Games Like The Painscreek Killings

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 28.6%, Detective 22.7%, Mystery 13.9%, Puzzle 6.6%, Realistic 6.4%

Why You'll Like It: It offers a hardcore, realistic approach to crime scene investigation that mirrors the meticulous evidence-gathering found in Painscreek.

A new kind of detective game that allows you to think and investigate freely. Discover clues surrounding 12 strange and gruesome deaths and build your own theory. Pick your suspect, deduce the motive, unmask the awful truth.

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

Why You'll Like It: This game captures the essence of piecing together a narrative through careful observation and logical deduction in static, detailed scenes.

Lost at sea 1803 ~ The good ship Obra Dinn.

Why similar: Detective 41.9%, Mystery 23.1%, Puzzle 9%, Story Rich 8%, Atmospheric 6.3%

Why You'll Like It: Like Painscreek, this game requires pure deductive reasoning to solve a mystery without relying on quest markers or hand-holding.

The Vanishing of Ethan Carter is a first-person story-driven mystery. Purchase this game to get both the original and the Unreal Engine 4 remaster called The Vanishing of Ethan Carter Redux.

Why similar: Detective 25.4%, Mystery 15.6%, Walking Simulator 14.8%, Supernatural 8.2%, Atmospheric 6.3%

Why You'll Like It: It excels at atmospheric exploration and environmental storytelling, tasking you with uncovering the truth behind a tragic disappearance.

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 56.4%, Open World 15.5%, Puzzle 9.8%, First-Person 8%, Atmospheric 5.1%

Why You'll Like It: This procedural open-world detective game provides the same sense of freedom and agency in investigating crimes within a fully simulated city.

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 39.7%, Investigation 21.7%, Mystery 15.2%, Puzzle 5.3%, Story Rich 4.9%

Why You'll Like It: This title provides a classic, structured detective experience where you must gather clues and correctly deduce the culprit to solve various cases.

Coming back to the family hotel after years, a young woman finds herself trapped with the ghosts from her past and an old cellular telephone as the only way to unveil a terrible truth.

Why similar: Walking Simulator 16.3%, Mystery 16.2%, Thriller 10.6%, Open World 8.5%, Exploration 7.7%

Why You'll Like It: It is a narrative-driven walking simulator that uses an isolated setting to slowly peel back the layers of a dark, personal mystery.

Northern Canada, 1970. A strange blizzard ravages Atamipek Lake. Step into the shoes of a detective to explore the eerie village, investigate surreal events, and battle the elements to survive. Kona is a chilly interactive tale you won't soon forget.

Why similar: Detective 30.1%, Walking Simulator 11.8%, Open World 10.6%, Horror 8%, Exploration 7.4%

Why You'll Like It: Set in a remote, snowy town, this game combines survival elements with a compelling mystery that requires you to investigate the environment to progress.

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

Why similar: Investigation 24.3%, Detective 22.9%, Mystery 13.3%, Open World 9.6%, Exploration 7.1%

Why You'll Like It: This open-world investigation game allows you to explore an island at your own pace while gathering evidence to solve a complex murder case.

Draugen is a single-player, first-person Fjord Noir mystery set in 1920s Norway. Explore a forgotten coastal village in your search for your missing sister, accompanied by your independent and enigmatic young ward. Norwegian Game of the Year 2019.

Why similar: Detective 21.3%, Mystery 15%, Investigation 13.4%, Story Rich 7.6%, Horror 6.4%

Why You'll Like It: This atmospheric mystery focuses on a first-person exploration of a remote Norwegian coastal town, mirroring the isolated, investigative feel of Painscreek.

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 23.4%, Exploration 15.5%, Open World 12%, Story Rich 11.4%, Puzzle 9.2%

Why You'll Like It: While sci-fi, it shares the core loop of uncovering a deep, ancient mystery solely through exploration and connecting disparate pieces of information.

What Remains of Edith Finch is a collection of strange tales about a family in Washington state. As Edith, you’ll explore the colossal Finch house, searching for stories as she explores her family history and tries to figure out why she's the last one in her family left alive.

Why similar: Walking Simulator 21.4%, Story Rich 16%, Mystery 15.8%, Atmospheric 9.4%, Exploration 8%

Why You'll Like It: It is a masterclass in environmental storytelling that reveals the history of a family through the exploration of their abandoned home.

Experience a nerve-racking Lovecraftian adventure, rebuilt from the ground up with modern graphics and gameplay. Become Sherlock Holmes, and find yourself at the heart of the terrifying Cthulhu Mythos as you investigate a series of mysterious disappearances in Europe and the US.

Why similar: Detective 20.8%, Investigation 15.6%, Mystery 11.5%, Supernatural 8.6%, Open World 7.8%

Why You'll Like It: This entry in the series blends classic detective work with a haunting, atmospheric mystery that encourages thorough investigation.

MURDERED: SOUL SUSPECT™ takes players into a whole new realm of mystery where the case is personal and the clues just out of reach, challenging gamers to solve the hardest case of all… their own murder.

Why similar: Detective 41.6%, Supernatural 15.3%, Mystery 13.7%, Horror 8%, Atmospheric 4.7%

Why You'll Like It: You play as a ghost detective tasked with solving your own murder by exploring the town and interacting with the environment to find clues.

Killer Frequency is a first-person horror puzzle game set in 1987, that puts you in the role of a late-night radio talk show host in small town America whose callers are being stalked by a mysterious killer.

Why similar: Investigation 27.3%, Walking Simulator 16.9%, Horror 11.6%, Puzzle 9.3%, Exploration 8.5%

Why You'll Like It: This puzzle-heavy mystery game tasks you with using information gathered from the environment to save callers in a 1980s radio station setting.

Discover the truth about Quern’s past, unfold the mysteries of its present, and be the explorer who shapes its future. Quern introduces reusable puzzle mechanics to the classic genre, making the player think about the game as a whole, and not just as a series of individual challenges.

Why similar: Investigation 19.4%, Mystery 13.8%, Walking Simulator 12.1%, Puzzle 7.6%, Narration 7.4%

Why You'll Like It: While more puzzle-focused, it shares the sense of isolation and discovery found in exploring a mysterious, abandoned location.

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 20.1%, Investigation 19.1%, Mystery 12.6%, Thriller 8.5%, Open World 6.7%

Why You'll Like It: This game challenges you to piece together a complex narrative by searching through video clips, rewarding those who pay close attention to detail.

Virginia is a single-player first-person thriller set in a small town with a secret. Experience a missing person investigation through the eyes of graduate FBI agent Anne Tarver.

Why similar: Detective 25.2%, Walking Simulator 15.4%, Mystery 14.4%, Thriller 7.7%, Story Rich 6.3%

Why You'll Like It: A surreal, narrative-driven mystery that uses visual storytelling to guide you through an investigation without traditional dialogue.

Observation is a sci-fi thriller uncovering what happened to Dr. Emma Fisher, and the crew of her mission, through the lens of the station’s artificial intelligence S.A.M.

Why similar: Horror 18.8%, Adventure 15.3%, Mystery 12.7%, Story Rich 10.3%, Thriller 10%

Why You'll Like It: You play as an AI investigating a space station mystery, requiring you to manipulate the environment to uncover what happened to the crew.

Set in 1944 Italy, Martha Is Dead is an award-winning dark psychological thriller where the lines between truth, superstition, and tragedy blur. Explore a haunting countryside, uncover disturbing memories, and peel back layers of mystery. Every choice shapes the nightmare…are you ready to face it?

Why similar: Mystery 16.6%, Thriller 12.4%, Horror 12.3%, Narration 11.1%, Story Rich 10.6%

Why You'll Like It: A dark, atmospheric psychological thriller that uses its historical setting to drive a deep, investigative narrative.

This Bed We Made is a third-person mystery game in which you play as a maid in a 1950s hotel and snoop around strangers' rooms to uncover their deadly secrets. Discover what links guests together in this tale of love, heartbreak and murder!

Why similar: Investigation 22.9%, Detective 19%, Mystery 17.6%, Walking Simulator 10.8%, Story Rich 7.5%

Why You'll Like It: Set in a 1950s hotel, this mystery game focuses on snooping through rooms and piecing together the secrets of the guests.

A first-person, story-driven psychological horror game based on the cinematic lore of the Blair Witch. Explore the haunted grounds of the Black Hills Forest in a harrowing investigation that forces you to confront the evil that resides deep in the woods.

Why similar: Investigation 24.4%, Horror 24%, Walking Simulator 18.6%, First-Person 9.1%, Story Rich 8.3%

Why You'll Like It: This game utilizes a forest setting to create an oppressive atmosphere where you must use your tools to investigate and survive.

Explore a beautiful and Enigmatic Victorian Manor with a dark secret, In this gothic horror story first person exploration puzzle game filled with fine art, secret passages and mysterious mechanical puzzles playing as the executor of the last will from the enigmatic Railroad Magnate Hadley Strange.

Why similar: Walking Simulator 14.4%, Mystery 13.8%, Investigation 12.9%, Horror 8.5%, Exploration 8.3%

Why You'll Like It: It provides a classic escape-room style experience with a heavy focus on exploring a mansion to uncover its dark history.

Dead Secret is a first-person horror mystery set in rural Kansas in 1965. A reclusive professor is dead and it’s up to you to crack the case before you become the next victim. Investigate the murder and explore the story Time Magazine called “captivating” and “deeply creepy” .

Why similar: Mystery 26.3%, Horror 16.4%, Story Rich 14.1%, Puzzle 9.1%, Exploration 8.7%

Why You'll Like It: This psychological horror game tasks you with finding clues in a house to solve a murder mystery while avoiding a masked killer.

Join Norah, a woman plagued by a mysterious illness, in her search for her missing husband in this adventure puzzle game set on a lush island paradise. Immerse yourself in stunning visuals and unlock forbidden secrets in a moving tale of mystery and love.

Why similar: Investigation 18.5%, Mystery 13.7%, Walking Simulator 10.5%, Puzzle 10.1%, Story Rich 8.8%

Why You'll Like It: This game features a strong emphasis on environmental puzzles and uncovering the history of a missing expedition on a remote island.

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 49%, Mystery 18%, Puzzle 10.1%, Investigation 8.3%, Story Rich 6.8%

Why You'll Like It: This unique investigation game requires you to listen to audio recordings and deduce the truth behind a crime based on what you hear.

A mysterious invitation leads to the attic of an abandoned house. In the room is a cast-iron safe laced with strange carvings and on top, a note from your distant companion. It promises something ancient and astonishing concealed in the iron chamber - you need only find a way in.

Why similar: Puzzle 36.3%, Mystery 35.8%, Atmospheric 10.2%, Horror 6.5%, First-Person 3.5%

Why You'll Like It: It focuses on tactile, intricate puzzle-solving that requires players to observe every detail of an object to unlock its secrets.

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 22%, Investigation 19.3%, Supernatural 16.5%, Mystery 11.9%, Puzzle 6.2%

Firewatch is a single-player first-person mystery set in the Wyoming wilderness, where your only emotional lifeline is the person on the other end of a handheld radio.

Why similar: Walking Simulator 22.1%, Mystery 17.5%, Story Rich 11.1%, Atmospheric 9.2%, Open World 8.2%

Why You'll Like It: It is a premier example of atmospheric, narrative-driven exploration where the environment tells as much of the story as the dialogue.

The Haunting of Joni Evers is a dark supernatural mystery about a broken family from small-town Oklahoma. Haunted by a specter that's hunted her family for generations, Joni must uncover the mysteries of the Cunningham House, dig through lost memories, and face the past to break the curse.

Why similar: Investigation 19.4%, Supernatural 13.1%, Mystery 12.2%, Walking Simulator 11.5%, Narration 7.1%

The Wellmonts Case is a first-person psychological horror game set in 1993, Northern Maine. As a private detective, you explore the abandoned Wellmont farm, search for clues, photograph unsettling evidence, and uncover the truth behind a family's unexplained disappearance.

Why similar: Investigation 17.9%, Walking Simulator 15.8%, Mystery 12.9%, Thriller 11.3%, Horror 10.7%

A young woman died near the White Oak Inn. Now, her spirit is roaming around, and an employee is receiving strange letters. What dark secrets wait to be found? The clock is ticking and you, as Alex Hill, must uncover the truth before it’s too late.

Why similar: Detective 26.4%, Mystery 16.8%, Investigation 14.3%, Exploration 9.2%, Story Rich 7.2%

June 7th, 1995. 1:15 AM. You arrive home after a year abroad. You expect your family to greet you, but the house is empty. Something's not right. Where is everyone? And what's happened here? Unravel the mystery for yourself in Gone Home, a story exploration game from The Fullbright Company.

Why similar: Walking Simulator 54%, Exploration 11%, Story Rich 7.9%, Atmospheric 7.6%, First-Person 6.2%

Why You'll Like It: This title defines the genre of uncovering a family's secrets by exploring an empty house and examining personal items.

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

Why similar: Investigation 27.6%, Mystery 20.5%, Puzzle 9.5%, Story Rich 9%, Exploration 8.5%

The Occupation is a fixed-time, investigative thriller set in North West England on Saturday 24th October, 1987.

Why similar: Detective 28.4%, Mystery 15.2%, Thriller 10.1%, Investigation 9.9%, Story Rich 7.1%

Why You'll Like It: This investigative thriller features a time-sensitive structure where you must gather evidence to expose a conspiracy.

Armed with nothing but your camera, investigate the abandoned Gretlow House in this short, atmospheric horror game. Uncover a chilling mystery through a realistic found-footage lens.

Why similar: Investigation 18.8%, Supernatural 16.4%, Walking Simulator 13%, Horror 10%, Mystery 9.8%

This story-driven adventure follows a mystery of death and despair from reality into the surreal realms of objective memories and subjective experiences. Search the mind, solve puzzles, and unravel the dark truth in this psychological thriller.

Why similar: Investigation 30.3%, Walking Simulator 15.3%, Mystery 13.7%, Thriller 12.3%, Story Rich 7.1%

1924. Private Investigator Pierce is sent to look into the tragic death of the Hawkins family. Plunge into a world of creeping madness and cosmic horror. Cryptic clues, shadowy figures, and pure terror bar your way as you fight to retain your sanity and solve an otherworldly mystery.

Why similar: Detective 31.7%, Horror 14.3%, Mystery 13.8%, Story Rich 8.7%, Walking Simulator 7.6%

Embark on a terrifying adventure of a priest accused of murdering an altar boy. Gray Dawn is a psychological thriller infused with religious elements and combines story-driven quests with an artistic experience.

Why similar: Thriller 15.3%, Walking Simulator 13.9%, Horror 12.2%, Story Rich 11.4%, Mystery 11.3%

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 32.8%, Investigation 24.3%, Mystery 19.2%, Puzzle 9.4%, Story Rich 6.2%

A psychological horror short story. Explore the untouched wilderness of rural Wales as you uncover the forgotten remains of a mysterious facility and find the truth behind the missing villagers of Hearth.

Why similar: Walking Simulator 17.6%, Supernatural 16.9%, Mystery 14.2%, Horror 11.2%, Exploration 8.3%

Northern Québec, 1970. A bizarre mist —the Brume— is disconnecting a rural mining village from its quiet reality. Step into the shoes of Detective Carl Faubert as he unfolds the mysteries haunting the region while battling for his own survival.

Why similar: Investigation 21.5%, Detective 18.2%, Mystery 12.2%, Walking Simulator 9.3%, Narration 6.7%

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 24.6%, Walking Simulator 13.8%, Mystery 13.2%, Exploration 7.8%, Realistic 7.2%

Silver Chains is a first-person horror game with a strong emphasis on story and exploration. Search for clues within an old abandoned manor to unravel the truth about the terrible events which have happened.

Why similar: Horror 33.5%, Mystery 10.8%, First-Person 8.9%, Walking Simulator 8.4%, Exploration 7.9%

Disembodied souls linger in this old estate. To each one, utter their name.

Why similar: Detective 24%, Investigation 22.3%, Mystery 13.8%, Supernatural 12.9%, Puzzle 6.2%

In Rise of Insanity, as a doctor of psychology you will explore the darkest recesses of the human mind. Overcome your fear to find the truth behind the tragedy that has befallen your family.

Why similar: Walking Simulator 24%, Horror 20.1%, Puzzle 10.9%, Exploration 10.1%, Story Rich 9.3%

INFRA puts you into the boots of a structural analyst on a routine mission. Quickly though, your task turns into a fight for survival, all caused by deep-rooted schemes of the past. Your tools are simple: your camera and the wits to navigate a labyrinth of debris.

Why similar: Walking Simulator 19.7%, Mystery 16.2%, Exploration 12.4%, Puzzle 12%, Atmospheric 9.3%

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

Why similar: Investigation 24.5%, Detective 22.4%, Mystery 13.9%, Horror 7.6%, Thriller 6.5%

Alone with the dead... Embalm corpses, banish demons, save your soul.

Why similar: Supernatural 24.2%, Horror 22.2%, Mystery 17.2%, Atmospheric 6.4%, Thriller 6.3%

Pick up your magnifying glass as writer-turned-detective Penelope Pendrick in this first-person point and click mystery adventure! Three people have suddenly vanished from the sleepy town of Carlisle. Follow the clues, interrogate suspects, and solve puzzles to end this case - before it ends you.

Why similar: Mystery 24.7%, Detective 22.3%, Investigation 19.5%, Story Rich 9.7%, Puzzle 7.3%

More than ghost hunting—this is about uncovering the truth, deep within the estate. Study the past, gather evidence, and reveal the stories that linger between life and death. A unique investigation every time ensures deep replayability.

Why similar: Investigation 20.9%, Detective 18.6%, Mystery 11.3%, Supernatural 9.6%, Exploration 7.2%

Become Mia, a paranormal detective searching for her missing father inside the Perimeter - a place that doesn't exist. Investigate clues like a real detective and unravel the mysteries behind the Enigma of Fear, defeating the terrible monsters who'll try to stop you.

Why similar: Investigation 23.6%, Detective 21.1%, Supernatural 14.8%, Mystery 14.2%, Open World 6.9%

An interactive horror experience of exploring a missing woman’s phone.

Why similar: Detective 32.8%, Mystery 14%, Horror 12.8%, Thriller 10.5%, Story Rich 8.4%

Through the Woods is a third-person Norse horror adventure set in a forest on the western shores of Norway that tells the story of a mother and her missing son.

Why similar: Walking Simulator 20.6%, Horror 18.6%, Mystery 13.3%, Atmospheric 8.8%, Story Rich 8.4%

True Fear: Forsaken Souls takes the best of the psychological thriller, blending in fun and intuitive gameplay mechanics. Episode 1, the first in a trilogy, will long be remembered.

Why similar: Detective 23.6%, Horror 13%, Exploration 11.9%, Puzzle 10.1%, Mystery 8.2%

A psychological horror game where a police officer investigates a cold case in a decaying house, uncovering a strange and haunting tape recorder that reveals a terrible secret.

Why similar: Investigation 19.4%, Walking Simulator 18.1%, Mystery 11%, Exploration 9.1%, Realistic 8.2%

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 26.5%, Investigation 25.3%, Mystery 14.8%, Story Rich 6.9%, Puzzle 6.8%

Uncover the mysteries of Whitehaven Orphanage in this first-person psychological horror game. Explore the place, collect clues and put the pieces together to find out what happened years ago as you delve deep into your mind.

Why similar: Walking Simulator 19.8%, Horror 16.4%, Thriller 15%, Exploration 9.9%, Atmospheric 9.2%

A story-driven, first-person adventure game offering a cinematic experience. Embark on a journey to HaustVille, an abandoned settlement in a post-apocalyptic world. Explore your surroundings and uncover the mystery behind the disappearance of the last survivors.

Why similar: Investigation 21.8%, Mystery 16%, Walking Simulator 14.9%, Supernatural 8.4%, Story Rich 7.5%

It Happened At Night is a short horror game where the player must complete basic objectives to advance the story and immerse themselves through the eyes of the protagonist.

Why similar: Walking Simulator 17.6%, Mystery 17.1%, Horror 11.8%, Exploration 9.4%, Atmospheric 7.6%