- #1 Death and Taxes
97% matchVery Positive86% of 8,276 reviews2020
Dev: Placeholder Gameworks
Windows · Mac · Linux
Median: 2.9 hrsMean: 4.5 hrs≥1hr: 82%
In this 2D, short narrative-based game, you assume the role of the Grim Reaper... on an office job. Your job is to decide which people are going to live or die. The consequences of your choices are yours to bear, while the mystery of your incarnation awaits revelation!
Why similar: Point & Click 24.6%, Interactive Fiction 22.8%, Multiple Endings 15.2%, Story Rich 11.3%, Puzzle 10.3%
Why You'll Like It: You play as a reaper deciding who lives and dies, directly capturing the theme of moral judgment and consequence found in the seed game.
- #2 Return of the Obra Dinn
96% 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 36%, Puzzle 18.6%, Story Rich 14.8%, Atmospheric 11.7%, Multiple Endings 7.6%
Why You'll Like It: A masterclass in deductive reasoning and investigation that requires you to piece together the fates of individuals through observation and logic.
- #3 Paradise Killer
96% 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: Crime 23.3%, Psychedelic 19.4%, Point & Click 14.7%, Mystery 11%, Multiple Endings 9.7%
Why You'll Like It: A stylized, open-world investigation game where you must gather evidence and conduct trials to uncover the truth behind a complex crime.
- #4 Papers, Please
95% matchOverwhelmingly Positive97% of 78,992 reviews2013
Dev: Lucas PopePub: 3909
Windows · Mac · Linux
Median: 4.3 hrsMean: 10.2 hrs≥1hr: 85%
Congratulations. The October labor lottery is complete. Your name was pulled. For immediate placement, report to the Ministry of Admission at Grestin Border Checkpoint. An apartment will be provided for you and your family in East Grestin. Expect a Class-8 dwelling.
Why similar: Point & Click 37.7%, Multiple Endings 17.3%, Puzzle 11.2%, Indie 10.1%, Story Rich 9.8%
Why You'll Like It: Like the seed game, this title forces you to make difficult moral judgments while navigating a bureaucratic and narrative-heavy environment.
- #5 The Roottrees are Dead
94% matchOverwhelmingly Positive97% of 8,392 reviews2025
Dev: Evil Trout Inc.
Windows · Mac · Linux
Median: 7.9 hrsMean: 9.8 hrs≥1hr: 89%
A genealogical mystery straight out of 1998. Scour the early Internet for clues, uncover hidden connections, and piece together the family tree behind the secretive Roottree Corporation.
Why similar: Mystery 22.5%, Point & Click 22.3%, Puzzle 14.6%, Interactive Fiction 13.6%, Story Rich 8.5%
Why You'll Like It: A deep, text-heavy detective game that rewards careful observation and logical deduction to solve a multi-layered mystery.
- #6 7 Days to End with You
93% matchVery Positive88% of 3,265 reviews2022
Dev: LizardryPub: PLAYISM
Windows
Median: 2.3 hrsMean: 3.1 hrs≥1hr: 68%
To know a language, know the world, and finally know you.
Why similar: Word Game 25.4%, Interactive Fiction 13.6%, Psychological 12.3%, Visual Novel 11.3%, Romance 11.1%
Why You'll Like It: A unique puzzle-mystery game that requires you to decipher a language to understand the narrative, similar to the word-game elements of the seed.
- #7 Disco Elysium - The Final Cut
92% 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: Point & Click 28.6%, Story Rich 25.8%, Visual Novel 21.1%, Atmospheric 12.1%, Adventure 5.4%
Why You'll Like It: An unparalleled narrative experience that focuses on deep investigation, internal dialogue, and the weight of your moral choices.
- #8 Postmortem: One Must Die (Extended Cut)
94% matchMostly Negative40% of 187 reviews2013
Dev: Unbound Creations
Windows
Median: 12 minMean: 2.7 hrs≥1hr: 20%
Narrative-adventure playing an Agent of Death who must take ONE life that could change the fate of a conflict-torn Nation
Why similar: Point & Click 19%, Interactive Fiction 16.1%, Adventure 15%, Visual Novel 13.6%, Multiple Endings 11%
Why You'll Like It: This game puts you in the role of an arbiter who must decide which citizens must die, emphasizing the heavy burden of judgment.
- #9 Interrogation Simulator
91% matchVery Positive95% of 61 reviews2022
Dev: Otis MillerPub: Fire Cycle Games
Windows · Linux
Inspired by JCS videos and similar Interrogation analysis. Match evidence with statements. Play good cop/bad cop. Make choices. Learn what makes people tick. Unravel the mystery.
Why similar: Word Game 26.8%, Crime 20.8%, Interactive Fiction 16.1%, Point & Click 12.6%, Visual Novel 12.1%
Why You'll Like It: This game focuses on the art of conversation and deduction, requiring you to read suspects to uncover the truth behind their crimes.
- #10 If On A Winter's Night, Four Travelers
90% matchOverwhelmingly Positive96% of 2,742 reviews2021
Dev: Dead Idle Games
Windows · Linux
Median: 2.3 hrsMean: 5.1 hrs≥1hr: 76%
If On A Winter's Night, Four Travelers is a narrative-driven point-and-click adventure with horror elements that explores the stories of four characters in a masked ball taking place aboard a train in the late 1920s.
Why similar: Point & Click 32%, Psychological 23.6%, Mystery 15.3%, Story Rich 12.5%, Atmospheric 9.8%
Why You'll Like It: A dark, atmospheric narrative game that explores multiple stories and secrets, sharing the stylized, point-click adventure feel of the seed.
- #11 Rainswept
91% matchVery Positive87% of 302 reviews2019
Dev: Frostwood Interactive
Windows · Mac · Linux
Median: 4.2 hrsMean: 7.4 hrs≥1hr: 80%
Rainswept takes you on an emotional adventure in a small town shaken by a double shooting. Join Detective Stone and unravel a tangled web of love, relationships, and unresolved trauma in this character-driven murder mystery game.
Why similar: Crime 23.4%, Interactive Fiction 16.4%, Visual Novel 13.3%, Side Scroller 11.2%, Psychological 9.3%
Why You'll Like It: A character-driven detective story that explores the psychological aspects of crime and mystery in a small-town setting.
- #12 Paper Perjury
89% matchVery Positive89% of 201 reviews2024
Dev: Paper Cat Games
Windows · Mac · Linux
It all started with a simple robbery. When that thread was pulled, a tapestry of mysteries was revealed. Solve cases and outsmart criminals in a detective story full of lies, confessions, and maybe even a murder or two.
Why similar: Visual Novel 20.2%, Crime 19.4%, Point & Click 18.6%, Mystery 16%, Puzzle 10.5%
Why You'll Like It: A detective visual novel that balances investigation with courtroom-style puzzles, echoing the priest's role in judging sinners.
- #13 Mind Diver
87% matchVery Positive96% of 327 reviews2025
Dev: Indoor SunglassesPub: PLAYISM
Windows
Investigate a broken mind to unravel a twisted case. Deduce the truth. Restore lost memories. Listen to private conversations. Draw your own conclusions. Mind Diver is a murder mystery, where the victim is love.
Why similar: Crime 28.8%, Interactive Fiction 21.6%, Mystery 15.7%, Puzzle 9.5%, Story Rich 8.6%
Why You'll Like It: An investigative puzzle game that explores the memories of others, mirroring the process of uncovering secrets in the seed game.
- #14 The Council
89% matchVery Positive84% of 5,631 reviews2018
Dev: Big Bad WolfPub: Focus Entertainment
Windows
Median: 4.4 hrsMean: 17.3 hrs≥1hr: 77%
Experience a Narrative Adventure where your choices and character growth truly matter. As a member of a 1793 secret society, live a tale of intrigue and manipulation on the hunt for your missing mother.
Why similar: Mystery 23.5%, Story Rich 20.5%, Adventure 16%, Puzzle 12.1%, Multiple Endings 10.4%
Why You'll Like It: A narrative-driven adventure that focuses on social investigation and dialogue-based puzzles where your choices significantly impact the outcome.
- #15 Tell Me Everything
88% matchMixed61% of 72 reviews2018
Dev: LizardFactory
Windows · Mac · Linux
Median: 12 minMean: 10.1 hrs≥1hr: 34%
A mysterious murder has shocked the inner city, and as the lead detective, it is your job to catch the real killer. Armed with words and wits, you uncover the secrets and capture the murderer, and make sure justice will be served.
Why similar: Word Game 42.7%, Mystery 14.3%, Puzzle 7.8%, Point & Click 7.7%, Visual Novel 6.1%
Why You'll Like It: A detective adventure that emphasizes word-based puzzles and investigation to solve a compelling mystery.
- #16 Knell of St. Godhrkar
85% matchVery Positive94% of 1,545 reviews2021
Dev: -二律背反-
Windows · Mac
In this game, you can watch as 7 protagonists come to a crossroad, facing their own destiny. You will witness their own choices and the blood-splattering consequence they have on one another. There is no way out except to plunge them into the abyss...
Why similar: Word Game 37%, Visual Novel 18.3%, Interactive Fiction 12.8%, Story Rich 8.8%, Mystery 5.6%
Why You'll Like It: A story-rich visual novel that blends adventure and strategy elements to create a unique, mystery-laden experience.
- #17 Burn Me Twice
86% matchVery Positive82% of 266 reviews2020
Dev: Null Reference Studio
Windows
A narrative adventure that combines the exploration and investigation of the enigmatic town of Düstenburg and its people, with trials that test your knowledge about the case.
Why similar: Interactive Fiction 26.7%, Cinematic 24.2%, Mystery 16.4%, Puzzle 12.2%, Story Rich 9.8%
Why You'll Like It: A narrative-focused mystery game that uses puzzle-solving to uncover the dark secrets of a village, much like the confession-based gameplay of the seed.
- #18 For Your Tranquility
86% matchMixed68% of 191 reviews2023
Dev: Gamesung Games
Windows · Mac
It's a mystery game that reveals the truth through an autopsy. Be a forensic doctor and find out why the dead died.
Why similar: Crime 28.9%, Point & Click 19.5%, Mystery 15.2%, Visual Novel 14.6%, Multiple Endings 5.2%
Why You'll Like It: A detective-focused mystery game that uses point-click mechanics to uncover secrets in a quiet, atmospheric setting.
- #19 GNOSIA
83% 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: Visual Novel 26.3%, Psychological 24.9%, Mystery 18.7%, Story Rich 12%, Atmospheric 7.5%
Why You'll Like It: A social deduction visual novel that requires you to analyze characters and their confessions to survive, similar to the seed's confession mechanics.
- #20 Citizen Sleeper
82% matchVery Positive93% of 10,020 reviews2022
Dev: Jump Over The AgePub: Fellow Traveller
Windows · Mac
Median: 3.6 hrsMean: 7.4 hrs≥1hr: 84%
Roleplaying in the ruins of interplanetary capitalism. Live the life of an escaped worker, washed-up on a lawless station at the edge of an interstellar society. Inspired by the flexibility and freedom of TTRPGs, explore the station, choose your friends, escape your past and change your future.
Why similar: Interactive Fiction 30.3%, Hand-drawn 22.1%, Multiple Endings 16.6%, Story Rich 12.6%, Atmospheric 8.8%
Why You'll Like It: A narrative-heavy RPG that focuses on choices and survival in a stylized world, offering a similar depth of character interaction.
- #21 Her Story
84% 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: Crime 28.5%, Interactive Fiction 21.6%, Point & Click 16.8%, Visual Novel 15.6%, Puzzle 8.9%
Why You'll Like It: A non-linear investigation game that tasks you with piecing together a mystery by watching and analyzing fragmented confession clips.
- #22 Oniria Crimes
84% matchVery Positive82% of 61 reviews2020
Dev: cKolmos narrative.
Windows · Mac · Linux
Oniria Crimes is an interactive noir novel with point & click mechanics. Explore crime scenes in a dreamlike world where objects are the only witnesses. Six cases, a hidden conspiracy. Only you can uncover the truth behind the crimes of Oniria.
Why similar: Psychological 21.9%, Interactive Fiction 21.4%, Point & Click 18.3%, Visual Novel 16.4%, Mystery 14%
Why You'll Like It: A logic-based mystery game that challenges you to solve crimes in a surreal, dystopian setting through careful investigation.
- #23 Coffee Talk
82% matchVery Positive95% of 12,298 reviews2020
Dev: Toge Productions
Windows · Mac
Median: 4.2 hrsMean: 10.2 hrs≥1hr: 85%
Coffee Talk is a coffee brewing and heart-to-heart talking simulator about listening to fantasy-inspired modern peoples’ problems, and helping them by serving up a warm drink or two.
Why similar: Interactive Fiction 29.1%, Visual Novel 28%, Multiple Endings 14.4%, Story Rich 12.2%, Atmospheric 10.5%
Why You'll Like It: While more relaxed, this game centers on listening to the confessions and stories of patrons, capturing the intimate, dialogue-heavy feel of the seed.
- #24 Who's Lila?
81% matchVery Positive95% of 3,610 reviews2022
Dev: Garage Heathen
Windows
Median: 3.6 hrsMean: 4.7 hrs≥1hr: 78%
A reverse-detective adventure, where you control your character's face
Why similar: Interactive Fiction 25.9%, Point & Click 22.6%, Visual Novel 19.7%, Multiple Endings 13.3%, Puzzle 10.6%
Why You'll Like It: A surreal mystery game with unique mechanics that force you to pay close attention to character expressions and narrative details.
- #25 Gensokyo：Presumption of Guilt~Pansies Before Dawn
79% matchVery Positive93% of 332 reviews2026
Dev: 戏壤游戏(Xirang Games)
Windows
Explore the intertwined fates of humans and youkai in this interactive fiction. As an unwitting protagonist, enter the sealed realm of Gensokyo to investigate a series of bizarre murders. Unearth ancient secrets and witness a gripping saga hidden for millennia.
Why similar: Word Game 21.8%, Psychological 18.5%, Visual Novel 16.7%, Mystery 13.5%, Romance 12.2%
- #26 Hypnospace Outlaw
81% matchOverwhelmingly Positive97% of 5,418 reviews2019
Dev: TendershootPub: No More Robots
Windows · Mac · Linux
Median: 3.4 hrsMean: 6.7 hrs≥1hr: 77%
Greetings Enforcer, and thank you for enlisting in the Hypnospace Patrol Department! As the world falls into its slumber, Hypnospace becomes a bustling global village. These virtual streets aren't going to police themselves!
Why similar: Point & Click 24.3%, Psychedelic 17.3%, Interactive Fiction 14.7%, Psychological 9.6%, Mystery 8.6%
Why You'll Like It: An investigation-heavy puzzle game that tasks you with scouring a digital world for clues and secrets.
- #27 NORCO
80% matchVery Positive93% of 3,080 reviews2022
Dev: Geography of RobotsPub: Raw Fury
Windows · Mac
Median: 3.2 hrsMean: 5.6 hrs≥1hr: 65%
NORCO is a dialogue-focused point & click adventure that immerses the player in the sinking suburbs and industrial swamplands of an increasingly surreal and distorted South Louisiana.
Why similar: Point & Click 35.8%, Mystery 26.1%, Story Rich 15.4%, Atmospheric 12.9%, Adventure 6.7%
Why You'll Like It: A surreal, atmospheric narrative game that blends mystery and investigation in a highly stylized, hand-drawn world.
- #28 The Excavation of Hob's Barrow
79% matchVery Positive92% of 3,087 reviews2022
Dev: Cloak and Dagger GamesPub: Wadjet Eye Games
Windows · Mac · Linux
Median: 3.4 hrsMean: 4.5 hrs≥1hr: 91%
The Excavation of Hob's Barrow is a folk horror narrative-driven adventure. Explore the isolated moors of rural Victorian England as you uncover the mysteries of Hob's Barrow. The answers lie in the soil...
Why similar: Point & Click 26.7%, Interactive Fiction 18.3%, Cinematic 13.2%, Mystery 10.7%, Puzzle 10%
Why You'll Like It: A point-click adventure that focuses on uncovering dark, ancient mysteries through exploration and dialogue.
- #29 Jackpot Crash Course
78% matchVery Positive99% of 186 reviews2026
Dev: RachelDrawsThisPub: STUDIO INVESTIGRAVE
Windows · Mac
In a game show starring only criminals, you must gamble against rival players to prove yourself worthy of being pardoned for your wrong deeds— But is the show really about proving your innocence? Jackpot Crash Course is a death game visual novel about crime, luck and spectacle.
Why similar: Crime 17%, Interactive Fiction 14.3%, Visual Novel 13.4%, Point & Click 11.4%, Psychological 11.1%
- #30 BLACK BOX LSS - The Shining Immortal
78% matchOverwhelmingly Positive99% of 1,897 reviews2023
Dev: Fif
Windows · Mac
Median: 54 minMean: 9.6 hrs≥1hr: 44%
Immerse yourself in a pixel-art visual novel that blends thrilling crime, romantic comedy, and the pursuit of love. This game depicts the story of a new employee pursuing his female boss.
Why similar: Crime 33.7%, Visual Novel 25.3%, Romance 17.3%, Mystery 8.2%, Story Rich 7.2%
- #31 Murders on the Yangtze River
77% matchOverwhelmingly Positive97% of 20,567 reviews2024
Dev: OMEGAMES STUDIO
Windows · Mac
Median: 11.7 hrsMean: 14.1 hrs≥1hr: 87%
"Murders on Yangtze River" is an Ace Attorney-like detective game that takes you on a journey through early 20th century China as you solve a series of intriguing cases. Use your logical reasoning and deduction skills to uncover clues, interrogate suspects, and solve the mysteries.
Why similar: Mystery 27.1%, Puzzle 25.7%, Story Rich 20.9%, Adventure 13%, Indie 7%
- #32 Misty Judgment
77% matchVery Positive94% of 1,414 reviews2025
Dev: 次元边界
Windows
This is a suspense reasoning interactive work with real people. You will play the protagonist "Qi Yi", find evidence in a series of murders, piece together the truth, and find the ultimate murderer, all of which will lead you to an unpredictable future.
Why similar: Word Game 18.3%, Interactive Fiction 16.2%, Cinematic 16%, Crime 13%, Visual Novel 11%
- #33 Reviver
76% matchVery Positive93% of 230 reviews2025
Dev: Cotton Game
Windows · Mac
Median: 3.1 hrsMean: 5.0 hrs≥1hr: 73%
A narrative puzzle game with themes of love, fate and time. Follow the life stories of the two main characters and influence their destinies through interactions and choices. The game combines hand-drawn style and an immersive interactive experience to explore a profound journey of love and choice.
Why similar: Hand-drawn 20.5%, Visual Novel 19.9%, Romance 14.4%, Puzzle 10.8%, Stylized 8.7%
- #34 Turlock Holmes
76% matchMostly Positive80% of 937 reviews2024
Dev: Find the Lamp GamesPub: Neverland Entertainment
Windows · Mac
Median: 4.5 hrsMean: 6.1 hrs≥1hr: 84%
A detective narrative puzzler without pre-set options! Raise your questions at will, and an AI-host will answer only with 'yes' or 'no.' Drive the investigation with your curiosity; the path to solving the mystery lies in questions you ask. Can you dig out the truth through your questions?
Why similar: Word Game 27.9%, Crime 24.4%, Point & Click 10.8%, Mystery 10.6%, Visual Novel 9.1%
- #35 Trials of Innocence
73% 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: Crime 20.4%, Interactive Fiction 18.1%, Visual Novel 14.4%, Point & Click 11.7%, Mystery 10.7%
- #36 The Dawn is Inevitable
74% matchVery Positive89% of 107 reviews2023
Dev: Last Spring
Windows · Mac · Linux
The Dawn is Inevitable is an interactive crime drama/neo-western novel inspired by classic RPG games. A mysterious stranger is forced to hide in a village called Rassvet. This place is isolated from the outside world for the whole winter and keeps many dark secrets.
Why similar: Word Game 26.8%, Crime 18.1%, Interactive Fiction 15.4%, Visual Novel 11.9%, Hand-drawn 10.1%
- #37 Murder by Numbers
75% 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: Crime 25.4%, Interactive Fiction 22.7%, Visual Novel 19%, Mystery 11.1%, Puzzle 10.2%
- #38 The Murder Hotel
72% 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: Crime 26.3%, Visual Novel 19.8%, Mystery 16%, Interactive Fiction 15.3%, Romance 8.8%
- #39 UNMEMORY
75% matchVery Positive84% of 99 reviews2020
Dev: PATRONES & ESCONDITES
Windows · Mac · Linux
Unravel a mystery: A game you can read, a book you can play.
Why similar: Interactive Fiction 17.9%, Mystery 16.9%, Point & Click 14.6%, Visual Novel 12.9%, Romance 12.7%
- #40 Confidential Killings - A Detective Game
72% matchMostly Positive79% of 660 reviews2026
Dev: BRANEPub: Surefire.Games
Windows · Mac
A series of murders is shocking Hollywood! Use your detective skills: search the crime scene, find clues, solve the mystery. Who is pulling the strings behind these Confidential Killings?
Why similar: Interactive Fiction 22%, Point & Click 19.5%, Mystery 14.8%, Hand-drawn 10.9%, Puzzle 9.7%
- #41 The Case of the Serialized Killer
73% matchVery Positive89% of 80 reviews2023
Dev: Alexis Royce
Windows · Mac
Delve into a devilishly delightful world of mysticism and mystery as Harold Ludicael, the disgraced demonologist. After the untimely demise of a famous illustrator, you’re tasked with solving their murder in this point-and-click visual novel.
Why similar: Visual Novel 18.6%, Hand-drawn 17.5%, Mystery 14.9%, Interactive Fiction 14.5%, Multiple Endings 12.2%
- #42 Feline Forensics and the Meowseum Mystery
70% matchVery Positive98% of 59 reviews2026
Dev: Nobody Crown
Windows
There's only one detective to unravel this murder turned museum heist... and they're the cat's meow. Interrogate a "colorful" cast of suspects until they cough up hairballs... and the truth. Will you wrap up the case in time for an afternoon nap, and make injustice knead its last biscuit?
Why similar: Interactive Fiction 21.1%, Hand-drawn 17.4%, Visual Novel 15.6%, Mystery 14.2%, Puzzle 10.3%
- #43 Dichotomy Illusion: The Coser Disassembly Incident
70% matchVery Positive86% of 379 reviews2025
Dev: akidouPub: 糕薯科技
Windows
"Dichotomy Illusion" is a Shin Honkaku mystery visual novel that combines real-world entertainment elements with physical locations, utilizing ACGN (Anime, Comics, Games, Novels) subculture knowledge to solve criminal cases and uncover the truth.
Why similar: Word Game 37.1%, Interactive Fiction 23.9%, Visual Novel 14.2%, Hand-drawn 8.9%, Stylized 5.6%
- #44 The Case of the Golden Idol
69% matchOverwhelmingly Positive98% of 10,351 reviews2022
Dev: Color Gray GamesPub: Playstack
Windows · Mac · Linux
Median: 7.0 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: Crime 20.7%, Interactive Fiction 18.2%, Point & Click 17.3%, Mystery 16.6%, Puzzle 9.1%
- #45 Drops of Death
70% matchVery Positive93% of 92 reviews2025
Dev: Snowhaven Studios
Windows · Mac · Linux
A murder mystery visual novel with a romantic twist. The killer is randomly chosen at the start of each playthrough, and you may unknowingly fall in love with them. How will your story come to its end? Will you bring the killer to justice, fall in love with them, or die at their hands?
Why similar: Visual Novel 29.8%, Romance 22.9%, Mystery 20.8%, Multiple Endings 12.5%, Story Rich 9.3%
- #46 Deluge: Sermon for the Dead
71% matchMostly Positive78% of 103 reviews2024
Dev: leavesPub: socah
Windows · Mac · Linux
High school girls have been disappearing from Abbotsford. Unravel the mystery before all things wash away in a tidal wave of deep despair. An interactive visual novel with psychological and lovecraftian undertones.
Why similar: Psychological 31.3%, Visual Novel 26.1%, Mystery 21%, Story Rich 9.7%, Adventure 6.9%
- #47 The Deed: Dynasty
73% matchVery Positive82% of 1,022 reviews2016
Dev: Pilgrim AdventuresPub: GrabTheGames
Windows
Median: 3.2 hrsMean: 5.7 hrs≥1hr: 91%
Getting away with murder has never been easy. These three members of a proud and noble family are separated by five centuries, but have in common a vengeful and murderous intent. Plans must be formed, blood must be spilled and evidence must be planted ...
Why similar: Crime 37%, Visual Novel 14.4%, Mystery 11.4%, Story Rich 9.1%, Puzzle 9.1%
- #48 The NOexistenceN of you AND me
67% matchVery Positive93% of 20,460 reviews2024
Dev: 0x0Real StudioPub: Nino Games
Windows · Mac
Median: 2.5 hrsMean: 16.7 hrs≥1hr: 70%
Use "game" as a medium to showcase the world of "you/girl". Explore the truth of "you/girl/world" through the form of a "visual novel".
Why similar: Visual Novel 24.6%, Interactive Fiction 18.4%, Psychological 16%, Multiple Endings 13%, Psychedelic 10.3%
- #49 Unheard - Voices of Crime
69% matchOverwhelmingly Positive96% of 33,170 reviews2019
Dev: NEXT Studios
Windows · Mac
Median: 4.0 hrsMean: 7.4 hrs≥1hr: 78%
What if you could hear every word spoken at the scene of a crime? “Acoustic Detectives” wanted for testing our new device! Return aurally to crime scenes and use the voices you hear to identify potential suspects and solve the mysteries. What is it that’s connecting these seemingly unrelated cases?
Why similar: Mystery 30.9%, Puzzle 22.8%, Story Rich 13.5%, Point & Click 10.6%, Crime 9.9%
- #50 Love Alone Death
68% matchVery Positive99% of 418 reviews2023
Dev: vivid selfish
Windows · Mac
Build relationship with the characters. Your choices might earn you favor from one character, but disdain from another. Use items to solve problems. Confront various endings. Choose one person and face the end with them.
Why similar: Point & Click 27.3%, Psychedelic 22.9%, Romance 17.5%, Multiple Endings 14.2%, Story Rich 8.5%
- #51 Departed Away
68% matchVery Positive90% of 552 reviews2024
Dev: Alperen Torun
Windows
Discover 'Departed Away,' a captivating visual novel where friendship intertwines with mystery. Uncover secrets, engage in verbal duels, and make choices that shape your story. Delve into emotional depth and intricate connections in this unique story.
Why similar: Visual Novel 19.3%, Interactive Fiction 18.5%, Psychological 15.8%, Romance 15%, Mystery 13.2%
- #52 The Detective Reaper Invites
71% matchMixed52% of 77 reviews2024
Dev: SHIZU KANO UMIPub: PLAYISM
Windows
Use various cards to solve randomly generated murder cases in this roguelite deduction adventure game. The culprit always lies, and the innocent always tell the truth. Make too many mistakes, and it's back to square one. Put your wits to the test and solve as many cases as you can!
Why similar: Psychological 33%, Puzzle 19.9%, Point & Click 16.6%, Story Rich 11.6%, Adventure 10.4%
- #53 Chronicles of Tal'Dun: The Remainder - Act 1
71% matchVery Positive88% of 50 reviews2021
Dev: Square Weasel Studio
Windows
A dark fantasy tale where death is not the end but the path to the truth. Two magi trapped in a collapsing tower must unravel a deadly mystery. Each death reveals another piece of the puzzle that is their shared past and forbidden love. For fans of House in Fata Morgana and literary dark fantasy.
Why similar: Visual Novel 28.5%, Hand-drawn 24.6%, Romance 13.3%, Story Rich 10.9%, Stylized 9.7%
- #54 The Red Pearls Of Borneo
64% matchOverwhelmingly Positive98% of 2,382 reviews2026
Dev: Bushmonkey Games
Windows · Mac
A detective noir puzzle deduction game. Explore a non-linear timeline as a clairvoyant investigator in 1941 Borneo. Jump between time and locations to uncover motives and discover what truly happened in the Goodwill tobacco plantation that fateful night on the eve of the WW2 Japanese invasion.
Why similar: Interactive Fiction 26.8%, Visual Novel 13.8%, Puzzle 13.3%, Hand-drawn 11%, Story Rich 8.6%
- #55 Shui's Odyssey
67% matchVery Positive88% of 139 reviews2024
Dev: Intentional StudioPub: 2P Games
Windows
This is a puzzle game that combines text and images. Players use visual illusions to piece together fragments of memories from Alzheimer's patients, in order to reconstruct the truth of the story and witness the passage of time for three generations.
Why similar: Word Game 27.1%, Interactive Fiction 16.3%, Hand-drawn 14%, Point & Click 13.6%, Puzzle 8.1%
- #56 Guilt Free
69% matchVery Positive86% of 293 reviews2020
Dev: Lateral Games
Windows · Mac
Guilt Free is a visual novel crossed with a point and click made to offer perspective on mental health and eating disorders. Navigate a couple's rocky relationship and encounter "flaws" or "quirks" that may actually be symptomatic behaviors.
Why similar: Interactive Fiction 26.5%, Visual Novel 21.7%, Point & Click 17%, Multiple Endings 12.5%, Story Rich 11.2%
- #57 Summerland
68% matchVery Positive91% of 1,762 reviews2020
Dev: FYRE Games
Windows
Summerland is a first-person narrative game about morality and the afterlife. You take control of Matthew, a detective reliving the events of his past, being questioned on his morals along the way. In every door lies another memory, and every memory unlocks another door.
Why similar: Cinematic 22.4%, Interactive Fiction 20.6%, Point & Click 19.2%, Story Rich 10%, Atmospheric 7.9%
- #58 Snowfall's Mystery
66% matchVery Positive87% of 112 reviews2025
Dev: Sempiternal Rain
Windows
A psychological interactive novel about a floppy disk with a mysterious program. Help Elliot cope with his mental issues and uncover the secret of the floppy disk.
Why similar: Psychedelic 20.1%, Psychological 17.1%, Interactive Fiction 14.8%, Visual Novel 11.9%, Romance 10.9%
- #59 Chronicles of Taldun: The Remainder
67% matchVery Positive95% of 152 reviews2022
Dev: Square Weasel Studio
Windows · Linux
A dark fantasy tale where death is not the end but the path to the truth. Two magi trapped in a collapsing tower must unravel a deadly mystery. Each death reveals another piece of the puzzle that is their shared past and forbidden love. For fans of House in Fata Morgana and literary dark fantasy.
Why similar: Visual Novel 18.4%, Romance 15.2%, Mystery 14.8%, Hand-drawn 13.8%, Multiple Endings 13.5%
