- #1 Tangle Tower
97% matchOverwhelmingly Positive95% of 6,076 reviews2019
Dev: SFB Games
Windows · Mac
Median: 5.5 hrsMean: 6.7 hrs≥1hr: 89%
Unravel a thrilling mystery by exploring a strange and twisted mansion, discovering curious clues, interrogating peculiar suspects and solving unique puzzles. Will you be able to uncover the secrets of Tangle Tower?
Why similar: Detective 30.5%, Visual Novel 12%, Crime 11.8%, Mystery 10.6%, Investigation 8.5%
Why You'll Like It: This game combines beautiful, stylized art with point-and-click investigation and character-driven mystery solving.
- #2 The Case of the Golden Idol
96% 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: Detective 29.5%, Investigation 22.6%, Mystery 16.5%, Crime 11.8%, Story Rich 7.4%
Why You'll Like It: It features a similar focus on analyzing static, detailed scenes to deduce the truth behind complex mysteries.
- #3 Danganronpa: Trigger Happy Havoc
96% matchOverwhelmingly Positive96% of 36,871 reviews2016
Dev: Spike Chunsoft Co., Ltd.
Windows · Mac · Linux
Median: 8.0 hrsMean: 22.9 hrs≥1hr: 89%
Investigate murders, search for clues and talk to your classmates to prepare for trial. There, you'll engage in deadly wordplay, going back and forth with suspects. Dissect their statements and fire their words back at them to expose their lies! There's only one way to survive—pull the trigger.
Why similar: Detective 31.1%, Visual Novel 18.7%, Anime 17.2%, Mystery 16.6%, Story Rich 8.2%
Why You'll Like It: A quintessential detective visual novel that shares the seed game's anime aesthetic and high-stakes investigation gameplay.
- #4 Ace Attorney Investigations Collection
95% matchOverwhelmingly Positive97% of 4,457 reviews2024
Dev: CAPCOM Co., Ltd.
Windows
Median: 30.7 hrsMean: 34.5 hrs≥1hr: 86%
Miles Edgeworth's dramatic turnabouts take center stage! Experience both Ace Attorney Investigations games in one gorgeous collection! Investigate crime scenes and solve tough, intriguing cases through logic and deduction. When Edgeworth's past and present collide, his future begins!
Why similar: Detective 19.5%, Investigation 18.9%, Crime 12.6%, Visual Novel 11.8%, Mystery 11.5%
Why You'll Like It: It focuses heavily on the investigation phase of detective work, mirroring the methodical evidence-gathering found in the seed game.
- #5 AI: The Somnium Files
94% matchVery Positive92% of 9,207 reviews2019
Dev: Spike Chunsoft Co., Ltd.
Windows
Median: 4.6 hrsMean: 15.0 hrs≥1hr: 85%
Play as detective Kaname Date on the case of an elusive serial killer in this thrilling, sci-fi murder mystery.
Why similar: Detective 30.6%, Visual Novel 20.2%, Mystery 16.8%, Anime 16.4%, Story Rich 9.8%
Why You'll Like It: It offers a deep, narrative-heavy detective experience with unique puzzle-solving mechanics set in surreal environments.
- #6 Return of the Obra Dinn
94% 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: Detective 54.7%, Mystery 27.1%, Story Rich 11%, Singleplayer 2.7%, Puzzle 2.2%
Why You'll Like It: Like the seed game, it challenges players to piece together events by carefully observing frozen, detailed environments.
- #7 The Great Ace Attorney Chronicles
93% matchVery Positive94% of 9,191 reviews2021
Dev: CAPCOM Co., Ltd.
Windows
Median: 11.2 hrsMean: 34.7 hrs≥1hr: 89%
Immerse yourself in a dramatic yet charming and witty world of evidence-gathering, deduction and courtroom battles with this double-pack of the adventures of rookie lawyer Ryunosuke.
Why similar: Detective 25.3%, Visual Novel 16.6%, Text-Based 14%, Mystery 13.2%, Anime 12.7%
Why You'll Like It: Provides a rich, period-accurate detective narrative that excels in visual novel presentation and logical deduction.
- #8 Paper Perjury
92% 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: Detective 25.3%, Visual Novel 13.5%, Mystery 12.3%, Investigation 9.4%, Crime 8.6%
Why You'll Like It: A detective visual novel that emphasizes evidence analysis and logical reasoning in a charming, stylized format.
- #9 Detective Ridelle
91% matchVery Positive99% of 88 reviews2024
Dev: PuzzLab
Windows
Detective Ridelle is a cozy murder mystery game featuring escape room style puzzles. Find clues, interrogate suspects, solve the mystery - before it's too late.
Why similar: Detective 29.1%, Investigation 18%, Visual Novel 15%, Mystery 14.3%, Logic 9%
Why You'll Like It: This game blends escape-room mechanics with visual novel storytelling, perfect for fans of contained, puzzle-heavy mysteries.
- #10 Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective
91% matchOverwhelmingly Positive98% of 8,077 reviews2023
Dev: CAPCOM Co., Ltd.
Windows
Median: 6.6 hrsMean: 8.3 hrs≥1hr: 84%
Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective, the classic puzzle-solving mystery adventure directed by Ace Attorney creator Shu Takumi, is back! This long-awaited HD remaster features upgraded visuals and sound and new gallery content.
Why similar: Detective 33.6%, Mystery 20.8%, Story Rich 11.3%, Visual Novel 10.7%, Anime 9.1%
Why You'll Like It: This title blends clever puzzle-solving with a compelling mystery, requiring players to manipulate the environment to uncover the truth.
- #11 Staffer Case: A Supernatural Mystery Adventure
90% matchVery Positive94% of 4,035 reviews2023
Dev: Team Tetrapod
Windows · Mac
Median: 7.5 hrsMean: 8.7 hrs≥1hr: 91%
Staffer Case is a new sort of mystery game, asking players to find clues, arrange them into documents, and point out the contradictions between them to solve a series of murders. Each mystery unraveled leads you closer to the truth lying at the heart of each case!
Why similar: Detective 27.7%, Crime 12.6%, Mystery 11.9%, Visual Novel 11.6%, Text-Based 11.3%
Why You'll Like It: Focuses on gathering clues and connecting evidence in a narrative-driven mystery that feels very similar to classic detective games.
- #12 Murder by Numbers
89% matchVery Positive84% of 1,662 reviews2020
Dev: MediatonicPub: The Irregular Corporation
Windows
Median: 4.5 hrsMean: 12.7 hrs≥1hr: 92%
Solve Pixel Puzzles to find clues. Use those clues to interrogate witnesses. Work your way to the truth... ...and uncover the mystery of Murder by Numbers!
Why similar: Detective 20.3%, Investigation 17.5%, Visual Novel 12.2%, Crime 10.9%, Anime 8.8%
Why You'll Like It: Combines investigation-based visual novel storytelling with logic puzzles, creating a satisfying loop of deduction.
- #13 Tiny Room Stories: Town Mystery
89% matchVery Positive88% of 842 reviews2021
Dev: Kiary Games
Windows · Mac
Median: 3.8 hrsMean: 6.3 hrs≥1hr: 92%
Everybody are missing in a town. Find the answers of town mystery in a point and click adventure game with escape the room mechanics
Why similar: Detective 28.8%, Investigation 20.9%, Mystery 16.5%, Logic 14.1%, Point & Click 7.3%
Why You'll Like It: Shares the diorama-like 3D investigation style, requiring players to rotate and explore small environments to find clues.
- #14 Little Problems: A Cozy Detective Game
86% matchVery Positive91% of 474 reviews2025
Dev: Posh Cat StudiosPub: Amplified Games
Windows
Median: 2.8 hrsMean: 3.0 hrs≥1hr: 73%
Little Problems is a Cozy Detective game about solving minor inconveniences, everyday misunderstandings, and of course, little problems. This game is not about saving the world; it's about enriching it, one case at a time.
Why similar: Detective 29.6%, Investigation 21.5%, Anime 13%, Logic 11%, Mystery 9.5%
Why You'll Like It: Focuses on a more relaxed, cozy approach to detective work, perfect for those who enjoyed the smaller scale of the seed game.
- #15 The Sekimeiya: Spun Glass
88% matchVery Positive87% of 288 reviews2021
Dev: Trinitite Team
Windows · Mac · Linux
An intricate mystery visual novel. Search text, piece together clues, and jump around the story to unravel the tangled events within the sealed tower.
Why similar: Detective 22.6%, Investigation 14.2%, Mystery 13.1%, Visual Novel 12.9%, Anime 10.2%
Why You'll Like It: A highly regarded mystery visual novel that offers a complex, story-rich experience for fans of detective fiction.
- #16 Loco Motive
85% matchVery Positive93% of 1,162 reviews2024
Dev: Robust GamesPub: Chucklefish
Windows
Median: 3.2 hrsMean: 5.2 hrs≥1hr: 74%
There's been a murder aboard the Reuss Express, and you're the suspects! Prove your innocence in this comedy 'point n' click' murder mystery - packed with twists, laughs, and larger-than-life characters!
Why similar: Detective 25.4%, Investigation 20.3%, Crime 15.4%, Mystery 14.5%, Story Rich 7.9%
Why You'll Like It: A comedic, point-and-click investigation game that emphasizes puzzle-solving and character interaction.
- #17 Trials of Innocence
84% matchVery Positive93% of 1,658 reviews2025
Dev: 猫龙游戏
Windows
Median: 19.4 hrsMean: 21.9 hrs≥1hr: 79%
Trials of Innocence is an indie courtroom detective game. Step into the shoes of the main character, rookie lawyer Luna Ray, and navigate her journey through the legal world. Unravel a shocking conspiracy that changes the fate of many, including herself, and confront her inner choices.
Why similar: Detective 22%, Investigation 12.5%, Visual Novel 11.7%, Crime 11.1%, Mystery 10.1%
Why You'll Like It: Focuses on lore-rich storytelling and detective work, making it a great choice for fans of narrative-heavy mysteries.
- #18 Tokyo Detectives
87% matchMixed69% of 57 reviews2021
Dev: Rincho Games
Windows · Mac · Linux
Detective Game. Murder Investigation. Interrogate witnesses. Rebut with evidence.
Why similar: Detective 22.8%, Investigation 16.6%, Crime 11.8%, Visual Novel 11.5%, Anime 10.6%
Why You'll Like It: A solid detective visual novel that captures the investigation and mystery-solving elements found in the seed game.
- #19 Detective Grimoire
86% matchOverwhelmingly Positive96% of 2,355 reviews2014
Dev: SFB Games
Windows
Median: 3.1 hrsMean: 4.4 hrs≥1hr: 92%
Detective Grimoire has been called to investigate a murder. The owner of a small tourist attraction, seemingly killed by the mythical creature his attraction is based around... Explore the area, inspect the crime scene, grill suspects, solve puzzles, hunt for clues & uncover the secret of the swamp!
Why similar: Detective 24.7%, Visual Novel 13.5%, Investigation 13.5%, Crime 12%, Mystery 9.6%
Why You'll Like It: A classic exploration-based detective game that emphasizes talking to suspects and examining the environment for clues.
- #20 The Murder Hotel
83% matchVery Positive95% of 64 reviews2025
Dev: Wegenbartho Games
Windows
Interrogate suspects, search for clues, & uncover a dastardly plot, as you solve a string of mystifying murders to help reluctant detective Ilmarinen escape the foreboding Fafnir Hotel.
Why similar: Detective 23.3%, Visual Novel 14%, Mystery 13.1%, Crime 12.4%, Anime 10.9%
Why You'll Like It: A visual novel that leans into the classic 'locked room' mystery trope with an anime-inspired aesthetic.
- #21 Crime O'Clock
84% matchMixed69% of 505 reviews2023
Dev: Bad SeedPub: Maximum Entertainment
Windows · Mac
Median: 3.3 hrsMean: 6.2 hrs≥1hr: 82%
Crime O'Clock is a hidden objects investigation and time exploration game with a deep storyline. Investigate cases through time and evolving maps by unveiling a multi-eras linked story. Will you be observant enough to solve the mysteries? Crime waits for no man!
Why similar: Detective 23.9%, Investigation 19.5%, Crime 14.6%, Mystery 11.9%, Logic 8.6%
Why You'll Like It: Utilizes a hidden-object style of investigation that requires players to scan detailed scenes to solve crimes across time.
- #22 Mohism: Battle of Words
82% matchMostly Positive78% of 607 reviews2023
Dev: 玄镜工作室Pub: Yooreka Studio
Windows
Mohism: Battle of Words is a detective game set in the world of wuxia. The game follows Zhang Xiaochen, investigates unsolved cases and comes into his own as a hero. He must rely on his wits and razor-sharp tongue to best his opponents, find the culprit and ensure justice prevails!
Why similar: Detective 22.7%, Investigation 15%, Visual Novel 14.6%, Mystery 10.9%, Crime 10.4%
Why You'll Like It: A unique visual novel that incorporates puzzle elements into its detective-style debates and investigations.
- #23 The Real Face of a VTuber
80% matchVery Positive92% of 302 reviews2026
Dev: 莉莉恩工作室Pub: WhisperGames
Windows
A narrative courtroom adventure all about VTubers! Players will take the role of prosecutor Justin Truth and investigate a murder at a VTuber agency, doing their best to uncover the identity of both the killer and VTuber's real face.
Why similar: Detective 24.1%, Visual Novel 12.9%, Crime 12%, Mystery 11.6%, Anime 8.8%
Why You'll Like It: A modern, story-rich detective visual novel that explores contemporary themes through a mystery lens.
- #24 Paradise Killer
81% matchVery Positive93% of 4,418 reviews2020
Dev: Kaizen Game WorksPub: Fellow Traveller
Windows
Median: 5.0 hrsMean: 7.3 hrs≥1hr: 86%
Paradise Island, a world outside reality. There’s been a murder that only "investigation freak" Lady Love Dies can solve. Gather evidence and interrogate suspects in this open world adventure. You can accuse anyone, but you’ll have to prove your case in trial. It’s up to you to decide who’s guilty.
Why similar: Detective 27.7%, Investigation 22.2%, Crime 17.7%, Mystery 14.4%, Story Rich 8.9%
Why You'll Like It: Offers an open-world approach to investigation that rewards players for their curiosity and attention to detail.
- #25 Inspector Waffles
82% matchVery Positive95% of 291 reviews2021
Dev: Goloso Games
Windows
Median: 2.4 hrsMean: 3.4 hrs≥1hr: 87%
Murder. Nothin’ nice about it. In this old school detective adventure, step into the boots of whip-smart Inspector Waffles and travel the city to track hidden clues, interrogate shady suspects, and unravel a dangerous mystery. But be warned: curiosity killed the cat...
Why similar: Detective 27.1%, Crime 19.1%, Investigation 17.1%, Mystery 12.3%, Story Rich 7.6%
Why You'll Like It: A charming, point-and-click detective game that focuses on gathering clues and solving mysteries in a stylized world.
- #26 DAEMON MASQUERADE
79% matchVery Positive96% of 461 reviews2024
Dev: Callum Page
Windows · Mac · Linux
An anime-inspired supernatural detective game. Uncover the identities and powers of your adversaries using a conspiracy board full of evidence.
Why similar: Detective 27.5%, Investigation 20.5%, Mystery 13.4%, Visual Novel 11.9%, Anime 11.5%
Why You'll Like It: Combines investigation with a unique comic-book style, offering a distinct visual flair for mystery fans.
- #27 Murders on the Yangtze River
78% 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: Detective 36.9%, Investigation 15.6%, Mystery 12.6%, Story Rich 9.6%, Logic 8.5%
- #28 Turlock Holmes
79% 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: Detective 30.9%, Crime 19.4%, Mystery 14.7%, Visual Novel 10.9%, Story Rich 7.7%
Why You'll Like It: A puzzle-heavy detective game that adds a layer of psychological tension to the traditional mystery-solving formula.
- #29 Detective Butler: Maiden Voyage Murder
81% matchVery Positive82% of 308 reviews2017
Dev: Goldbar Games
Windows · Mac · Linux
Median: 30 minMean: 10.4 hrs≥1hr: 28%
Follow Detective Butler and his sidekick Gilligan as they solve a locked-room murder during a haunted cruise ship's maiden voyage. Can you solve the mystery before Detective Butler reveals the answer?
Why similar: Detective 20.5%, Investigation 15%, Text-Based 12%, Mystery 11.8%, Visual Novel 11.6%
Why You'll Like It: A straightforward, text-based detective visual novel that provides a classic mystery-solving experience.
- #30 LumineNight
77% matchVery Positive89% of 510 reviews2024
Dev: Spickasoft
Windows
LumineNight is a story-driven detective adventure. Play as Detective Foster and his daughter to solve a series of murders spanning a decade. Interrogate suspects, infiltrate locations, solve puzzles, and gather evidence from crime scenes. Uncover the dark truth behind these killings.
Why similar: Detective 28%, Mystery 14.4%, Visual Novel 13.4%, Investigation 12.1%, Anime 11.8%
- #31 The Roottrees are Dead
75% 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: Detective 35.4%, Investigation 19.5%, Mystery 18.4%, Logic 8.1%, Story Rich 6.8%
- #32 Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney Trilogy
77% matchVery Positive88% of 4,237 reviews2024
Dev: CAPCOM Co., Ltd.
Windows
Median: 35.6 hrsMean: 54.6 hrs≥1hr: 86%
Join rookie attorney Apollo Justice and his mentor, the legendary Phoenix Wright, in this collection of 3 games! This title features 16 episodes (including previously DLC-only episodes) and supports English, French, German, Japanese Korean, and Traditional and Simplified Chinese.
Why similar: Detective 21.3%, Investigation 14.6%, Visual Novel 14.5%, Crime 9.5%, Mystery 9.5%
- #33 3D Escape Room: Detective Story
78% matchMostly Positive70% of 125 reviews2025
Dev: Shenzhen Zhonglian Interactive Technology Co.,Ltd
Windows
3D Escape Room: Detective Story is an immersive 3D puzzle game that takes you to 1930s London. In the game, you play as an insightful private detective, searching for clues in realistic 3D environments, solving intricate puzzles and mini-games, and cracking bizarre cases.
Why similar: Mystery 41.8%, Point & Click 16.9%, 3D 14.2%, Adventure 10.1%, Exploration 5.5%
Why You'll Like It: Directly utilizes 3D spatial puzzles to drive the investigation, mirroring the diorama feel of the seed game.
- #34 Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Trilogy
76% matchOverwhelmingly Positive98% of 43,374 reviews2019
Dev: CAPCOM Co., Ltd.
Windows
Median: 8.8 hrsMean: 26.5 hrs≥1hr: 90%
Become Phoenix Wright and experience the thrill of battle as you fight to save your innocent clients in a court of law. Play all 14 episodes, spanning the first three games, in one gorgeous collection.
Why similar: Detective 31.2%, Visual Novel 15.7%, Mystery 12.8%, Anime 10.5%, Crime 10.5%
- #35 Return to Shironagasu Island
75% matchVery Positive94% of 4,067 reviews2020
Dev: HYOGO ONIMUSHIPub: TABINOMICHI
Windows
Median: 5.6 hrsMean: 14.1 hrs≥1hr: 92%
A mystery adventure game and visual novel set on solitary Shironagasu Island. Discover its secrets, solve its mysteries, and escape from the ominous island!
Why similar: Visual Novel 25.9%, Mystery 21.1%, Detective 20.7%, Anime 13%, Adventure 8.1%
- #36 Urban Myth Dissolution Center
73% matchVery Positive88% of 5,930 reviews2025
Dev: HakababunkoPub: SHUEISHA GAMES
Windows
Median: 8.0 hrsMean: 9.9 hrs≥1hr: 84%
Join forces with the psychic Director of the Urban Myth Dissolution Center and solve a variety of cases involving cursed relics, rental properties with shady histories, and dimensional anomalies. Monstrous oddities and otherworldly planes abound in this occult mystery adventure game!
Why similar: Visual Novel 20.7%, Detective 20.2%, Mystery 16.4%, Text-Based 13.9%, Story Rich 9%
- #37 Methods: The Canada Files
72% matchVery Positive96% of 367 reviews2026
Dev: LockedOn GamesPub: Erabit
Windows · Mac · Linux
Methods: The Canada Files is a mystery visual novel. You play as a team of eccentric detectives in a mysterious crime-solving competition. To solve each mystery, you must use your team member’s unique detective methods, refute faulty theories with evidence, and find out the truth!
Why similar: Detective 24.2%, Investigation 23.7%, Crime 15.2%, Visual Novel 13.2%, Anime 10.3%
- #38 Unheard - Voices of Crime
73% 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: Detective 56.4%, Mystery 18.8%, Story Rich 8.2%, Investigation 7.3%, Crime 3.5%
- #39 The Occult Detective
74% matchMostly Positive71% of 326 reviews2025
Dev: Battlecry Studio
Windows
A narrative detective game blended with supernatural elements. Play as a rookie investigator, discover vital clues in every case, dive into unscripted interrogations and uncover truths that break minds. But with each revelation, the world feels... less human.
Why similar: Detective 30.2%, Visual Novel 19.2%, Anime 16.3%, Mystery 13.3%, Story Rich 11.6%
- #40 The Silver Case
76% matchVery Positive89% of 1,129 reviews2016
Dev: GRASSHOPPER MANUFACTURE INC.
Windows · Mac · Linux
Median: 4.4 hrsMean: 8.6 hrs≥1hr: 85%
The Silver Case – the debut title from world-renowned developer SUDA51 has been fully remastered and localized to English for the first time ever!
Why similar: Detective 17.7%, Investigation 15.2%, Crime 12.8%, Mystery 10.5%, Visual Novel 10.5%
- #41 Duck Detective: The Secret Salami
71% matchOverwhelmingly Positive95% of 6,476 reviews2024
Dev: Happy Broccoli Games
Windows · Mac · Linux
Median: 2.3 hrsMean: 2.6 hrs≥1hr: 90%
Solving crime is no walk in the pond. You are a down-on-his-luck detective who also happens to be a duck. Use your powers of de-duck-tion to inspect evidence, fill in the blanks, and bust the case wide open! This is a short but twisty detective case.
Why similar: Detective 39.9%, Investigation 25.5%, Mystery 13.4%, Story Rich 6%, Point & Click 5.1%
- #42 The Darkside Detective: A Fumble in the Dark
73% matchOverwhelmingly Positive96% of 1,947 reviews2021
Dev: Spooky DoorwayPub: Akupara Games
Windows · Mac · Linux
Median: 3.8 hrsMean: 6.3 hrs≥1hr: 94%
Delouse your room with sage and pack up your travel-sized ouija board, it’s time to re-enter Twin Lakes - America’s 34th most haunted city. Join Detective McQueen as he puzzles his way through 9 chilling cases, risking life and pixelated limb to solve the macabre mysteries that plague the poor town.
Why similar: Detective 26.2%, Investigation 14.7%, Mystery 13.2%, Text-Based 12.7%, Visual Novel 10.3%
- #43 誰是犯案者 Who is the Criminal
74% matchVery Positive95% of 59 reviews2021
Dev: 莉莉恩工作室
Windows
Set in school life, “Who is the Criminal” is a text-based adventure game featuring comedian and inference elements. With inquiring suspects and debating with “evildoers”, he gathers pieces of puzzles and reveals what truly happens in every incident.
Why similar: Detective 24.4%, Crime 13%, Visual Novel 12.9%, Mystery 11.8%, Anime 10.6%
- #44 Feline Forensics and the Meowseum Mystery
71% 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: Detective 32.9%, Mystery 15.4%, Visual Novel 14.6%, Investigation 12.4%, Story Rich 9%
- #45 Penelope Pendrick and the Art of Deceit
69% matchVery Positive98% of 480 reviews2025
Dev: Default Cube Games
Windows · Mac
Pick up your magnifying glass as writer-turned-detective Penelope Pendrick in this first-person point and click mystery adventure! Three people have suddenly vanished from the sleepy town of Carlisle. Follow the clues, interrogate suspects, and solve puzzles to end this case - before it ends you.
Why similar: Detective 24.8%, Mystery 24.7%, Investigation 16.3%, Story Rich 11.3%, Point & Click 9.2%
- #46 Connected Clue
70% matchVery Positive88% of 112 reviews2026
Dev: Alpheratz Games Pub: CFK Co., Ltd.
Windows · Mac
Connected Clue is a quarter-view detective adventure game inspired by the atmosphere of 19th-century mystery novels. Gather clues, see through lies, and uncover the identity of the culprit shrouded in secrecy!
Why similar: Detective 25.2%, Investigation 17.2%, Crime 16.4%, Mystery 11.4%, Text-Based 11.4%
- #47 No Case Should Remain Unsolved
67% matchOverwhelmingly Positive96% of 9,993 reviews2024
Dev: Somi
Windows · Mac
Median: 2.6 hrsMean: 2.7 hrs≥1hr: 75%
Twelve years after Senior Inspector Jeon Gyeong's retirement, she is visited by a young police officer: a woman who pleads with her to reexamine Seowon's case. But with each uncovered memory, only one thing becomes clear: everyone in Seowon's vicinity was lying.
Why similar: Investigation 22.9%, Detective 20.1%, Visual Novel 15.8%, Text-Based 13.3%, Anime 8.7%
- #48 Agatha Christie - Hercule Poirot: The First Cases
70% matchMostly Positive76% of 1,392 reviews2021
Dev: Blazing GriffinPub: Microids
Windows · Mac
Median: 6.0 hrsMean: 10.0 hrs≥1hr: 75%
Discover an untold crime story from the mysterious youth of the famous detective Hercule Poirot.
Why similar: Detective 23.2%, Investigation 15.4%, Visual Novel 13.8%, Crime 13.4%, Mystery 11.1%
- #49 Murder at the Birch Tree Theater
67% matchVery Positive97% of 99 reviews2026
Dev: Crucible Juice Games
Windows · Mac
Uncover high drama in this whodunnit set in a small-town community theater. Gather clues by investigating the sets, casts and backstage crews of 10 theatrical productions, and piece together the story of each deadly crime.
Why similar: Detective 23.1%, Investigation 16.1%, Mystery 14.7%, Crime 13.6%, Story Rich 7.6%
- #50 Nine Noir Lives
70% matchVery Positive88% of 153 reviews2022
Dev: Silvernode Games
Windows · Mac · Linux
Stretch your legs, clean your whiskers, and dive into Nine Noir Lives. Enjoy a "point-and-lick" comedy-noir adventure, full of humour, crazy characters, and intriguing locations. Solve challenging puzzles and answer the immortal question: how many things need to be licked to solve a murder in this town?
Why similar: Detective 39.1%, Mystery 14.1%, Story Rich 11.2%, Point & Click 9.8%, Relaxing 9.5%
- #51 For Your Tranquility
71% 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: Detective 26.1%, Crime 15%, Mystery 13.7%, Visual Novel 11.3%, Investigation 9.6%
- #52 Duck Detective: The Ghost of Glamping
64% matchOverwhelmingly Positive97% of 2,574 reviews2025
Dev: Happy Broccoli Games
Windows · Mac · Linux
Median: 2.2 hrsMean: 2.6 hrs≥1hr: 94%
You are the one and only Duck Detective, a depressed and recently divorced duck who must quack the case. Inspect evidence, make de-duck-tions, and solve this no-murder mystery!
Why similar: Detective 36.2%, Investigation 26.9%, Mystery 14.9%, Story Rich 6.4%, Point & Click 5.4%
- #53 Methods: The Detective Competition
68% matchVery Positive91% of 717 reviews2020
Dev: LockedOn GamesPub: Erabit
Windows · Mac · Linux
Median: 4.1 hrsMean: 6.1 hrs≥1hr: 86%
One hundred detectives compete against each other in a crime-solving competition.
Why similar: Detective 23.4%, Investigation 18.1%, Visual Novel 13.1%, Crime 12.5%, Mystery 12.4%
- #54 Detective Di: The Silk Rose Murders
69% matchVery Positive89% of 1,277 reviews2019
Dev: Nupixo Games
Windows · Mac
Median: 3.6 hrsMean: 4.5 hrs≥1hr: 96%
A thrilling point-and-click adventure game where you play as Di Renjie, ancient China's most famous and gifted investigator, as he tracks a serial killer in the heart of the Tang Dynasty's capital city.
Why similar: Detective 32.9%, Investigation 24%, Mystery 12.1%, Story Rich 10.1%, Point & Click 8.2%
- #55 ステータス確認探偵
66% matchVery Positive96% of 70 reviews2025
Dev: 風切羽
Windows
Check the suspect's status and solve the mystery! A status-checking mystery ADV in which a rookie detective takes on difficult cases that take place in a fantasy world.
Why similar: Mystery 26.9%, Visual Novel 22.4%, Investigation 17.5%, Logic 17.3%, Adventure 8.3%
- #56 The Operator
64% matchVery Positive92% of 8,280 reviews2024
Dev: Bureau 81
Windows · Mac · Linux
Median: 3.5 hrsMean: 3.9 hrs≥1hr: 87%
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 30.3%, Investigation 23.2%, Crime 14.3%, Mystery 14%, Visual Novel 6%
- #57 Mystery of the Malign
65% matchVery Positive94% of 80 reviews2025
Dev: Gameplay Supremacy
Windows
Investigate. Interrogate. Descend into a world of intrigue to untangle the Mystery of the Malign.
Why similar: Investigation 28.1%, Mystery 25%, Story Rich 12.9%, Detective 8%, Crime 7.6%
- #58 The Adventures of Fei Duanmu 端木斐异闻录
67% matchVery Positive90% of 1,760 reviews2017
Dev: 致意
Windows · Mac · Linux
Median: 3.4 hrsMean: 5.0 hrs≥1hr: 88%
Play as college student who majors in criminal investigation and solve the weird cases happened right beside him! A visual novel involves puzzle solving, reasoning, humor and of course adventures! English version is available now.
Why similar: Detective 49.4%, Visual Novel 28.4%, Anime 11.6%, Adventure 9.1%, Indie 1.4%
- #59 Methods: The Illusion Murders
66% matchVery Positive89% of 97 reviews2024
Dev: LockedOn GamesPub: Erabit
Windows · Mac · Linux
Detective Red July must stop a serial killer who patterns his murders after optical illusions in this mystery visual novel set in the world of Methods.
Why similar: Detective 20.9%, Investigation 13.1%, Visual Novel 12.7%, Text-Based 12.4%, Crime 12%