- #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: Detective 30.4%, Visual Novel 22%, Mystery 18.6%, Anime 16.1%, Sci-fi 8.7%
Why You'll Like It: The direct predecessor that establishes the core mechanics, humor, and emotional depth of the series.
- #2 Master Detective Archives: RAIN CODE Plus
96% 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: Detective 37.9%, Anime 19.2%, Mystery 16%, Visual Novel 12.4%, Adventure 10.4%
Why You'll Like It: A collaboration between the creators of AI and Danganronpa that perfectly captures the surreal investigation style.
- #3 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 32.7%, Mystery 25.8%, Anime 14.3%, Detective 12.5%, Sci-fi 10.3%
Why You'll Like It: Written by the same creator, this series features the same signature mind-bending sci-fi mysteries and branching narrative paths.
- #4 428: Shibuya Scramble
95% matchVery Positive95% of 3,747 reviews2018
Dev: Spike Chunsoft Co., Ltd.
Windows
Median: 4.4 hrsMean: 12.1 hrs≥1hr: 83%
A kidnapping on the streets of Shibuya brings together a hot-blooded detective, hard-hitting journalist, former gang leader, the head researcher of a big pharma manufacturer and a part-timer stuck in cat costume for a series of events each more unexpected and outrageous than the last.
Why similar: Visual Novel 42.9%, Mystery 29%, Detective 18.9%, Adventure 9.2%
Why You'll Like It: A pinnacle of the branching narrative genre, featuring multiple perspectives that weave together into a complex mystery.
- #5 Danganronpa 2: Goodbye Despair
94% 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: Detective 38.1%, Visual Novel 21.3%, Anime 19.4%, Mystery 18.7%, Adventure 2.4%
Why You'll Like It: A masterfully crafted mystery game that expands on the series' core themes of hope, despair, and investigation.
- #6 GNOSIA
94% matchVery Positive94% of 4,865 reviews2022
Dev: Petit DepottoPub: PLAYISM
Windows
Median: 7.3 hrsMean: 15.4 hrs≥1hr: 90%
The Gnosia lie. Pretending to be human, they’ll get in close, trick and deceive, and then eliminate one victim at a time...
Why similar: Detective 23.7%, Visual Novel 21.6%, Mystery 18.2%, Anime 16.3%, Sci-fi 15.4%
Why You'll Like It: A brilliant sci-fi mystery that utilizes time loops and social deduction to create an addictive, character-driven experience.
- #7 Ace Attorney Investigations Collection
92% 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: Investigation 22.4%, Detective 21.1%, Crime 16.6%, Visual Novel 14%, Mystery 13.9%
Why You'll Like It: Focuses heavily on the detective work and crime scene investigation aspects that fans of the series will appreciate.
- #8 Danganronpa V3: Killing Harmony
93% 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: Detective 37.7%, Visual Novel 23.8%, Mystery 19%, Anime 17.4%, Adventure 2.1%
Why You'll Like It: The definitive high-stakes mystery visual novel with a focus on logic, deduction, and shocking plot twists.
- #9 Danganronpa: Trigger Happy Havoc
91% 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: Detective 34.8%, Visual Novel 23%, Mystery 20.7%, Anime 19.1%, Adventure 2.4%
Why You'll Like It: The foundational title of the series that set the standard for the 'death game' mystery genre.
- #10 PARANORMASIGHT: The Seven Mysteries of Honjo
91% matchOverwhelmingly Positive96% of 6,838 reviews2023
Dev: Square Enix
Windows
Median: 8.7 hrsMean: 10.2 hrs≥1hr: 87%
How far would you go to bring someone back from the dead? Discover the depths that some will go to in this horror-adventure game.
Why similar: Visual Novel 34.2%, Mystery 26%, Anime 24.9%, Adventure 8.9%, Choose Your Own Adventure 6%
Why You'll Like It: A supernatural investigation game that uses a unique visual style and clever narrative twists to keep players guessing.
- #11 The Great Ace Attorney Chronicles
90% 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: Detective 29.6%, Visual Novel 21.3%, Mystery 17.2%, Anime 14.7%, Adventure 5.6%
Why You'll Like It: A polished historical mystery series that emphasizes deduction and courtroom drama with a charming cast.
- #12 Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney Trilogy
89% 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: Detective 22.6%, Investigation 16.9%, Visual Novel 16.9%, Crime 12.2%, Mystery 11.2%
Why You'll Like It: Offers a compelling mix of investigation and legal drama with a strong focus on character growth.
- #13 Your Turn To Die -Death Game By Majority-
89% 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 32.3%, Interactive Fiction 23.9%, Anime 22.7%, Choose Your Own Adventure 13.1%, Adventure 7.9%
Why You'll Like It: A high-stakes death game that focuses on intense character dynamics and difficult moral choices.
- #14 Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective
87% 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: Detective 39.9%, Mystery 27.5%, Visual Novel 14%, Anime 10.7%, Adventure 8%
Why You'll Like It: A unique investigation game where you solve your own murder using supernatural puzzle-solving mechanics.
- #15 STEINS;GATE 0
88% 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 36.6%, Anime 23.1%, Sci-fi 17.9%, Artificial Intelligence 12.4%, Mystery 5.2%
Why You'll Like It: A deep sci-fi thriller that explores time travel and its consequences through a highly emotional lens.
- #16 CHAOS;CHILD
86% 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 37.1%, Mystery 25.9%, Anime 20.1%, Sci-fi 12%, Adventure 4.8%
Why You'll Like It: A dark, psychological mystery that blends supernatural elements with a gritty, modern-day detective story.
- #17 The Silver Case
86% 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: Detective 20%, Investigation 18.8%, Crime 17.6%, Mystery 13.2%, Visual Novel 13%
Why You'll Like It: A cult-classic noir detective mystery known for its surreal atmosphere and experimental storytelling.
- #18 Murder by Numbers
85% matchVery Positive84% of 1,662 reviews2020
Dev: MediatonicPub: The Irregular Corporation
Windows
Median: 4.5 hrsMean: 12.7 hrs≥1hr: 92%
Solve Pixel Puzzles to find clues. Use those clues to interrogate witnesses. Work your way to the truth... ...and uncover the mystery of Murder by Numbers!
Why similar: Detective 17.4%, Investigation 16.3%, Conspiracy 11.6% ★, Visual Novel 11.4%, Crime 11.3%
Why You'll Like It: Combines detective investigation with logic-based puzzle mechanics for a lighthearted yet engaging mystery.
- #19 The Sekimeiya: Spun Glass
84% matchVery Positive87% of 288 reviews2021
Dev: Trinitite Team
Windows · Mac · Linux
An intricate mystery visual novel. Search text, piece together clues, and jump around the story to unravel the tangled events within the sealed tower.
Why similar: Detective 24%, Investigation 16.5%, Mystery 15.6%, Visual Novel 15.1%, Anime 10.7%
Why You'll Like It: An intricate mystery that uses sci-fi concepts to create a challenging and rewarding deductive experience.
- #20 ROBOTICS;NOTES ELITE
82% 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 29.4%, Mystery 15.3%, Conspiracy 15.1% ★, Sci-fi 15.1%, Anime 13.9%
Why You'll Like It: A sci-fi mystery that balances character-driven drama with an intriguing, slow-burn investigation.
- #21 Return to Shironagasu Island
82% 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 27.9%, Mystery 23.2%, Detective 20.4%, Anime 12.6%, Adventure 10.5%
Why You'll Like It: A classic-style mystery adventure with a strong atmosphere and a focus on uncovering hidden truths.
- #22 Root Double -Before Crime * After Days- Xtend Edition
83% 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 40.6%, Anime 21.7%, Mystery 19.6%, Sci-fi 12.5%, Adventure 5.7%
Why You'll Like It: A complex sci-fi mystery featuring a unique 'Senses Sympathy System' that influences the branching narrative.
- #23 PSYCHO-PASS: Mandatory Happiness
84% 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 34.9%, Anime 29.7%, Detective 18.7%, Adventure 9.8%, Sci-fi 7%
Why You'll Like It: A cyberpunk mystery that explores philosophical themes and moral ambiguity in a futuristic society.
- #24 BURIED STARS
81% matchVery Positive84% of 2,174 reviews2021
Dev: LINE Games Corporation
Windows
Median: 5.5 hrsMean: 9.6 hrs≥1hr: 90%
A mystery adventure set at the collapse site of a live survival audition show. Trapped contestants communicate with each other—and the outside world through social media—as they wait for rescue. But as unexpected events unfold, trust begins to crack, and survival becomes far more complicated.
Why similar: Conspiracy 21.5% ★, Investigation 17.8%, Visual Novel 14.3%, Mystery 13.8%, Interactive Fiction 10.4%
Why You'll Like It: A modern mystery set in a survival situation that uses social media and character relationships to drive the investigation.
- #25 Urban Myth Dissolution Center
79% 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 29.7%, Detective 26.4%, Mystery 23.9%, Anime 8.7%, Adventure 7.2%
Why You'll Like It: Features a unique investigation-focused gameplay loop centered around solving supernatural urban legends.
- #26 ANONYMOUS;CODE
81% 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 32.7%, Investigation 31.3%, Anime 22.8%, Adventure 13.1%
Why You'll Like It: A high-concept sci-fi mystery involving hacking and reality-bending that will appeal to fans of complex narratives.
- #27 Staffer Case: A Supernatural Mystery Adventure
78% 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: Detective 33.6%, Crime 18.6%, Mystery 16.1%, Visual Novel 15.4%, Anime 12.5%
Why You'll Like It: A detective game that emphasizes deductive reasoning and supernatural elements to solve complex cases.
- #28 No Sleep For Kaname Date - From AI: THE SOMNIUM FILES
78% 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: Noir 13.4%, Psychedelic 11%, Visual Novel 8.8%, Detective 8.4%, Interactive Fiction 6.7%
- #29 World's End Club
80% matchMostly Positive70% of 236 reviews2021
Dev: IzanagiGames
Windows
Twelve kids. 1200 kilometers. One epic journey across Japan! Surround yourself with a cast of charming, quirky characters as you set off on an unforgettable trip!
Why similar: Anime 36.7%, Sci-fi 26.6%, Choose Your Own Adventure 19%, Adventure 17.7%
Why You'll Like It: A collaborative project from the creators of AI and Danganronpa that mixes adventure with a high-stakes mystery.
- #30 Death Come True
79% 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: Psychedelic 24.3%, Visual Novel 22.6%, Mystery 21.2%, Interactive Fiction 12.8%, Choose Your Own Adventure 9.3%
Why You'll Like It: A live-action mystery game that utilizes time-loop mechanics to uncover the truth behind a series of murders.
- #31 The Shell Part II: Purgatorio
77% matchVery Positive95% of 625 reviews2024
Dev: Innocent GreyPub: Shiravune
Windows
Median: 21.6 hrsMean: 167.6 hrs≥1hr: 81%
Detective Reiji Tokisaka is back to face down a mystery that spans decades, if not centuries. With the aftermath of his last case weighing on his soul and a long-silent cult resurgent, can he solve the crime—or will it become his curse?
Why similar: Detective 17.8%, Noir 17.5%, Conspiracy 14.8% ★, Investigation 14.1%, Visual Novel 10.2%
- #32 Trials of Innocence
76% matchVery Positive93% of 1,658 reviews2025
Dev: 猫龙游戏
Windows
Median: 19.4 hrsMean: 21.9 hrs≥1hr: 79%
Trials of Innocence is an indie courtroom detective game. Step into the shoes of the main character, rookie lawyer Luna Ray, and navigate her journey through the legal world. Unravel a shocking conspiracy that changes the fate of many, including herself, and confront her inner choices.
Why similar: Detective 22.4%, Investigation 14%, Crime 13.7%, Visual Novel 13.1%, Mystery 11.5%
- #33 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: Detective 31.9%, Visual Novel 20.6%, Mystery 17.9%, Adventure 15.6%, Anime 13.9%
- #34 Paradise Killer
75% 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: Detective 22.5%, Investigation 19.7%, Psychedelic 19.2%, Crime 17.5%, Mystery 13.1%
- #35 Dry Drowning
76% matchVery Positive81% of 512 reviews2019
Dev: Studio VPub: Leonardo Interactive
Windows
Median: 4.0 hrsMean: 8.9 hrs≥1hr: 66%
Dry Drowning is a psychological investigative visual novel set in a futuristic dystopian city. Follow the story of Mordred Foley, unscrupulous private detective haunted by his dark past, and look into a series of macabre serial killings inspired by Greek mythology.
Why similar: Noir 18%, Futuristic 15.3%, Detective 13.5%, Investigation 13.3%, Visual Novel 9.9%
- #36 Doki Doki AI Interrogation
74% matchVery Positive82% of 506 reviews2024
Dev: YAMADA
Windows · Mac
A short interrogation game taking full advantage of ChatGPT! You are tasked with interrogating the suspect [AI] of a murder case as an [excellent police officer]. How you choose to interrogate the suspect is up to you. How the AI reacts is rendered in real-time through ChatGPT.
Why similar: Detective 21.3%, Artificial Intelligence 19.4%, Futuristic 13%, Investigation 11.7%, Sci-fi 10.2%
- #37 The Shell Part III: Paradiso
72% matchOverwhelmingly Positive98% of 613 reviews2025
Dev: Innocent GreyPub: Shiravune
Windows
Median: 13.5 hrsMean: 193.8 hrs≥1hr: 79%
The coiling chains of obsession that began with The Shell now threaten to strangle Detective Reiji Tokisaka in the third and final entry in the trilogy. As old friends and foes rise up for one last confrontation, can anyone break the cycle—and can Reiji's heart ever be set free?
Why similar: Noir 16.8%, Detective 14.5%, Conspiracy 13.4% ★, Investigation 12%, Crime 10.2%
- #38 DYSCHRONIA: Chronos Alternate - Dual Edition
73% matchVery Positive86% of 65 reviews2024
Dev: IzanagiGames
Windows
Solve an impossible murder case in the far-flung future in this VR & Non-VR investigation action adventure! Multi-awarded title DYSCHRONIA: Chronos Alternate - Dual Edition contains all three episodes from the acclaimed trilogy.
Why similar: Detective 20.1%, Investigation 16.2%, Visual Novel 13.3%, Mystery 12.7%, Futuristic 12.1%
- #39 The Occult Detective
73% matchMostly Positive71% of 326 reviews2025
Dev: Battlecry Studio
Windows
A narrative detective game blended with supernatural elements. Play as a rookie investigator, discover vital clues in every case, dive into unscripted interrogations and uncover truths that break minds. But with each revelation, the world feels... less human.
Why similar: Detective 32%, Visual Novel 22.4%, Anime 17.1%, Mystery 15.7%, Artificial Intelligence 8.2%
- #40 Kindaichi Mystery Series: The Honjin Murders
73% matchMostly Positive73% of 179 reviews2025
Dev: coly Inc.
Windows · Mac
Famous detective Kosuke Kindaichi's first case, the Honjin Murder Mystery. Honjin descendant Kenzo Ichiyanagi and his new wife Katsuko Kubo lay dead in a bed of blood on the night of their wedding. Kosuke Kindaichi searches for the truth about this locked room murder mystery. However...
Why similar: Detective 22.5%, Investigation 17.9%, Mystery 15.5%, Visual Novel 14.9%, Interactive Fiction 12.4%
- #41 SHINRAI - Broken Beyond Despair
75% matchVery Positive91% of 128 reviews2016
Dev: Gosatsu Visual Novels
Windows · Mac · Linux
A secluded mountain resort, 10 friends, 1 murderer. Investigate, interrogate and present evidence as you solve various mysteries throughout the night. Will you be able to reach the truth and uncover the culprit’s identity? Or will your deductions lead you to blame someone completely innocent...?
Why similar: Detective 23.1%, Investigation 19.3%, Visual Novel 14.6%, Mystery 13.3%, Crime 11.4%
- #42 √Letter - Root Letter -
74% matchMostly Positive79% of 578 reviews2017
Dev: DRAGAMI GAMES, LTD.
Windows
Median: 5.0 hrsMean: 11.6 hrs≥1hr: 92%
When a letter is delivered 15 years late - you discover an old pen-friend was involved in a murder, before she disappeared. Travelling to her hometown, you must investigate the murder, using her past letters as clues to uncover the disturbing truth.
Why similar: Detective 24.9%, Visual Novel 15.7%, Psychedelic 14.9%, Mystery 14.6%, Anime 12.8%
- #43 The Rise of the Golden Idol
69% matchVery Positive93% of 3,925 reviews2024
Dev: Color Gray GamesPub: Playstack
Windows · Mac
Median: 13.4 hrsMean: 16.9 hrs≥1hr: 92%
The Award-winning detective saga returns in this standalone sequel to The Case of the Golden Idol. Uncover the truth behind 20 strange cases of crime, death and depravity in the 1970s. The world has changed dramatically - the sins of humanity have not.
Why similar: Conspiracy 23% ★, Detective 22.3%, Investigation 19.6%, Mystery 14.3%, Crime 12.4%
- #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: Detective 28.6%, Noir 19.3%, Crime 13.4%, Visual Novel 12.4%, Mystery 11.1%
- #45 The Shell Part I: Inferno
70% matchVery Positive91% of 1,368 reviews2023
Dev: Innocent GreyPub: Shiravune
Windows
Median: 10.9 hrsMean: 114.3 hrs≥1hr: 70%
Unravel a string of gruesome murders terrorizing Tokyo in this mystery-thriller visual novel. The secrets of a case from six years prior may just be the key to the current unending cycle of tragedy—and the thing that cracks this woeful world’s shell may be one girl’s smile.
Why similar: Detective 35.9%, Visual Novel 24.7%, Mystery 21.3%, Anime 9.8%, Choose Your Own Adventure 4.4%
- #46 Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Trilogy
70% 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: Detective 34.6%, Visual Novel 19.1%, Mystery 15.8%, Crime 14.1%, Anime 11.5%
- #47 The Real Face of a VTuber
68% matchVery Positive92% of 302 reviews2026
Dev: 莉莉恩工作室Pub: WhisperGames
Windows
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: Detective 28.2%, Crime 17.1%, Visual Novel 16.5%, Mystery 15.2%, Anime 10.2%
- #48 Soul Hackers 2
71% matchMixed66% of 3,246 reviews2022
Dev: ATLUSPub: SEGA
Windows
Median: 7.9 hrsMean: 21.2 hrs≥1hr: 90%
Explore a supernatural RPG with stylish summoners and dark dangers lurking under the neon lights of a cyberpunk Japan. It is up to Ringo, an agent of Aion, to save the world from apocalypse.
Why similar: Noir 32.4%, Futuristic 28.8%, Anime 21.1%, Mystery 17.7%
- #49 Tokyo Detectives
72% matchMixed69% of 57 reviews2021
Dev: Rincho Games
Windows · Mac · Linux
Detective Game. Murder Investigation. Interrogate witnesses. Rebut with evidence.
Why similar: Detective 24.6%, Investigation 19.6%, Crime 15.5%, Visual Novel 13.6%, Mystery 12.3%
- #50 The Murder Hotel
68% matchVery Positive95% of 64 reviews2025
Dev: Wegenbartho Games
Windows
Interrogate suspects, search for clues, & uncover a dastardly plot, as you solve a string of mystifying murders to help reluctant detective Ilmarinen escape the foreboding Fafnir Hotel.
Why similar: Detective 24.5%, Visual Novel 16.1%, Crime 15.8%, Mystery 15.3%, Anime 11.3%
- #51 Subsurface Circular
70% matchVery Positive94% of 1,931 reviews2017
Dev: Bithell Games
Windows · Mac
Median: 2.1 hrsMean: 2.7 hrs≥1hr: 69%
When the truth is buried, go underground. Step into this new take on text-based adventure from the award-winning team behind Thomas Was Alone and Volume. A short story that hands you the fate of the world above, as a detective looking for answers on the Subsurface Circular.
Why similar: Detective 18%, Noir 16.9%, Investigation 15.5%, Visual Novel 11.5%, Mystery 9.7%
- #52 LumineNight
67% matchVery Positive89% of 510 reviews2024
Dev: Spickasoft
Windows
LumineNight is a story-driven detective adventure. Play as Detective Foster and his daughter to solve a series of murders spanning a decade. Interrogate suspects, infiltrate locations, solve puzzles, and gather evidence from crime scenes. Uncover the dark truth behind these killings.
Why similar: Detective 25.5%, Noir 19.6%, Mystery 14.6%, Visual Novel 13.3%, Investigation 12%
- #53 Type-NOISE: Shonen Shojo
67% matchMostly Positive79% of 136 reviews2025
Dev: DankHeartsPub: WhisperGames
Windows
Type-NOISE: Shonen Shojo is a multi-ending mystery adventure game. A group of boys and girls who have lost their memories gather in a “Tokyo” that is both familiar and unfamiliar. They must trace their lost memories to escape the bizarre labyrinths. Are they prepared to confront their “true selves”?
Why similar: Detective 26%, Visual Novel 18.6%, Anime 14.5%, Sci-fi 13.7%, Mystery 11.2%
- #54 RGB GlitchGazer
66% matchVery Positive98% of 94 reviews2026
Dev: 群星闪耀时Pub: 群星闪耀时
Windows
A mad and romantic ADV. Unravel a strange world of science and philosophy with a mecha girl, zombie girl, or beastfolk. Some paths may disturb you... or thrill you.
Why similar: Visual Novel 15.2%, Psychedelic 14.6%, Mystery 13.2%, Anime 11.8%, Futuristic 11.1%
- #55 ROBOTICS;NOTES DaSH
71% matchMixed67% of 274 reviews2020
Dev: MAGES. Inc.Pub: Spike Chunsoft Co., Ltd.
Windows
Median: 2.3 hrsMean: 29.8 hrs≥1hr: 56%
Half a year after the events of ROBOTICS;NOTES ELITE, Kaito Yashio is introduced to Itaru Hashida through Nae Tennouji. Unsettling incidents start occurring all around them, harbingers of an event that will again plunge the world into chaos.
Why similar: Visual Novel 27.3%, Mystery 22.2%, Sci-fi 21.2%, Anime 20.4%, Adventure 8.9%
- #56 Tron: Identity
69% matchMostly Positive79% of 292 reviews2023
Dev: Bithell Games
Windows · Mac
Something has been taken. Enter a new Grid and forge alliances via visual novel gameplay, uncovering truths through Identity Disc puzzles. Make critical decisions and plot your own course in a world without a creator.
Why similar: Detective 23.9%, Noir 18.4%, Visual Novel 15.3%, Mystery 13.4%, Investigation 9.7%
- #57 The 25th Ward: The Silver Case
69% 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 31.5%, Detective 26%, Mystery 20.5%, Adventure 11.3%, Surreal 10.8%
- #58 Demons' Timeline
65% matchVery Positive99% of 221 reviews2026
Dev: DigitalCats
Windows
Cyber Detective L solves Paradoxes—bizarre incidents by supernatural Demons—via the social media giant Parrotter. The Cyber Detective Squad, L and his Demon partner Nyasuteria, wield elite hacking and psychic powers to take on the final Paradox investigation.
Why similar: Detective 26.2%, Investigation 21.4%, Mystery 19%, Visual Novel 13.2%, Crime 10.8%
- #59 Lacuna – A Sci-Fi Noir Adventure
66% matchVery Positive92% of 2,845 reviews2021
Dev: DigiTales InteractivePub: Assemble Entertainment
Windows
Median: 3.0 hrsMean: 4.9 hrs≥1hr: 76%
A murder. A hack. A bombing. All it takes to plunge the solar system into war – unless you do something about it. Help CDI agent Neil Conrad make a string of increasingly difficult decisions in this modern dialog-driven adventure set in a gorgeous 2D sci-fi noir universe.
Why similar: Noir 20.8%, Detective 18.6%, Crime 14.1%, Investigation 12.7%, Futuristic 9.7%
- #60 52Hertz
65% matchVery Positive88% of 110 reviews2026
Dev: Moonlit Apple
Windows
An eternally snowbound town. An inescapable time loop. A group of travelers trapped between memory and truth…You will embody Mo Shi, the amnesiac protagonist, stepping into this enigmatic town known as the "Singularity" , partner with the protagonist to solve murder cases and expose the killer.
Why similar: Detective 27.3%, Investigation 16.7%, Mystery 16%, Futuristic 14.2%, Visual Novel 12.9%
