Games Like The Case of the Golden Idol

The Award-winning detective saga returns in this standalone sequel to The Case of the Golden Idol. Uncover the truth behind 20 strange cases of crime, death and depravity in the 1970s. The world has changed dramatically - the sins of humanity have not.

Why similar: Conspiracy 17.7% ★, Detective 14.5%, Investigation 13.6%, Mystery 8.9%, Crime 7.7%

Why You'll Like It: As the direct sequel, it perfectly captures the unique deduction-based gameplay and macabre atmosphere of the original.

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 28.3%, Investigation 18.6%, Mystery 15.9%, Point & Click 11.1%, Puzzle 7.9%

Why You'll Like It: This game mirrors the 'fill-in-the-blanks' deduction style by requiring you to cross-reference clues to solve a complex family mystery.

Lost at sea 1803 ~ The good ship Obra Dinn.

Why similar: Detective 43.6%, Mystery 23.1%, Puzzle 9.2%, Historical 8%, Story Rich 7.6%

Why You'll Like It: It shares the core philosophy of using observation and logical deduction to reconstruct a series of gruesome events.

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 48.6%, Mystery 17.2%, Puzzle 9.8%, Investigation 7.3%, Story Rich 6.2%

Why You'll Like It: You must listen to audio logs and place characters in a scene, mirroring the spatial and temporal reconstruction required in the seed game.

Twelve years after Senior Inspector Jeon Gyeong's retirement, she is visited by a young police officer: a woman who pleads with her to reexamine Seowon's case. But with each uncovered memory, only one thing becomes clear: everyone in Seowon's vicinity was lying.

Why similar: Investigation 25.7%, Detective 19.3%, Interactive Fiction 15.3%, Point & Click 13.7%, Puzzle 8.1%

Why You'll Like It: It focuses heavily on piecing together a narrative through fragmented evidence and logical deduction.

Scene Investigators is a hardcore deductive reasoning game for fans of the "true crime" genre. Step into re-created crime scenes, observe closely for pieces of evidence, analyze possible motives behind the crimes, and uncover what truly happened.

Why similar: Investigation 26.1%, Detective 23.5%, Crime 17.2%, Mystery 13.9%, Puzzle 6.7%

Why You'll Like It: This title emphasizes hardcore observation and deduction, forcing you to draw your own conclusions from static crime scenes.

Step into a living illustrated world in a time when Europe is at a crossroads of great religious and political change. Walk in the footsteps of Andreas Maler, a master artist who finds himself in the middle of murders, scandals, and intrigue in the Bavarian Alps.

Why similar: Investigation 15.7%, Conspiracy 14% ★, Detective 13.2%, Historical 11.5%, Interactive Fiction 8.5%

Why You'll Like It: It features a rich, historical setting where your investigation and choices significantly shape the narrative outcome.

Take on the role of a private investigator in this immersive detective simulator. Solve murders and other crimes in a procedurally generated and persistent city where every NPC lives and breathes their own independent lives. Find the killer quickly… or they will kill again!

Why similar: Detective 68.9%, Puzzle 11.8%, Pixel Graphics 7.4%, Atmospheric 5.4%, Adventure 3.8%

Why You'll Like It: It offers a deep, procedural investigation experience where you must gather evidence and build a case file manually.

Strange Horticulture is an occult puzzle game in which you play as the proprietor of a local plant store. Find and identify new plants, pet your cat, speak to a coven, or join a cult. Use your collection of powerful plants to influence the story and unravel Undermere’s dark mysteries.

Why similar: Detective 21.8%, Investigation 18.6%, Mystery 13.1%, Point & Click 11.3%, Dark 8.6%

Why You'll Like It: It combines inventory-based puzzle solving with mystery, requiring careful observation of clues to identify plants and solve cases.

Paradise Island, a world outside reality. There’s been a murder that only "investigation freak" Lady Love Dies can solve. Gather evidence and interrogate suspects in this open world adventure. You can accuse anyone, but you’ll have to prove your case in trial. It’s up to you to decide who’s guilty.

Why similar: Detective 21.1%, Investigation 19.8%, Crime 15.6%, Mystery 11.8%, Point & Click 10.9%

Why You'll Like It: This open-world investigation game allows you to collect evidence and build your own theory to present at trial.

Named Game of the Year 2019 by Giant Bomb, Polygon, Eurogamer, and The Guardian, Outer Wilds is a critically-acclaimed and award-winning open world mystery about a solar system trapped in an endless time loop.

Why similar: Mystery 36.3%, Story Rich 16.8%, Puzzle 14.5%, Exploration 12.8%, Atmospheric 10.9%

Why You'll Like It: While a different genre, it relies on the same 'knowledge-based' progression where understanding the world's history is the key to solving the mystery.

The Forgotten City is a narrative-driven time loop adventure in ancient Rome. Discover the ruins of an ancient underground city, travel 2000 years into the past, and unravel the mystery of who destroyed it by cleverly exploiting the power to wind back time. The fate of the city is in your hands.

Why similar: Investigation 34.8%, Mystery 24.3%, Choices Matter 13.1%, Story Rich 10.2%, Exploration 6.4%

Why You'll Like It: This time-loop mystery requires you to gather information and manipulate events to uncover the truth behind a cursed city.

A woman is interviewed seven times by the police. Search the video database and explore hundreds of authentic clips to discover her story in this groundbreaking and award winning narrative game.

Why similar: Investigation 22.4%, Detective 22.2%, Crime 16.4%, Interactive Fiction 12.3%, Point & Click 10.8%

Why You'll Like It: It challenges you to piece together a non-linear narrative by searching a database, rewarding lateral thinking and deduction.

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 28.9%, Point & Click 13.8%, Crime 13%, Mystery 10.8%, Investigation 9.4%

Why You'll Like It: A charming, logic-based mystery that requires you to interview suspects and connect clues to solve a murder.

In this award-winning puzzle adventure game, play as the Traveler on a quest to reunite the Peoples of the Tower. Observe, listen, and decipher ancient languages in a fascinating universe inspired by the Myth of Babel.

Why similar: Detective 25.1%, Puzzle 23.9%, Point & Click 20.4%, Mystery 7.7%, Adventure 6%

Why You'll Like It: It applies deductive logic to language and symbols, providing the same satisfying feeling of 'cracking the code' as the seed game.

Investigate an infamous cold case in the eerie, abandoned town of Painscreek. Search for evidence, connect the dots and uncover who killed Vivian Roberts. Can you expose the truth behind this town’s dark secrets?

Why similar: Investigation 26.2%, Detective 25.7%, Mystery 16.1%, Thriller 8.1%, Puzzle 6.6%

Why You'll Like It: It provides a pure, non-linear investigation experience where you must explore and find clues without any objective markers.

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 32.8%, Investigation 15.9%, Crime 12.7%, Mystery 12.1%, Point & Click 5.5%

Why You'll Like It: It features a robust deduction board that allows you to connect clues and form conclusions about the culprit.

Greetings Enforcer, and thank you for enlisting in the Hypnospace Patrol Department! As the world falls into its slumber, Hypnospace becomes a bustling global village. These virtual streets aren't going to police themselves!

Why similar: Detective 29.7%, Point & Click 23%, Interactive Fiction 12.4%, Mystery 11.7%, Puzzle 7.2%

Why You'll Like It: You act as a digital detective, piecing together context and clues from a simulated 90s internet to solve various cases.

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 17.7%, Investigation 15.9%, Crime 12.1%, Thriller 11.7%, Mystery 10.5%

Why You'll Like It: A surreal, logic-based investigation game where you dive into memories to uncover the truth.

Four private lives. One big lie. Search through secretly recorded video conversations to discover the truth. The successor to the acclaimed Her Story.

Why similar: Detective 17.4%, Investigation 14.6%, Thriller 12.7%, Crime 12%, Mystery 10.5%

Why You'll Like It: Like Her Story, it forces you to analyze video footage to reconstruct a complex web of deceit.

A reverse-detective adventure, where you control your character's face

Why similar: Detective 33.4%, Interactive Fiction 18%, Point & Click 17.7%, Choices Matter 9.4%, Puzzle 9.2%

Why You'll Like It: A surreal investigation game that uses unique mechanics to uncover the truth behind a mysterious disappearance.

Detective Grimoire has been called to investigate a murder. The owner of a small tourist attraction, seemingly killed by the mythical creature his attraction is based around... Explore the area, inspect the crime scene, grill suspects, solve puzzles, hunt for clues & uncover the secret of the swamp!

Why similar: Detective 24.4%, Investigation 15.6%, Crime 13.8%, Point & Click 13.4%, Mystery 10.1%

Why You'll Like It: A traditional point-and-click mystery that emphasizes gathering clues and interrogating suspects.

Grab your trench coat, tune your sixth sense and join the Darkside Division as they investigate the outright bizarre, the downright dangerous and the confusing cases of Twin Lakes. Flesh-hungry tentacles, mafian zombies, and the occasional missing sock are no match for The Darkside Detective.

Why similar: Detective 33.8%, Point & Click 18.4%, Mystery 16.8%, Story Rich 8.6%, Pixel Graphics 8.1%

Why You'll Like It: While more comedic, it provides solid point-and-click puzzle solving within a supernatural detective framework.

NORCO is a dialogue-focused point & click adventure that immerses the player in the sinking suburbs and industrial swamplands of an increasingly surreal and distorted South Louisiana.

Why similar: Conspiracy 22.7% ★, Investigation 19.2%, Mystery 13.8%, Point & Click 13.1%, Dark 7.9%

Why You'll Like It: It offers a deeply atmospheric, story-rich investigation set in a surreal, southern gothic world.

Spot the lie and beat the liars in 'Contradiction' - the all-video murder mystery adventure!

Why similar: Detective 18%, Investigation 15.3%, Conspiracy 14.9% ★, Crime 13.4%, Mystery 8.7%

Why You'll Like It: An FMV-based detective game that relies on finding contradictions in testimony to advance the investigation.

Welcome to the FDI. As our newest Operator, your role is to use your detective skills to assist our field agents and investigate mysterious crimes. Use cutting-edge FDI software to dig for clues, solve puzzles, and uncover the truth.

Why similar: Conspiracy 18.4% ★, Detective 15.6%, Investigation 14%, Thriller 9.1%, Crime 8.6%

The Séance of Blake Manor is a supernatural detective mystery, set in 1897 Ireland, where you investigate the disappearance of Evelyn Deane in a remote hotel full of secrets and other-worldly occurrences.

Why similar: Detective 20.6%, Investigation 15.9%, Narrative 13.1% ★, Mystery 10.7%, Historical 10.5%

Murder. Nothin’ nice about it. In this old school detective adventure, step into the boots of whip-smart Inspector Waffles and travel the city to track hidden clues, interrogate shady suspects, and unravel a dangerous mystery. But be warned: curiosity killed the cat...

Why similar: Detective 19.6%, Crime 16%, Investigation 14.6%, Point & Click 9.9%, Thriller 9.5%

Why You'll Like It: A classic point-and-click detective game that focuses on gathering clues and solving puzzles to catch a killer.

A Pulp Adventure Thriller - A murdered drifter awakens. Alive again, seconds before his death. Hunted and haunted, help him untangle a mad web of conspiracy in this fast-paced point 'n click thrill-ride.

Why similar: Investigation 20.1%, Thriller 15.4%, Conspiracy 15% ★, Mystery 12.2%, Point & Click 12.2%

A series of murders is shocking Hollywood! Use your detective skills: search the crime scene, find clues, solve the mystery. Who is pulling the strings behind these Confidential Killings?

Why similar: Conspiracy 26.1% ★, Detective 17.4%, Investigation 15.4%, Mystery 9.5%, Point & Click 8.7%

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 45.6%, Mystery 26%, Story Rich 10.5%, Point & Click 7.8%, Puzzle 4.8%

Why You'll Like It: This game centers on high-stakes logic puzzles and murder mystery trials where you must refute lies with evidence.

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 47.6%, Mystery 22%, Story Rich 10%, Historical 7%, Choices Matter 5.3%

Why You'll Like It: It uses logic-based courtroom deduction and evidence gathering to solve cases in a stylized, historical setting.

Become the custodian of a store dealing in occult antiquities. Explore the quaint and gloomy town of Undermere, where strange goings-on and dark mysteries abound. Find and identify arcane artefacts, use your collection to aid the townsfolk with their unusual problems — and remember to pet your cat!

Why similar: Detective 20%, Investigation 18.1%, Mystery 11.9%, Point & Click 10.5%, Dark 8%

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 32%, Crime 17%, Mystery 14.7%, Thriller 12.7%, Story Rich 7.1%

In this point-and-click urban thriller, down-and-out private eye Kathy Rain will embark on her most dangerous case yet — the pursuit of the notorious serial killer known as the Soothsayer. Find clues, gather evidence, connect the dots, and confront the murderer before the hunter becomes the hunted…

Why similar: Conspiracy 16.3% ★, Detective 15%, Investigation 14.5%, Mystery 9%, Point & Click 8.1%

Play as a sharp-witted detective in late 19th-century Leipzig, Germany, in this retro pixel-art point & click adventure. Search for clues, question suspects, and piece together evidence on your deduction board to solve four gripping murder cases.

Why similar: Detective 20.4%, Investigation 17.4%, Crime 13.7%, Point & Click 12.7%, Historical 11.8%

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 23.1%, Investigation 19.6%, Crime 12.6%, Mystery 11.6%, Conspiracy 10.1% ★

There's been a murder aboard the Reuss Express, and you're the suspects! Prove your innocence in this comedy 'point n' click' murder mystery - packed with twists, laughs, and larger-than-life characters!

Why similar: Detective 18.2%, Investigation 17.2%, Narrative 14.9% ★, Crime 12.8%, Mystery 11.1%

"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 34.4%, Investigation 17.1%, Mystery 12.6%, Historical 10.5%, Puzzle 9.2%

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 15.6%, Investigation 13.4%, Narrative 11.5% ★, Historical 10.4%, Point & Click 9.1%

You are the one and only Duck Detective, a depressed and recently divorced duck who must quack the case. Inspect evidence, make de-duck-tions, and solve this no-murder mystery!

Why similar: Detective 29.2%, Investigation 25.6%, Mystery 12.9%, Point & Click 10.1%, Interactive Fiction 9.1%

A murdered priest. A secret list. Hunt Nazi fugitives across the globe in this gritty 1971 detective thriller. Analyze evidence, follow leads, and make sharp deductions before the trail goes cold. From the creators of Family, Rivals, Conspiracy, Echo Beach and Riley & Rochelle.

Why similar: Detective 23.6%, Investigation 19.6%, Conspiracy 16.8% ★, Mystery 11.3%, Narrative 5.4% ★

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 23%, Investigation 15.1%, Mystery 12.4%, Point & Click 12.2%, Interactive Fiction 8.5%

Solving crime is no walk in the pond. You are a down-on-his-luck detective who also happens to be a duck. Use your powers of de-duck-tion to inspect evidence, fill in the blanks, and bust the case wide open! This is a short but twisty detective case.

Why similar: Detective 33%, Investigation 24.9%, Mystery 11.9%, Point & Click 9.9%, Interactive Fiction 8%

Uncover high drama in this whodunnit set in a small-town community theater. Gather clues by investigating the sets, casts and backstage crews of 10 theatrical productions, and piece together the story of each deadly crime.

Why similar: Detective 15.7%, Conspiracy 15.3% ★, Investigation 12.9%, Point & Click 11.2%, Crime 10.8%

The stage is set. Imagine an old baroque manor, perhaps a hotel or a museum, somewhere in central Europe. A woman wanders in search of answers.

Why similar: Mystery 34.4%, Puzzle 30.2%, Story Rich 11.2%, Adventure 10.8%, Exploration 10.8%

Welcome to Mt. Holly, where every dawn unveils a new mystery. Navigate through shifting corridors and ever-changing chambers in this genre-defying strategy puzzle adventure. But will your unpredictable path lead you to the rumored Room 46?

Why similar: Investigation 35.7%, Mystery 23.5%, Puzzle 14.9%, Story Rich 8.9%, Exploration 6.6%

Investigate. Interrogate. Descend into a world of intrigue to untangle the Mystery of the Malign.

Why similar: Investigation 24.4%, Mystery 19.7%, Conspiracy 13.1% ★, Puzzle 9.3%, Story Rich 8.3%

GET AWAY WITH MURDER. Highly replayable detective game where you're the one whodunnit. From the creators of 80 Days and Heaven's Vault.

Why similar: Detective 31.3%, Interactive Fiction 17.2%, Historical 15.4%, Mystery 11.6%, Choices Matter 9.3%

The award-winning point-and-click adventure returns in the Director's Cut with an extended story, additional puzzles, and new areas to explore. Witness the rise of an iconic detective as you uncover a dark and sinister truth hiding behind the calm exterior of a small rural town.

Why similar: Detective 20.5%, Investigation 17.3%, Point & Click 11.9%, Mystery 11%, Narrative 8.4% ★

Connected Clue is a quarter-view detective adventure game inspired by the atmosphere of 19th-century mystery novels. Gather clues, see through lies, and uncover the identity of the culprit shrouded in secrecy!

Why similar: Detective 21.8%, Investigation 17.6%, Crime 16.5%, Point & Click 10.8%, Mystery 10.6%

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 24.9%, Crime 16.6%, Mystery 14%, Point & Click 12.5%, Investigation 10.8%

Explore a wikipedia-like database and solve a small town mystery in Eastern Europe. Step into the shoes of a journalist in the 90s as you sprawl through articles and uncover the secrets that have been laid in front of you.

Why similar: Conspiracy 21.4% ★, Detective 18.7%, Investigation 16.5%, Mystery 12.5%, Thriller 8.6%

An anime-inspired supernatural detective game. Uncover the identities and powers of your adversaries using a conspiracy board full of evidence.

Why similar: Detective 23.4%, Conspiracy 21.9% ★, Investigation 20.3%, Mystery 12.1%, Point & Click 10%

Explore a dense, interconnected labyrinth, and unravel its many secrets. Collect items to manipulate your environment in surprising and meaningful ways. Encounter beautiful and unsettling creatures, as you attempt to survive what lurks in the dark. There is more than what you see.

Why similar: Mystery 25.3%, Puzzle 20%, Pixel Graphics 16.8%, Exploration 12.1%, Atmospheric 10.7%

Step into the mind of John Morley, a 1940s detective on his final case. Explore shadowed places long forgotten by time, and piece together crime scenes in a narrative adventure steeped in mystery, unexpected twists, and a truth buried for decades.

Why similar: Detective 23.6%, Narrative 18.1% ★, Mystery 12.2%, Interactive Fiction 12.1%, Dark 7.6%

Abscission is a Lovecraftian, story-driven horror point-and-click investigation game. It involves searching crime scenes for evidence, combining clues and questioning suspects. Puzzles can have multiple solutions as you guide the protagonist - Detective Will Stanhope - through the story.

Why similar: Detective 25.3%, Point & Click 16.4%, Investigation 13.3%, Crime 12.1%, Choices Matter 8.3%

A macabre ritual murder puts Arkham PD detectives Jack Foster and Harvey Whitman to the test. As the investigation progresses, they will unveil a disturbing connection between the Salem witch trials of the 17th century and the end of humankind.

Why similar: Detective 23.1%, Point & Click 18.2%, Investigation 17.2%, Mystery 10.4%, Pixel Graphics 7%

A steampunk-ish detective adventure from the creator of A Golden Wake and Shardlight! Can you help private investigator Miles Fordham find justice for his clients and track down his partner's killer before his entire world comes apart?

Why similar: Detective 26.7%, Mystery 15.2%, Point & Click 15.1%, Dark 10.2%, Interactive Fiction 9.1%

In Thimbleweed Park, a dead body is the least of your problems. Switch between five playable characters to uncover the surreal secrets of this strange town in a modern mystery adventure game from the creators of Monkey Island and Maniac Mansion. The deeper you go, the weirder it gets.

Why similar: Point & Click 37.2%, Detective 14.3%, Pixel Graphics 9.9%, Mystery 9.2%, Puzzle 8.7%