- #1 The Case of the Golden Idol
97% matchOverwhelmingly Positive98% of 10,922 reviews2022
Dev: Color Gray GamesPub: Playstack
Windows · Mac · Linux
Median: 6.9 hrsMean: 8.0 hrs≥1hr: 90%
A new kind of detective game that allows you to think and investigate freely. Discover clues surrounding 12 strange and gruesome deaths and build your own theory. Pick your suspect, deduce the motive, unmask the awful truth.
Why similar: Investigation 25.4%, Detective 19.3%, Interactive Fiction 14.6%, Point & Click 13.5%, Puzzle 8.1%
Why You'll Like It: Like the seed game, this title excels at piecing together complex narrative timelines through careful observation and deduction.
- #2 The Rise of the Golden Idol
96% matchVery Positive93% of 4,120 reviews2024
Dev: Color Gray GamesPub: Playstack
Windows · Mac
Median: 13.9 hrsMean: 16.8 hrs≥1hr: 92%
The Award-winning detective saga returns in this standalone sequel to The Case of the Golden Idol. Uncover the truth behind 20 strange cases of crime, death and depravity in the 1970s. The world has changed dramatically - the sins of humanity have not.
Why similar: Investigation 32.1%, Detective 23.1%, Interactive Fiction 11.9%, Puzzle 10%, Point & Click 7.8%
Why You'll Like It: This sequel continues the brilliant deduction-based gameplay that mirrors the investigative satisfaction found in the seed game.
- #3 Her Story
96% matchVery Positive89% of 10,391 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: Investigation 20.7%, Interactive Fiction 14.5%, Detective 14%, Point & Click 10.6%, Visual Novel 10%
Why You'll Like It: This game shares the core mechanic of searching through fragmented testimonies to uncover the truth behind a cold case.
- #4 Return of the Obra Dinn
95% matchOverwhelmingly Positive97% of 35,035 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 53.4%, Puzzle 18.8%, Story Rich 14.8%, Multiple Endings 5.8%, Atmospheric 4.2%
Why You'll Like It: It offers a similarly rigorous approach to investigation, requiring players to use logic and observation to solve a mystery through past events.
- #5 Urban Myth Dissolution Center
94% matchVery Positive88% of 6,230 reviews2025
Dev: HakababunkoPub: SHUEISHA GAMES
Windows
Median: 7.0 hrsMean: 9.7 hrs≥1hr: 82%
Join forces with the psychic Director of the Urban Myth Dissolution Center and solve a variety of cases involving cursed relics, rental properties with shady histories, and dimensional anomalies. Monstrous oddities and otherworldly planes abound in this occult mystery adventure game!
Why similar: Visual Novel 20.9%, Text-Based 15.9%, Detective 15.2%, Point & Click 10.7%, Pixel Graphics 9.7%
Why You'll Like It: A pixel-art visual novel that focuses on investigating supernatural mysteries through careful dialogue and observation.
- #6 The Painscreek Killings
94% matchVery Positive91% of 6,246 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: Investigation 37.1%, Detective 24.8%, Puzzle 10.5%, Story Rich 9.4%, Realistic 6.2%
Why You'll Like It: This game provides a pure, unguided investigative experience where you must piece together a town's dark history through documents and clues.
- #7 Lacuna – A Sci-Fi Noir Adventure
93% matchVery Positive92% of 2,943 reviews2021
Dev: DigiTales InteractivePub: Assemble Entertainment
Windows
Median: 3.0 hrsMean: 4.9 hrs≥1hr: 76%
A murder. A hack. A bombing. All it takes to plunge the solar system into war – unless you do something about it. Help CDI agent Neil Conrad make a string of increasingly difficult decisions in this modern dialog-driven adventure set in a gorgeous 2D sci-fi noir universe.
Why similar: Investigation 19.3%, Interactive Fiction 18.1%, Detective 17.9%, Text-Based 15.4%, Multiple Endings 8.7%
Why You'll Like It: It features a strong narrative-driven detective experience where your choices and deductions directly impact the outcome of the case.
- #8 The Roottrees are Dead
91% matchOverwhelmingly Positive96% of 9,873 reviews2025
Dev: Evil Trout Inc.
Windows · Mac · Linux
Median: 7.8 hrsMean: 9.7 hrs≥1hr: 88%
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 26.6%, Investigation 24%, Point & Click 15.7%, Puzzle 12.3%, Interactive Fiction 9.5%
Why You'll Like It: A pure detective puzzle game that requires you to cross-reference information to solve a complex family mystery.
- #9 Paradise Killer
92% matchVery Positive93% of 4,509 reviews2020
Dev: Kaizen Game WorksPub: Fellow Traveller
Windows
Median: 5.0 hrsMean: 7.3 hrs≥1hr: 86%
Paradise Island, a world outside reality. There’s been a murder that only "investigation freak" Lady Love Dies can solve. Gather evidence and interrogate suspects in this open world adventure. You can accuse anyone, but you’ll have to prove your case in trial. It’s up to you to decide who’s guilty.
Why similar: Investigation 27.9%, Detective 20.3%, Point & Click 16.7%, Female Protagonist 13%, Multiple Endings 9.9%
Why You'll Like It: It combines open-world exploration with a complex investigation system that rewards players for connecting disparate pieces of evidence.
- #10 Ace Attorney Investigations Collection
91% matchOverwhelmingly Positive97% of 4,773 reviews2024
Dev: CAPCOM Co., Ltd.
Windows
Median: 32.7 hrsMean: 35.8 hrs≥1hr: 87%
Miles Edgeworth's dramatic turnabouts take center stage! Experience both Ace Attorney Investigations games in one gorgeous collection! Investigate crime scenes and solve tough, intriguing cases through logic and deduction. When Edgeworth's past and present collide, his future begins!
Why similar: Investigation 27.5%, Detective 16.6%, Visual Novel 13.5%, Text-Based 11%, Story Rich 7.1%
Why You'll Like It: This collection emphasizes the hands-on investigation and logic-chain mechanics that are central to the detective genre.
- #11 Shadows of Doubt
90% matchVery Positive82% of 17,722 reviews2024
Dev: ColePowered GamesPub: Fireshine Games
Windows
Median: 5.4 hrsMean: 15.7 hrs≥1hr: 85%
Take on the role of a private investigator in this immersive detective simulator. Solve murders and other crimes in a procedurally generated and persistent city where every NPC lives and breathes their own independent lives. Find the killer quickly… or they will kill again!
Why similar: Detective 44.9%, Immersive Sim 27.5%, Puzzle 12.5%, Pixel Graphics 8.1%, Adventure 4.9%
Why You'll Like It: This immersive sim offers a deep, procedural investigative experience that captures the feeling of being a detective on the trail of a killer.
- #12 GNOSIA
89% matchVery Positive94% of 5,092 reviews2022
Dev: Petit DepottoPub: PLAYISM
Windows
Median: 7.3 hrsMean: 15.3 hrs≥1hr: 91%
The Gnosia lie. Pretending to be human, they’ll get in close, trick and deceive, and then eliminate one victim at a time...
Why similar: Visual Novel 31.3%, Detective 27.2%, Story Rich 16.3%, Anime 14.7%, Adventure 6.8%
Why You'll Like It: A brilliant blend of visual novel and deduction mechanics that forces you to analyze character behavior and lies to survive.
- #13 Paper Perjury
89% matchVery Positive89% of 228 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: Investigation 20.7%, Detective 17.6%, Visual Novel 12.8%, Point & Click 10.1%, Female Protagonist 10%
Why You'll Like It: A detective visual novel that focuses on uncovering lies and inconsistencies, much like the core loop of the seed game.
- #14 Staffer Case: A Supernatural Mystery Adventure
88% matchVery Positive94% of 4,260 reviews2023
Dev: Team Tetrapod
Windows · Mac
Median: 7.5 hrsMean: 8.8 hrs≥1hr: 92%
Staffer Case is a new sort of mystery game, asking players to find clues, arrange them into documents, and point out the contradictions between them to solve a series of murders. Each mystery unraveled leads you closer to the truth lying at the heart of each case!
Why similar: Detective 26.9%, Text-Based 17.3%, Visual Novel 15.6%, Story Rich 9.6%, Multiple Endings 8.3%
Why You'll Like It: It provides a compelling detective narrative with a focus on gathering evidence and logical reasoning.
- #15 Who's Lila?
86% matchVery Positive94% of 3,792 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 18.9%, Detective 18.8%, Point & Click 15.9%, Visual Novel 13.8%, Choose Your Own Adventure 9.2%
Why You'll Like It: This surreal mystery game uses unique pixel-art mechanics to force players to pay close attention to character expressions and hidden details.
- #16 Murders on the Yangtze River
85% matchOverwhelmingly Positive97% of 21,156 reviews2024
Dev: OMEGAMES STUDIO
Windows · Mac
Median: 11.4 hrsMean: 14.2 hrs≥1hr: 88%
"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 32.6%, Investigation 23.7%, Puzzle 14.5%, Story Rich 11.7%, Text-Based 8.1%
Why You'll Like It: A story-rich detective game that utilizes a unique card-based deduction system to solve historical mysteries.
- #17 Aviary Attorney
87% matchVery Positive95% of 2,275 reviews2015
Dev: Sketchy Logic
Windows · Mac
Median: 3.7 hrsMean: 4.5 hrs≥1hr: 90%
The hottest bird lawyering game to come out of 1840s France! Join Jayjay Falcon and his witty apprentice, Sparrowson, as the two take on clients, interview witnesses, collect evidence, and deliver justice to the guilty.
Why similar: Detective 37.2%, Visual Novel 34.5%, Story Rich 12.4%, Adventure 7.7%, Multiple Endings 6.9%
Why You'll Like It: This visual novel captures the charm and investigative focus of classic courtroom dramas while maintaining a unique, story-rich atmosphere.
- #18 Kathy Rain: Director's Cut
86% matchVery Positive93% of 1,530 reviews2021
Dev: Clifftop GamesPub: Raw Fury
Windows · Mac · Linux
Median: 5.6 hrsMean: 6.5 hrs≥1hr: 73%
The award-winning point-and-click adventure returns in the Director's Cut with an extended story, additional puzzles, and new areas to explore. Witness the rise of an iconic detective as you uncover a dark and sinister truth hiding behind the calm exterior of a small rural town.
Why similar: Investigation 19.4%, Detective 15.7%, Point & Click 14.4%, Female Protagonist 10%, Visual Novel 8.1%
Why You'll Like It: A classic point-and-click adventure with a strong female protagonist and a gritty, mystery-focused narrative.
- #19 Unheard - Voices of Crime
84% matchOverwhelmingly Positive96% of 33,881 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: Investigation 23.2%, Detective 22%, Interactive Fiction 16.6%, Point & Click 14.3%, Puzzle 10.1%
Why You'll Like It: This game tasks you with solving crimes by listening to audio recordings, requiring the same level of focus on testimony as the seed game.
- #20 Disco Elysium - The Final Cut
84% matchVery Positive93% of 130,397 reviews2019
Dev: ZA/UM
Windows · Mac
Median: 7.4 hrsMean: 22.9 hrs≥1hr: 86%
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: Detective 37.5%, Story Rich 20.7%, Point & Click 19.7%, Visual Novel 14.8%, Adventure 3.7%
Why You'll Like It: It offers unparalleled depth in narrative investigation, focusing on the psychological and social aspects of solving a crime.
- #21 PARANORMASIGHT: The Seven Mysteries of Honjo
83% matchOverwhelmingly Positive96% of 7,183 reviews2023
Dev: Square Enix
Windows
Median: 8.8 hrsMean: 10.2 hrs≥1hr: 87%
How far would you go to bring someone back from the dead? Discover the depths that some will go to in this horror-adventure game.
Why similar: Visual Novel 22.5%, Text-Based 22.1%, Point & Click 12.7%, Multiple Endings 10.9%, Anime 10.3%
Why You'll Like It: A supernatural visual novel that requires players to investigate urban legends through careful observation and deduction.
- #22 Little Problems: A Cozy Detective Game
81% matchVery Positive89% of 570 reviews2025
Dev: Posh Cat StudiosPub: Amplified Games
Windows
Median: 2.7 hrsMean: 3.1 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: Investigation 21.3%, Detective 17.2%, Interactive Fiction 13.7%, Point & Click 12.2%, Female Protagonist 8%
Why You'll Like It: A more relaxed take on the detective genre that still maintains the core satisfaction of solving puzzles and uncovering secrets.
- #23 Detective Instinct: Farewell, My Beloved
81% matchVery Positive94% of 450 reviews2025
Dev: Armonica LLC
Windows
A woman vanishes without a trace on a cross-country train. The catch? Nobody on board remembers her ever existing in the first place - nobody, except for you. Uncover the story in this mystery adventure game!
Why similar: Detective 25.8%, Visual Novel 18.6%, Investigation 13.8%, Interactive Fiction 13.1%, Pixel Graphics 8.5%
Why You'll Like It: A pixel-art detective game that focuses on atmosphere and the methodical process of solving a mystery.
- #24 BURIED STARS
82% matchVery Positive84% of 2,248 reviews2021
Dev: LINE Games Corporation
Windows
Median: 5.5 hrsMean: 9.1 hrs≥1hr: 90%
A mystery adventure set at the collapse site of a live survival audition show. Trapped contestants communicate with each other—and the outside world through social media—as they wait for rescue. But as unexpected events unfold, trust begins to crack, and survival becomes far more complicated.
Why similar: Investigation 22.9%, Interactive Fiction 19%, Visual Novel 14.9%, Emotional 9.9%, Female Protagonist 8.5%
Why You'll Like It: A tense, character-driven mystery visual novel that focuses on survival and uncovering the truth behind a tragic event.
- #25 CaseCracker2
80% matchVery Positive91% of 824 reviews2024
Dev: BlackRobePub: NPC Entertainment
Windows · Mac
Median: 4.7 hrsMean: 6.1 hrs≥1hr: 82%
Officer Jia has vanished, leaving a classified message pointing to the CaseCracker 2.0 system. Tear through suspects' alibis, look beyond the text, and extract hidden threads from seemingly unrelated intel. Will you find the ultimate truth, or a trap?
Why similar: Detective 23.8%, Text-Based 20.7%, Point & Click 15.7%, Immersive Sim 15.1%, Story Rich 9.8%
Why You'll Like It: A word-based mystery game that challenges your ability to piece together clues and narratives in a detective setting.
- #26 Chinatown Detective Agency
82% matchMostly Positive72% of 159 reviews2022
Dev: General Interactive Co.Pub: Balor Games
Windows · Mac
Chinatown Detective Agency is a cybernoir point and click adventure blending stunning retro design with innovative mechanics. Play as Amira Darma, an ex-cop who has just opened her own detective agency. Choose your clients, travel around the world and solve dangerous cases using real world research.
Why similar: Investigation 25.8%, Detective 19.9%, Point & Click 16.1%, Female Protagonist 9.9%, Story Rich 8.1%
Why You'll Like It: This game requires real-world research and logical deduction to solve cases, mirroring the investigative depth of the seed game.
- #27 Firework
79% matchOverwhelmingly Positive98% of 44,394 reviews2021
Dev: Shiying StudioPub: Gamirror Games
Windows
Median: 3.6 hrsMean: 6.6 hrs≥1hr: 85%
An accidental fire at a funeral forces the police to re-investigate a closed case of massacre. Lin Lixun participates the re-investigation by chances. As the investigation goes deeper, the past of the victims gradually emerges. However, the case becomes more bewildering.
Why similar: Puzzle 32.8%, Visual Novel 27.4%, Text-Based 14.2%, Detective 10%, 2D 8.5%
Why You'll Like It: A haunting 2D mystery game that uses puzzle-solving to explore deep, emotional themes within a small town.
- #28 The Incident at Galley House
77% matchVery Positive94% of 3,745 reviews2026
Dev: William RousPub: Evil Trout Inc.
Windows · Mac · Linux
Median: 8.4 hrsMean: 8.9 hrs≥1hr: 92%
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 31.1%, Visual Novel 21.8%, Puzzle 17.4%, Story Rich 12%, Investigation 7.7%
- #29 Desktop Explorer
76% matchOverwhelmingly Positive96% of 1,696 reviews2026
Dev: Recurring Dream
Windows · Mac
Median: 5.8 hrsMean: 6.2 hrs≥1hr: 82%
Rummage through the abandoned profiles of an old PC to unravel an inherited mystery. What secrets hide in this eerie adventure of cryptic games and outdated software? Who was using this computer? And what happened to them?
Why similar: Investigation 18.1%, Detective 13%, Interactive Fiction 12.7%, Point & Click 11.8%, Text-Based 11.4%
- #30 Return to Shironagasu Island
79% matchVery Positive94% of 4,204 reviews2020
Dev: ONIMUSHI HyogoPub: TABINOMICHI
Windows · Mac
Median: 5.6 hrsMean: 14.0 hrs≥1hr: 92%
A mystery adventure game and visual novel set on solitary Shironagasu Island. Discover its secrets, solve its mysteries, and escape from the ominous island!
Why similar: Visual Novel 34.6%, Detective 20.1%, Point & Click 13.1%, Adventure 12.8%, Anime 9.8%
Why You'll Like It: An atmospheric adventure game that blends mystery, horror, and visual novel elements into a cohesive investigative experience.
- #31 Trials of Innocence
77% matchVery Positive92% of 1,779 reviews2025
Dev: 猫龙游戏Pub: Right Mind
Windows
Median: 18.5 hrsMean: 20.9 hrs≥1hr: 75%
Trials of Innocence is an indie courtroom detective game. Step into the shoes of the main character, rookie lawyer Luna Ray, and navigate her journey through the legal world. Unravel a shocking conspiracy that changes the fate of many, including herself, and confront her inner choices.
Why similar: Detective 16.8%, Investigation 16.5%, Interactive Fiction 16.3%, Visual Novel 12.4%, Point & Click 9.9%
- #32 The Great Ace Attorney Chronicles
78% matchVery Positive94% of 9,441 reviews2021
Dev: CAPCOM Co., Ltd.
Windows
Median: 11.4 hrsMean: 34.9 hrs≥1hr: 90%
Immerse yourself in a dramatic yet charming and witty world of evidence-gathering, deduction and courtroom battles with this double-pack of the adventures of rookie lawyer Ryunosuke.
Why similar: Detective 22.7%, Visual Novel 20.4%, Text-Based 19.6%, Anime 8.8%, Choose Your Own Adventure 7.9%
Why You'll Like It: A high-quality visual novel series that excels at presenting complex cases that require careful evidence management.
- #33 Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney Trilogy
78% matchVery Positive88% of 4,422 reviews2024
Dev: CAPCOM Co., Ltd.
Windows
Median: 35.7 hrsMean: 54.8 hrs≥1hr: 86%
Join rookie attorney Apollo Justice and his mentor, the legendary Phoenix Wright, in this collection of 3 games! This title features 16 episodes (including previously DLC-only episodes) and supports English, French, German, Japanese Korean, and Traditional and Simplified Chinese.
Why similar: Investigation 23.1%, Detective 19.5%, Visual Novel 18.1%, Text-Based 9.6%, Anime 6.6%
Why You'll Like It: This collection offers classic courtroom investigation gameplay with a focus on character-driven narratives.
- #34 Staffer Retro : A Supernatural Mystery Quest
74% matchVery Positive90% of 1,084 reviews2026
Dev: Team Tetrapod
Windows · Mac
Staffer Retro is a mystery adventure game where you uncover past incidents related to ‘Mana’, the source of supernatural powers. Gather information through dialogue and exploration, and piece together clues found in documents to guide the choices of Verita Retro, the protagonist.
Why similar: Investigation 18.1%, Detective 17.7%, Visual Novel 12.3%, Text-Based 11%, Point & Click 10.4%
- #35 LumineNight
76% matchVery Positive88% of 562 reviews2024
Dev: Spickasoft
Windows
LumineNight is a story-driven detective adventure. Play as Detective Foster and his daughter to solve a series of murders spanning a decade. Interrogate suspects, infiltrate locations, solve puzzles, and gather evidence from crime scenes. Uncover the dark truth behind these killings.
Why similar: Detective 22.4%, Investigation 16.6%, Visual Novel 14.8%, Point & Click 13.5%, Story Rich 9.5%
- #36 Connected Clue
75% matchVery Positive88% of 120 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: Investigation 22%, Detective 18.7%, Point & Click 14.6%, Text-Based 13.3%, Puzzle 8.7%
- #37 Minds Beneath Us
72% matchOverwhelmingly Positive96% of 6,307 reviews2024
Dev: BearBoneStudio
Windows
Median: 11.1 hrsMean: 12.8 hrs≥1hr: 83%
MINDS BENEATH US is an emotional sci-fi narrative game. Through the eyes of a humble individual, experience a mad world where humans are exploited as computing devices for AI. Listen to the concerns of those you meet and offer guidance. Together, face challenges and confront an uncertain destiny.
Why similar: Visual Novel 20.9%, Point & Click 18.4%, Choose Your Own Adventure 12.8%, Multiple Endings 12.7%, Story Rich 12.2%
- #38 再见断刀
71% matchVery Positive93% of 2,718 reviews2025
Dev: 非侠游戏Pub: LoveStoryProject
Windows
Median: 12.7 hrsMean: 13.3 hrs≥1hr: 87%
古风悬疑推理AVG《再见断刀》——在与世隔绝的山庄之中，接二连三地发生了骇人命案。只有通过细致入微的调查，抽丝剥茧的推理，才能定一个是非清白，还一个天理公道。 然而，在逐渐浮出水面的真相之下，似乎还有暗流涌动……
Why similar: Detective 18.3%, Investigation 16.3%, Visual Novel 15%, Interactive Fiction 13.7%, Multiple Endings 8.7%
- #39 The Grade 5B Case Files
71% matchVery Positive90% of 129 reviews2026
Dev: 狸老师工作室Pub: Eternal Dream
Windows
A narrative AVG focused on everyday mysteries from the lives of elementary school students. The two protagonists encounter ordinary yet unusual incidents at school, and through investigation and deduction, players uncover the truth together with them.
Why similar: Detective 25.2%, Female Protagonist 14.5%, Visual Novel 13.4%, Interactive Fiction 12.9%, Adventure 6.9%
- #40 Until Then
70% matchOverwhelmingly Positive97% of 18,965 reviews2024
Dev: Polychroma GamesPub: Maximum Entertainment
Windows · Linux
Median: 7.0 hrsMean: 11.2 hrs≥1hr: 76%
A fateful meeting sets off a chain reaction, upending Mark's life. People disappear and memories prove unreliable. Uncover a hidden truth with Mark and his friends in this narrative adventure and race to unravel the mystery before it's too late.
Why similar: Visual Novel 24.5%, Interactive Fiction 23.7%, Emotional 16.5%, Pixel Graphics 12.5%, Story Rich 11.9%
- #41 Tokyo Detectives
75% matchMixed69% of 59 reviews2021
Dev: Rincho Games
Windows · Mac · Linux
Detective Game. Murder Investigation. Interrogate witnesses. Rebut with evidence.
Why similar: Investigation 24.6%, Detective 19.7%, Visual Novel 13.7%, Text-Based 10%, Point & Click 8.9%
- #42 Case #1472
74% matchMixed57% of 68 reviews2025
Dev: Broken at Release Game Studio
Windows
A mysterious woman is sitting in front of you. Who is she? And who are you? And why are you both there? Case #1472 is mystery information digging interrogation thriller game where there are more things going on than what meets the eye, but are you able to unravel what has happened?
Why similar: Interactive Fiction 20.7%, Investigation 18.2%, Detective 14.6%, Visual Novel 13.9%, Puzzle 9.3%
- #43 The Crimson Diamond
71% matchOverwhelmingly Positive97% of 687 reviews2024
Dev: Julia Minamata
Windows · Mac
Follow amateur geologist and reluctant detective Nancy Maple to the ghost town of Crimson, Ontario to investigate the discovery of a massive diamond in this retro-inspired, EGA text parser mystery adventure!
Why similar: Investigation 17%, Text-Based 15.4%, Point & Click 14.8%, Interactive Fiction 12.9%, Female Protagonist 10.1%
- #44 Murder by Numbers
73% matchVery Positive84% of 1,683 reviews2020
Dev: MediatonicPub: The Irregular Corporation
Windows
Median: 4.5 hrsMean: 12.6 hrs≥1hr: 92%
Solve Pixel Puzzles to find clues. Use those clues to interrogate witnesses. Work your way to the truth... ...and uncover the mystery of Murder by Numbers!
Why similar: Investigation 22.5%, Interactive Fiction 15.8%, Detective 15.2%, Visual Novel 12.6%, Female Protagonist 10.1%
- #45 Kindaichi Mystery Series: The Honjin Murders
72% matchMostly Positive72% of 184 reviews2025
Dev: coly Inc.
Windows · Mac
Famous detective Kosuke Kindaichi's first case, the Honjin Murder Mystery. Honjin descendant Kenzo Ichiyanagi and his new wife Katsuko Kubo lay dead in a bed of blood on the night of their wedding. Kosuke Kindaichi searches for the truth about this locked room murder mystery. However...
Why similar: Investigation 17.1%, Interactive Fiction 16.6%, Detective 13.6%, Visual Novel 11.3%, Text-Based 9.8%
- #46 Pricolage -IDOLIZED-
73% matchMostly Positive74% of 281 reviews2024
Dev: HIJIKIPub: Annulus
Windows · Mac
“Just who are you…?” Uncover the truth behind K-pop idol Sena as you search through her social media accounts in Pricolage -IDOLIZED-. In order to locate K-pop idol Sena, pronounced missing, you must search for clues in the ocean of darkness and greed that is the internet.
Why similar: Interactive Fiction 17.3%, Puzzle 12.4%, Text-Based 11.8%, Pixel Graphics 10.9%, Female Protagonist 10.3%
- #47 Murder on the Marine Express
73% matchVery Positive92% of 79 reviews2021
Dev: 1564 Studio
Windows · Mac · Linux
A mystery visual novel taking place aboard the underwater train Marine Express. Follow student Ranko Togawa on her quest to find the culprit on the murder of an accompanying teacher... with lots of surprises along the way!
Why similar: Investigation 19.4%, Detective 18.7%, Visual Novel 15.2%, Text-Based 11.9%, Female Protagonist 11.6%
- #48 The Operator
69% matchVery Positive92% of 8,818 reviews2024
Dev: Bureau 81
Windows · Mac · Linux
Median: 3.5 hrsMean: 3.9 hrs≥1hr: 88%
Welcome to the FDI. As our newest Operator, your role is to use your detective skills to assist our field agents and investigate mysterious crimes. Use cutting-edge FDI software to dig for clues, solve puzzles, and uncover the truth.
Why similar: Investigation 25.7%, Detective 19.7%, Immersive Sim 10.8%, Point & Click 10.8%, Interactive Fiction 8.3%
- #49 Kathy Rain 2: Soothsayer
68% matchOverwhelmingly Positive96% of 1,354 reviews2025
Dev: Clifftop GamesPub: Raw Fury
Windows · Mac · Linux
Median: 8.9 hrsMean: 9.3 hrs≥1hr: 86%
In this point-and-click urban thriller, down-and-out private eye Kathy Rain will embark on her most dangerous case yet — the pursuit of the notorious serial killer known as the Soothsayer. Find clues, gather evidence, connect the dots, and confront the murderer before the hunter becomes the hunted…
Why similar: Investigation 22.2%, Detective 15.7%, Interactive Fiction 14.4%, Point & Click 13.7%, Female Protagonist 8.5%
- #50 YOUR HOUSE
70% matchVery Positive84% of 74 reviews2025
Dev: PATRONES & ESCONDITES
Windows · Mac
A narrative puzzle-thriller that blurs the lines between games and books, reality and fiction, puzzles and storytelling.
Why similar: Investigation 18.8%, Detective 14.6%, Interactive Fiction 12.2%, Text-Based 10.6%, Point & Click 9%
- #51 Refind Self: The Personality Test Game
69% matchVery Positive88% of 3,767 reviews2023
Dev: LizardryPub: PLAYISM
Windows
Median: 1.5 hrsMean: 2.3 hrs≥1hr: 70%
Games can really show someone's personality, don't you think? By way of a simple exploration-based adventure, this data-science game analyzes your actions to estimate your personality.
Why similar: Interactive Fiction 21.8%, Visual Novel 15.7%, Female Protagonist 13.3%, Emotional 8.7%, Story Rich 8.5%
- #52 PARANORMASIGHT: The Mermaid's Curse
66% matchVery Positive95% of 2,591 reviews2026
Dev: Square Enix
Windows
Median: 13.6 hrsMean: 15.1 hrs≥1hr: 93%
Will you survive the curse together this summer? A new supernatural mystery adventure begins, telling a bittersweet story of the passions of youth featuring new locations, new legends and a new cast of characters.
Why similar: Visual Novel 25.3%, Point & Click 19.3%, Multiple Endings 11.6%, Story Rich 10.9%, Text-Based 10.9%
- #53 Case Solved: The London Files
68% matchMixed68% of 113 reviews2026
Dev: Minimol GamesPub: SpecNext Ltd
Windows
Solve logic puzzles and crack multiple cases in a cosy noir London using reason, not guesswork. Murders have taken place, witness statements conflict and the alibis don't add up. Everyone has a motive, and only clear logic reveals the truth.
Why similar: Investigation 30.2%, Detective 25%, Point & Click 18.3%, Puzzle 11.3%, Story Rich 7.5%
- #54 Penelope Pendrick and the Art of Deceit
65% matchVery Positive97% of 574 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: Point & Click 25%, Investigation 20.3%, Detective 18%, Story Rich 11.3%, Puzzle 9.6%
- #55 Signal & Echo: Iris is Missing (demo)
69% matchVery Positive95% of 58 reviews2022
Dev: Kini Games
Windows
A point-and-click adventure with innovative detective mechanics. Help Ollie, a fledgling reporter on his first day at the Signal & Echo newspaper, to solve the mystery behind a schoolgirl's disappearance. Developed by an ex-journalist.
Why similar: Investigation 25.5%, Detective 19.5%, Point & Click 17%, Puzzle 8.8%, Interactive Fiction 8.8%
- #56 Tangle Tower
67% matchOverwhelmingly Positive95% of 6,631 reviews2019
Dev: SFB Games
Windows · Mac
Median: 5.6 hrsMean: 6.7 hrs≥1hr: 89%
Unravel a thrilling mystery by exploring a strange and twisted mansion, discovering curious clues, interrogating peculiar suspects and solving unique puzzles. Will you be able to uncover the secrets of Tangle Tower?
Why similar: Detective 26.7%, Point & Click 20.4%, Visual Novel 14.4%, Investigation 12.9%, Puzzle 9.9%
- #57 Neon Hearts City
67% matchVery Positive84% of 56 reviews2025
Dev: Cosmic VoidPub: Dionous Games
Windows · Mac · Linux
A private investigator, tracking a missing person, uncovers a conspiracy between humans and androids and a secret that could change everything. Neon Hearts City is a retro point-and-click adventure that thrusts you into a grungy cyberpunk city of the future.
Why similar: Investigation 21%, Interactive Fiction 18.8%, Detective 16.1%, Point & Click 15.3%, Puzzle 8.3%
- #58 Far Away
66% matchVery Positive95% of 8,179 reviews2021
Dev: Gratesca
Windows
Median: 5.1 hrsMean: 12.3 hrs≥1hr: 83%
Far Away is a visual novel full of dark humor depicting immersive storylines rather than romantic drama. You will play as Krosa, a typical girl who experiences gang conflicts, crimes, conspiracies, and family grudges in the port city of Bedjan.
Why similar: Investigation 19.5%, Interactive Fiction 15.6%, Visual Novel 15.2%, Female Protagonist 11.2%, Choose Your Own Adventure 8.4%
- #59 A Case of Distrust
70% matchVery Positive82% of 609 reviews2018
Dev: An Open Ben
Windows · Mac
Median: 3.2 hrsMean: 3.8 hrs≥1hr: 88%
A Case of Distrust is a narrative mystery from 1924 San Francisco. Play as private investigator Phyllis Cadence Malone in this historical 2D adventure game.
Why similar: Investigation 19.5%, Interactive Fiction 16.4%, Detective 15.4%, Point & Click 12%, Visual Novel 11.9%
- #60 Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective
65% matchOverwhelmingly Positive97% of 8,529 reviews2023
Dev: CAPCOM Co., Ltd.
Windows
Median: 6.6 hrsMean: 8.3 hrs≥1hr: 84%
Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective, the classic puzzle-solving mystery adventure directed by Ace Attorney creator Shu Takumi, is back! This long-awaited HD remaster features upgraded visuals and sound and new gallery content.
Why similar: Detective 29.7%, Puzzle 18.2%, Story Rich 13.7%, Visual Novel 13.2%, Point & Click 11.4%
