- #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: Detective 34%, Visual Novel 17%, Mystery 15.4%, Anime 12.8%, Story Rich 9.5%
Why You'll Like It: This surreal detective story blends deep narrative mystery with innovative puzzle-solving mechanics inside the minds of suspects.
- #2 Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective
96% 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: Detective 37.8%, Mystery 19.1%, Story Rich 11.1%, Puzzle 10%, Visual Novel 9.1%
Why You'll Like It: This supernatural mystery features a unique mechanic where you manipulate objects to solve your own murder, perfectly capturing the eerie and clever investigative feel of Staffer Case.
- #3 The Case of the Golden Idol
96% matchOverwhelmingly Positive98% of 10,171 reviews2022
Dev: Color Gray GamesPub: Playstack
Windows · Mac · Linux
Median: 7.0 hrsMean: 8.0 hrs≥1hr: 90%
A new kind of detective game that allows you to think and investigate freely. Discover clues surrounding 12 strange and gruesome deaths and build your own theory. Pick your suspect, deduce the motive, unmask the awful truth.
Why similar: Detective 32%, Crime 17%, Mystery 14.7%, Thriller 12.7%, Story Rich 7.1%
Why You'll Like It: A brilliant detective game that focuses on piecing together static scenes to deduce the sequence of events, rewarding keen observation and logical reasoning.
- #4 Danganronpa: Trigger Happy Havoc
95% 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: Detective 37.6%, Visual Novel 16.9%, Mystery 16.3%, Anime 14.5%, Story Rich 8.6%
Why You'll Like It: This iconic title defines the high-stakes murder mystery visual novel genre, featuring intense logic-based trials that require you to identify contradictions in witness testimony.
- #5 Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Trilogy
94% matchOverwhelmingly Positive98% of 42,629 reviews2019
Dev: CAPCOM Co., Ltd.
Windows
Median: 8.8 hrsMean: 26.5 hrs≥1hr: 89%
Become Phoenix Wright and experience the thrill of battle as you fight to save your innocent clients in a court of law. Play all 14 episodes, spanning the first three games, in one gorgeous collection.
Why similar: Detective 36.1%, Crime 15.9%, Visual Novel 13.6%, Mystery 12.1%, Anime 8.5%
Why You'll Like It: The gold standard for courtroom deduction games, it tasks you with presenting evidence to dismantle lies and uncover the truth behind complex murder cases.
- #6 Return to Shironagasu Island
94% 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: Detective 22.4%, Visual Novel 21%, Mystery 18.7%, Anime 9.5%, Thriller 7.8%
Why You'll Like It: A tense, atmospheric mystery visual novel that focuses on exploration and uncovering dark secrets on a secluded island.
- #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: Detective 28.1%, Text-Based 15.9%, Visual Novel 13.8%, Mystery 11.9%, Anime 9.8%
Why You'll Like It: This historical spin-off offers a more methodical approach to investigation and courtroom logic, perfect for fans of deep, story-driven mysteries.
- #8 Staffer Reborn
92% 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: Detective 17.4%, Gothic 11.3% ★, Crime 11.2%, Text-Based 10%, Cartoon 8%
Why You'll Like It: As a direct relative in the Staffer series, it continues the tradition of supernatural investigation and character-driven mystery.
- #9 Aviary Attorney
91% matchVery Positive95% of 2,252 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 43.4%, Visual Novel 21.9%, Mystery 15.4%, Story Rich 9.1%, Multiple Endings 5.5%
Why You'll Like It: Set in 1840s Paris, this charming courtroom drama uses a similar evidence-presentation system to solve crimes with a distinct, memorable art style.
- #10 Ace Attorney Investigations Collection
89% 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: Detective 25.6%, Crime 22.3%, Mystery 12.6%, Visual Novel 11.8%, Text-Based 11.6%
Why You'll Like It: This collection shifts the perspective to the crime scene, focusing on physical investigation and logic chess to catch the culprit.
- #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: Detective 29.4%, Visual Novel 18.1%, Mystery 16.4%, Anime 14.1%, Story Rich 11.2%
Why You'll Like It: A sci-fi social deduction visual novel that uses time-loop mechanics to challenge your ability to identify the culprit among a group of suspicious characters.
- #12 Murder by Numbers
91% matchVery Positive84% of 1,650 reviews2020
Dev: MediatonicPub: The Irregular Corporation
Windows
Median: 4.5 hrsMean: 12.7 hrs≥1hr: 92%
Solve Pixel Puzzles to find clues. Use those clues to interrogate witnesses. Work your way to the truth... ...and uncover the mystery of Murder by Numbers!
Why similar: Detective 27.5%, Crime 19.3%, Visual Novel 12.4%, Mystery 9.1%, Anime 8.3%
Why You'll Like It: This game cleverly combines classic detective investigation with nonogram logic puzzles to reveal clues and progress the story.
- #13 Murders on the Yangtze River
88% 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: Detective 42.8%, Mystery 12%, Drama 10.4%, Story Rich 9.7%, Puzzle 8.2%
Why You'll Like It: A detective game that focuses on gathering evidence and using logic to solve intricate cases set in early 20th-century China.
- #14 Tangle Tower
89% matchOverwhelmingly Positive95% of 5,973 reviews2019
Dev: SFB Games
Windows · Mac
Median: 5.5 hrsMean: 6.7 hrs≥1hr: 89%
Unravel a thrilling mystery by exploring a strange and twisted mansion, discovering curious clues, interrogating peculiar suspects and solving unique puzzles. Will you be able to uncover the secrets of Tangle Tower?
Why similar: Detective 35.9%, Crime 18.3%, Visual Novel 10.6%, Mystery 10.3%, Story Rich 6.7%
Why You'll Like It: This game features a delightful cast and a clever clue-linking system that makes investigating a murder feel both accessible and rewarding.
- #15 PARANORMASIGHT: The Seven Mysteries of Honjo
86% 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: Text-Based 23.2%, Visual Novel 19.5%, Mystery 16%, Anime 14.8%, Multiple Endings 12%
Why You'll Like It: A supernatural mystery that utilizes a unique multi-perspective narrative and curse-based mechanics to keep the investigation unpredictable.
- #16 Urban Myth Dissolution Center
86% 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: Detective 20.9%, Visual Novel 16.1%, Text-Based 14.7%, Mystery 13.9%, Drama 11.1%
Why You'll Like It: A psychological mystery game that tasks you with investigating urban legends and supernatural occurrences through a visual novel lens.
- #17 Zero Escape: The Nonary Games
87% 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 20.8%, Mystery 17.7%, Multiple Endings 12.7%, Story Rich 12.2%, Detective 11%
Why You'll Like It: A gripping mystery series that forces you to solve complex puzzles and make difficult choices to survive a deadly game of wits.
- #18 The Sekimeiya: Spun Glass
85% 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: Detective 33.2%, Mystery 15.8%, Visual Novel 14.2%, Text-Based 12.2%, Anime 10.4%
Why You'll Like It: A complex, sci-fi mystery that requires careful attention to detail and logical deduction to unravel a time-looping narrative.
- #19 Detective Di: The Silk Rose Murders
84% matchVery Positive89% of 1,264 reviews2019
Dev: Nupixo Games
Windows · Mac
Median: 3.6 hrsMean: 4.5 hrs≥1hr: 96%
A thrilling point-and-click adventure game where you play as Di Renjie, ancient China's most famous and gifted investigator, as he tracks a serial killer in the heart of the Tang Dynasty's capital city.
Why similar: Detective 42.8%, Thriller 14.2%, Mystery 12.9%, Story Rich 11.5%, Atmospheric 8.6%
Why You'll Like It: A classic point-and-click detective game that emphasizes historical investigation and logical deduction in a beautifully rendered setting.
- #20 Paper Perjury
82% matchVery Positive88% of 190 reviews2024
Dev: Paper Cat Games
Windows · Mac · Linux
It all started with a simple robbery. When that thread was pulled, a tapestry of mysteries was revealed. Solve cases and outsmart criminals in a detective story full of lies, confessions, and maybe even a murder or two.
Why similar: Detective 33.8%, Crime 15.1%, Visual Novel 13.4%, Mystery 13.4%, Anime 7.8%
Why You'll Like It: A detective visual novel that focuses on police procedural elements and finding contradictions in witness statements.
- #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: Detective 17.1%, Thriller 12.6%, Visual Novel 12.5%, Text-Based 12.2%, Mystery 11.7%
Why You'll Like It: A mystery visual novel set in the Joseon Dynasty that blends historical intrigue with supernatural elements.
- #22 The Shell Part I: Inferno
82% 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: Detective 32.6%, Visual Novel 15.3%, Mystery 14.2%, Text-Based 7.7%, Drama 7.1%
Why You'll Like It: A dark, psychological detective story that explores complex themes through a gritty visual novel format.
- #23 Tyrion Cuthbert: Attorney of the Arcane
81% matchOverwhelmingly Positive97% of 1,574 reviews2023
Dev: Diamondhenge Entertainment
Windows · Mac
Median: 12.0 hrsMean: 13.7 hrs≥1hr: 79%
In Tyrion Cuthbert: Attorney of the Arcane, you play as a defense attorney who practices law in a world of fantasy and wizards. You must defend clients accused of various crimes committed using magic and use the rules of magic to prove them innocent.
Why similar: Visual Novel 23.3%, Mystery 19.7%, Detective 18.2%, Anime 17.3%, Story Rich 10.8%
Why You'll Like It: A fantasy-themed courtroom game where you must use magic to solve murders and defend your clients.
- #24 Methods: The Canada Files
79% matchVery Positive97% of 330 reviews2026
Dev: LockedOn GamesPub: Erabit
Windows · Mac · Linux
Methods: The Canada Files is a mystery visual novel. You play as a team of eccentric detectives in a mysterious crime-solving competition. To solve each mystery, you must use your team member’s unique detective methods, refute faulty theories with evidence, and find out the truth!
Why similar: Detective 26%, Crime 21.5%, Visual Novel 10.7%, Cartoon 10.4%, Cartoony 9%
Why You'll Like It: A detective game that focuses on the process of elimination and logical deduction to solve crimes in a modern setting.
- #25 TOKYO PSYCHODEMIC
84% matchMostly Negative32% of 104 reviews2024
Dev: GRAVITY GAME ARISEPub: GRAVITY
Windows
5% of murder cases remain unsolved... it's time to open up these cases and confront the supernatural with forensic science! Solve cases by analyzing evidence and consulting with specialists. Enter a world that artfully blends 2D illustration and real-life visuals!
Why similar: Detective 20.9%, Crime 17.5%, Text-Based 12.2%, Mystery 8.6%, Drama 8.6%
Why You'll Like It: This simulation-heavy mystery game tasks you with analyzing evidence boards and surveillance footage to solve cold cases.
- #26 DAEMON MASQUERADE
80% matchVery Positive96% of 420 reviews2024
Dev: Callum Page
Windows · Mac · Linux
An anime-inspired supernatural detective game. Uncover the identities and powers of your adversaries using a conspiracy board full of evidence.
Why similar: Detective 40.5%, Mystery 16%, Visual Novel 13.2%, Anime 11.8%, Story Rich 9.3%
Why You'll Like It: A stylish detective game that emphasizes investigation and lore-rich storytelling within a supernatural framework.
- #27 Your Turn To Die -Death Game By Majority-
78% 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 30.7%, Multiple Endings 27.1%, Anime 20.6%, Story Rich 15.1%, Adventure 6.5%
Why You'll Like It: A high-stakes social deduction game where your choices and ability to analyze others determine who lives and who dies.
- #28 Detective Grimoire
81% matchOverwhelmingly Positive96% of 2,328 reviews2014
Dev: SFB Games
Windows
Median: 3.1 hrsMean: 4.4 hrs≥1hr: 92%
Detective Grimoire has been called to investigate a murder. The owner of a small tourist attraction, seemingly killed by the mythical creature his attraction is based around... Explore the area, inspect the crime scene, grill suspects, solve puzzles, hunt for clues & uncover the secret of the swamp!
Why similar: Detective 32.1%, Crime 20.6%, Visual Novel 13.4%, Mystery 10.1%, Story Rich 7.6%
Why You'll Like It: A lighthearted but engaging mystery game that focuses on interviewing suspects and piecing together clues in a point-and-click interface.
- #29 Trials of Innocence
78% matchVery Positive92% of 1,556 reviews2025
Dev: 猫龙游戏
Windows
Median: 19.1 hrsMean: 22.2 hrs≥1hr: 77%
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 28.1%, Crime 18.5%, Visual Novel 11.3%, Mystery 10.6%, Anime 8.2%
- #30 The Murder Hotel
76% 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: Detective 25.6%, Crime 18%, Mystery 11.7%, Visual Novel 11.6%, Text-Based 9%
- #31 The Occult Detective
77% matchMostly Positive72% of 323 reviews2025
Dev: Battlecry Studio
Windows
A narrative detective game blended with supernatural elements. Play as a rookie investigator, discover vital clues in every case, dive into unscripted interrogations and uncover truths that break minds. But with each revelation, the world feels... less human.
Why similar: Detective 30%, Visual Novel 14.4%, Anime 11.3%, Mystery 10.8%, Story Rich 10.1%
- #32 LumineNight
76% 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: Detective 30.6%, Mystery 12.9%, Visual Novel 11%, Anime 9.1%, Cartoony 8.4%
- #33 Mohism: Battle of Words
77% matchMostly Positive78% of 606 reviews2023
Dev: 玄镜工作室Pub: Yooreka Studio
Windows
Mohism: Battle of Words is a detective game set in the world of wuxia. The game follows Zhang Xiaochen, investigates unsolved cases and comes into his own as a hero. He must rely on his wits and razor-sharp tongue to best his opponents, find the culprit and ensure justice prevails!
Why similar: Detective 28.7%, Crime 17.3%, Visual Novel 13.8%, Mystery 11.3%, Anime 8.5%
- #34 The Real Face of a VTuber
74% matchVery Positive93% of 276 reviews2026
Dev: 莉莉恩工作室Pub: WhisperGames
Windows
A narrative courtroom adventure all about VTubers! Players will take the role of prosecutor Justin Truth and investigate a murder at a VTuber agency, doing their best to uncover the identity of both the killer and VTuber's real face.
Why similar: Detective 26.9%, Crime 17.6%, Visual Novel 10.8%, Mystery 10.6%, Text-Based 8.3%
- #35 Little Locked Rooms
75% matchVery Positive89% of 132 reviews2024
Dev: riolucci
Windows · Linux
Grab your magnifying glass and peek inside a series of tiny dioramas filled with crimes and carefully crafted mysteries! Think outside the box and solve them all in this new brand of detective game!
Why similar: Detective 28.3%, Crime 13%, Mystery 12.2%, Visual Novel 11.9%, Text-Based 11.8%
- #36 Turlock Holmes
73% matchVery Positive80% of 917 reviews2024
Dev: Find the Lamp GamesPub: Neverland Entertainment
Windows · Mac
Median: 4.9 hrsMean: 6.4 hrs≥1hr: 85%
A detective narrative puzzler without pre-set options! Raise your questions at will, and an AI-host will answer only with 'yes' or 'no.' Drive the investigation with your curiosity; the path to solving the mystery lies in questions you ask. Can you dig out the truth through your questions?
Why similar: Detective 31.9%, Crime 26.2%, Mystery 12.4%, Visual Novel 8.4%, Puzzle 6.9%
- #37 Kindaichi Mystery Series: The Honjin Murders
73% matchMostly Positive73% of 174 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: Detective 30.6%, Mystery 15.5%, Text-Based 14.3%, Visual Novel 13.8%, Anime 8.1%
- #38 Tokyo Detectives
75% matchMixed70% of 57 reviews2021
Dev: Rincho Games
Windows · Mac · Linux
Detective Game. Murder Investigation. Interrogate witnesses. Rebut with evidence.
Why similar: Detective 30.4%, Crime 20.6%, Visual Novel 11.5%, Mystery 11.1%, Text-Based 10%
- #39 Jenny LeClue - Detectivu
73% matchVery Positive87% of 1,353 reviews2019
Dev: Mografi
Windows · Mac
Median: 6.8 hrsMean: 9.5 hrs≥1hr: 72%
JENNY LECLUE is an adventure game focused on exploration, story, and character, featuring dozens of characters to meet, mysteries and puzzles to solve across a vibrant, atmospheric world.
Why similar: Detective 25.3%, Crime 19.5%, Mystery 11.2%, Cartoon 9.9%, Drama 9.1%
- #40 A Case of Fraud
69% matchVery Positive98% of 365 reviews2025
Dev: Hesperus Games
Windows · Mac
A short non-linear detective adventure where every clue is hidden in plain sight. Carefully read and cross-reference documents to unravel a CEO’s disappearance and expose a case of fraud.
Why similar: Detective 41.4%, Crime 25.5%, Mystery 15.9%, Puzzle 7.3%, Story Rich 4.3%
- #41 Type-NOISE: Shonen Shojo
71% 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: Detective 29.6%, Visual Novel 14.3%, Anime 11.5%, Multiple Endings 9.7%, Mystery 9.3%
- #42 Methods: The Illusion Murders
72% matchVery Positive88% of 89 reviews2024
Dev: LockedOn GamesPub: Erabit
Windows · Mac · Linux
Detective Red July must stop a serial killer who patterns his murders after optical illusions in this mystery visual novel set in the world of Methods.
Why similar: Detective 19.4%, Crime 14.5%, Text-Based 11.8%, Visual Novel 8.8%, Mystery 7.7%
- #43 Detective Butler: Maiden Voyage Murder
74% matchVery Positive82% of 307 reviews2017
Dev: Goldbar Games
Windows · Mac · Linux
Median: 30 minMean: 10.4 hrs≥1hr: 28%
Follow Detective Butler and his sidekick Gilligan as they solve a locked-room murder during a haunted cruise ship's maiden voyage. Can you solve the mystery before Detective Butler reveals the answer?
Why similar: Detective 26.2%, Crime 18.3%, Text-Based 15.7%, Mystery 12.3%, Visual Novel 11.1%
- #44 Mind Diver
69% matchVery Positive97% of 307 reviews2025
Dev: Indoor SunglassesPub: PLAYISM
Windows
Investigate a broken mind to unravel a twisted case. Deduce the truth. Restore lost memories. Listen to private conversations. Draw your own conclusions. Mind Diver is a murder mystery, where the victim is love.
Why similar: Detective 25.4%, Crime 19.5%, Thriller 12.2%, Mystery 11.4%, Drama 8%
- #45 The Silver Case
72% 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: Detective 21.1%, Crime 20%, Text-Based 12.7%, Mystery 10.2%, Visual Novel 9.3%
- #46 CaseCracker
70% matchVery Positive90% of 3,209 reviews2022
Dev: BlackRobe
Windows · Mac
Median: 3.9 hrsMean: 5.4 hrs≥1hr: 75%
In order to improve the efficiency of selecting talents, the Chicheng police specially developed a test system-the true detection system, with the black robe company. As a tester, you need to complete the cracking of the case under the rules of the system.
Why similar: Detective 34.4%, Text-Based 21.3%, Mystery 10.4%, Drama 10.1%, Story Rich 8%
- #47 Sherlock Holmes: Crimes and Punishments
71% matchVery Positive89% of 7,723 reviews2014
Dev: Frogwares
Windows
Median: 4.7 hrsMean: 9.0 hrs≥1hr: 89%
Become the most celebrated detective of all time: Sherlock Holmes! Use your impressive talents as a detective to solve six thrilling and varied cases: murders, missing persons, spectacular thefts and numerous investigations that sometimes lead you into the realms of the fantastic.
Why similar: Detective 47.8%, Crime 20.9%, Mystery 13.4%, Story Rich 5.4%, Puzzle 4.5%
- #48 Stillwater
70% matchVery Positive95% of 217 reviews2022
Dev: Studio Clump
Windows · Mac · Linux
A short visual novel where a private investigator gets reeled into a murky mystery, entangled in lies, secrets, and a family curse.
Why similar: Text-Based 18.4%, Visual Novel 15.1%, Mystery 14.8%, Detective 13%, Anime 9.5%
- #49 The Wild Case
71% matchVery Positive86% of 248 reviews2021
Dev: Specialbit Studio
Windows · Mac · Linux
Median: 2.7 hrsMean: 4.1 hrs≥1hr: 84%
The Wild Case is a 2D first-person point-and-click adventure. In this story-focused adventure, players meet a cast of colorful characters, experience mysterious encounters, and solve puzzles to progress through the game.
Why similar: Detective 29.1%, Text-Based 15.2%, Thriller 10.8%, Mystery 8.7%, Drama 8.1%
- #50 Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney Trilogy
68% 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: Detective 28.1%, Crime 16.9%, Visual Novel 14.9%, Mystery 10.6%, Text-Based 9.4%
- #51 誰是犯案者 Who is the Criminal
70% matchVery Positive95% of 58 reviews2021
Dev: 莉莉恩工作室
Windows
Set in school life, “Who is the Criminal” is a text-based adventure game featuring comedian and inference elements. With inquiring suspects and debating with “evildoers”, he gathers pieces of puzzles and reveals what truly happens in every incident.
Why similar: Detective 24.9%, Crime 17.4%, Visual Novel 9.9%, Mystery 9.8%, Text-Based 8.2%
- #52 The Roottrees are Dead
65% 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: Detective 49.9%, Mystery 21.4%, Puzzle 10.1%, Story Rich 8.6%, Atmospheric 7.3%
- #53 Unheard - Voices of Crime
67% matchOverwhelmingly Positive96% of 32,839 reviews2019
Dev: NEXT Studios
Windows · Mac
Median: 4.0 hrsMean: 7.5 hrs≥1hr: 78%
What if you could hear every word spoken at the scene of a crime? “Acoustic Detectives” wanted for testing our new device! Return aurally to crime scenes and use the voices you hear to identify potential suspects and solve the mysteries. What is it that’s connecting these seemingly unrelated cases?
Why similar: Detective 60.3%, Mystery 16.3%, Puzzle 8.8%, Story Rich 7.6%, Crime 4.4%
- #54 Threefold Recital
65% matchOverwhelmingly Positive98% of 5,372 reviews2025
Dev: Everscape GamesPub: indienova
Windows
Median: 9.7 hrsMean: 9.2 hrs≥1hr: 80%
Threefold Recital is set in an oriental fantasy world where the metropolis of Bluescales faces turmoil after a long golden age. The mix of magic, modern, and ancient technologies challenges governance, while tensions between humans, beastlings, and dragons grow. In the shadows, a crisis looms...
Why similar: Detective 31.3%, Drama 13.5%, Mystery 13.3%, Visual Novel 12%, Cartoony 9.6%
- #55 Murder on the Marine Express
68% matchVery Positive94% of 78 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: Detective 32.1%, Visual Novel 14.1%, Text-Based 13.2%, Mystery 12.9%, Drama 9.6%
- #56 No Case Should Remain Unsolved
64% 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: Detective 25.1%, Text-Based 17%, Visual Novel 14.7%, Story Rich 9%, Multiple Endings 8.1%
- #57 The Specter's Desire
66% matchVery Positive98% of 51 reviews2024
Dev: Themisian
Windows · Mac
This year's Desire Hierarchy has begun. The stakes are now deadly. Hop into The Specter's Desire, a Visual Novel in which you play against the city's top talents to save your parents. Includes puzzling gameplay that has you tearing down arguments, hatching schemes, and revealing the truth!
Why similar: Detective 24.1%, Text-Based 16.5%, Visual Novel 12.7%, Crime 8.8%, Thriller 7.7%
- #58 The Darkside Detective: A Fumble in the Dark
66% matchOverwhelmingly Positive96% of 1,922 reviews2021
Dev: Spooky DoorwayPub: Akupara Games
Windows · Mac · Linux
Median: 3.8 hrsMean: 6.3 hrs≥1hr: 94%
Delouse your room with sage and pack up your travel-sized ouija board, it’s time to re-enter Twin Lakes - America’s 34th most haunted city. Join Detective McQueen as he puzzles his way through 9 chilling cases, risking life and pixelated limb to solve the macabre mysteries that plague the poor town.
Why similar: Detective 32.4%, Text-Based 16.1%, Mystery 13.4%, Visual Novel 9.6%, Story Rich 8.8%
- #59 For Your Tranquility
68% matchMixed68% of 190 reviews2023
Dev: Gamesung Games
Windows · Mac
It's a mystery game that reveals the truth through an autopsy. Be a forensic doctor and find out why the dead died.
Why similar: Detective 30.4%, Crime 22.8%, Mystery 13.1%, Text-Based 11%, Visual Novel 9.9%
