- #1 The Vanishing of Ethan Carter
97% matchVery Positive88% of 8,974 reviews2014
Dev: The Astronauts
Windows
Median: 3.3 hrsMean: 4.0 hrs≥1hr: 88%
The Vanishing of Ethan Carter is a first-person story-driven mystery. Purchase this game to get both the original and the Unreal Engine 4 remaster called The Vanishing of Ethan Carter Redux.
Why similar: Detective 28.7%, Mystery 19%, Atmospheric 10.1%, First-Person 8.4%, Horror 6.9%
Why You'll Like It: Like Draugen, this game features a stunning, atmospheric open-world setting and a focus on uncovering a dark mystery through environmental investigation.
- #2 The Painscreek Killings
96% matchVery Positive91% of 6,226 reviews2017
Dev: EQ Studios
Windows
Median: 5.1 hrsMean: 6.4 hrs≥1hr: 88%
Investigate an infamous cold case in the eerie, abandoned town of Painscreek. Search for evidence, connect the dots and uncover who killed Vivian Roberts. Can you expose the truth behind this town’s dark secrets?
Why similar: Detective 21.5%, Mystery 15%, Investigation 13.4%, Story Rich 7.5%, Horror 6.4%
Why You'll Like It: It offers a pure, non-linear investigative experience that rewards players for paying close attention to their surroundings.
- #3 What Remains of Edith Finch
96% matchOverwhelmingly Positive96% of 52,241 reviews2017
Dev: Giant SparrowPub: Annapurna Interactive
Windows
Median: 2.6 hrsMean: 6.3 hrs≥1hr: 88%
What Remains of Edith Finch is a collection of strange tales about a family in Washington state. As Edith, you’ll explore the colossal Finch house, searching for stories as she explores her family history and tries to figure out why she's the last one in her family left alive.
Why similar: Story Rich 22.5%, Mystery 18%, Atmospheric 13.8%, First-Person 11.2%, Psychological Horror 7.5%
Why You'll Like It: This title is the gold standard for environmental storytelling, using a family home to unravel a deeply personal and emotional mystery.
- #4 Firewatch
95% matchVery Positive91% of 99,102 reviews2016
Dev: Campo SantoPub: Panic
Windows · Mac · Linux
Median: 4.4 hrsMean: 13.5 hrs≥1hr: 88%
Firewatch is a single-player first-person mystery set in the Wyoming wilderness, where your only emotional lifeline is the person on the other end of a handheld radio.
Why similar: Mystery 22.6%, Story Rich 17.8%, Atmospheric 15.6%, First-Person 13.5%, Exploration 8%
Why You'll Like It: It excels at building an intimate relationship between two characters through dialogue while exploring a vast, atmospheric wilderness.
- #5 The Suicide of Rachel Foster
94% matchMixed68% of 6,878 reviews2020
Dev: ONE-O-ONE GAMESPub: Daedalic Entertainment
Windows
Median: 3.5 hrsMean: 4.7 hrs≥1hr: 75%
Coming back to the family hotel after years, a young woman finds herself trapped with the ghosts from her past and an old cellular telephone as the only way to unveil a terrible truth.
Why similar: Mystery 23.8%, Story Rich 13.5%, Atmospheric 12.4%, First-Person 11.9%, Realistic 11.2%
Why You'll Like It: This game shares a similar isolated, narrative-heavy structure where the protagonist must uncover secrets within a secluded, atmospheric location.
- #6 Kona
94% matchVery Positive83% of 3,661 reviews2017
Dev: Parabole
Windows · Mac · Linux
Median: 2.0 hrsMean: 4.9 hrs≥1hr: 64%
Northern Canada, 1970. A strange blizzard ravages Atamipek Lake. Step into the shoes of a detective to explore the eerie village, investigate surreal events, and battle the elements to survive. Kona is a chilly interactive tale you won't soon forget.
Why similar: Detective 33.5%, First-Person 11.9%, Atmospheric 10.6%, Story Rich 9.3%, Horror 9.1%
Why You'll Like It: Set in a cold, isolated environment, this game perfectly captures the feeling of exploring a forgotten place to solve a local mystery.
- #7 Call of the Sea
93% matchVery Positive88% of 6,330 reviews2020
Dev: Out of the Blue GamesPub: Raw Fury
Windows
Median: 4.8 hrsMean: 5.9 hrs≥1hr: 75%
Join Norah, a woman plagued by a mysterious illness, in her search for her missing husband in this adventure puzzle game set on a lush island paradise. Immerse yourself in stunning visuals and unlock forbidden secrets in a moving tale of mystery and love.
Why similar: Mystery 14%, Historical 12.2%, Story Rich 11.3%, First-Person 11.2%, Puzzle 10.7%
Why You'll Like It: It combines a strong, character-driven narrative with puzzle-solving in a beautifully realized, atmospheric setting.
- #8 Return of the Obra Dinn
92% matchOverwhelmingly Positive97% of 34,930 reviews2018
Dev: Lucas PopePub: 3909
Windows · Mac
Median: 6.7 hrsMean: 8.5 hrs≥1hr: 81%
Lost at sea 1803 ~ The good ship Obra Dinn.
Why similar: Detective 34.6%, Mystery 20.5%, Story Rich 8.8%, Puzzle 8.2%, Historical 8.1%
Why You'll Like It: While visually distinct, it provides a top-tier detective experience that requires careful observation and deduction.
- #9 Gone Home
91% matchMostly Positive77% of 18,420 reviews2013
Dev: Fullbright
Windows · Mac · Linux
Median: 2.3 hrsMean: 4.4 hrs≥1hr: 81%
June 7th, 1995. 1:15 AM. You arrive home after a year abroad. You expect your family to greet you, but the house is empty. Something's not right. Where is everyone? And what's happened here? Unravel the mystery for yourself in Gone Home, a story exploration game from The Fullbright Company.
Why similar: Narrative 26.3% ★, First-Person 13.2%, Atmospheric 13%, Story Rich 12.8%, Exploration 10.8%
Why You'll Like It: It is a foundational narrative exploration game that excels at making the player feel the weight of a family's history through objects.
- #10 Everybody's Gone to the Rapture
91% matchMixed68% of 2,153 reviews2016
Dev: The Chinese RoomPub: PlayStation Publishing LLC
Windows
Median: 4.0 hrsMean: 5.2 hrs≥1hr: 71%
Featuring a beautiful, detailed open-world and a haunting soundtrack, Everybody’s Gone to the Rapture is non-linear storytelling at its best.
Why similar: Atmospheric 24.5%, Story Rich 18.5%, First-Person 14.9%, Mystery 12.3%, Exploration 9.7%
Why You'll Like It: This game focuses heavily on the 'walking simulator' experience, using an empty, beautiful environment to tell a poignant story.
- #11 Martha Is Dead
89% matchMostly Positive79% of 3,899 reviews2022
Dev: LKAPub: Wired Productions
Windows
Median: 5.5 hrsMean: 6.6 hrs≥1hr: 89%
Set in 1944 Italy, Martha Is Dead is an award-winning dark psychological thriller where the lines between truth, superstition, and tragedy blur. Explore a haunting countryside, uncover disturbing memories, and peel back layers of mystery. Every choice shapes the nightmare…are you ready to face it?
Why similar: Cinematic 19.2%, Psychological Horror 16.4%, Mystery 14.4%, Story Rich 11.5%, Horror 10.3%
Why You'll Like It: Set in historical Italy, this game offers a dark, atmospheric, and deeply narrative-driven mystery that feels very similar in tone.
- #12 Hitchhiker - A Mystery Game
90% matchMostly Positive71% of 230 reviews2021
Dev: Mad About PandasPub: Versus Evil
Windows
Median: 2.8 hrsMean: 4.0 hrs≥1hr: 86%
Hitchhiker is a mystery game set along lost highways, where your goal is to solve the puzzle of your own backstory.
Why similar: Mystery 24.6%, Story Rich 16.2%, First-Person 15%, Atmospheric 13.6%, Emotional 12%
Why You'll Like It: The focus on dialogue and uncovering a fragmented memory makes it a great thematic match for Draugen.
- #13 Tacoma
89% matchVery Positive86% of 4,790 reviews2017
Dev: Fullbright
Windows · Mac · Linux
Median: 3.7 hrsMean: 4.5 hrs≥1hr: 92%
Tacoma is a sci-fi narrative adventure from the creators of Gone Home. Set aboard a high-tech space station in the year 2088, explore every detail of how the station’s crew lived and worked, finding the clues that add up to a gripping story of trust, fear, and resolve in the face of disaster.
Why similar: Story Rich 20.4%, Mystery 18.7%, First-Person 14.7%, Atmospheric 10.5%, Exploration 9.4%
Why You'll Like It: It uses AR recordings to let players piece together a mystery, mirroring the investigative feel of Draugen.
- #14 Quern - Undying Thoughts
88% matchVery Positive91% of 4,053 reviews2016
Dev: Zadbox EntertainmentPub: Blue Brain Games
Windows · Mac · Linux
Median: 4.6 hrsMean: 7.8 hrs≥1hr: 89%
Discover the truth about Quern’s past, unfold the mysteries of its present, and be the explorer who shapes its future. Quern introduces reusable puzzle mechanics to the classic genre, making the player think about the game as a whole, and not just as a series of individual challenges.
Why similar: Mystery 15.4%, Cinematic 14.4%, Investigation 10.8%, Point & Click 9.2%, Puzzle 8.6%
Why You'll Like It: It offers a deep, thoughtful exploration experience that pairs well with the puzzle-solving elements found in Draugen.
- #15 Once Alive
85% matchVery Positive84% of 492 reviews2024
Dev: Cem Boray YıldırımPub: GameDev.ist
Windows
Median: 2.0 hrsMean: 3.1 hrs≥1hr: 76%
A story-driven, first-person adventure game offering a cinematic experience. Embark on a journey to HaustVille, an abandoned settlement in a post-apocalyptic world. Explore your surroundings and uncover the mystery behind the disappearance of the last survivors.
Why similar: Mystery 18.9%, Cinematic 15.3%, Investigation 12.9%, Story Rich 10.9%, Atmospheric 9.7%
Why You'll Like It: This walking simulator focuses on atmospheric exploration and uncovering the truth behind a desolate, mysterious environment.
- #16 Virginia
87% matchMixed64% of 3,375 reviews2016
Dev: Variable StatePub: 505 Games
Windows · Mac
Median: 4.4 hrsMean: 5.4 hrs≥1hr: 92%
Virginia is a single-player first-person thriller set in a small town with a secret. Experience a missing person investigation through the eyes of graduate FBI agent Anne Tarver.
Why similar: Detective 24.3%, Cinematic 17.8%, Mystery 14.9%, First-Person 8.2%, Story Rich 8.2%
Why You'll Like It: It is a short, cinematic, and highly atmospheric mystery that relies on visual storytelling.
- #17 The Occupation
86% matchMixed60% of 413 reviews2019
Dev: White Paper GamesPub: Balor Games
Windows
Median: 4.5 hrsMean: 5.3 hrs≥1hr: 93%
The Occupation is a fixed-time, investigative thriller set in North West England on Saturday 24th October, 1987.
Why similar: Detective 28.2%, Mystery 16.4%, Story Rich 9.4%, First-Person 9.3%, Puzzle 7%
Why You'll Like It: This game emphasizes investigative work and time-sensitive exploration in a first-person, narrative-heavy format.
- #18 Lake Ridden
86% matchMostly Positive72% of 292 reviews2018
Dev: Midnight Hub
Windows
Median: 3.0 hrsMean: 6.2 hrs≥1hr: 66%
Lake Ridden is a story-driven, first-person puzzle game! A cozy supernatural adventure where you unravel a mysterious past, trying to find your sister. Luckily, you are not alone...
Why similar: Mystery 24.1%, Puzzle 23.6%, Adventure 20.1%, Atmospheric 14.5%, Indie 14.3%
Why You'll Like It: This game features a strong narrative and puzzle-solving in a forest setting that echoes the isolation of Draugen.
- #19 Syberia: The World Before
83% matchVery Positive90% of 5,010 reviews2022
Dev: Microids Studio ParisPub: Microids
Windows
Median: 6.2 hrsMean: 9.5 hrs≥1hr: 92%
Embark on a quest for identity through time, as you piece together the puzzle of two lives.
Why similar: Detective 14.6%, Cinematic 11.9%, Mystery 10.2%, Point & Click 9.9%, Historical 9%
Why You'll Like It: It is a beautifully crafted adventure game that focuses on uncovering the past through exploration and puzzle-solving.
- #20 Close To The Sun
84% matchMostly Positive74% of 1,339 reviews2020
Dev: Storm in a TeacupPub: Wired Productions
Windows
Median: 4.3 hrsMean: 5.6 hrs≥1hr: 92%
Deep in international waters, Tesla’s Helios stands still. An unbound utopia for scientific research, Rose Archer steps aboard in search of her sister, quickly to discover not all is as it seems. A single word covers the entrance… QUARANTINE!
Why similar: Horror 26.8%, First-Person 25%, Adventure 21.7%, Indie 15.1%, Atmospheric 7.3%
Why You'll Like It: It provides a tense, atmospheric mystery set in a unique, isolated location that demands exploration.
- #21 Through the Woods
84% matchMostly Positive71% of 1,677 reviews2016
Dev: AntagonistPub: Fulqrum Publishing
Windows
Median: 3.2 hrsMean: 4.5 hrs≥1hr: 89%
Through the Woods is a third-person Norse horror adventure set in a forest on the western shores of Norway that tells the story of a mother and her missing son.
Why similar: Horror 15.3%, Cinematic 12.9%, Psychological Horror 12.2%, Mystery 11.7%, Atmospheric 9.9%
Why You'll Like It: It captures the feeling of exploring a dark, mythological landscape with a heavy focus on narrative.
- #22 Chasing Static
82% matchVery Positive87% of 512 reviews2021
Dev: Headware Games
Windows
Median: 3.4 hrsMean: 3.8 hrs≥1hr: 88%
A psychological horror short story. Explore the untouched wilderness of rural Wales as you uncover the forgotten remains of a mysterious facility and find the truth behind the missing villagers of Hearth.
Why similar: Narrative 18.3% ★, Cinematic 15.7%, Psychological Horror 12.2%, Mystery 11.7%, Horror 8.8%
Why You'll Like It: It provides a low-fi, atmospheric mystery experience that feels intimate and focused.
- #23 Observer: System Redux
81% matchVery Positive85% of 2,987 reviews2020
Dev: Bloober TeamPub: Bloober Team SA
Windows
Median: 3.1 hrsMean: 8.3 hrs≥1hr: 69%
A first‑person cyberpunk horror detective story set in a decaying, neon‑scarred future. As an Observer who invades minds to hunt for clues, you will sift through corrupted memories to track down a mysterious killer and confront your own dark past.
Why similar: Detective 28.5%, Investigation 19%, Psychological Horror 14.8%, Horror 13.1%, First-Person 12.6%
Why You'll Like It: It features a strong detective narrative set in a highly atmospheric, albeit cyberpunk, environment.
- #24 SOMA
81% matchOverwhelmingly Positive96% of 52,325 reviews2015
Dev: Frictional Games
Windows · Mac · Linux
Median: 5.6 hrsMean: 10.2 hrs≥1hr: 89%
From the creators of Amnesia: The Dark Descent comes SOMA, a sci-fi horror game set below the waves of the Atlantic ocean. Struggle to survive a hostile world that will make you question your very existence.
Why similar: Psychological Horror 16.8%, Horror 13.4%, Story Rich 11.5%, Mystery 11.4%, First-Person 10.8%
Why You'll Like It: Beyond its horror elements, it is a profound, story-rich mystery that explores deep philosophical questions.
- #25 NORCO
79% matchVery Positive92% of 3,213 reviews2022
Dev: Geography of RobotsPub: Raw Fury
Windows · Mac
Median: 3.1 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: Mystery 21.6%, Point & Click 19.4%, Investigation 16.5%, Story Rich 13.4%, Atmospheric 11.7%
Why You'll Like It: While a point-and-click, its writing and atmospheric world-building are top-tier for fans of narrative mysteries.
- #26 Layers of Fear
79% matchMostly Positive79% of 1,700 reviews2023
Dev: Anshar StudiosPub: Bloober Team SA
Windows · Mac
Median: 4.2 hrsMean: 7.3 hrs≥1hr: 77%
The era-defining first-person psychological horror in all its terrifying glory. All of the game’s chapters collected into one convenient package that allows you to plumb the depths of madness in pursuit of artistic revelation.
Why similar: Psychological Horror 14%, Narrative 13.1% ★, Mystery 12%, Horror 9.5%, First-Person 9.4%
Why You'll Like It: It uses a first-person perspective to tell a psychological story through the exploration of a changing environment.
- #27 Year Walk
80% matchVery Positive90% of 2,019 reviews2014
Dev: Simogo
Windows · Mac
Median: 1.0 hrsMean: 2.7 hrs≥1hr: 51%
Venture out into the dark woods where strange creatures roam, on a vision quest set in 19th century Sweden. Solve and decipher cryptic puzzles, listen for clues, and learn about mysterious folklore creatures in the built-in encyclopedia as you seek to foresee your future.
Why similar: Historical 17.5%, Mystery 13.9%, Psychological Horror 13.2%, Story Rich 11.6%, Horror 11.5%
Why You'll Like It: This game is deeply rooted in folklore and atmosphere, providing a unique, mysterious journey.
- #28 Foghorns Drown
77% matchMostly Positive77% of 131 reviews2026
Dev: Studio Laaya
Windows
You're a ferryman in Birchwood, a remote village isolated beyond a lake veiled in thick fog. Mysteries and folklore haunt your dreams in this narrative-driven psychological horror game.
Why similar: Detective 16.2%, Narrative 14% ★, Mystery 13.5%, Psychological Horror 12.2%, Cinematic 12%
- #29 The Séance of Blake Manor
74% matchOverwhelmingly Positive95% of 3,757 reviews2025
Dev: Spooky DoorwayPub: Raw Fury
Windows · Linux
Median: 7.3 hrsMean: 11.0 hrs≥1hr: 80%
The Séance of Blake Manor is a supernatural detective mystery, set in 1897 Ireland, where you investigate the disappearance of Evelyn Deane in a remote hotel full of secrets and other-worldly occurrences.
Why similar: Detective 17.9%, Historical 11.4%, Narrative 11.1% ★, Mystery 10.4%, Investigation 8.4%
- #30 The Town of Light
78% matchMostly Positive79% of 2,808 reviews2016
Dev: LKA
Windows
Median: 3.4 hrsMean: 4.3 hrs≥1hr: 91%
12 March 1938, Renée, 16, was ripped out of her world, her only fault was that of not knowing her place in the world.
Why similar: Psychological Horror 17%, Historical 15.8%, Mystery 14.9%, Horror 12.5%, Atmospheric 9.6%
Why You'll Like It: It is a grounded, narrative-heavy exploration game that deals with sensitive, character-focused themes.
- #31 Moons of Madness
78% matchMostly Positive78% of 2,929 reviews2019
Dev: Rock Pocket GamesPub: Funcom
Windows
Median: 4.0 hrsMean: 5.6 hrs≥1hr: 91%
Moons of Madness is a first-person, story-driven cosmic horror game where the scientific exploration of Mars meets the supernatural dread of Lovecraft.
Why similar: Horror 17.9%, Psychological Horror 15%, Mystery 13.9%, First-Person 12.2%, Adventure 11.7%
Why You'll Like It: This game blends atmospheric exploration with a growing sense of mystery and psychological tension.
- #32 The Whispering Valley | La vallée qui murmure
77% matchVery Positive89% of 172 reviews2022
Dev: Studio Chien d'Or
Windows · Mac
Explore a remote village and solve complex puzzles in The Whispering Valley, a folk horror point & click game. Delve into guilt and depression to investigate the village's deepest secret.
Why similar: Historical 13.8%, Point & Click 11.7%, Mystery 11.3%, Horror 9.1%, Story Rich 8.9%
- #33 Still Wakes the Deep
74% matchVery Positive88% of 12,762 reviews2024
Dev: The Chinese RoomPub: Secret Mode
Windows
Median: 4.8 hrsMean: 6.2 hrs≥1hr: 84%
1975. Disaster strikes the Beira D oil rig off the coast of Scotland. Navigate the collapsing rig to save your crew from an otherworldly horror on the edge of all logic and reality in this 3x BAFTA Games Award-winning narrative horror experience.
Why similar: Psychological Horror 16.9%, Cinematic 15.9%, Narrative 13% ★, Horror 12.4%, First-Person 10.9%
- #34 The Incident at Galley House
72% matchVery Positive95% of 3,297 reviews2026
Dev: William RousPub: Evil Trout Inc.
Windows · Mac · Linux
Median: 8.5 hrsMean: 8.9 hrs≥1hr: 93%
In 1936, something terrible happened at Galley House. Decades later, with a strange contraption that reveals echoes of the past, you must uncover the truth behind this grisly mystery.
Why similar: Detective 30.7%, Mystery 26%, Puzzle 11.4%, Story Rich 11%, Atmospheric 6.7%
- #35 Dimhaven - The Lost Source
73% matchVery Positive88% of 886 reviews2026
Dev: Zadbox EntertainmentPub: Blue Brain Games
Windows · Mac
Are you ready for an adventure? Challenges, exploration and puzzles in a narrative driven experience, pick up your camera and test your wits in this first-person mystery by the team behind Quern!
Why similar: Detective 19.4%, Mystery 13.5%, Point & Click 9.9%, Investigation 9%, Emotional 9%
- #36 Kona II: Brume
75% matchVery Positive82% of 516 reviews2023
Dev: ParabolePub: Ravenscourt
Windows · Linux
Median: 6.9 hrsMean: 7.6 hrs≥1hr: 73%
Northern Québec, 1970. A bizarre mist —the Brume— is disconnecting a rural mining village from its quiet reality. Step into the shoes of Detective Carl Faubert as he unfolds the mysteries haunting the region while battling for his own survival.
Why similar: Detective 24.2%, Mystery 17.4%, Investigation 15.4%, Story Rich 9.5%, First-Person 9.2%
- #37 Dead Secret
76% matchVery Positive81% of 597 reviews2016
Dev: Robot Invader
Windows · Mac
Median: 1.7 hrsMean: 2.6 hrs≥1hr: 57%
Dead Secret is a first-person horror mystery set in rural Kansas in 1965. A reclusive professor is dead and it’s up to you to crack the case before you become the next victim. Investigate the murder and explore the story Time Magazine called “captivating” and “deeply creepy” .
Why similar: Mystery 16.7%, Psychological Horror 15.8%, Point & Click 11.7%, Story Rich 11.1%, Horror 9.9%
- #38 The Whisperer | Le murmureur
76% matchMixed67% of 122 reviews2021
Dev: Studio Chien d'Or
Windows · Mac
Investigate an abandoned trading post, explore its surroundings and solve the terrible mystery it holds. The Whisperer is a short story-driven point & click game set in Lower Canada at the beginning of the 19th century.
Why similar: Historical 13.9%, Mystery 12%, Story Rich 9.9%, Horror 8.9%, First-Person 8.7%
- #39 Mystery of the Malign
72% matchVery Positive94% of 82 reviews2025
Dev: Gameplay Supremacy
Windows
Investigate. Interrogate. Descend into a world of intrigue to untangle the Mystery of the Malign.
Why similar: Mystery 23.1%, Investigation 15.6%, Story Rich 12.6%, Puzzle 10.9%, Atmospheric 10.6%
- #40 Marie's Room
73% matchVery Positive93% of 6,682 reviews2018
Dev: Kenny Guillaume
Windows
Median: 54 minMean: 14.7 hrs≥1hr: 42%
Marie's Room is a short story exploration game about an unconventional friendship between two classmates. You play as Kelsey, remembering Marie's room as it was twenty years ago. But something’s off. What happened to Marie?
Why similar: Story Rich 22.1%, Mystery 14.2%, Atmospheric 14.2%, First-Person 10.8%, Point & Click 8.1%
- #41 The Last Case of John Morley
71% matchVery Positive82% of 324 reviews2025
Dev: Indigo Studios - Interactive StoriesPub: JanduSoft
Windows
Step into the mind of John Morley, a 1940s detective on his final case. Explore shadowed places long forgotten by time, and piece together crime scenes in a narrative adventure steeped in mystery, unexpected twists, and a truth buried for decades.
Why similar: Detective 19.8%, Narrative 15.1% ★, Mystery 11.4%, Psychological Horror 7.8%, First-Person 7.5%
- #42 The End of the Sun
70% matchVery Positive97% of 312 reviews2025
Dev: The End of the Sun Forge
Windows · Mac · Linux
Median: 2.5 hrsMean: 3.9 hrs≥1hr: 79%
You are the Ashter – a Slavic fire mage and tracker of mythical beings. Following a legendary creature, you reach a village caught in a time rift. Embark on a magical investigation – travel through time, explore the ancient land, and bond with fire to shape villagers’ fate and uncover the mystery.
Why similar: Detective 19.3%, Mystery 13%, Point & Click 9.5%, Narrative 9.5% ★, Investigation 9.3%
- #43 Saint Kotar
73% matchMostly Positive74% of 286 reviews2021
Dev: The-Mark EntertainmentPub: SOEDESCO
Windows · Mac · Linux
Median: 3.4 hrsMean: 5.9 hrs≥1hr: 89%
Saint Kotar is a psychological horror detective game set in a cursed valley in rural Croatia. Investigate the disappearance of your relative in the occult-ridden town of Sveti Kotar as you switch between conflicting realities through the eyes of two godly men.
Why similar: Detective 26.3%, Point & Click 14.5%, Mystery 13.9%, Psychological Horror 13.4%, Story Rich 9.5%
- #44 Bramble: The Mountain King
70% matchVery Positive95% of 7,776 reviews2023
Dev: Dimfrost StudioPub: Maximum Entertainment
Windows
Median: 4.1 hrsMean: 5.7 hrs≥1hr: 87%
Bramble The Mountain King is a grim adventure set in a world inspired by dark, Nordic fables. Explore the beautiful yet dangerous and twisted land of Bramble in your endeavour to rescue your sister. Traverse a wondrous landscape and survive deadly encounters with Bramble's many hideous creatures.
Why similar: Cinematic 30.9%, Emotional 16.6%, Horror 15.4%, Atmospheric 12.1%, Story Rich 9.1%
- #45 Portrait of a Torn
71% matchVery Positive85% of 68 reviews2024
Dev: Indigo Studios - Interactive StoriesPub: Firenut Games
Windows
As a young soldier returning to an eerily deserted home, you'll explore enigmatic rooms and uncover a haunting, tragic story. Experience an atmospheric journey filled with suspense, mysterious encounters, and a deep narrative.
Why similar: Mystery 17.7%, Story Rich 12.9%, First-Person 12%, Emotional 10.9%, Investigation 10.9%
- #46 Mind Diver
68% matchVery Positive95% of 368 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: Detective 20.4%, Mystery 13.6%, Investigation 11.2%, Emotional 9.2%, Story Rich 7.8%
- #47 Homesick
71% matchMostly Positive78% of 1,450 reviews2015
Dev: Lucky Pause
Windows
Median: 2.5 hrsMean: 3.2 hrs≥1hr: 80%
Explore an abandoned building, encountering puzzles and clues to discover what happened, as you try to escape in both your nightmares and the waking world. Be immersed in the hauntingly beautiful 3D atmosphere in this puzzle exploration mystery game.
Why similar: Mystery 18.2%, Atmospheric 15.9%, First-Person 13.4%, Puzzle 13%, Horror 10.7%
- #48 No one lives under the lighthouse Director's cut
69% matchVery Positive87% of 2,465 reviews2020
Dev: Marevo Collective
Windows · Mac · Linux
Median: 2.3 hrsMean: 3.5 hrs≥1hr: 74%
A slow burn retro horror game, in which you arrive at the old lighthouse on a small island near the coast of the United States. After the previous keeper has gone missing, you need to take over his duties and watch after the light.
Why similar: Horror 17.7%, Psychological Horror 17%, Mystery 16.2%, Atmospheric 11.7%, First-Person 10%
- #49 The Haunting of Joni Evers
67% matchVery Positive91% of 165 reviews2025
Dev: Causeway Studios
Windows · Mac
The Haunting of Joni Evers is a dark supernatural mystery about a broken family from small-town Oklahoma. Haunted by a specter that's hunted her family for generations, Joni must uncover the mysteries of the Cunningham House, dig through lost memories, and face the past to break the curse.
Why similar: Mystery 16.6%, Investigation 13.3%, Psychological Horror 12.5%, Emotional 12.2%, Story Rich 10.3%
- #50 Dear Esther: Landmark Edition
70% matchMostly Positive75% of 7,501 reviews2017
Dev: The Chinese RoomPub: Secret Mode
Windows · Mac
Median: 1.0 hrsMean: 6.8 hrs≥1hr: 51%
Dear Esther immerses you in a stunningly realised world, a remote and desolate island somewhere in the outer Hebrides. As you step forwards, a voice begins to read fragments of a letter: 'Dear Esther...' - and so begins a journey through one of the most original first-person games of recent years.
Why similar: Psychological Horror 13.5%, Mystery 12.3%, First-Person 11.6%, Puzzle 10.6%, Investigation 10.3%
- #51 DREDGE
65% matchOverwhelmingly Positive96% of 56,078 reviews2023
Dev: Black Salt GamesPub: Team17
Windows · Mac
Median: 7.6 hrsMean: 11.1 hrs≥1hr: 89%
DREDGE is a single-player fishing adventure with a sinister undercurrent. Sell your catch, upgrade your boat, and dredge the depths for long-buried secrets. Explore a mysterious archipelago and discover why some things are best left forgotten.
Why similar: Mystery 24.1%, Psychological Horror 17.5%, Exploration 14.3%, Horror 11.6%, Atmospheric 11.4%
- #52 The Excavation of Hob's Barrow
66% matchVery Positive92% of 3,229 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 19.4%, Mystery 12%, Horror 10.7%, Cinematic 9.7%, Emotional 9.1%
- #53 Lazaret
66% matchVery Positive86% of 281 reviews2024
Dev: Aegon Games
Windows
Lazaret is an atmospheric first-person horror game. You play as a member of a rescue team called out to investigate a distress signal coming from a ship that disappeared 4 years ago.
Why similar: Mystery 17.4%, Psychological Horror 15.6%, Investigation 11.3%, Horror 11.2%, Atmospheric 9.8%
- #54 Bright Lights of Svetlov
66% matchVery Positive93% of 1,394 reviews2021
Dev: Vladimir Cholokyan
Windows
Median: 1.9 hrsMean: 2.6 hrs≥1hr: 86%
Bright Lights of Svetlov is a short, story-focused first person quest about a Soviet family facing harsh trials. Set in a fictional provincial town, it carefuly recreates the atmosphere and vibe of mid 1980s.
Why similar: First-Person 15.7%, Atmospheric 13.9%, Psychological Horror 9.9%, Realistic 9.6%, Mystery 9.4%
- #55 The Shore
68% matchMostly Positive72% of 1,984 reviews2021
Dev: Ares DragonisPub: Dragonis Games
Windows
Median: 2.2 hrsMean: 3.9 hrs≥1hr: 68%
THE SHORE is a first person story driven game with an atmospheric environment and narrations, You will encounter mysterious creatures and unravel the secrets behind them. Strong elements of horror, struggle to survive an unknown world that will make you question your own sanity.
Why similar: Psychological Horror 17.5%, Horror 16.4%, First-Person 13.9%, Story Rich 10.7%, Exploration 10%
- #56 WILL: Follow The Light
65% matchMostly Positive75% of 518 reviews2026
Dev: TomorrowHead Studio
Windows
Dive into a realistic, single-player, first-person journey through the harsh northern latitudes as you sail endless waters, searching for a way back to your loved ones. Will you follow the light?
Why similar: Mystery 14.3%, Emotional 13.9%, Story Rich 12.8%, First-Person 12.5%, Atmospheric 11.5%
- #57 Brukel
67% matchVery Positive89% of 238 reviews2019
Dev: Bob De SchutterPub: Lifelong Games
Windows
Median: 1.4 hrsMean: 4.4 hrs≥1hr: 74%
A first-person exploration game based on the actual memories of a 92-year-old grandmother, told to players in her own voice. Take pictures of what remains of her abandoned childhood home to uncover the dark, traumatic events that she had to fight through as a teenage girl.
Why similar: Historical 24.4%, Psychological Horror 15.5%, First-Person 10.3%, Story Rich 9.9%, Atmospheric 8.1%
- #58 Charon's Staircase
68% matchMixed62% of 76 reviews2022
Dev: Indigo Studios - Interactive StoriesPub: SOEDESCO
Windows
In this first-person horror mystery game, you set out to bury the horrible past of a tyrannical government. Retrieve and destroy the documents that unravel the secrets that lie beneath Oack Grove. Will you discover the terrifying truth and find your way out?
Why similar: Detective 27.1%, Mystery 13.2%, Psychological Horror 11.6%, Puzzle 8.8%, Story Rich 7.9%
