- #1 Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective
97% matchOverwhelmingly Positive98% of 7,849 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: Mystery 24.4%, Supernatural 16.1%, Visual Novel 15.8%, Story Rich 13.5%, Anime 11.2%
Why You'll Like It: Features a unique supernatural perspective on investigation and mystery-solving that mirrors the inventive spirit of the seed game.
- #2 Raging Loop
96% matchOverwhelmingly Positive96% of 9,674 reviews2017
Dev: KEMCO
Windows
Median: 23.9 hrsMean: 58.6 hrs≥1hr: 84%
The feast has begun, can you escape the village alive?
Why similar: Visual Novel 39.9%, Mystery 21.7%, Story Rich 11.1%, Anime 8.8%, Adventure 8.3%
Why You'll Like It: A masterful blend of folk horror and psychological mystery that forces the player to navigate a deadly time-loop scenario.
- #3 428: Shibuya Scramble
96% matchVery Positive95% of 3,587 reviews2018
Dev: Spike Chunsoft Co., Ltd.
Windows
Median: 4.2 hrsMean: 11.9 hrs≥1hr: 82%
A kidnapping on the streets of Shibuya brings together a hot-blooded detective, hard-hitting journalist, former gang leader, the head researcher of a big pharma manufacturer and a part-timer stuck in cat costume for a series of events each more unexpected and outrageous than the last.
Why similar: Visual Novel 49.2%, Mystery 26.4%, Story Rich 13.7%, Adventure 10.7%
Why You'll Like It: Utilizes a complex, multi-perspective narrative structure set in Tokyo that rewards players for connecting disparate plot threads.
- #4 Urban Myth Dissolution Center
94% matchVery Positive88% of 5,751 reviews2025
Dev: HakababunkoPub: SHUEISHA GAMES
Windows
Median: 7.7 hrsMean: 9.8 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: Well-Written 32.9% ★, Visual Novel 13.1%, Text-Based 10.7%, Supernatural 9.8%, Mystery 8.3%
Why You'll Like It: Focuses on investigating supernatural urban legends, capturing the same eerie, mystery-solving vibe found in the seed game.
- #5 AI: The Somnium Files
95% matchVery Positive92% of 9,101 reviews2019
Dev: Spike Chunsoft Co., Ltd.
Windows
Median: 4.6 hrsMean: 15.1 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: Visual Novel 28.2%, Anime 19.3%, Mystery 18.8%, Story Rich 11.1%, Multiple Endings 9.4%
Why You'll Like It: Combines surreal investigative gameplay with a deep, character-driven mystery that keeps the player guessing until the end.
- #6 Zero Escape: The Nonary Games
94% matchVery Positive93% of 6,967 reviews2017
Dev: Spike Chunsoft Co., Ltd.
Windows
Median: 6.5 hrsMean: 21.7 hrs≥1hr: 88%
Kidnapped and taken to an unfamiliar location, nine people find themselves forced to participate in a diabolical Nonary Game by an enigmatic mastermind called Zero. Why were they there? Why were they chosen to put their lives on the line? And more importantly, who can be trusted?
Why similar: Visual Novel 27.8%, Mystery 17.4%, Multiple Endings 15.6%, Anime 11.5%, Story Rich 11.4%
Why You'll Like It: Offers high-stakes puzzle-solving and branching narrative paths centered around a mysterious, life-or-death situation.
- #7 The Great Ace Attorney Chronicles
93% matchVery Positive94% of 9,045 reviews2021
Dev: CAPCOM Co., Ltd.
Windows
Median: 11.4 hrsMean: 34.7 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: Text-Based 21.7%, Visual Novel 21.3%, Anime 13.7%, Mystery 13.5%, Choose Your Own Adventure 8%
Why You'll Like It: Provides a rich, historical investigative experience that emphasizes deduction and uncovering the truth behind complex cases.
- #8 Return to Shironagasu Island
92% matchVery Positive94% of 3,990 reviews2020
Dev: HYOGO ONIMUSHIPub: TABINOMICHI
Windows
Median: 5.5 hrsMean: 14.2 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 29.4%, Mystery 19.2%, Horror 15.3%, Anime 12.1%, Adventure 11%
Why You'll Like It: A tense, atmospheric mystery visual novel that blends horror elements with traditional detective work.
- #9 GNOSIA
91% matchVery Positive94% of 4,733 reviews2022
Dev: Petit DepottoPub: PLAYISM
Windows
Median: 7.2 hrsMean: 15.4 hrs≥1hr: 90%
The Gnosia lie. Pretending to be human, they’ll get in close, trick and deceive, and then eliminate one victim at a time...
Why similar: Visual Novel 28.1%, Anime 20%, Mystery 18.8%, Story Rich 12.1%, Simulation 8.6%
Why You'll Like It: A unique social deduction mystery that uses a time-loop mechanic to reveal deep secrets about its cast of characters.
- #10 Staffer Case: A Supernatural Mystery Adventure
91% matchVery Positive94% of 3,907 reviews2023
Dev: Team Tetrapod
Windows · Mac
Median: 7.6 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: Text-Based 23.2%, Visual Novel 19.5%, Mystery 16%, Anime 14.8%, Multiple Endings 12%
Why You'll Like It: Features a detective protagonist investigating supernatural occurrences, closely matching the investigative tone of the seed game.
- #11 The Centennial Case : A Shijima Story
90% matchMostly Positive80% of 1,102 reviews2022
Dev: Square Enix
Windows
Median: 11.0 hrsMean: 15.9 hrs≥1hr: 85%
Unravel the mysteries of death, and find the answers to life.A unique Mystery-Adventure Game:The Centennial Case: A Shijima Story
Why similar: Mystery 36.6%, Choose Your Own Adventure 30.5%, Story Rich 17.4%, Adventure 12.9%, Singleplayer 2.6%
Why You'll Like It: Uses live-action footage to present a multi-generational murder mystery that requires careful deduction to solve.
- #12 Spirit Hunter: Death Mark
89% matchVery Positive82% of 496 reviews2019
Dev: EXPERIENCEPub: Aksys Games
Windows
Median: 3.3 hrsMean: 13.2 hrs≥1hr: 70%
A strange rumor is spreading through the shadows of Tokyo's H City: a mysterious disfigurement has been appearing on the bodies of certain individuals. Anyone who receives the Mark will rapidly die of unknown, horrifying causes. The countdown to death has already begun...
Why similar: Visual Novel 37.7%, Horror 29.8%, Anime 13.6%, Adventure 13.2%, Point & Click 5.6%
Why You'll Like It: Focuses on investigating terrifying supernatural entities, emphasizing horror and survival through careful choices.
- #13 The House in Fata Morgana
89% matchVery Positive95% of 6,041 reviews2016
Dev: NOVECTPub: MangaGamer
Windows
Median: 6.4 hrsMean: 27.3 hrs≥1hr: 84%
A gothic suspense tale set in a cursed mansion. "The House in Fata Morgana" is a full-length visual novel spanning nearly a millennium that deals in tragedy, human nature, and insanity.
Why similar: Visual Novel 25.1%, Mystery 16.4%, Anime 14.2%, Horror 13.9%, Multiple Endings 12.8%
Why You'll Like It: A gothic, emotionally resonant mystery that excels in building a haunting atmosphere through its narrative.
- #14 Danganronpa: Trigger Happy Havoc
88% matchOverwhelmingly Positive96% of 35,609 reviews2016
Dev: Spike Chunsoft Co., Ltd.
Windows · Mac · Linux
Median: 7.9 hrsMean: 22.8 hrs≥1hr: 88%
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: Visual Novel 28.7%, Anime 22.3%, Mystery 20.4%, Story Rich 10.2%, Horror 8.1%
Why You'll Like It: A high-stakes mystery game where the player must solve murders in a confined, supernatural-adjacent environment.
- #15 Little Goody Two Shoes
86% matchOverwhelmingly Positive95% of 2,301 reviews2023
Dev: AstralShiftPub: Square Enix
Windows
Median: 3.6 hrsMean: 8.1 hrs≥1hr: 79%
Venture into the woods as you play Little Goody Two Shoes, a phantasmagorical horror narrative adventure where all your decisions matter!
Why similar: Horror 23.6%, Multiple Endings 17.8%, Mystery 17.2%, Anime 10.8%, RPG 10.4%
Why You'll Like It: A dark, atmospheric horror adventure that blends mystery with a unique, stylized aesthetic.
- #16 Your Turn To Die -Death Game By Majority-
85% matchOverwhelmingly Positive98% of 3,866 reviews2023
Dev: NankidaiPub: 0UP GAMES
Windows
Median: 6.4 hrsMean: 14.0 hrs≥1hr: 82%
Your Turn To Die -Death Game By Majority- is a multi-ending horror adventure game. Sara Chidouin returns home from school late one night to discover that something's gone terribly wrong. When she comes to, she finds herself, her friend Joe, and 9 other people trapped in a mysterious place.
Why similar: Multiple Endings 20.2%, Mystery 18.4%, Anime 15.2%, Point & Click 14.8%, Choose Your Own Adventure 14.2%
Why You'll Like It: A gripping death-game mystery that forces players to make difficult choices to uncover the truth behind their predicament.
- #17 Tokyo Dark
87% matchVery Positive84% of 1,336 reviews2017
Dev: CherrymochiPub: Square Enix
Windows
Median: 4.5 hrsMean: 5.5 hrs≥1hr: 90%
Legend tells of a door deep below Tokyo's sewers. All who enter are lost forever. Detective Ito's partner is missing. Explore Tokyo & uncover the darkness that lays beneath the streets in this Point & Click - meets Visual Novel - narrative adventure that questions the very core of Ito's sanity.
Why similar: Visual Novel 22.2%, Anime 18.9%, Horror 15%, Mystery 13%, Point & Click 12.3%
Why You'll Like It: A supernatural detective story set in modern Tokyo that features branching paths and multiple endings based on player decisions.
- #18 Corpse Party
86% matchVery Positive89% of 1,369 reviews2016
Dev: GrisGrisPub: XSEED Games
Windows · Linux
Median: 3.5 hrsMean: 17.3 hrs≥1hr: 81%
A group of friends unknowingly perform an occult ritual that traps them in an otherworldly elementary school. Here, the vengeful spirits of young children threaten their lives and their sanity, and the only hope of survival is to uncover the chilling details behind the murders of those trapped before them...
Why similar: Horror 30.2%, Anime 22.3%, Visual Novel 18.9%, Multiple Endings 9.3%, Story Rich 7%
Why You'll Like It: A classic horror visual novel that traps characters in a supernatural nightmare, demanding careful navigation to avoid gruesome ends.
- #19 WORLD OF HORROR
84% matchVery Positive90% of 9,731 reviews2023
Dev: panstaszPub: Ysbryd Games
Windows · Mac
Median: 2.6 hrsMean: 7.7 hrs≥1hr: 71%
Experience the quiet terror of this 1-bit love letter to Junji Ito and H.P. Lovecraft. Navigate a hellish roguelite reality with turn-based combat and unforgiving choices. Experiment with your deck of event cards to discover new forms of cosmic horror in every playthrough. The inevitable awaits...
Why similar: Horror 31.8%, Point & Click 18.7%, Anime 17.2%, Mystery 16.7%, RPG 8.5%
Why You'll Like It: Captures a distinct, unsettling 1-bit aesthetic while focusing on cosmic horror and investigative mystery gameplay.
- #20 Ace Attorney Investigations Collection
82% matchOverwhelmingly Positive97% of 4,302 reviews2024
Dev: CAPCOM Co., Ltd.
Windows
Median: 30.3 hrsMean: 33.5 hrs≥1hr: 85%
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: Visual Novel 23.6%, Text-Based 20.6%, Mystery 18.5%, Story Rich 9.9%, Adventure 8.6%
Why You'll Like It: Shifts the focus to direct crime scene investigation, providing a satisfying detective experience.
- #21 Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney Trilogy
83% matchVery Positive88% of 4,106 reviews2024
Dev: CAPCOM Co., Ltd.
Windows
Median: 33.6 hrsMean: 52.1 hrs≥1hr: 87%
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: Visual Novel 26.9%, Text-Based 15.1%, Anime 14.9%, Mystery 14.1%, Adventure 8.1%
Why You'll Like It: Continues the tradition of high-quality investigative gameplay and courtroom drama with a focus on uncovering hidden truths.
- #22 The Letter - Horror Visual Novel
84% matchVery Positive86% of 1,500 reviews2017
Dev: Yangyang MobilePub: Neon Doctrine
Windows · Mac · Linux
Median: 6.6 hrsMean: 11.1 hrs≥1hr: 90%
When seven people fall prey to a vicious curse, they will discover that horror rests not from the shadows lurking about, but within themselves. To what ends will one go in order to survive?
Why similar: Visual Novel 31.2%, Horror 22.8%, Anime 11.1%, Mystery 10.2%, Multiple Endings 9.9%
Why You'll Like It: A branching horror story where the choices made by the player significantly alter the survival of the cast.
- #23 Umineko When They Cry - Question Arcs
82% matchOverwhelmingly Positive95% of 2,634 reviews2016
Dev: 07th ExpansionPub: MangaGamer
Windows · Mac · Linux
Median: 13.9 hrsMean: 40.4 hrs≥1hr: 82%
Umineko When They Cry is the 2nd series of Sound Novel released by 07th Expansion. The steam version features renewed character sprites which is swappable from the classic art.
Why similar: Visual Novel 33.2%, Mystery 25.3%, Story Rich 13.4%, Anime 13%, Horror 11.8%
Why You'll Like It: A complex, meta-fictional mystery that challenges the player to distinguish between reality and the supernatural.
- #24 Higurashi When They Cry Hou+
81% matchVery Positive88% of 163 reviews2023
Dev: 07th ExpansionPub: MangaGamer
Windows · Mac · Linux
Median: 4.0 hrsMean: 5.2 hrs≥1hr: 64%
The tragedy of Hinamizawa is over. Those held captive within its grip are free from the fate that bound them to June 1983. Yet the tale of Hinamizawa is not truly complete. There are many worlds not yet explored.
Why similar: Visual Novel 38.5%, Anime 27.3%, Adventure 11.6%, Horror 8.5%, Mystery 6.9%
Why You'll Like It: A seminal mystery-horror visual novel that excels at building dread and unraveling complex, supernatural-tinged secrets.
- #25 PARANORMASIGHT: The Mermaid's Curse
77% matchOverwhelmingly Positive95% of 1,800 reviews2026
Dev: Square Enix
Windows
Median: 13.6 hrsMean: 13.9 hrs≥1hr: 92%
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: Well-Written 18.2% ★, Supernatural 10.6%, Visual Novel 9.7%, 1980s 7.1%, Mystery 6.7%
- #26 The Silver Case
81% matchVery Positive89% of 1,085 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: Text-Based 21.6%, Visual Novel 17.8%, Mystery 14.4%, Anime 11.6%, Horror 10.1%
Why You'll Like It: A stylish, experimental detective mystery from Suda51 that focuses on uncovering a dark conspiracy.
- #27 MAMIYA
80% matchVery Positive93% of 444 reviews2021
Dev: Kenkou LandPub: Fruitbat Factory
Windows · Mac
Median: 4.2 hrsMean: 12.1 hrs≥1hr: 86%
MAMIYA is a captivating, dark mystery visual novel in which a group of young men struggle against existential dread before the end of the world.
Why similar: Visual Novel 27.6%, Multiple Endings 15.2%, Horror 14.4%, Anime 13.7%, Mystery 13.2%
Why You'll Like It: A psychological mystery visual novel that explores themes of identity and trauma within a surreal, haunting framework.
- #28 STEINS;GATE
79% matchOverwhelmingly Positive97% of 25,378 reviews2016
Dev: MAGES. Inc.Pub: Spike Chunsoft Co., Ltd.
Windows
Median: 6.5 hrsMean: 66.2 hrs≥1hr: 81%
Developed by 5pb. and Nitroplus, STEINS;GATE was awarded Famitsu magazine's coveted annual Game of Excellence award and was voted one of the most emotionally charged “tear-inducing games” ever made, in a Famitsu poll. It is a gripping and moving Visual Novel, which has already spawned manga and anime adaptations.
Why similar: Visual Novel 36.9%, Anime 21.4%, Multiple Endings 14.2%, Story Rich 13.6%, Mystery 7.4%
Why You'll Like It: A masterclass in time-travel narrative that builds a compelling mystery around the consequences of changing the past.
- #29 Fatal Twelve
78% matchVery Positive92% of 995 reviews2018
Dev: LYCORISPub: Sekai Project
Windows · Mac · Linux
Median: 7.7 hrsMean: 12.4 hrs≥1hr: 85%
Shishimai Rinka was a high schooler who ran a small café named Lion House in place of her grandmother. She lived her life much like any other person her age, but one day, she was caught up in an explosion while returning home on the train alongside her friend, Hitsuji Naomi.
Why similar: Visual Novel 31.3%, Multiple Endings 17.6%, Anime 17.4%, Mystery 15.3%, Story Rich 11.3%
Why You'll Like It: A supernatural death game where the protagonist must solve the mysteries behind her opponents to survive.
- #30 Root Double -Before Crime * After Days- Xtend Edition
79% matchVery Positive90% of 592 reviews2016
Dev: YetiPub: Sekai Project
Windows
Median: 8.9 hrsMean: 14.3 hrs≥1hr: 94%
Rescue squad captain Watase Kasasagi wakes up without his memories in the middle of his most critical mission yet-- a nuclear meltdown at a research facility. In an unfamiliar place and without his years of training, he must rescue the survivors and escape...
Why similar: Visual Novel 35.2%, Anime 17.6%, Multiple Endings 14.2%, Mystery 13.4%, Story Rich 9.7%
Why You'll Like It: A sci-fi mystery that utilizes a unique 'Senses Sympathy System' to influence the narrative and character relationships.
- #31 Synergia
78% matchVery Positive87% of 795 reviews2020
Dev: Radi ArtPub: Top Hat Studios, Inc.
Windows · Mac · Linux
Median: 3.1 hrsMean: 4.4 hrs≥1hr: 79%
Synergia is a yuri thriller visual novel that takes place in a cyberpunk future, wrapped up in a beautifully unique, vibrant neon aesthetic. At the end of the world, sometimes love is the ultimate crime.
Why similar: Visual Novel 37.6%, Anime 22.4%, Multiple Endings 14.2%, Story Rich 10.1%, RPG 6.7%
Why You'll Like It: A cyberpunk visual novel that blends a mystery-driven plot with a distinct, atmospheric art style.
- #32 Corpse Party (2021)
77% matchVery Positive90% of 1,410 reviews2021
Dev: MAGES.Pub: XSEED Games
Windows · Mac · Linux
Median: 3.7 hrsMean: 7.9 hrs≥1hr: 80%
Explore the haunted halls of Heavenly Host Elementary in Corpse Party (2021), the horror cult classic now updated for the next generation.
Why similar: Horror 18.5%, Supernatural 17.8%, Multiple Endings 13.4%, Anime 11%, Visual Novel 9.1%
- #33 The Shell Part I: Inferno
76% matchVery Positive91% of 1,325 reviews2023
Dev: Innocent GreyPub: Shiravune
Windows
Median: 10.7 hrsMean: 110.2 hrs≥1hr: 70%
Unravel a string of gruesome murders terrorizing Tokyo in this mystery-thriller visual novel. The secrets of a case from six years prior may just be the key to the current unending cycle of tragedy—and the thing that cracks this woeful world’s shell may be one girl’s smile.
Why similar: Visual Novel 26.2%, Mystery 17.8%, Text-Based 11.7%, Multiple Endings 10.9%, Retro 10.6%
- #34 The Hundred Line -Last Defense Academy-
74% matchVery Positive88% of 8,163 reviews2025
Dev: Too Kyo GamesPub: Aniplex Inc.
Windows
Median: 42.8 hrsMean: 65.0 hrs≥1hr: 95%
Kazutaka Kodaka and Kotaro Uchikoshi join forces for the first time to deliver the ULTIMATE adventure game! 15 students are tasked with defending a school from grotesque monsters for 100 days. Can they make it to the end? And will they survive long enough to uncover the truth?
Why similar: Visual Novel 25.8%, Multiple Endings 22.3%, Anime 19.8%, Story Rich 12.2%, Simulation 10.1%
- #35 AI: THE SOMNIUM FILES - nirvanA Initiative
75% matchVery Positive86% of 3,598 reviews2022
Dev: Spike Chunsoft Co., Ltd.
Windows
Median: 5.5 hrsMean: 16.3 hrs≥1hr: 91%
Special Agents Mizuki and Ryuki, along with their AI partners Aiba and Tama, are tasked to solve the bizarre Half Body serial killings in this sequel to the critically acclaimed AI: THE SOMNIUM FILES.
Why similar: Visual Novel 34%, Mystery 26.1%, Anime 25%, Adventure 8.9%, Choose Your Own Adventure 6%
- #36 Zero Escape: Zero Time Dilemma
76% matchVery Positive82% of 4,723 reviews2016
Dev: Spike Chunsoft Co., Ltd.
Windows
Median: 4.6 hrsMean: 11.5 hrs≥1hr: 89%
Nine participants awaken, trapped in an underground facility. To escape, they must play a game with deadly consequences. Who will live, and who will die? The choice is yours. Let the Decision Game begin…
Why similar: Visual Novel 28.8%, Mystery 18.9%, Anime 13.2%, Story Rich 12%, Horror 9.6%
- #37 No Case Should Remain Unsolved
71% matchOverwhelmingly Positive96% of 9,767 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: Text-Based 22.6%, Visual Novel 22%, Point & Click 12.8%, Multiple Endings 11.1%, Anime 10.2%
- #38 Danganronpa V3: Killing Harmony
74% matchVery Positive83% of 21,767 reviews2017
Dev: Spike Chunsoft Co., Ltd.
Windows
Median: 9.2 hrsMean: 30.6 hrs≥1hr: 91%
A new cast of 16 characters find themselves kidnapped and imprisoned in a school. Inside, some will kill, some will die, and some will be punished. Reimagine what you thought high-stakes, fast-paced investigation was as you investigate twisted murder cases and condemn your new friends to death.
Why similar: Visual Novel 32.1%, Anime 22%, Mystery 20.3%, Story Rich 12.7%, Horror 7.8%
- #39 Master Detective Archives: RAIN CODE Plus
72% matchVery Positive81% of 1,984 reviews2024
Dev: Spike Chunsoft Co., Ltd.
Windows
Median: 13.2 hrsMean: 22.8 hrs≥1hr: 89%
Yuma, an amnesiac detective-in-training, and Shinigami, the spirit haunting him, tackle unsolved mysteries.
Why similar: Anime 26.2%, Mystery 18.5%, Visual Novel 18.2%, Adventure 15.2%, Story Rich 13.7%
- #40 Danganronpa 2: Goodbye Despair
73% matchOverwhelmingly Positive96% of 30,083 reviews2016
Dev: Spike Chunsoft Co., Ltd.
Windows · Mac · Linux
Median: 10.8 hrsMean: 33.0 hrs≥1hr: 91%
Jabberwock Island—You and your classmates were ready for fun in the sun until Monokuma returned to restart his murderous game! Trapped in a kill-or-be-killed situation, your only hope rests in solving the island’s mysteries.
Why similar: Visual Novel 29.4%, Anime 25.2%, Mystery 20.5%, Story Rich 11.9%, Horror 7.3%
- #41 Graces: Posthumous Wish
71% matchVery Positive97% of 172 reviews2024
Dev: TomoToro
Windows
Aki is haunted by a curse. In search of salvation, she travels into the memories of a dead classmate, where she must witness three eerie mystical stories and figure out how to break the shackles of misfortune.
Why similar: Visual Novel 15.8%, Text-Based 14%, Supernatural 12.1%, Hand-drawn 11.8%, Mystery 9.3%
- #42 Ib
71% matchOverwhelmingly Positive99% of 5,037 reviews2022
Dev: kouriPub: PLAYISM
Windows
Median: 3.4 hrsMean: 16.4 hrs≥1hr: 82%
A 2D exploration adventure game set in a creepy, mysterious art gallery.
Why similar: Horror 22.5%, Multiple Endings 19.6%, Anime 17.9%, Choose Your Own Adventure 16.3%, Story Rich 14.7%
- #43 Corpse Party: Book of Shadows
73% matchVery Positive86% of 499 reviews2018
Dev: MAGES. Inc.Pub: XSEED Games
Windows
Median: 3.9 hrsMean: 16.4 hrs≥1hr: 85%
An anthology series that serves as a Corpse Party sequel, prequel, midquel, and alternate universe tale all in one. Rejoin old friends for a deeper dive into the haunted halls of Heavenly Host Elementary...
Why similar: Visual Novel 20%, Horror 16.5%, Anime 15.3%, JRPG 11.6%, Point & Click 10.7%
- #44 Seven Mysteries: The Last Page
75% matchMostly Positive74% of 62 reviews2018
Dev: Sang Hendrix
Windows
A story-driven psychological horror RPG about a group of friends who unintentionally become bound together after encountering 7 curses from a school.
Why similar: Supernatural 16.4%, Visual Novel 14.5%, Multiple Endings 13.5%, Anime 12.7%, Horror 11.9%
- #45 Suicide Countdown: 7 Days
73% matchVery Positive81% of 1,081 reviews2021
Dev: 致意
Windows · Mac · Linux
Median: 3.1 hrsMean: 7.2 hrs≥1hr: 81%
Only 7 days remain until death embraces you -- the everyday life of a young boy begins to distort little by little, unfolding into a bizarre and ghastly series of events... When fate comes knocking, will you have the courage to make a choice?
Why similar: Visual Novel 16.1%, Text-Based 15%, Hand-drawn 12%, JRPG 11.7%, Horror 11.2%
- #46 The Chrono Jotter
70% matchVery Positive94% of 2,205 reviews2021
Dev: Orca LayoutPub: 2P Games
Windows
Median: 5.3 hrsMean: 7.7 hrs≥1hr: 87%
Rewind time to save your girlfriend in a twisted high school death game. A gripping yuri visual novel: Investigate brutal murders, unravel psychological horrors, and fight for a forbidden love that defies death itself.
Why similar: Visual Novel 28.6%, Mystery 19%, Horror 18.5%, Anime 13.9%, Story Rich 12.7%
- #47 Who's Lila?
70% matchVery Positive95% of 3,515 reviews2022
Dev: Garage Heathen
Windows
Median: 3.5 hrsMean: 4.7 hrs≥1hr: 78%
A reverse-detective adventure, where you control your character's face
Why similar: Visual Novel 24.1%, Horror 19.4%, Multiple Endings 16.5%, Choose Your Own Adventure 15.5%, Point & Click 15.3%
- #48 Iwaihime
72% matchMostly Positive79% of 873 reviews2020
Dev: DMM GAMESPub: Shiravune
Windows
Median: 5.6 hrsMean: 17.8 hrs≥1hr: 88%
From hit writer Ryukishi07, the creator of When They Cry, comes a story on the theme of “curses.” Strike down the dark riddle of dolls and soot in this supernatural horror visual novel.
Why similar: Supernatural 26.3%, Visual Novel 20.9%, Anime 15.4%, Hand-drawn 13.2%, Horror 11.5%
- #49 Murders on the Yangtze River
67% matchOverwhelmingly Positive97% of 20,376 reviews2024
Dev: OMEGAMES STUDIO
Windows · Mac
Median: 11.4 hrsMean: 14.0 hrs≥1hr: 87%
"Murders on Yangtze River" is an Ace Attorney-like detective game that takes you on a journey through early 20th century China as you solve a series of intriguing cases. Use your logical reasoning and deduction skills to uncover clues, interrogate suspects, and solve the mysteries.
Why similar: Mystery 30%, Story Rich 23.1%, Text-Based 20.5%, Adventure 15.7%, RPG 8.6%
- #50 Staffer Reborn
68% matchOverwhelmingly Positive97% of 889 reviews2024
Dev: Team Tetrapod
Windows · Mac
Median: 1.4 hrsMean: 2.0 hrs≥1hr: 79%
Staffer Reborn is a game of supernatural abilities and logical deduction set in 1960s America. It tells the story of a man trapped in a cycle of death and resurrection caused by his supernatural ability and the investigator who was recruited to help.
Why similar: Text-Based 22.1%, Visual Novel 19.4%, 1980s 16.1%, Mystery 14.2%, Anime 13.4%
- #51 The Roottrees are Dead
66% matchOverwhelmingly Positive97% of 7,749 reviews2025
Dev: Evil Trout Inc.
Windows · Mac · Linux
Median: 8.0 hrsMean: 9.7 hrs≥1hr: 89%
A genealogical mystery straight out of 1998. Scour the early Internet for clues, uncover hidden connections, and piece together the family tree behind the secretive Roottree Corporation.
Why similar: Mystery 39.8%, Point & Click 23.6%, Story Rich 15.2%, Retro 10.4%, Adventure 7.3%
- #52 再见断刀
66% matchVery Positive93% of 2,313 reviews2025
Dev: 非侠游戏Pub: LoveStoryProject
Windows
Median: 11.7 hrsMean: 12.8 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: Visual Novel 21.7%, Anime 16.7%, Multiple Endings 15.3%, Mystery 14.6%, Retro 12%
- #53 CHAOS;CHILD
69% matchVery Positive94% of 3,800 reviews2019
Dev: MAGES. Inc.Pub: Spike Chunsoft Co., Ltd.
Windows
Median: 4.2 hrsMean: 81.1 hrs≥1hr: 81%
From the creators of the critically acclaimed STEINS;GATE comes a sensational new visual novel: CHAOS;CHILD. Set in Shibuya in 2015, a group of high school students who survived an earthquake six years ago find themselves at the center of a new series of bizarre murders in the city.
Why similar: Visual Novel 32.1%, Mystery 17.7%, Anime 16.3%, Horror 10.5%, Story Rich 9.6%
- #54 CHAOS;HEAD NOAH
68% matchVery Positive89% of 1,696 reviews2022
Dev: MAGES. Inc.Pub: Spike Chunsoft Co., Ltd.
Windows
Median: 4.2 hrsMean: 52.6 hrs≥1hr: 82%
CHAOS;HEAD NOAH is now available on Steam!
Why similar: Visual Novel 37.5%, Mystery 18.8%, Anime 18.7%, Story Rich 11.8%, Adventure 5.9%
- #55 Pocket Mirror ~ GoldenerTraum
67% matchVery Positive93% of 1,607 reviews2023
Dev: AstralShiftPub: KOMODO
Windows · Mac
Median: 4.1 hrsMean: 6.3 hrs≥1hr: 84%
Delve into the enthralling world of Pocket Mirror ~ GoldenerTraum, the acclaimed RPG Maker gothic horror game that'll take you on a moving journey of self-discovery.
Why similar: Horror 35.7%, Anime 23.3%, Choose Your Own Adventure 16.1%, RPG 11.9%, Adventure 9.5%
- #56 Yet Another Killing Game
66% matchVery Positive98% of 220 reviews2025
Dev: Soulseer Studios
Windows · Mac · Linux
You wake up in a house, alone with two beautiful girls... But no one is allowed to leave until one of you DIES. Why is this happening? What is the purpose of this “killing game”? But most importantly...WHO SHOULD DIE?!
Why similar: Visual Novel 15.1%, Text-Based 14.8%, Anime 12%, Mystery 11.7%, Hand-drawn 11.4%
- #57 Even20: The Interference of Parallels
65% matchVery Positive94% of 50 reviews2025
Dev: SilverEyesPub: Wisdom Games Publishing
Windows · Mac
Two souls are drawn into a mysterious otherworld—and torn apart. In a realm filled with danger and restless spirits, each searches for the other while uncovering hidden truths. A suspenseful multi-ending adventure where every choice shapes their fate.
Why similar: Horror 19.5%, Mystery 19.3%, Multiple Endings 14.2%, Story Rich 10.1%, Anime 9.6%
- #58 Danganronpa Another Episode: Ultra Despair Girls
68% matchVery Positive83% of 6,923 reviews2017
Dev: Spike Chunsoft Co., Ltd.
Windows
Median: 4.5 hrsMean: 17.1 hrs≥1hr: 90%
Komaru Naegi has been imprisoned inside a mysterious apartment for over a year. Her rescue is derailed when hundreds of Monokumas suddenly attack. She teams up with Toko Fukawa to survive the rampaging Monokumas, escape the crafty Monokuma Kids, and uncover the secrets of the city.
Why similar: Anime 39.3%, Visual Novel 22.3%, Story Rich 13.8%, Horror 10.3%, Mystery 7.5%
- #59 Nightmare Zapping
66% matchVery Positive99% of 74 reviews2023
Dev: Maldo19
Windows
A horror channel browsing game where each channel holds a different nightmare to experience, explore them and find out the truth about what has happened in a small town where the inhabitants have disappeared.
Why similar: Visual Novel 21.6%, Horror 14.6%, Anime 12.7%, Mystery 11.1%, Retro 10.9%
- #60 BAD END THEATER
65% matchOverwhelmingly Positive98% of 9,533 reviews2021
Dev: NomnomNami
Windows · Mac · Linux
Median: 1.6 hrsMean: 3.5 hrs≥1hr: 71%
select your protagonist and explore a variety of terrible fates!
Why similar: Visual Novel 30.5%, Multiple Endings 24.5%, Story Rich 13.7%, Choose Your Own Adventure 13.4%, Anime 9.9%
