short story featuring an advanced navigation UI.

Why similar: Interactive Fiction 35.9%, Text-Based 32.2%, Crime 24.5%, Adventure 6.5%, Singleplayer 0.9%

Novel game／The objective of this novel game is to manifest "socks" from the hearts of customers who visit the store and select the perfect custom-made socks. Making the correct choice will display "BINGO" and allow you to proceed to the next chapter.

Why similar: Interactive Fiction 51.1%, Adventure 25.2%, Comedy 21.9%, Singleplayer 1.8%

Vanakan is the journey of Tadevos - a priest, who travels the 500s Armenia to find the monastery that suits for his goal of becoming spiritually closer to Jesus Christ. He meets different people on his way and makes choices which will define his future and that of the country.

Why similar: Interactive Fiction 44.3%, Text-Based 33.7%, Adventure 20.8%, Singleplayer 1.2%

这是一款以中式校园为背景的推理类文字游戏，你将扮演一名高中生司空茂，在开学第一天目击密室杀人事件的现场，并经过调查和推理解决案件，找出真正的犯人和真相背后更深的阴谋。但在享受侦探游戏的同时，请千万不要忽视学习。保持情绪稳定，尽量维持活下去的念头...记住，你的成绩，永远比案件要更重要。

Why similar: Interactive Fiction 31.7%, Text-Based 24.7%, Detective 23.3%, Crime 15.7%, Adventure 4.3%

戏班内扑朔迷离的死亡，步步紧逼的幕后黑手，封闭剧场内的死亡倒计时，案件主角的生命和救赎都取决于你的决断。当第一桩案件尘埃落定，你以为可以回到现实世界时，轮回之路才刚刚开始……

Why similar: Interactive Fiction 30.2%, Crime 30.1%, Detective 19.4%, Text-Based 17.5%, Adventure 2.6%

Once you step through the door to Zork, you leave the world of arcade games and trite fantasies behind and enter the dimension of your imagination.

Why similar: Text-Based 53.8%, Interactive Fiction 28.6%, Adventure 17.6%

Homicide detective Ralph is distraught when his trusted, reliable partner goes missing around the same time strange killings begin to take place. While solving the case, Ralph is paired up with an impish rookie he can't get along with.

Why similar: Interactive Fiction 32.7%, Crime 26.7%, Text-Based 24.9%, Detective 15.5%, Singleplayer 0.3%

DARK CITY TROUBLE NIGHTS es un videojuego de ROL narrativo con toma de decisiones. Toma el papel de Chad Simons, detective privado. Tu comportamiento decidirá el final de tu historia en Dark City, ¿podrás resolver el caso, y salir con vida?

Why similar: Interactive Fiction 34.9%, Crime 30.7%, Text-Based 17.8%, Detective 15.9%, Singleplayer 0.6%

疫病神の依神女苑ちゃん。 女苑ちゃんが提示してくるお題に大急ぎで答えて 見返りも求めずに物品を貢ぎまくろう！！

Why similar: Interactive Fiction 43.2%, Comedy 30%, Text-Based 23.9%, Singleplayer 2.9%

"Xiangsheng Simulator" is a humorous and witty adventure that takes you into the unique world of Xiangsheng. As a Xiangsheng Penggen, you'll team up with your Dougen partner to deliver a performance filled with laughter.

Why similar: Interactive Fiction 39.2%, Text-Based 33.7%, Comedy 25.6%, Singleplayer 1.4%

Lacuna: Prologue tasks you – CDI agent Neil Conrad – with investigating the murder of a high-profile victim whose death could plunge the solar system into war. Solve the first in a series of cases that lead you ever deeper into the conspiracy at the core of this captivating 2D sci-fi noir adventure.

Why similar: Crime 27%, Interactive Fiction 26.4%, Text-Based 19.9%, Detective 18.9%, Adventure 7.9%

Your first case as a detective is forcing you to open your eyes to a world bigger than you thought. Or maybe it's better to keep them closed. Seems the supernatural didn’t get the memo that nothing exciting ever happens in the little town of Wayhaven.

Why similar: Text-Based 40.2%, Interactive Fiction 31.7%, Adventure 15.9%, Detective 12.1%

Profession Investigator is an immersive simulator with a text-based interface in which you have to deal with real criminal cases. The game uses materials from court archives and specialized literature.

Why similar: Interactive Fiction 30.5%, Detective 25.9%, Text-Based 24.6%, Adventure 18%, Singleplayer 0.9%

Ever wonder how heroes-in-training spend their time between epic confrontations with dastardly villains? Join the students at Speck Community College as they enjoy a tabletop roleplay game, investigate a legendary small-town monster, and endure the embarrassments of Parents’ Day.

Why similar: Interactive Fiction 36.7%, Text-Based 30.2%, Adventure 18.1%, Comedy 13.9%, Singleplayer 1.1%

Explore an abandoned movie theater and step inside five black-and-white films in this mystery text adventure that pays tribute to classic Hollywood B-Movies and combines the best elements of interactive fiction, visual novels, and gamebooks.

Why similar: Text-Based 42.4%, Interactive Fiction 33.8%, Adventure 22.2%, Singleplayer 1.6%

Discover a world where magic and science, chaos and order, are two sides of the same coin.

Why similar: Interactive Fiction 31.9%, Crime 27.1%, Text-Based 17.7%, Detective 16.6%, Adventure 6.7%

A novel-style mystery adventure game. Explore 2D top-down maps! Enjoy easy puzzles and comical text. Become the assistant to the lost detective Chiho-chan and help solve mysteries!

Why similar: Text-Based 37.1%, Detective 29.8%, Comedy 18.9%, Adventure 13.5%, Singleplayer 0.8%

Unravel the mysterious past of your parents and homeland while journeying through four unique lands in this exciting science-fantasy adventure!

Why similar: Text-Based 39.6%, Interactive Fiction 38.4%, Adventure 20.8%, Singleplayer 1.3%

NINA AQUILA is back for her brightest, boldest, most magical adventure yet!

Why similar: Crime 30.2%, Interactive Fiction 26.5%, Detective 21%, Comedy 11.6%, Adventure 8.9%

Follow amateur sleuth Marcella Moon to Ireland to investigate the disappearance of a famous writer.

Why similar: Interactive Fiction 28.5%, Detective 20.7%, Text-Based 20%, Crime 19.5%, Adventure 10.9%

The Baron's daughter is missing, and you are the man to find her. No problem. With your inexhaustible arsenal of hard-boiled similes, there is nothing you can't handle.

Why similar: Interactive Fiction 28.8%, Text-Based 26.8%, Crime 22.9%, Detective 12%, Adventure 8.1%

DETECTIVE The Motel is a deduction game where, to advance, you must take a pencil and a piece of paper and write down everything that seems like evidence in order to answer all the questions that arise. Solving the case will depend only on you.

Why similar: Crime 37.4%, Interactive Fiction 29.4%, Detective 24.9%, Adventure 7.8%, Singleplayer 0.5%

A detective noir puzzle deduction game. Explore a non-linear timeline as a clairvoyant investigator in 1941 Borneo. Jump between time and locations to uncover motives and discover what truly happened in the Goodwill tobacco plantation that fateful night on the eve of the WW2 Japanese invasion.

Why similar: Interactive Fiction 36.7%, Detective 27%, Text-Based 22%, Adventure 14.3%

Roadwarden is an illustrated text-based RPG that uses isometric pixel art and combines mechanics borrowed from RPGs, Visual Novels, adventure games and interactive fiction.

Why similar: Text-Based 50.2%, Interactive Fiction 31.5%, Adventure 11.7%, Detective 5.9%, Singleplayer 0.6%

Hoist the Jolly Roger and set sail to find the legendary Titan’s Treasure! Do you fight with a cutlass or with magic? Are you biding your time until you can shoot your captain in the back, or are you the reason the rum is gone?

Why similar: Interactive Fiction 47.1%, Text-Based 40%, Adventure 10.9%, Singleplayer 2%

Detective Red July must stop a serial killer who patterns his murders after optical illusions in this mystery visual novel set in the world of Methods.

Why similar: Interactive Fiction 29.9%, Text-Based 25.5%, Crime 25.2%, Detective 18.4%, Singleplayer 1%

Help solve a crime.

Why similar: Interactive Fiction 37.1%, Crime 31.4%, Detective 18.3%, Adventure 12.8%, Singleplayer 0.4%

A luxury cruise takes an unexpected turn when a passenger is gruesomely turned into fillet - and it's up to Detective Bass to deliver some justice in this short narrative-driven detective game!

Why similar: Crime 29%, Detective 25.1%, Comedy 19.7%, Interactive Fiction 17.4%, Adventure 7.5%

Gather evidence, interview suspects and send your case to trial. Have you got what it takes to be Tokyo's top detective?

Why similar: Crime 34%, Detective 29.5%, Interactive Fiction 24.5%, Adventure 12%

A sci-fi detective game where you interrogate the brain scans of crime victims. Uncover the hidden truth behind the dystopian regime by any means necessary.

Why similar: Interactive Fiction 43.3%, Detective 20.4%, Adventure 20%, Text-Based 15.4%, Singleplayer 0.8%

BEL/S is an Elemental Firewall: a fire elemental bound with C++ code to protect a network of people and places. She can learn things, develop relationships, and even gain sapience. Or she can burn everything with fire. It's up to you.

Why similar: Text-Based 45.3%, Interactive Fiction 34.2%, Adventure 18.9%, Singleplayer 1.5%

Help Tashia unravel the case of a heinous murder and find her cell phone in this point & click, mystery adventure based on Caribbean folklore!

Why similar: Interactive Fiction 30.2%, Crime 25.8%, Text-Based 21%, Detective 17.4%, Adventure 5.6%

You've spent years undercover, disguised as a human, infiltrating the city’s magical law-enforcement organization. They stole your magic from you. Can you steal it back? (A text-based interactive historical urban fantasy novel.)

Why similar: Interactive Fiction 42.4%, Text-Based 34.8%, Adventure 21.4%, Singleplayer 1.4%

Solve puzzles, enlist magic beans, eat soap, plan your escape, and confront the menacing mage who keeps you confined in his tower. Will you keep cracking jokes or learn from your mistakes? Your choices matter.

Why similar: Interactive Fiction 35.3%, Text-Based 31.7%, Comedy 21.7%, Adventure 10.4%, Singleplayer 0.9%

A narrative courtroom adventure all about VTubers! Players will take the role of prosecutor Justin Truth and investigate a murder at a VTuber agency, doing their best to uncover the identity of both the killer and VTuber's real face.

Why similar: Crime 29.7%, Detective 24.7%, Text-Based 17.5%, Comedy 16.9%, Adventure 9.4%

Extract yourself from another fine mess–this time, with your family watching! Mischief, mix-ups, and bewilderingly urgent capers at your ancestral estate.

Why similar: Interactive Fiction 48.8%, Text-Based 38.2%, Comedy 11.5%, Singleplayer 1.5%

"Old tradition VS Zombie = ???" The mismatched duo is tackling a bizarre case in the freezing midsummer of Shimofuri Village. A one-of-a-kind comedy-mystery adventure!

Why similar: Crime 30%, Detective 23.2%, Interactive Fiction 20%, Comedy 19.8%, Adventure 6.8%

As one of the surviving members of a wealthy family, navigate a treacherous web of lies, deceit, and suspicion to identify the killer and claim your inheritance. But with a killer on the loose, you must be careful not to become the next victim.

Why similar: Interactive Fiction 39.5%, Text-Based 32.9%, Crime 26.4%, Singleplayer 1.1%

No criminal has ever been a match for you, and everybody is looking forward to a description of your brilliant deductions. There is just one small problem. One tiny detail that makes it different this time. A mere trifle, really. This time you have no idea who did it.

Why similar: Interactive Fiction 32.2%, Text-Based 30.6%, Detective 19%, Adventure 9.5%, Comedy 8.7%

A narrative noir thriller set in Kyoto. Detective Thomas Bennett investigates the disappearance of a British agent, only to collide with the Yakuza, a shadowy conspiracy, and a truth that should never surface.

Why similar: Interactive Fiction 40.1%, Crime 22.2%, Adventure 19.1%, Detective 16.4%, Singleplayer 2.1%