- #1 AI: The Somnium Files
97% 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 26%, Mystery 18.8%, Detective 17.5%, Anime 10.7%, Adventure 6.9%
Why You'll Like It: This game features a brilliant detective protagonist navigating surreal, psychological mysteries that mirror the investigative depth of the seed game.
- #2 Zero Escape: The Nonary Games
96% 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 28.1%, Mystery 19.1%, Psychological Horror 8.4%, Choices Matter 8%, Anime 7%
Why You'll Like It: It perfectly captures the high-stakes, isolated death-game atmosphere where puzzle-solving and critical choices determine your survival.
- #3 PARANORMASIGHT: The Seven Mysteries of Honjo
96% matchOverwhelmingly Positive96% of 6,520 reviews2023
Dev: Square Enix
Windows
Median: 8.6 hrsMean: 10.1 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 29.4%, Mystery 19.2%, Horror 15.3%, Anime 12.1%, Adventure 11%
Why You'll Like It: A masterful supernatural mystery that uses its visual novel format to create a haunting, investigation-heavy experience.
- #4 Tokyo Dark
95% 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 20.3%, Detective 15.3%, Mystery 13%, Horror 11.1%, Anime 10.4%
Why You'll Like It: This title offers a dark, branching narrative where your detective choices lead to drastically different outcomes in a gritty, atmospheric setting.
- #5 Raging Loop
94% 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 33.9%, Mystery 20%, Psychological Horror 10.2%, Adventure 10%, Detective 9.8%
Why You'll Like It: A psychological horror visual novel that excels at building suspense through a time-loop mystery set in an isolated, eerie village.
- #6 Spirit Hunter: Death Mark
94% 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 37.2%, Horror 23.7%, Adventure 18.5%, Detective 8.8%, Anime 8.1%
Why You'll Like It: It captures the same blend of horror and investigation, tasking players with uncovering the truth behind supernatural urban legends.
- #7 The Shell Part I: Inferno
92% 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 25.9%, Mystery 19.2%, Detective 18.5%, Psychological Horror 9.8%, Choices Matter 7.7%
Why You'll Like It: A gritty, noir-inspired visual novel that delivers a dark and complex mystery perfect for fans of the seed game's detective elements.
- #8 Kara no Shojo
93% matchVery Positive92% of 439 reviews2018
Dev: Innocent GreyPub: MangaGamer
Windows
Median: 6.1 hrsMean: 165.3 hrs≥1hr: 64%
Play as a detective tasked with catching a serial killer in this visual novel set in post-war Japan. Investigate key locations, question many complex characters, piece together clues, and try to stop the culprit before they end yet another young girl's smile.
Why similar: Visual Novel 18.2%, Mystery 14.7%, Detective 14.4%, Horror 9.3%, Anime 8.2%
Why You'll Like It: A classic detective visual novel that leans into dark, mature themes and complex murder mysteries similar to the seed game.
- #9 Danganronpa 2: Goodbye Despair
91% 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 24.5%, Detective 21.6%, Mystery 18.5%, Anime 12.6%, Psychological Horror 6.5%
Why You'll Like It: This iconic title features a high-stakes mystery set on a tropical island, blending character-driven drama with intense investigation sequences.
- #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: Detective 22.4%, Visual Novel 21%, Mystery 18.7%, Anime 9.5%, Thriller 7.8%
Why You'll Like It: This game focuses heavily on the detective process, requiring players to analyze evidence and solve supernatural crimes in a stylish, narrative-driven format.
- #11 GNOSIA
90% 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 25.1%, Mystery 18.2%, Detective 13.7%, Anime 10.7%, Psychological Horror 9.7%
Why You'll Like It: This unique social deduction mystery game features a cast of characters trapped in an isolated location, requiring careful observation and logic to survive.
- #12 Urban Myth Dissolution Center
89% 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: Visual Novel 24.1%, Mystery 16.6%, Detective 10.5%, Psychological Horror 9.9%, Horror 8.9%
Why You'll Like It: It combines investigative gameplay with supernatural horror, focusing on solving mysteries behind urban legends in a distinct, artistic style.
- #13 Your Turn To Die -Death Game By Majority-
89% 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: Mystery 31.6%, Psychological Horror 15.9%, Point & Click 15.6%, Anime 14.5%, Adventure 12.8%
Why You'll Like It: A gripping death-game mystery that emphasizes character relationships and difficult choices in a high-pressure, isolated environment.
- #14 Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective
87% 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 26.4%, Detective 22%, Visual Novel 15.7%, Adventure 12.7%, Story Rich 7.5%
Why You'll Like It: This puzzle-heavy mystery game offers a unique perspective on detective work, blending supernatural elements with a compelling, story-rich narrative.
- #15 Higurashi When They Cry Hou - Ch.1 Onikakushi
88% matchOverwhelmingly Positive96% of 6,215 reviews2015
Dev: 07th ExpansionPub: MangaGamer
Windows · Mac · Linux
Median: 4.0 hrsMean: 21.9 hrs≥1hr: 85%
Higurashi When They Cry is a sound novel. The music, backgrounds and characters work together to create a world that is the stage of a novel for the user to read. They laugh and cry and get angry. The user takes the point of view of the protagonist to experience the story.
Why similar: Visual Novel 41.8%, Mystery 26.5%, Anime 13.9%, Story Rich 6.5%, Adventure 5%
Why You'll Like It: This foundational psychological horror visual novel excels at building dread within a seemingly peaceful, isolated community.
- #16 Zero Escape: Zero Time Dilemma
86% 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 26.4%, Mystery 18.8%, Psychological Horror 11%, Choices Matter 7.8%, Anime 7.3%
Why You'll Like It: The final entry in the series offers intense, non-linear puzzle-solving and psychological horror that fits the seed game's tone.
- #17 The Sekimeiya: Spun Glass
86% matchVery Positive86% of 279 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: Visual Novel 25.8%, Mystery 22.9%, Detective 20.2%, Anime 10.3%, Adventure 7.3%
Why You'll Like It: A complex, sci-fi-infused mystery that rewards players for paying close attention to every detail in the narrative.
- #18 428: Shibuya Scramble
84% 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 41.8%, Mystery 24.4%, Adventure 12.8%, Detective 9.3%, Story Rich 6.5%
Why You'll Like It: A masterclass in branching narrative design, this game weaves together multiple perspectives to solve a massive, city-wide mystery.
- #19 CHAOS;HEAD NOAH
84% 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 36.5%, Mystery 19.9%, Anime 10.9%, Psychological Horror 9.6%, Adventure 8.2%
Why You'll Like It: A psychological thriller that explores themes of delusion and mystery, perfect for those who enjoyed the darker narrative beats of the seed game.
- #20 Root Double -Before Crime * After Days- Xtend Edition
85% 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 40.9%, Mystery 16.9%, Anime 12.3%, Adventure 8.2%, Story Rich 6.3%
Why You'll Like It: A high-stakes, story-rich mystery that utilizes a unique 'Senses Sympathy System' to influence the narrative and character interactions.
- #21 Suhoshin
83% matchVery Positive91% of 166 reviews2022
Dev: No More 500
Windows
Suhoshin is a 2D Visual Novel set in the medieval Joseon period of Korea. While investigating a series of mysterious murders, you will have to make choices that will lead you down different paths toward different endings.
Why similar: Visual Novel 22.7%, Mystery 17.1%, Detective 10.4%, Anime 9.6%, Thriller 9.2%
Why You'll Like It: A beautifully illustrated visual novel that blends historical mystery with supernatural elements in a tense, story-driven experience.
- #22 WORLD OF HORROR
79% 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 27.7%, Mystery 19.7%, Psychological Horror 16.2%, Point & Click 13.4%, Anime 11.2%
Why You'll Like It: This game captures the point-and-click horror aesthetic, tasking players with solving eldritch mysteries in a retro, unsettling style.
- #23 ISLAND
81% matchVery Positive95% of 1,748 reviews2018
Dev: FrontwingPub: Frontwing USA
Windows
Median: 5.6 hrsMean: 154.6 hrs≥1hr: 85%
Sanzenkai Setsuna awakens on the shore of isolated island Urashima with no memories of his past. Befriending three local girls, Rinne, Karen, and Sara, Setsuna's quest to discover the secrets of Urashima and how they tie into his own past - and future - begins.
Why similar: Visual Novel 36.6%, Mystery 16.6%, Anime 15.7%, Adventure 8.7%, Story Rich 7%
Why You'll Like It: A story-rich visual novel set on an isolated island that slowly reveals a deep, complex mystery through its character-driven narrative.
- #24 Corpse Party
82% 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%, Visual Novel 23.3%, Anime 16.4%, Psychological Horror 12.5%, Adventure 8.9%
Why You'll Like It: This game leans into the horror aspect of the seed game, featuring a group of students trapped in a haunted, isolated school environment.
- #25 √Letter - Root Letter -
82% matchMostly Positive79% of 575 reviews2017
Dev: DRAGAMI GAMES, LTD.
Windows
Median: 5.0 hrsMean: 11.7 hrs≥1hr: 92%
When a letter is delivered 15 years late - you discover an old pen-friend was involved in a murder, before she disappeared. Travelling to her hometown, you must investigate the murder, using her past letters as clues to uncover the disturbing truth.
Why similar: Visual Novel 22.2%, Mystery 17.7%, Detective 17.4%, Horror 11.7%, Anime 10.2%
Why You'll Like It: A mystery adventure that follows a protagonist searching for a missing pen pal, blending investigation with beautiful, localized Japanese settings.
- #26 BURIED STARS
81% matchVery Positive84% of 2,079 reviews2021
Dev: LINE Games Corporation
Windows
Median: 5.5 hrsMean: 9.6 hrs≥1hr: 87%
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: Visual Novel 25.6%, Mystery 21.2%, Thriller 12.6%, Anime 9.7%, Choices Matter 8.8%
Why You'll Like It: A modern survival mystery that focuses on the psychological toll of being trapped and the detective work needed to uncover the truth.
- #27 The Silver Case
80% 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: Visual Novel 21.5%, Mystery 18.9%, Detective 16.4%, Horror 9.9%, Adventure 9.2%
Why You'll Like It: A stylish, avant-garde detective mystery from Suda51 that prioritizes atmosphere and a complex, layered narrative.
- #28 Fatal Twelve
79% 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 38.8%, Mystery 20.6%, Anime 13%, Adventure 8.7%, Story Rich 7.8%
Why You'll Like It: A high-stakes visual novel where characters must participate in a deadly game, blending mystery with emotional, character-driven storytelling.
- #29 MAMIYA
78% 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%, Mystery 14.1%, Psychological Horror 12.9%, Horror 11.4%, Anime 8.1%
Why You'll Like It: A surreal and atmospheric visual novel that explores themes of loss and mystery through a haunting, psychological lens.
- #30 Type-NOISE: Shonen Shojo
76% matchVery Positive80% of 133 reviews2025
Dev: DankHeartsPub: WhisperGames
Windows
Type-NOISE: Shonen Shojo is a multi-ending mystery adventure game. A group of boys and girls who have lost their memories gather in a “Tokyo” that is both familiar and unfamiliar. They must trace their lost memories to escape the bizarre labyrinths. Are they prepared to confront their “true selves”?
Why similar: Visual Novel 22.9%, Detective 15.9%, Mystery 12%, Adventure 10.7%, Anime 10%
- #31 Higurashi When They Cry Hou - Ch.2 Watanagashi
76% matchOverwhelmingly Positive97% of 1,766 reviews2015
Dev: 07th ExpansionPub: MangaGamer
Windows · Mac · Linux
Median: 4.3 hrsMean: 17.1 hrs≥1hr: 93%
Higurashi When They Cry is a sound novel. The music, backgrounds and characters work together to create a world that is the stage of a novel for the user to read. They laugh and cry and get angry. The user takes the point of view of the protagonist to experience the story.
Why similar: Visual Novel 32%, Mystery 18.8%, Horror 14.9%, Anime 10.7%, Psychological Horror 10.5%
- #32 ENIGMA:
77% matchVery Positive95% of 144 reviews2016
Dev: UzumeyaPub: Fruitbat Factory
Windows
Median: 4.3 hrsMean: 5.6 hrs≥1hr: 96%
Enigma is an atmospheric, full-length visual novel where you discover the secrets of Enigma, a worldwide epidemic, and a forest on a lonely island that bears its name.
Why similar: Visual Novel 42.3%, Adventure 20.5%, Mystery 19.7%, Anime 15%, Indie 2.5%
- #33 Nightmare Zapping
75% 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 27.7%, Mystery 15.5%, Horror 15%, Anime 9.7%, Psychological Horror 9.5%
- #34 Higurashi When They Cry Hou - Ch.7 Minagoroshi
75% matchOverwhelmingly Positive97% of 663 reviews2019
Dev: 07th ExpansionPub: MangaGamer
Windows · Mac · Linux
Median: 15.8 hrsMean: 91.0 hrs≥1hr: 87%
Higurashi When They Cry is a sound novel. The music, backgrounds and characters work together to create a world that is the stage of a novel for the user to read. They laugh and cry and get angry. The user takes the point of view of the protagonist to experience the story.
Why similar: Visual Novel 25.1%, Mystery 18.9%, Horror 14%, Adventure 13.2%, Anime 11.7%
- #35 The Island: Into The Mist
78% matchMixed66% of 225 reviews2019
Dev: BADA Games
Windows
Median: 3.2 hrsMean: 3.9 hrs≥1hr: 86%
'The Island: In To The Mist' is an adventure game. It includes basic features of adventure genre and add some new systems to interest you. You have been given a chance to experience a group of university students, who confined in the island. There is a terrific but interesting story you will see.
Why similar: Visual Novel 17.6%, Mystery 16.9%, Detective 15.4%, Anime 10.3%, Psychological Horror 8.7%
- #36 The Murder Hotel
73% matchVery Positive95% of 59 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: Visual Novel 24.8%, Mystery 20%, Detective 18.4%, Anime 9.8%, Psychological Horror 8.2%
- #37 Magical Eyes - Red is for Anguish
77% matchVery Positive81% of 69 reviews2016
Dev: Pomera StudiosPub: Fruitbat Factory
Windows
Median: 3.7 hrsMean: 4.7 hrs≥1hr: 97%
Magical Eyes - Red is for Anguish is a thrilling mystery story revolving around a series of unfathomable incidents in a town.
Why similar: Visual Novel 33.6%, Mystery 22.3%, Adventure 15.4%, Anime 14.1%, Horror 12.6%
- #38 DIGITAL EXORCIST case_(0);
74% matchVery Positive94% of 156 reviews2023
Dev: COOL BEANS PRODUCTIONSPub: HYPER REAL
Windows
Step into a dark world where cyberdemons haunt humankind. When mutilated bodies start appearing all over this sleepy town in the Mississippi inaka, Sawyer, ex-AGENCY operative; now unemployed shut-in, must exorcise the demon perpetrator in this story-rich, PC-98 style adventure game.
Why similar: Visual Novel 26.6%, Detective 19.4%, Horror 11%, Adventure 10.9%, Anime 9.7%
- #39 Don't Escape Trilogy
73% matchOverwhelmingly Positive99% of 701 reviews2019
Dev: scriptwelderPub: Armor Games Studios
Windows
Median: 2.0 hrsMean: 2.4 hrs≥1hr: 75%
In this classic point-and-click adventure anthology by award-winning indie developer Scriptwelder, you'll protect an unsuspecting hamlet from yourself, try to prepare for an incoming undead horde, and search a seemingly empty spaceship for answers to a gruesome mystery.
Why similar: Horror 18.9%, Mystery 18.7%, Adventure 14.9%, Point & Click 13%, Thriller 10.2%
- #40 Higurashi When They Cry Hou - Ch.8 Matsuribayashi
72% matchOverwhelmingly Positive95% of 753 reviews2020
Dev: 07th ExpansionPub: MangaGamer
Windows · Mac · Linux
Median: 19.6 hrsMean: 76.9 hrs≥1hr: 86%
Higurashi When They Cry is a sound novel. The music, backgrounds and characters work together to create a world that is the stage of a novel for the user to read. They laugh and cry and get angry. The user takes the point of view of the protagonist to experience the story.
Why similar: Visual Novel 36.6%, Horror 16.5%, Adventure 16.1%, Psychological Horror 15.3%, Anime 8.5%
- #41 再见断刀
69% 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 22.9%, Detective 17.3%, Mystery 16.8%, Anime 10.6%, Choices Matter 7.8%
- #42 The Shell Part II: Purgatorio
70% matchVery Positive95% of 590 reviews2024
Dev: Innocent GreyPub: Shiravune
Windows
Median: 20.4 hrsMean: 157.8 hrs≥1hr: 82%
Detective Reiji Tokisaka is back to face down a mystery that spans decades, if not centuries. With the aftermath of his last case weighing on his soul and a long-silent cult resurgent, can he solve the crime—or will it become his curse?
Why similar: Visual Novel 26.3%, Detective 21.4%, Mystery 19%, Horror 11.8%, Anime 10.7%
- #43 SIMULACRA
71% matchVery Positive90% of 4,596 reviews2017
Dev: Kaigan Games OÜ
Windows · Mac
Median: 3.6 hrsMean: 7.7 hrs≥1hr: 71%
An interactive horror experience of exploring a missing woman’s phone.
Why similar: Visual Novel 17.5%, Detective 14.8%, Horror 11.6%, Mystery 11%, Psychological Horror 8%
- #44 Return to Mysterious Island
73% matchVery Positive84% of 456 reviews2014
Dev: Kheops StudioPub: Microids
Windows
Median: 1.3 hrsMean: 5.2 hrs≥1hr: 53%
Join intrepid sailor and recent island castaway Mina as she explores the hidden secrets within the Jules Verne classic inspired Mysterious Island. Gather key articles left from the island’s previous inhabitants and combine them in unique and interesting ways to stay alive and stay hopeful for rescue.
Why similar: Adventure 57.9%, Point & Click 36%, Casual 4.8%, Singleplayer 1.2%
- #45 Reaplaced
71% matchVery Positive91% of 55 reviews2023
Dev: Mystery Gamedev
Windows · Mac · Linux
A supernatural Halloween whodunnit. Solve a chilling locked-room mystery before the grim reaper reveals the answer!
Why similar: Visual Novel 18.6%, Detective 18.3%, Mystery 17%, Horror 13.6%, Psychological Horror 10.2%
- #46 Higurashi When They Cry Hou - Ch.4 Himatsubushi
71% matchOverwhelmingly Positive97% of 867 reviews2016
Dev: 07th ExpansionPub: MangaGamer
Windows · Mac · Linux
Median: 4.2 hrsMean: 20.9 hrs≥1hr: 91%
Higurashi When They Cry is a sound novel. The music, backgrounds and characters work together to create a world that is the stage of a novel for the user to read. They laugh and cry and get angry. The user takes the point of view of the protagonist to experience the story.
Why similar: Visual Novel 30.7%, Mystery 19.7%, Anime 11.4%, Psychological Horror 10.4%, Horror 10.4%
- #47 Lighthouse of Guiding Flames
72% matchVery Positive88% of 68 reviews2019
Dev: TomoToroPub: NARRATIVE NINE LTD
Windows
Ethani lost her way and ended up at the Lighthouse. Where did she come from and where should she go? Explore this fantasy Visual Novel to reveal her past and set sail once more...
Why similar: Visual Novel 24.3%, Mystery 15%, Detective 12%, Adventure 10.3%, Anime 9.4%
- #48 Train of Afterlife
74% matchMixed51% of 183 reviews2015
Dev: Zeiva Inc
Windows
Median: 2.3 hrsMean: 3.4 hrs≥1hr: 97%
Train of Afterlife is a mystery, psychological, horror Visual Novel.
Why similar: Visual Novel 44%, Adventure 15%, Anime 11.5%, Mystery 10.9%, Psychological Horror 5.2%
- #49 星影の館殺人事件
69% matchVery Positive93% of 71 reviews2024
Dev: 法螺会
Windows · Mac
1935年の洋館を舞台に織り成す、レトロな雰囲気の怪異ホラーミステリーアドベンチャー
Why similar: Visual Novel 30.2%, Adventure 19.2%, Mystery 16.4%, Detective 14.5%, Horror 12.2%
- #50 LumineNight
67% matchVery Positive90% of 479 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: Visual Novel 21.7%, Mystery 20.4%, Detective 20.4%, Adventure 10.2%, Anime 9.8%
- #51 The Letter - Horror Visual Novel
70% 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 32.8%, Horror 19.3%, Mystery 11.7%, Choices Matter 7.8%, Psychological Horror 7.3%
- #52 Recall: Empty Wishes
67% matchVery Positive93% of 58 reviews2025
Dev: Puff Hook StudioPub: DANGEN Entertainment
Windows · Mac
Recall: Empty Wishes is a psychological thriller set in Taiwan during the 2010s. Follow Yonny, a sister determined to uncover the truth behind the mysterious disappearance of her brother, Tommy. As she delves deeper, she confronts unsettling secrets, blurring the lines between reality and illusion.
Why similar: Visual Novel 31.3%, Psychological Horror 16.4%, Detective 14.2%, Adventure 12.9%, Horror 11.1%
- #53 Outlying Islands
66% matchVery Positive96% of 91 reviews2025
Dev: 九指画尸Pub: 2P Games
Windows
A story about discovering anomalies, finding strange energy sources, and the intertwining of peculiar spaces. Get ready to uncover hidden stories, delve into a horrifying narrative and unveil the most fundamental truth!
Why similar: Visual Novel 21.8%, Detective 15.3%, Horror 13.5%, Thriller 11.5%, Psychological Horror 10%
- #54 Rusty Lake Paradise
67% matchOverwhelmingly Positive95% of 6,942 reviews2018
Dev: Rusty Lake
Windows · Mac
Median: 4.1 hrsMean: 6.1 hrs≥1hr: 93%
Rusty Lake Paradise is set on a small remote island which is cursed by the ten plagues of Egypt. Solve all the mysteries of this dark, macabre puzzle adventure. Paradise builds upon the distinctive atmosphere and excitement from the Rusty Lake series.
Why similar: Point & Click 23.1%, Mystery 18.4%, Horror 16.4%, Psychological Horror 16.2%, Adventure 14%
- #55 Root Letter Last Answer
69% matchVery Positive84% of 177 reviews2019
Dev: DRAGAMI GAMES, LTD.
Windows
Median: 4.7 hrsMean: 9.9 hrs≥1hr: 92%
A mystery adventure which is solved by using two visual features: Live Action and Illustrations.
Why similar: Adventure 27.1%, Visual Novel 25.3%, Detective 19.2%, Mystery 18.8%, Anime 9.6%
- #56 Danganronpa: Trigger Happy Havoc
67% 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 25%, Mystery 19.3%, Detective 18.7%, Anime 11.7%, Psychological Horror 7.1%
- #57 Higurashi When They Cry Hou - Ch.3 Tatarigoroshi
68% matchOverwhelmingly Positive98% of 1,224 reviews2016
Dev: 07th ExpansionPub: MangaGamer
Windows · Mac · Linux
Median: 4.5 hrsMean: 22.0 hrs≥1hr: 92%
Higurashi When They Cry is a sound novel. The music, backgrounds and characters work together to create a world that is the stage of a novel for the user to read. They laugh and cry and get angry. The user takes the point of view of the protagonist to experience the story.
Why similar: Visual Novel 31.3%, Mystery 20.4%, Horror 12.2%, Anime 11.7%, Psychological Horror 7.6%
- #58 A Salem Witch Trial - Murder Mystery
70% matchMixed66% of 68 reviews2018
Dev: Digital Bento
Windows
Median: 36 minMean: 2.3 hrs≥1hr: 31%
When a murdered family is discovered in 17th Century Salem, at the height of a witch hysteria, people start to suspect something supernatural to blame. An atmospheric murder mystery. Connect the evidence and see if you can deduce the secrets behind the mystery.
Why similar: Visual Novel 20.9%, Mystery 16.9%, Detective 16.1%, Adventure 15%, Horror 9.2%
- #59 Thekku Island
64% matchVery Positive89% of 111 reviews2026
Dev: Ales Devs Games
Windows
A chilling psychological horror set in 1980s Kerala. After weeks of silence, you arrive on a remote island to search for your missing wife. Explore an abandoned house, uncover local folklore, survive haunting encounters, and unravel the island’s buried secrets.
Why similar: Adventure 24.9%, Horror 23.9%, Mystery 23.6%, Psychological Horror 15.9%, Story Rich 8.1%
- #60 Ever 17 - The Out of Infinity
65% matchVery Positive84% of 187 reviews2025
Dev: MAGES. Inc.Pub: Spike Chunsoft Co., Ltd.
Windows
To the promise we once made and the place we must return
Why similar: Visual Novel 41.7%, Adventure 22.8%, Anime 15.1%, Choices Matter 9%, Sci-fi 5.4%
