- #1 AI: The Somnium Files
97% matchVery Positive92% of 9,378 reviews2019
Dev: Spike Chunsoft Co., Ltd.
Windows
Median: 4.6 hrsMean: 15.2 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 29.8%, Visual Novel 21.9%, Mystery 18.2%, Anime 15.8%, Sci-fi 8.6%
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 2,244 reviews2024
Dev: Spike Chunsoft Co., Ltd.
Windows
Median: 12.2 hrsMean: 22.1 hrs≥1hr: 90%
Yuma, an amnesiac detective-in-training, and Shinigami, the spirit haunting him, tackle unsolved mysteries.
Why similar: Detective 37.1%, Anime 18.9%, Mystery 15.6%, Visual Novel 12.3%, 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 7,340 reviews2017
Dev: Spike Chunsoft Co., Ltd.
Windows
Median: 6.5 hrsMean: 21.7 hrs≥1hr: 90%
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 32.2%, Mystery 24.9%, Anime 14.1%, Detective 12.1%, Sci-fi 10%
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 3,939 reviews2018
Dev: Spike Chunsoft Co., Ltd.
Windows
Median: 4.4 hrsMean: 12.2 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 42.3%, Mystery 28.4%, Detective 18.2%, Adventure 8.9%, Story Rich 2.2%
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 32,585 reviews2016
Dev: Spike Chunsoft Co., Ltd.
Windows · Mac · Linux
Median: 10.4 hrsMean: 32.5 hrs≥1hr: 92%
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 37.2%, Visual Novel 21.1%, Anime 19.3%, Mystery 18.3%, 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 Danganronpa V3: Killing Harmony
94% matchVery Positive83% of 23,146 reviews2017
Dev: Spike Chunsoft Co., Ltd.
Windows
Median: 9.0 hrsMean: 30.5 hrs≥1hr: 92%
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%, Visual Novel 23.5%, Mystery 18.5%, Anime 17.1%, 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.
- #7 GNOSIA
93% matchVery Positive94% of 5,092 reviews2022
Dev: Petit DepottoPub: PLAYISM
Windows
Median: 7.3 hrsMean: 15.3 hrs≥1hr: 91%
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 23.2%, Visual Novel 21.5%, Mystery 17.6%, Anime 16.1%, Sci-fi 15.1%
Why You'll Like It: A brilliant sci-fi mystery that utilizes time loops and social deduction to create an addictive, character-driven experience.
- #8 Ace Attorney Investigations Collection
92% matchOverwhelmingly Positive97% of 4,773 reviews2024
Dev: CAPCOM Co., Ltd.
Windows
Median: 32.7 hrsMean: 35.8 hrs≥1hr: 87%
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 22.2%, Detective 21.3%, Crime 16.1%, Visual Novel 13.9%, Mystery 13.4%
Why You'll Like It: Focuses heavily on the detective work and crime scene investigation aspects that fans of the series will appreciate.
- #9 PARANORMASIGHT: The Seven Mysteries of Honjo
91% matchOverwhelmingly Positive96% of 7,183 reviews2023
Dev: Square Enix
Windows
Median: 8.8 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 33.6%, Mystery 25.1%, Anime 24.4%, Adventure 8.8%, Choose Your Own Adventure 5.8%
Why You'll Like It: A supernatural investigation game that uses a unique visual style and clever narrative twists to keep players guessing.
- #10 Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney Trilogy
91% matchVery Positive88% of 4,422 reviews2024
Dev: CAPCOM Co., Ltd.
Windows
Median: 35.7 hrsMean: 54.8 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 16.8%, Visual Novel 16.8%, Crime 11.7%, Mystery 11.2%
Why You'll Like It: Offers a compelling mix of investigation and legal drama with a strong focus on character growth.
- #11 Danganronpa: Trigger Happy Havoc
90% matchOverwhelmingly Positive96% of 38,237 reviews2016
Dev: Spike Chunsoft Co., Ltd.
Windows · Mac · Linux
Median: 7.9 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 34.2%, Visual Novel 22.8%, Mystery 20.2%, Anime 18.7%, Adventure 2.4%
Why You'll Like It: The foundational title of the series that set the standard for the 'death game' mystery genre.
- #12 The Great Ace Attorney Chronicles
89% matchVery Positive94% of 9,441 reviews2021
Dev: CAPCOM Co., Ltd.
Windows
Median: 11.4 hrsMean: 34.9 hrs≥1hr: 90%
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 29.3%, Visual Novel 21.2%, Mystery 16.7%, Anime 14.5%, Adventure 5.6%
Why You'll Like It: A polished historical mystery series that emphasizes deduction and courtroom drama with a charming cast.
- #13 Your Turn To Die -Death Game By Majority-
89% matchOverwhelmingly Positive98% of 4,394 reviews2023
Dev: NankidaiPub: 0UP GAMES
Windows
Median: 6.9 hrsMean: 13.6 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 31.5%, Interactive Fiction 23.2%, Anime 22.4%, Choose Your Own Adventure 12.8%, Adventure 7.9%
Why You'll Like It: A high-stakes death game that focuses on intense character dynamics and difficult moral choices.
- #14 STEINS;GATE 0
88% matchOverwhelmingly Positive96% of 8,384 reviews2018
Dev: MAGES. Inc.Pub: Spike Chunsoft Co., Ltd.
Windows
Median: 4.7 hrsMean: 127.4 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 35.8%, Anime 22.5%, Sci-fi 17.5%, Artificial Intelligence 11.6%, Mystery 5%
Why You'll Like It: A deep sci-fi thriller that explores time travel and its consequences through a highly emotional lens.
- #15 Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective
86% matchOverwhelmingly Positive97% of 8,529 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%, Mystery 26.5%, Visual Novel 14%, Anime 10.4%, Adventure 7.9%
Why You'll Like It: A unique investigation game where you solve your own murder using supernatural puzzle-solving mechanics.
- #16 The Silver Case
87% matchVery Positive89% of 1,192 reviews2016
Dev: GRASSHOPPER MANUFACTURE INC.
Windows · Mac · Linux
Median: 4.4 hrsMean: 8.5 hrs≥1hr: 84%
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 19.9%, Investigation 18.5%, Crime 17.2%, Mystery 13%, Visual Novel 13%
Why You'll Like It: A cult-classic noir detective mystery known for its surreal atmosphere and experimental storytelling.
- #17 CHAOS;CHILD
86% matchVery Positive93% of 4,074 reviews2019
Dev: MAGES. Inc.Pub: Spike Chunsoft Co., Ltd.
Windows
Median: 4.2 hrsMean: 80.8 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 36.7%, Mystery 25%, Anime 19.5%, Sci-fi 11.8%, Adventure 4.9%
Why You'll Like It: A dark, psychological mystery that blends supernatural elements with a gritty, modern-day detective story.
- #18 Murder by Numbers
85% matchVery Positive84% of 1,683 reviews2020
Dev: MediatonicPub: The Irregular Corporation
Windows
Median: 4.5 hrsMean: 12.6 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 17.8%, Investigation 16.6%, Visual Novel 11.9%, Conspiracy 11.8% ★, Crime 11.4%
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 295 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 23.6%, Investigation 16.2%, Mystery 15.3%, Visual Novel 15.1%, Anime 10.6%
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
83% matchVery Positive91% of 708 reviews2020
Dev: MAGES. Inc.Pub: Spike Chunsoft Co., Ltd.
Windows
Median: 8.2 hrsMean: 38.0 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%, Mystery 14.9%, Sci-fi 14.8%, Conspiracy 14.7% ★, Anime 13.7%
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 4,204 reviews2020
Dev: ONIMUSHI HyogoPub: TABINOMICHI
Windows · Mac
Median: 5.6 hrsMean: 14.0 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 27.8%, Mystery 22.7%, Detective 20.1%, Anime 12.5%, 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 PSYCHO-PASS: Mandatory Happiness
84% matchMostly Positive79% of 179 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 35.5%, Anime 29.4%, Detective 18.4%, Adventure 9.9%, Sci-fi 6.9%
Why You'll Like It: A cyberpunk mystery that explores philosophical themes and moral ambiguity in a futuristic society.
- #23 Root Double -Before Crime * After Days- Xtend Edition
82% matchVery Positive91% of 615 reviews2016
Dev: YetiPub: Sekai Project
Windows
Median: 8.9 hrsMean: 14.2 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 39.8%, Anime 21.2%, Mystery 18.9%, Sci-fi 12.2%, Adventure 5.7%
Why You'll Like It: A complex sci-fi mystery featuring a unique 'Senses Sympathy System' that influences the branching narrative.
- #24 BURIED STARS
81% matchVery Positive84% of 2,248 reviews2021
Dev: LINE Games Corporation
Windows
Median: 5.5 hrsMean: 9.1 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 21.1% ★, Investigation 17.5%, Visual Novel 14.4%, Mystery 13.6%, Interactive Fiction 10.3%
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 ANONYMOUS;CODE
81% matchMostly Positive80% of 554 reviews2023
Dev: MAGES. Inc.Pub: Spike Chunsoft Co., Ltd.
Windows
Median: 6.1 hrsMean: 12.5 hrs≥1hr: 87%
Hack Into God
Why similar: Visual Novel 32.2%, Investigation 30.4%, Anime 22.5%, Adventure 13.1%, Story Rich 1.9%
Why You'll Like It: A high-concept sci-fi mystery involving hacking and reality-bending that will appeal to fans of complex narratives.
- #26 Urban Myth Dissolution Center
78% matchVery Positive88% of 6,230 reviews2025
Dev: HakababunkoPub: SHUEISHA GAMES
Windows
Median: 7.0 hrsMean: 9.7 hrs≥1hr: 82%
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%, Detective 26.3%, Mystery 23.2%, Anime 8.5%, Adventure 7%
Why You'll Like It: Features a unique investigation-focused gameplay loop centered around solving supernatural urban legends.
- #27 Staffer Case: A Supernatural Mystery Adventure
79% matchVery Positive94% of 4,260 reviews2023
Dev: Team Tetrapod
Windows · Mac
Median: 7.5 hrsMean: 8.8 hrs≥1hr: 92%
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 33.1%, Crime 18.1%, Mystery 15.9%, Visual Novel 15.4%, Anime 12.3%
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 Positive81% of 934 reviews2025
Dev: Spike Chunsoft Co., Ltd.
Windows
Median: 12.7 hrsMean: 13.4 hrs≥1hr: 90%
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 11.1%, Visual Novel 8.8%, Detective 8.4%, Interactive Fiction 6.7%
- #29 World's End Club
80% matchMostly Positive70% of 243 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 26.5%, Choose Your Own Adventure 18.9%, Adventure 17.9%
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 960 reviews2020
Dev: IzanagiGames
Windows
Median: 2.6 hrsMean: 3.0 hrs≥1hr: 85%
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 24.1%, Visual Novel 22.4%, Mystery 20.7%, Interactive Fiction 12.5%, Choose Your Own Adventure 9.2%
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 Trials of Innocence
76% matchVery Positive92% of 1,779 reviews2025
Dev: 猫龙游戏Pub: Right Mind
Windows
Median: 18.5 hrsMean: 20.9 hrs≥1hr: 75%
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 22.2%, Investigation 13.7%, Crime 13.4%, Visual Novel 13.1%, Mystery 11.3%
- #32 The Shell Part II: Purgatorio
77% matchVery Positive95% of 681 reviews2024
Dev: Innocent GreyPub: Shiravune
Windows
Median: 18.6 hrsMean: 173.5 hrs≥1hr: 80%
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 17.9%, Noir 17.5%, Conspiracy 14.7% ★, Investigation 14%, Visual Novel 10.5%
- #33 The Rise of the Golden Idol
75% matchVery Positive93% of 4,120 reviews2024
Dev: Color Gray GamesPub: Playstack
Windows · Mac
Median: 13.9 hrsMean: 16.8 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 22.9% ★, Detective 22.3%, Investigation 19.5%, Mystery 14.2%, Crime 12.2%
- #34 Root Letter Last Answer
77% matchVery Positive84% of 184 reviews2019
Dev: DRAGAMI GAMES, LTD.
Windows
Median: 4.7 hrsMean: 9.7 hrs≥1hr: 92%
A mystery adventure which is solved by using two visual features: Live Action and Illustrations.
Why similar: Detective 31.7%, Visual Novel 20.7%, Mystery 17.8%, Adventure 15.9%, Anime 14%
- #35 Kindaichi Mystery Series: The Honjin Murders
75% matchMostly Positive72% of 184 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 22.2%, Investigation 17.6%, Mystery 15.3%, Visual Novel 14.8%, Interactive Fiction 12.2%
- #36 Tangle Tower
74% matchOverwhelmingly Positive95% of 6,631 reviews2019
Dev: SFB Games
Windows · Mac
Median: 5.6 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 28.5%, Noir 19.1%, Crime 13.1%, Visual Novel 12.3%, Mystery 11%
- #37 The Occult Detective
74% matchMostly Positive71% of 332 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 31.2%, Visual Novel 22.1%, Anime 16.8%, Mystery 15.2%, Artificial Intelligence 7.9%
- #38 Dry Drowning
76% matchVery Positive81% of 517 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 17.9%, Futuristic 15.4%, Detective 13.5%, Investigation 13.2%, Visual Novel 10%
- #39 Doki Doki AI Interrogation
72% matchVery Positive82% of 514 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 21.2%, Artificial Intelligence 19.2%, Futuristic 13%, Investigation 11.5%, Sci-fi 10.2%
- #40 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 19.8%, Investigation 15.8%, Visual Novel 13.2%, Mystery 12.4%, Futuristic 12.1%
- #41 The Real Face of a VTuber
70% matchVery Positive92% of 335 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 27.8%, Crime 16.7%, Visual Novel 16.5%, Mystery 14.9%, Anime 10.1%
- #42 Tokyo Detectives
73% matchMixed69% of 59 reviews2021
Dev: Rincho Games
Windows · Mac · Linux
Detective Game. Murder Investigation. Interrogate witnesses. Rebut with evidence.
Why similar: Detective 24.5%, Investigation 19.3%, Crime 15.2%, Visual Novel 13.6%, Mystery 12.2%
- #43 Paradise Killer
71% matchVery Positive93% of 4,509 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 22.3%, Investigation 19.4%, Psychedelic 19.2%, Crime 17.1%, Mystery 12.9%
- #44 The Shell Part I: Inferno
70% matchVery Positive91% of 1,461 reviews2023
Dev: Innocent GreyPub: Shiravune
Windows
Median: 10.9 hrsMean: 115.9 hrs≥1hr: 71%
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 35.6%, Visual Novel 24.7%, Mystery 21%, Anime 9.7%, Choose Your Own Adventure 4.4%
- #45 Subsurface Circular
72% matchVery Positive94% of 1,940 reviews2017
Dev: Bithell Games
Windows · Mac
Median: 2.1 hrsMean: 3.7 hrs≥1hr: 70%
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 17.9%, Noir 16.8%, Investigation 15.2%, Visual Novel 11.5%, Mystery 9.6%
- #46 The Kuon Island Nursery Rhyme Murders: Case Notes
71% matchMixed60% of 82 reviews2026
Dev: RenkaPub: Renka BH1
Windows
A storm-lashed island, a nursery rhyme that foretells death, seven prodigies, serial murders, modern locked-room mysteries, classic locked-room mysteries, astrology, a jigsaw of flesh and blood, a survivor—and one lie told only so you would see this story.
Why similar: Detective 29.9%, Visual Novel 20.3%, Mystery 16.9%, Anime 10.5%, Crime 10.4%
- #47 SHINRAI - Broken Beyond Despair
73% 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%, Investigation 19%, Visual Novel 14.7%, Mystery 13.1%, Crime 11.1%
- #48 The Shell Part III: Paradiso
68% matchOverwhelmingly Positive97% of 683 reviews2025
Dev: Innocent GreyPub: Shiravune
Windows
Median: 13.4 hrsMean: 205.6 hrs≥1hr: 76%
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%
- #49 The Murder Hotel
69% matchVery Positive93% of 73 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 24.2%, Visual Novel 16%, Crime 15.4%, Mystery 15%, Anime 11.3%
- #50 Tron: Identity
70% 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 23.7%, Noir 18.2%, Visual Novel 15.3%, Mystery 13.2%, Investigation 9.6%
- #51 LumineNight
68% matchVery Positive88% of 562 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 25.1%, Noir 19.3%, Mystery 14.3%, Visual Novel 13.3%, Investigation 11.7%
- #52 ROBOTICS;NOTES DaSH
71% matchMixed68% of 288 reviews2020
Dev: MAGES. Inc.Pub: Spike Chunsoft Co., Ltd.
Windows
Median: 3.0 hrsMean: 30.4 hrs≥1hr: 58%
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 26.5%, Mystery 21.3%, Sci-fi 20.5%, Anime 19.7%, Adventure 8.7%
- #53 Staffer Retro : A Supernatural Mystery Quest
66% matchVery Positive90% of 1,084 reviews2026
Dev: Team Tetrapod
Windows · Mac
Staffer Retro is a mystery adventure game where you uncover past incidents related to ‘Mana’, the source of supernatural powers. Gather information through dialogue and exploration, and piece together clues found in documents to guide the choices of Verita Retro, the protagonist.
Why similar: Detective 25.2%, Investigation 16.2%, Mystery 14.2%, Visual Novel 14%, Crime 11.8%
- #54 RGB GlitchGazer
67% matchVery Positive97% of 97 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%, Anime 11.8%, Futuristic 11.1%
- #55 Soul Hackers 2
69% matchMixed66% of 3,305 reviews2022
Dev: ATLUSPub: SEGA
Windows
Median: 7.5 hrsMean: 20.8 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 32.3%, Futuristic 28.2%, Anime 20.7%, Mystery 17.1%, Story Rich 1.7%
- #56 The 25th Ward: The Silver Case
69% matchVery Positive92% of 535 reviews2018
Dev: GRASSHOPPER MANUFACTURE INC.Pub: NIS America, Inc.
Windows · Mac · Linux
Median: 3.6 hrsMean: 9.6 hrs≥1hr: 84%
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 31.3%, Detective 25.5%, Mystery 20%, Adventure 11.3%, Surreal 10.6%
- #57 Lacuna – A Sci-Fi Noir Adventure
67% matchVery Positive92% of 2,943 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 20.6%, Detective 18.5%, Crime 13.8%, Investigation 12.6%, Futuristic 9.8%
- #58 The Operator
65% matchVery Positive92% of 8,818 reviews2024
Dev: Bureau 81
Windows · Mac · Linux
Median: 3.5 hrsMean: 3.9 hrs≥1hr: 88%
Welcome to the FDI. As our newest Operator, your role is to use your detective skills to assist our field agents and investigate mysterious crimes. Use cutting-edge FDI software to dig for clues, solve puzzles, and uncover the truth.
Why similar: Detective 22.5%, Conspiracy 22% ★, Investigation 18.6%, Crime 12.4%, Mystery 11.3%
- #59 The Case of the Golden Idol
65% matchOverwhelmingly Positive98% of 10,922 reviews2022
Dev: Color Gray GamesPub: Playstack
Windows · Mac · Linux
Median: 6.9 hrsMean: 8.0 hrs≥1hr: 90%
A new kind of detective game that allows you to think and investigate freely. Discover clues surrounding 12 strange and gruesome deaths and build your own theory. Pick your suspect, deduce the motive, unmask the awful truth.
Why similar: Detective 23.1%, Conspiracy 20.8% ★, Investigation 19.2%, Mystery 14.4%, Crime 11%
- #60 Demons' Timeline
63% matchOverwhelmingly Positive97% of 872 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%, Investigation 20.7%, Mystery 18.9%, Visual Novel 13.5%, Crime 10.2%
