- #1 AI: The Somnium Files
97% matchVery Positive92% of 9,207 reviews2019
Dev: Spike Chunsoft Co., Ltd.
Windows
Median: 4.6 hrsMean: 15.0 hrs≥1hr: 85%
Play as detective Kaname Date on the case of an elusive serial killer in this thrilling, sci-fi murder mystery.
Why similar: Visual Novel 34.7%, Mystery 20.3%, Detective 14.2%, Story Rich 10.6%, Great Soundtrack 5.5%
Why You'll Like It: This game features a complex, branching mystery with a quirky detective protagonist and a heavy focus on narrative-driven investigation.
- #2 Zero Escape: The Nonary Games
96% matchVery Positive93% of 7,129 reviews2017
Dev: Spike Chunsoft Co., Ltd.
Windows
Median: 6.4 hrsMean: 21.5 hrs≥1hr: 89%
Kidnapped and taken to an unfamiliar location, nine people find themselves forced to participate in a diabolical Nonary Game by an enigmatic mastermind called Zero. Why were they there? Why were they chosen to put their lives on the line? And more importantly, who can be trusted?
Why similar: Visual Novel 38.6%, Mystery 21.1%, Story Rich 12.3%, Choices Matter 8.7%, Great Soundtrack 7.7%
Why You'll Like It: It is the gold standard for branching visual novels that utilize time-loop mechanics and high-stakes choices to uncover a deep, interconnected mystery.
- #3 Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective
95% matchOverwhelmingly Positive98% of 8,077 reviews2023
Dev: CAPCOM Co., Ltd.
Windows
Median: 6.6 hrsMean: 8.3 hrs≥1hr: 84%
Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective, the classic puzzle-solving mystery adventure directed by Ace Attorney creator Shu Takumi, is back! This long-awaited HD remaster features upgraded visuals and sound and new gallery content.
Why similar: Mystery 27.8%, Visual Novel 20.4%, Detective 17.2%, Story Rich 13.6%, Great Soundtrack 9.9%
Why You'll Like It: This title shares the clever, puzzle-based mystery solving and distinct personality found in the best detective visual novels.
- #4 The 25th Ward: The Silver Case
96% matchVery Positive92% of 507 reviews2018
Dev: GRASSHOPPER MANUFACTURE INC.Pub: NIS America, Inc.
Windows · Mac · Linux
Median: 3.6 hrsMean: 9.8 hrs≥1hr: 85%
In the bayside area of Kanto, a murder with unknown motivations sets off a series of seemingly random events bringing together peculiar individuals, one of whom is detective Tokio Morishima. When their ambitions begin to collide, a truly shocking pattern emerges…
Why similar: Visual Novel 35.9%, Mystery 16.2%, Great Soundtrack 11.7%, Violent 11.1%, Adventure 10.5%
Why You'll Like It: Developed by Suda51, this game captures the surreal, gritty, and experimental atmosphere often found in Shibuya-set thrillers.
- #5 Late Shift
94% matchVery Positive86% of 9,157 reviews2017
Dev: CtrlMoviePub: Wales Interactive
Windows · Mac
Median: 4.1 hrsMean: 7.1 hrs≥1hr: 95%
Late Shift is a high stakes FMV crime thriller. Forced into a brutal London heist, your choices matter in this interactive cinematic experience with adaptable storylines that lead to one of seven conclusions. Your decisions are you.
Why similar: FMV 71% ★, Choices Matter 14.5%, Story Rich 8.2%, Adventure 4.3%, Violent 2%
Why You'll Like It: As a high-quality FMV game, it directly mirrors the live-action, choice-driven cinematic experience of the seed game.
- #6 Raging Loop
94% matchOverwhelmingly Positive96% of 10,075 reviews2017
Dev: KEMCO
Windows
Median: 24.2 hrsMean: 59.5 hrs≥1hr: 84%
The feast has begun, can you escape the village alive?
Why similar: Visual Novel 46.5%, Mystery 22.2%, Story Rich 9.9%, Detective 8.7%, Adventure 7.6%
Why You'll Like It: It utilizes a time-loop mechanic where choices lead to different paths and deaths, mirroring the high-stakes branching nature of the seed game.
- #7 Danganronpa: Trigger Happy Havoc
93% matchOverwhelmingly Positive96% of 36,871 reviews2016
Dev: Spike Chunsoft Co., Ltd.
Windows · Mac · Linux
Median: 8.0 hrsMean: 22.9 hrs≥1hr: 89%
Investigate murders, search for clues and talk to your classmates to prepare for trial. There, you'll engage in deadly wordplay, going back and forth with suspects. Dissect their statements and fire their words back at them to expose their lies! There's only one way to survive—pull the trigger.
Why similar: Visual Novel 35.2%, Mystery 21.9%, Detective 15.8%, Great Soundtrack 12.9%, Story Rich 9.8%
Why You'll Like It: This game offers a high-stakes, character-driven mystery where the ensemble cast and intense plot twists are central to the experience.
- #8 Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Trilogy
92% matchOverwhelmingly Positive98% of 43,374 reviews2019
Dev: CAPCOM Co., Ltd.
Windows
Median: 8.8 hrsMean: 26.5 hrs≥1hr: 90%
Become Phoenix Wright and experience the thrill of battle as you fight to save your innocent clients in a court of law. Play all 14 episodes, spanning the first three games, in one gorgeous collection.
Why similar: Visual Novel 32.8%, Mystery 18.9%, Detective 17.6%, Great Soundtrack 13.4%, Story Rich 10.5%
Why You'll Like It: It is a foundational detective visual novel that balances serious mystery with humorous character interactions and dramatic courtroom sequences.
- #9 The Great Ace Attorney Chronicles
91% matchVery Positive94% of 9,191 reviews2021
Dev: CAPCOM Co., Ltd.
Windows
Median: 11.2 hrsMean: 34.7 hrs≥1hr: 89%
Immerse yourself in a dramatic yet charming and witty world of evidence-gathering, deduction and courtroom battles with this double-pack of the adventures of rookie lawyer Ryunosuke.
Why similar: Visual Novel 37.1%, Mystery 20.7%, Detective 15.3%, Story Rich 9%, Adventure 8%
Why You'll Like It: This entry provides a deep, historical detective mystery with an exceptional cast and intricate plot threads that reward careful observation.
- #10 Her Story
91% matchVery Positive89% of 10,294 reviews2015
Dev: Sam Barlow
Windows · Mac
Median: 3.6 hrsMean: 4.2 hrs≥1hr: 87%
A woman is interviewed seven times by the police. Search the video database and explore hundreds of authentic clips to discover her story in this groundbreaking and award winning narrative game.
Why similar: FMV 48.9% ★, Visual Novel 27.8%, Detective 14.4%, Story Rich 8.9%
Why You'll Like It: This FMV-based detective game requires players to piece together a fragmented narrative, much like the investigative process in Shibuya Scramble.
- #11 CHAOS;CHILD
89% matchVery Positive93% of 3,899 reviews2019
Dev: MAGES. Inc.Pub: Spike Chunsoft Co., Ltd.
Windows
Median: 4.2 hrsMean: 81.0 hrs≥1hr: 82%
From the creators of the critically acclaimed STEINS;GATE comes a sensational new visual novel: CHAOS;CHILD. Set in Shibuya in 2015, a group of high school students who survived an earthquake six years ago find themselves at the center of a new series of bizarre murders in the city.
Why similar: Visual Novel 44.5%, Mystery 21.6%, Story Rich 10.3%, Great Soundtrack 9.8%, Violent 9.1%
Why You'll Like It: A dark, psychological thriller that excels in building a complex mystery around a group of students in a modern Japanese setting.
- #12 Master Detective Archives: RAIN CODE Plus
89% matchVery Positive81% of 2,086 reviews2024
Dev: Spike Chunsoft Co., Ltd.
Windows
Median: 12.6 hrsMean: 22.4 hrs≥1hr: 89%
Yuma, an amnesiac detective-in-training, and Shinigami, the spirit haunting him, tackle unsolved mysteries.
Why similar: Visual Novel 24.6%, Detective 22.2%, Mystery 22%, Adventure 16.7%, Story Rich 14.4%
Why You'll Like It: It combines supernatural mystery with a detective-focused narrative that keeps the player constantly guessing about the true nature of the events.
- #13 Telling Lies
90% matchMixed63% of 1,297 reviews2019
Dev: Sam BarlowPub: Annapurna Interactive
Windows · Mac
Median: 3.7 hrsMean: 5.3 hrs≥1hr: 83%
Four private lives. One big lie. Search through secretly recorded video conversations to discover the truth. The successor to the acclaimed Her Story.
Why similar: FMV 47.3% ★, Mystery 19.1%, Detective 13%, Story Rich 9.3%, Adventure 5.7%
Why You'll Like It: This FMV mystery game forces players to sift through video clips to uncover the truth, emphasizing the same non-linear investigative feel.
- #14 STEINS;GATE
88% matchOverwhelmingly Positive97% of 25,836 reviews2016
Dev: MAGES. Inc.Pub: Spike Chunsoft Co., Ltd.
Windows
Median: 6.5 hrsMean: 66.9 hrs≥1hr: 81%
Developed by 5pb. and Nitroplus, STEINS;GATE was awarded Famitsu magazine's coveted annual Game of Excellence award and was voted one of the most emotionally charged “tear-inducing games” ever made, in a Famitsu poll. It is a gripping and moving Visual Novel, which has already spawned manga and anime adaptations.
Why similar: Visual Novel 52.4%, Story Rich 15%, Great Soundtrack 14.2%, Mystery 9.3%, Choices Matter 5.9%
Why You'll Like It: Sharing the same developer DNA, this game excels at complex, multi-timeline storytelling where small choices have massive consequences.
- #15 Ace Attorney Investigations Collection
86% matchOverwhelmingly Positive97% of 4,457 reviews2024
Dev: CAPCOM Co., Ltd.
Windows
Median: 30.7 hrsMean: 34.5 hrs≥1hr: 86%
Miles Edgeworth's dramatic turnabouts take center stage! Experience both Ace Attorney Investigations games in one gorgeous collection! Investigate crime scenes and solve tough, intriguing cases through logic and deduction. When Edgeworth's past and present collide, his future begins!
Why similar: Visual Novel 32.6%, Mystery 22.5%, Detective 14.6%, Story Rich 10.6%, Adventure 9.4%
Why You'll Like It: This collection focuses heavily on the investigative side of the courtroom drama, providing a more direct detective experience.
- #16 Danganronpa V3: Killing Harmony
87% matchVery Positive83% of 22,376 reviews2017
Dev: Spike Chunsoft Co., Ltd.
Windows
Median: 9.2 hrsMean: 30.6 hrs≥1hr: 91%
A new cast of 16 characters find themselves kidnapped and imprisoned in a school. Inside, some will kill, some will die, and some will be punished. Reimagine what you thought high-stakes, fast-paced investigation was as you investigate twisted murder cases and condemn your new friends to death.
Why similar: Visual Novel 35.9%, Mystery 19.9%, Detective 16.8%, Great Soundtrack 12.3%, Story Rich 11.1%
Why You'll Like It: It pushes the series' mystery mechanics to their limit with an unpredictable plot and a cast of memorable, eccentric characters.
- #17 Tokyo Dark
86% matchVery Positive84% of 1,341 reviews2017
Dev: CherrymochiPub: Square Enix
Windows
Median: 4.5 hrsMean: 5.5 hrs≥1hr: 90%
Legend tells of a door deep below Tokyo's sewers. All who enter are lost forever. Detective Ito's partner is missing. Explore Tokyo & uncover the darkness that lays beneath the streets in this Point & Click - meets Visual Novel - narrative adventure that questions the very core of Ito's sanity.
Why similar: Visual Novel 36.5%, Mystery 18.9%, Detective 16.5%, Story Rich 7.5%, Choices Matter 6.3%
Why You'll Like It: This game features a branching narrative set in Tokyo where your choices directly impact the mental state of the protagonist and the outcome of the mystery.
- #18 Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney Trilogy
84% matchVery Positive88% of 4,237 reviews2024
Dev: CAPCOM Co., Ltd.
Windows
Median: 35.6 hrsMean: 54.6 hrs≥1hr: 86%
Join rookie attorney Apollo Justice and his mentor, the legendary Phoenix Wright, in this collection of 3 games! This title features 16 episodes (including previously DLC-only episodes) and supports English, French, German, Japanese Korean, and Traditional and Simplified Chinese.
Why similar: Visual Novel 39.5%, Mystery 18.2%, Detective 15.6%, Adventure 9.7%, Story Rich 8.7%
Why You'll Like It: It continues the tradition of high-stakes detective work with new mechanics and a fresh perspective on the series' core mystery elements.
- #19 Your Turn To Die -Death Game By Majority-
83% matchOverwhelmingly Positive98% of 4,059 reviews2023
Dev: NankidaiPub: 0UP GAMES
Windows
Median: 6.4 hrsMean: 13.8 hrs≥1hr: 81%
Your Turn To Die -Death Game By Majority- is a multi-ending horror adventure game. Sara Chidouin returns home from school late one night to discover that something's gone terribly wrong. When she comes to, she finds herself, her friend Joe, and 9 other people trapped in a mysterious place.
Why similar: Mystery 58.8%, Story Rich 24.3%, Adventure 16.9%
Why You'll Like It: This game features intense, life-or-death decision-making and a large cast of characters, capturing the tension of a high-stakes mystery.
- #20 神都不良探 Underdog Detective
84% matchMostly Positive73% of 2,849 reviews2022
Dev: 天津芸芸科技有限公司
Windows · Mac
Median: 5.5 hrsMean: 8.1 hrs≥1hr: 85%
Underdog Detective is a video-based playable, interactive story Set in the reign of Empress Wu Zetian of ancient China, you will play as a slum dweller in the imperial capital of Luoyang and embark on a thrilling yet comedic adventure! Traps and conspiracies, comradery and your unknown origin...
Why similar: FMV 42.9% ★, Visual Novel 21.5%, Mystery 15.9%, Story Rich 8.8%, Choices Matter 7.4%
Why You'll Like It: This FMV game blends historical settings with modern detective mechanics, offering a unique cinematic experience similar to Shibuya Scramble.
- #21 Root Double -Before Crime * After Days- Xtend Edition
85% matchVery Positive90% of 598 reviews2016
Dev: YetiPub: Sekai Project
Windows
Median: 8.9 hrsMean: 14.3 hrs≥1hr: 94%
Rescue squad captain Watase Kasasagi wakes up without his memories in the middle of his most critical mission yet-- a nuclear meltdown at a research facility. In an unfamiliar place and without his years of training, he must rescue the survivors and escape...
Why similar: Visual Novel 51.8%, Mystery 17.3%, Story Rich 11.2%, Adventure 6%, Violent 5.4%
Why You'll Like It: This game features a complex, multi-perspective narrative where the 'Senses Sympathy System' dictates how you interact with the story.
- #22 Return of the Obra Dinn
82% matchOverwhelmingly Positive97% of 33,856 reviews2018
Dev: Lucas PopePub: 3909
Windows · Mac
Median: 6.7 hrsMean: 8.4 hrs≥1hr: 81%
Lost at sea 1803 ~ The good ship Obra Dinn.
Why similar: Mystery 37.5%, Detective 29%, Story Rich 13.7%, Great Soundtrack 12%, Violent 4.3%
Why You'll Like It: This game is a pure exercise in deduction and mystery, requiring players to piece together a complex timeline of events through observation.
- #23 Disco Elysium - The Final Cut
82% matchVery Positive93% of 126,799 reviews2019
Dev: ZA/UM
Windows · Mac
Median: 7.3 hrsMean: 22.5 hrs≥1hr: 85%
Disco Elysium - The Final Cut is a groundbreaking role playing game. You’re a detective with a unique skill system at your disposal and a whole city to carve your path across. Interrogate unforgettable characters, crack murders or take bribes. Become a hero or an absolute disaster of a human being.
Why similar: Visual Novel 25.6%, Detective 24.3%, Story Rich 22.7%, Choices Matter 17.6%, Adventure 5.4%
Why You'll Like It: While more of an RPG, its deep, text-heavy detective narrative and focus on character-driven choices make it a perfect match for fans of complex stories.
- #24 ROBOTICS;NOTES ELITE
81% matchVery Positive90% of 669 reviews2020
Dev: MAGES. Inc.Pub: Spike Chunsoft Co., Ltd.
Windows
Median: 6.6 hrsMean: 38.2 hrs≥1hr: 68%
Thanks to the rising popularity of the PhoneDroid—a device which features augmented reality (A.R.)—the age of advanced technology has finally reached Tanegashima. On that island, Central Tanegashima High's "Robot Research Club" is about to have their club disbanded.
Why similar: Visual Novel 46.3%, Mystery 16.7%, Adventure 14.4%, Great Soundtrack 12.2%, Story Rich 10.3%
Why You'll Like It: It offers a grounded, character-focused adventure that slowly builds into a much larger, global mystery.
- #25 Higurashi When They Cry Hou - Ch.1 Onikakushi
81% matchOverwhelmingly Positive96% of 6,381 reviews2015
Dev: 07th ExpansionPub: MangaGamer
Windows · Mac · Linux
Median: 4.0 hrsMean: 21.7 hrs≥1hr: 85%
Higurashi When They Cry is a sound novel. The music, backgrounds and characters work together to create a world that is the stage of a novel for the user to read. They laugh and cry and get angry. The user takes the point of view of the protagonist to experience the story.
Why similar: Visual Novel 50.4%, Mystery 25.7%, Story Rich 11%, Great Soundtrack 7.2%, Adventure 3.5%
Why You'll Like It: This game is a masterclass in building psychological dread and mystery within a seemingly normal, small-town setting.
- #26 G-senjou no Maou - The Devil on G-String
79% matchVery Positive92% of 750 reviews2015
Dev: AKABEiSOFT2Pub: Sekai Project
Windows
Median: 4.5 hrsMean: 37.1 hrs≥1hr: 90%
You play as Azai Kyousuke, the son of an infamous gangster. Kyousuke knows what he likes and lets nothing stand in his way in getting what he wants. Referred to as God by his classmates, he often enjoys listening to Bach and "working" part time for his stepfather.
Why similar: Visual Novel 50.4%, Mystery 18.4%, Story Rich 11.7%, Great Soundtrack 7.9%, Adventure 4.9%
Why You'll Like It: A high-tension thriller that blends mystery, crime, and psychological drama with a strong, branching narrative.
- #27 PSYCHO-PASS: Mandatory Happiness
80% matchMostly Positive79% of 178 reviews2017
Dev: MAGES. Inc.Pub: NIS America, Inc.
Windows
Median: 4.8 hrsMean: 7.9 hrs≥1hr: 87%
In a world where psychological states can be quantified, every choice has consequences, victims can become criminals, and the very nature of truth can warp and shift. Can detectives Nadeshiko Kugatachi and Takuma Tsurugi remain on the path of justice as they face the ugly truths of humanity?
Why similar: Visual Novel 72%, Adventure 16.6%, Detective 11.4%
Why You'll Like It: Set in a cyberpunk future, this visual novel focuses on moral choices and the consequences of justice in a high-tech society.
- #28 Aviary Attorney
78% matchVery Positive95% of 2,262 reviews2015
Dev: Sketchy Logic
Windows · Mac
Median: 3.7 hrsMean: 4.5 hrs≥1hr: 89%
The hottest bird lawyering game to come out of 1840s France! Join Jayjay Falcon and his witty apprentice, Sparrowson, as the two take on clients, interview witnesses, collect evidence, and deliver justice to the guilty.
Why similar: Visual Novel 40.1%, Mystery 18.2%, Detective 16.1%, Story Rich 9.1%, Adventure 7.5%
Why You'll Like It: While whimsical in its presentation, it provides a solid, classic detective mystery experience that rewards clever thinking.
- #29 The Infectious Madness of Doctor Dekker
79% matchVery Positive83% of 601 reviews2017
Dev: D'Avekki Studios Ltd
Windows · Mac · Linux
Median: 4.2 hrsMean: 7.3 hrs≥1hr: 91%
YOU are a psychiatrist, trying to solve a murder whilst treating the unusual patients of the recently deceased Doctor Dekker. Type a question - patients reply in full screen video and have questions for you too but be careful what you say. Your words determine their eventual fates, and your own!
Why similar: FMV 44.6% ★, Mystery 15.3%, Visual Novel 11.8%, Detective 11.2%, Story Rich 8.4%
Why You'll Like It: An FMV-based mystery game where you interview patients to solve a crime, emphasizing the investigative and cinematic feel of the seed game.
- #30 Lucid9: Inciting Incident
78% matchVery Positive90% of 1,040 reviews2016
Dev: Fallen Snow Studios
Windows · Mac · Linux
Median: 1.8 hrsMean: 12.1 hrs≥1hr: 71%
Lucid9 is a visual novel focused on a web of intricate mysteries set in the fictional 2018 metropolis of Isamu. Lucid9: Inciting Incident is the first part of the story, focused on a string of disappearances that occur at a prestigious, uppity boarding academy.
Why similar: Visual Novel 52.4%, Mystery 24.2%, Story Rich 10.4%, Great Soundtrack 4.4%, Violent 4.4%
Why You'll Like It: A well-regarded mystery visual novel that focuses on character relationships and the unraveling of a dark, hidden truth.
- #31 CHAOS;HEAD NOAH
76% matchVery Positive88% of 1,810 reviews2022
Dev: MAGES. Inc.Pub: Spike Chunsoft Co., Ltd.
Windows
Median: 4.4 hrsMean: 52.6 hrs≥1hr: 83%
CHAOS;HEAD NOAH is now available on Steam!
Why similar: Visual Novel 47.8%, Mystery 21.2%, Story Rich 11.8%, Violent 6.6%, Adventure 6.2%
- #32 Adabana Odd Tales
76% matchOverwhelmingly Positive96% of 1,043 reviews2020
Dev: Liar-softPub: ANIPLEX.EXE
Windows
Median: 4.1 hrsMean: 52.2 hrs≥1hr: 85%
"This is a tale of 'flowers' that never bloom." Shirohime, a girl who has lost her memory, and Kurofude, a mysterious boy, traverse through classic Japanese fairy tales within the land of Adabana, a realm of illustrated books. What awaits them after they mend the distorted tales?
Why similar: Visual Novel 47.7%, Adventure 21.6%, Story Rich 16.7%, Great Soundtrack 13.9%
- #33 Persona 4 Golden
74% matchOverwhelmingly Positive97% of 84,776 reviews2020
Dev: ATLUSPub: SEGA
Windows
Median: 12.9 hrsMean: 45.0 hrs≥1hr: 90%
A coming of age story that sets the protagonist and his friends on a journey kickstarted by a chain of serial murders.
Why similar: Great Soundtrack 28.1%, Mystery 23.4%, Story Rich 18.2%, Visual Novel 11.8%, Detective 11.4%
- #34 Root Letter Last Answer
77% matchVery Positive84% of 180 reviews2019
Dev: DRAGAMI GAMES, LTD.
Windows
Median: 4.7 hrsMean: 9.6 hrs≥1hr: 92%
A mystery adventure which is solved by using two visual features: Live Action and Illustrations.
Why similar: Visual Novel 37.3%, Adventure 23.1%, Mystery 22.5%, Detective 17.1%
- #35 Zero Escape: Zero Time Dilemma
77% matchVery Positive82% of 4,789 reviews2016
Dev: Spike Chunsoft Co., Ltd.
Windows
Median: 4.6 hrsMean: 11.4 hrs≥1hr: 90%
Nine participants awaken, trapped in an underground facility. To escape, they must play a game with deadly consequences. Who will live, and who will die? The choice is yours. Let the Decision Game begin…
Why similar: Visual Novel 40.1%, Mystery 23.2%, Story Rich 13%, Choices Matter 9.5%, Great Soundtrack 8.4%
- #36 Danganronpa 2: Goodbye Despair
75% matchOverwhelmingly Positive96% of 31,308 reviews2016
Dev: Spike Chunsoft Co., Ltd.
Windows · Mac · Linux
Median: 10.7 hrsMean: 32.7 hrs≥1hr: 91%
Jabberwock Island—You and your classmates were ready for fun in the sun until Monokuma returned to restart his murderous game! Trapped in a kill-or-be-killed situation, your only hope rests in solving the island’s mysteries.
Why similar: Visual Novel 33.6%, Mystery 20.5%, Detective 17.8%, Great Soundtrack 13.2%, Story Rich 10.6%
- #37 AI: THE SOMNIUM FILES - nirvanA Initiative
73% matchVery Positive86% of 3,657 reviews2022
Dev: Spike Chunsoft Co., Ltd.
Windows
Median: 5.5 hrsMean: 16.2 hrs≥1hr: 91%
Special Agents Mizuki and Ryuki, along with their AI partners Aiba and Tama, are tasked to solve the bizarre Half Body serial killings in this sequel to the critically acclaimed AI: THE SOMNIUM FILES.
Why similar: Visual Novel 42.9%, Mystery 29%, Detective 18.9%, Adventure 9.2%
- #38 Ghostwire: Tokyo - Prelude
75% matchMixed62% of 450 reviews2022
Dev: Tango GameworksPub: Bethesda Softworks
Windows
Median: 36 minMean: 6.5 hrs≥1hr: 28%
Join KK and his gang of supernatural detectives as they investigate a strange disappearance, only to stumble upon something more sinister. Build relationships with your team and piece together their stories.
Why similar: Visual Novel 51.6%, Mystery 27.4%, Story Rich 12.6%, Adventure 8.4%
- #39 Higurashi When They Cry Hou - Ch.4 Himatsubushi
74% matchOverwhelmingly Positive97% of 899 reviews2016
Dev: 07th ExpansionPub: MangaGamer
Windows · Mac · Linux
Median: 4.2 hrsMean: 20.9 hrs≥1hr: 91%
Higurashi When They Cry is a sound novel. The music, backgrounds and characters work together to create a world that is the stage of a novel for the user to read. They laugh and cry and get angry. The user takes the point of view of the protagonist to experience the story.
Why similar: Visual Novel 39.9%, Mystery 20.8%, Great Soundtrack 12.9%, Story Rich 10.6%, Violent 10.2%
- #40 STEINS;GATE ELITE
73% matchVery Positive90% of 1,651 reviews2019
Dev: MAGES. Inc.Pub: Spike Chunsoft Co., Ltd.
Windows
Median: 4.0 hrsMean: 273.2 hrs≥1hr: 66%
STEINS;GATE ELITE follows a rag-tag band of tech-savvy young students who discover the means of changing the past via e-mail using a modified microwave.
Why similar: Visual Novel 60.9%, Story Rich 12.3%, Great Soundtrack 10.3%, Adventure 6.4%, Violent 5.6%
- #41 The Centennial Case : A Shijima Story
73% matchMostly Positive80% of 1,112 reviews2022
Dev: Square Enix
Windows
Median: 8.2 hrsMean: 15.3 hrs≥1hr: 84%
Unravel the mysteries of death, and find the answers to life.A unique Mystery-Adventure Game:The Centennial Case: A Shijima Story
Why similar: FMV 57.2% ★, Mystery 15.3%, Detective 6.9%, Story Rich 6.5%, Choices Matter 5.6%
- #42 Urban Myth Dissolution Center
69% matchVery Positive88% of 5,930 reviews2025
Dev: HakababunkoPub: SHUEISHA GAMES
Windows
Median: 8.0 hrsMean: 9.9 hrs≥1hr: 84%
Join forces with the psychic Director of the Urban Myth Dissolution Center and solve a variety of cases involving cursed relics, rental properties with shady histories, and dimensional anomalies. Monstrous oddities and otherworldly planes abound in this occult mystery adventure game!
Why similar: Visual Novel 42.3%, Mystery 23.7%, Story Rich 11.7%, Detective 11.2%, Adventure 8.3%
- #43 SHINJUKU SOUMEI
72% matchVery Positive81% of 95 reviews2024
Dev: G-MODE
Windows
Through the eyes of Torao, explore a story that raises profound questions about the value of life. Questions that speak to those living in modern times, those in the city, and for all of us.
Why similar: Visual Novel 62.8%, Adventure 21.5%, Choices Matter 10.6%, Story Rich 5.1%
- #44 Tangle Tower
71% matchOverwhelmingly Positive95% of 6,076 reviews2019
Dev: SFB Games
Windows · Mac
Median: 5.5 hrsMean: 6.7 hrs≥1hr: 89%
Unravel a thrilling mystery by exploring a strange and twisted mansion, discovering curious clues, interrogating peculiar suspects and solving unique puzzles. Will you be able to uncover the secrets of Tangle Tower?
Why similar: Visual Novel 31.4%, Detective 21.4%, Mystery 19.5%, Story Rich 10.9%, Great Soundtrack 6%
- #45 ANONYMOUS;CODE
71% matchMostly Positive79% of 525 reviews2023
Dev: MAGES. Inc.Pub: Spike Chunsoft Co., Ltd.
Windows
Median: 6.2 hrsMean: 13.0 hrs≥1hr: 87%
Hack Into God
Why similar: Visual Novel 57.7%, Adventure 18.8%, Story Rich 13.3%, Choices Matter 10.2%
- #46 Death Come True
72% matchMostly Positive77% of 950 reviews2020
Dev: IzanagiGames
Windows
Median: 2.7 hrsMean: 3.0 hrs≥1hr: 84%
Everything rides on your choices in this new wave interactive movie game. Experience a thrilling science fiction mystery in full-length live-action format—from genius creator of the "Danganronpa" series, Kazutaka Kodaka!
Why similar: FMV 44.1% ★, Visual Novel 23.1%, Mystery 15%, Choices Matter 5.9%, Adventure 5.6%
- #47 Paradise Killer
70% matchVery Positive93% of 4,418 reviews2020
Dev: Kaizen Game WorksPub: Fellow Traveller
Windows
Median: 5.0 hrsMean: 7.3 hrs≥1hr: 86%
Paradise Island, a world outside reality. There’s been a murder that only "investigation freak" Lady Love Dies can solve. Gather evidence and interrogate suspects in this open world adventure. You can accuse anyone, but you’ll have to prove your case in trial. It’s up to you to decide who’s guilty.
Why similar: Mystery 34.7%, Detective 25.5%, Story Rich 19.3%, Choices Matter 15.5%, Great Soundtrack 3.6%
- #48 BUSTAFELLOWS
71% matchVery Positive86% of 1,017 reviews2021
Dev: NIPPON CULTURAL BROADCASTING EXTEND INC.Pub: PQube
Windows
Median: 2.4 hrsMean: 14.5 hrs≥1hr: 60%
A new visual novel from the legendary eXtend! Mixing dangerous romance with murder mystery, BUSTAFELLOWS is a steamy noir mystery that will make you shiver but ask for more!
Why similar: Visual Novel 55.1%, Story Rich 18.9%, Choices Matter 14.6%, Adventure 11.4%
- #49 The Red Strings Club
69% matchVery Positive94% of 13,919 reviews2018
Dev: DeconstructeamPub: Devolver Digital
Windows · Mac · Linux
Median: 3.7 hrsMean: 5.0 hrs≥1hr: 84%
The Red Strings Club is a cyberpunk narrative experience about fate and happiness featuring the extensive use of pottery, bartending and impersonating people on the phone to take down a corporate conspiracy.
Why similar: Visual Novel 24.8%, Great Soundtrack 24%, Story Rich 23.3%, Choices Matter 16.6%, Adventure 7.6%
- #50 STEINS;GATE: My Darling's Embrace
69% matchOverwhelmingly Positive95% of 1,820 reviews2019
Dev: MAGES. Inc.Pub: Spike Chunsoft Co., Ltd.
Windows
Median: 4.2 hrsMean: 12.8 hrs≥1hr: 89%
Fall in love with the lab members all over again in this sweet and slapstick romantic comedy!
Why similar: Visual Novel 74.2%, Adventure 12.7%, Funny 8.3%, Story Rich 4.9%
- #51 No Sleep For Kaname Date - From AI: THE SOMNIUM FILES
67% matchVery Positive82% of 874 reviews2025
Dev: Spike Chunsoft Co., Ltd.
Windows
Median: 12.9 hrsMean: 13.5 hrs≥1hr: 89%
Iris has been abducted by aliens?! Finding herself on board a mysterious UFO and tasked with completing a bizarre escape game, Iris knows there's one person who she can always count on for help: Kaname Date, Psyncer!
Why similar: Visual Novel 50.2%, Mystery 22.7%, Detective 14.2%, Adventure 12.9%
- #52 Return to Shironagasu Island
68% matchVery Positive94% of 4,067 reviews2020
Dev: HYOGO ONIMUSHIPub: TABINOMICHI
Windows
Median: 5.6 hrsMean: 14.1 hrs≥1hr: 92%
A mystery adventure game and visual novel set on solitary Shironagasu Island. Discover its secrets, solve its mysteries, and escape from the ominous island!
Why similar: Visual Novel 42.2%, Mystery 24.3%, Adventure 12.9%, Detective 9.1%, Story Rich 6.4%
- #53 Promise Mascot Agency
65% matchOverwhelmingly Positive96% of 2,568 reviews2025
Dev: Kaizen Game Works
Windows
Median: 13.9 hrsMean: 14.5 hrs≥1hr: 89%
Explore a cursed Japanese town! Recruit mascot friends and come to the rescue when disaster strikes! Solve the mystery of your exile! Help a living finger work through her many anger issues! Turn Promise Mascot Agency into the best agency in Japan in this open-world narrative adventure!
Why similar: Visual Novel 52.5%, Story Rich 24.2%, Adventure 13.3%, Funny 10%
- #54 12 Hours to Die
70% matchMostly Positive73% of 226 reviews2020
Dev: Wesley ReitsmaPub: Westeford
Windows · Mac · Linux
A mystery visual novel about six students forced to play a 12-hour long killing game.
Why similar: Visual Novel 44.1%, Mystery 22.2%, Detective 17.1%, Adventure 8.2%, Violent 5.4%
- #55 Staffer Case: A Supernatural Mystery Adventure
66% matchVery Positive94% of 4,035 reviews2023
Dev: Team Tetrapod
Windows · Mac
Median: 7.5 hrsMean: 8.7 hrs≥1hr: 91%
Staffer Case is a new sort of mystery game, asking players to find clues, arrange them into documents, and point out the contradictions between them to solve a series of murders. Each mystery unraveled leads you closer to the truth lying at the heart of each case!
Why similar: Visual Novel 32.5%, Mystery 23.6%, Detective 21%, Story Rich 12.6%, Adventure 6.5%
- #56 STEINS;GATE 0
67% matchOverwhelmingly Positive96% of 8,091 reviews2018
Dev: MAGES. Inc.Pub: Spike Chunsoft Co., Ltd.
Windows
Median: 4.7 hrsMean: 125.7 hrs≥1hr: 88%
If you can't save the one you love… How can you save humanity? Sequel to the visual novel cult classic. Experience an alternate worldline of STEINS;GATE.
Why similar: Visual Novel 51.2%, Story Rich 16.6%, Great Soundtrack 15.5%, Adventure 5.5%, Mystery 5%
- #57 Major\Minor
70% matchMostly Positive77% of 591 reviews2016
Dev: Klace
Windows · Mac · Linux
Median: 4.3 hrsMean: 9.2 hrs≥1hr: 85%
A highly engaging visual novel, with memorable characters and multiple endings. Traverse worlds, solve a murder mystery -- and partake in political revolution. Inspired by greats such as Steins;Gate, Tales of Symphonia, Persona 4 and Future Diary. An unforgettable science-fiction/fantasy adventure!
Why similar: Visual Novel 70.4%, Story Rich 13.4%, Adventure 8.5%, Choices Matter 7.7%
- #58 Yakuza 5 Remastered
66% matchVery Positive89% of 7,171 reviews2021
Dev: Ryu Ga Gotoku StudioPub: SEGA
Windows
Median: 27.3 hrsMean: 42.0 hrs≥1hr: 96%
Get ready for a Yakuza experience of unprecedented scale! Follow five characters across five Japanese cities, each trying to achieve their dream. The connections between them bring them together, but the conflict that unfolds is nothing any of them could have predicted.
Why similar: Adventure 26%, Story Rich 24.4%, Great Soundtrack 21.4%, Violent 18.7%, Funny 9.5%
- #59 Yakuza 4 Remastered
66% matchVery Positive91% of 7,269 reviews2021
Dev: Ryu Ga Gotoku StudioPub: SEGA
Windows
Median: 5.7 hrsMean: 21.2 hrs≥1hr: 96%
When a dark secret brings a loan shark, a death-row inmate, a corrupt cop and the legendary yakuza Kazuma Kiryu together the resulting war in Kamurocho might level the district to the ground.
Why similar: Adventure 28.8%, Story Rich 23%, Violent 20.9%, Great Soundtrack 19.1%, Funny 8.2%
- #60 The Silver Case
68% matchVery Positive89% of 1,129 reviews2016
Dev: GRASSHOPPER MANUFACTURE INC.
Windows · Mac · Linux
Median: 4.4 hrsMean: 8.6 hrs≥1hr: 85%
The Silver Case – the debut title from world-renowned developer SUDA51 has been fully remastered and localized to English for the first time ever!
Why similar: Visual Novel 34.4%, Mystery 24.3%, Detective 15.7%, Story Rich 11.6%, Adventure 8.4%
