Games Like The Painscreek Killings

Lost at sea 1803 ~ The good ship Obra Dinn.

Why similar: Detective 42.4%, Mystery 22.9%, Puzzle 9.1%, Story Rich 7.9%, Atmospheric 6.1%

Why You'll Like It: This game shares the core philosophy of Painscreek by requiring players to act as a true detective, piecing together a complex mystery through observation and deduction without objective markers.

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 26.4%, Detective 26%, Mystery 16%, Thriller 7.8%, Puzzle 6.7%

Why You'll Like It: It offers a brilliant, logic-based investigation system that rewards players for connecting clues and identifying suspects in a way that mirrors the satisfaction of solving the Painscreek case.

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 15.3%, Walking Simulator 14.7%, Supernatural 7.9%, Atmospheric 6.2%

Why You'll Like It: It features a hauntingly atmospheric open world where you must piece together the tragic events of a missing boy through environmental clues and supernatural visions.

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 39.9%, Investigation 21.7%, Mystery 15%, Puzzle 5.3%, Story Rich 4.9%

Why You'll Like It: It provides a grounded detective experience where you must gather evidence, examine crime scenes, and make deductions to solve various 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: Investigation 24.4%, Detective 23.1%, Mystery 13.2%, 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, gathering evidence and interviewing suspects to build your own case.

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 23.1%, Story Rich 17.1%, Mystery 16.9%, Atmospheric 9.9%, Exploration 8.6%

Why You'll Like It: A pinnacle of environmental storytelling that forces you to explore a sprawling, mysterious house to uncover the dark history of a family.

A hardcore deductive reasoning game for fans of the “true crime” genre. Only by unraveling the logic and grasping at the motivations behind each case can the crimes be completely solved. Perfect as a social-style mystery fiction.

Why similar: Investigation 28.5%, Detective 23.2%, Mystery 13.7%, Puzzle 6.7%, Realistic 6.3%

Why You'll Like It: A hardcore deduction game that strips away all hand-holding, forcing you to observe crime scenes meticulously to reconstruct what happened.

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 16.8%, Mystery 16.5%, Thriller 10.7%, Open World 8.7%, Exploration 7.8%

Why You'll Like It: An atmospheric walking simulator that traps you in a remote hotel, slowly revealing a dark family mystery through exploration and dialogue.

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 22.8%, Mystery 17.8%, Story Rich 11.4%, Atmospheric 9.3%, Open World 8.4%

Why You'll Like It: This game excels at building a sense of isolation and mystery within a large, atmospheric wilderness setting, driven by narrative discovery.

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 31.2%, Walking Simulator 12.1%, Open World 10.8%, Horror 8.2%, Exploration 7.5%

Why You'll Like It: A survival-detective hybrid set in a snowy, abandoned town where you must investigate a strange mystery while managing the elements.

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 21.5%, Mystery 14.9%, Investigation 13.5%, Story Rich 7.5%, Horror 6.4%

Why You'll Like It: Set in a beautiful but eerie Norwegian coastal town, this game focuses on exploration and narrative discovery as you search for a missing person.

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 42.1%, Supernatural 14.9%, Mystery 13.6%, Horror 8%, Atmospheric 4.6%

Why You'll Like It: You play as a ghost detective investigating your own murder, which involves searching crime scenes and piecing together clues in a supernatural setting.

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 31.5%, Horror 14.2%, Mystery 13.4%, Story Rich 8.7%, Walking Simulator 7.4%

Why You'll Like It: This game blends detective mechanics with Lovecraftian horror, requiring you to investigate a mysterious death on a remote island.

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 22.4%, Exploration 14.8%, Open World 11.6%, Story Rich 10.9%, Puzzle 9.1%

Why You'll Like It: While sci-fi, it is the ultimate game of discovery, where the entire narrative is hidden in the environment and must be pieced together by the player's own curiosity.

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 25.6%, Walking Simulator 15.5%, Mystery 14.4%, Thriller 7.5%, Story Rich 6.3%

Why You'll Like It: A stylistic, narrative-driven detective story that relies on visual storytelling and atmosphere rather than dialogue to convey its mystery.

Tacoma is a sci-fi narrative adventure from the creators of Gone Home. Set aboard a high-tech space station in the year 2088, explore every detail of how the station’s crew lived and worked, finding the clues that add up to a gripping story of trust, fear, and resolve in the face of disaster.

Why similar: Walking Simulator 31.3%, Mystery 15.8%, Story Rich 13.9%, Exploration 10.4%, Female Protagonist 7.7%

Why You'll Like It: It uses an innovative playback system to allow you to explore a space station and piece together the mystery of what happened to the crew through environmental observation.

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 21.2%, Mystery 14.9%, Walking Simulator 13.2%, Puzzle 8.3%, Exploration 7%

Why You'll Like It: A puzzle-heavy exploration game that rewards players for observing their surroundings and uncovering the secrets of a mysterious island.

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 15.7%, Mystery 14.9%, Investigation 14.1%, Horror 9%, Exploration 8.9%

Why You'll Like It: A first-person exploration game that focuses on solving puzzles and uncovering the dark secrets hidden within a sprawling, abandoned mansion.

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 23.8%, Horror 14.8%, Story Rich 12.7%, Psychological Horror 9.5%, Puzzle 8.3%

Why You'll Like It: A psychological horror game that tasks you with investigating a murder in a secluded house by finding clues and avoiding the killer.

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 18.4%, Horror 13.8%, Thriller 13.5%, Story Rich 11.8%, Psychological Horror 8.8%

Why You'll Like It: A dark, psychological horror game set in WWII-era Italy that emphasizes investigation and uncovering the truth behind a tragic family mystery.

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 27.5%, Walking Simulator 16.9%, Horror 11.5%, Puzzle 9.4%, Exploration 8.5%

Why You'll Like It: An interactive mystery game where you must gather information and make decisions to solve a series of crimes from the safety of a radio station.

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 28.7%, Walking Simulator 14.4%, Mystery 12.8%, Thriller 11.4%, Story Rich 6.7%

Why You'll Like It: This game features unique investigation mechanics where you explore the memories of the deceased to solve a complex mystery.

A first‑person cyberpunk horror detective story set in a decaying, neon‑scarred future. As an Observer who invades minds to hunt for clues, you will sift through corrupted memories to track down a mysterious killer and confront your own dark past.

Why similar: Investigation 30%, Detective 24.5%, Walking Simulator 16.2%, Horror 10.8%, Story Rich 7.5%

Why You'll Like It: A dark, atmospheric detective thriller that involves hacking into the minds of suspects to uncover evidence in a dystopian setting.

A third‑person psychological horror game where you explore both the real world and the spirit realm. As a medium drawn to a deserted resort, you’ll uncover dark secrets, confront echoes of trauma, and face the consequences of seeing more than one truth.

Why similar: Horror 22.8%, Walking Simulator 14.3%, Story Rich 11.6%, Atmospheric 11.4%, Female Protagonist 11.1%

Why You'll Like It: This game uses a dual-reality mechanic to help you investigate a mysterious location and uncover the dark history of a tragedy.

Featuring a beautiful, detailed open-world and a haunting soundtrack, Everybody’s Gone to the Rapture is non-linear storytelling at its best.

Why similar: Walking Simulator 45.9%, Atmospheric 11.2%, Story Rich 9%, Exploration 7.8%, Open World 7.6%

Why You'll Like It: An incredibly atmospheric game that tasks you with exploring a deserted village to understand the mysterious event that caused everyone to vanish.

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 19.1%, Mystery 15.8%, Exploration 12.1%, Puzzle 11.9%, Atmospheric 9%

Why You'll Like It: A unique exploration game where you act as a structural analyst, uncovering a massive conspiracy through environmental puzzles and observation.

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 21.9%, Investigation 18.7%, Supernatural 15.6%, Mystery 11.6%, Puzzle 6%

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 16.8%, Supernatural 15.7%, Mystery 13.4%, Horror 10.6%, Exploration 7.8%

Why You'll Like It: An atmospheric horror game that uses audio-based investigation to uncover the secrets of a remote, abandoned area.

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 17.1%, Walking Simulator 15%, Mystery 12.2%, Thriller 10.5%, Horror 10.1%

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 13.8%, Walking Simulator 12.9%, Horror 11.2%, Story Rich 10.5%, Mystery 10.4%

Why You'll Like It: A story-rich horror game that focuses on exploring a mysterious environment to uncover the truth behind a series of disturbing events.

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 21.4%, Investigation 15.9%, Mystery 11.6%, Supernatural 8.5%, Open World 7.9%

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 23.2%, Horror 18.7%, Puzzle 10.3%, Exploration 9.3%, Psychological Horror 9.3%

Why You'll Like It: A psychological horror game that focuses on exploring a dark, unsettling environment to piece together the truth behind a tragic mystery.

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 21.4%, Supernatural 14%, Mystery 13.3%, Walking Simulator 12.6%, Story Rich 6.7%

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%, Supernatural 15.4%, Walking Simulator 12.4%, Horror 9.4%, Mystery 9.4%

An award-winning narrative thriller about a blind woman’s journey to uncover the truth about the mansion from her nightmares, or else become one of its victims.

Why similar: Walking Simulator 27.9%, Horror 26.5%, Atmospheric 10.2%, Female Protagonist 9.6%, Story Rich 8.8%

Why You'll Like It: A unique horror game where you play as a blind protagonist, using sound to navigate and investigate a mysterious, haunted house.

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

Why similar: Detective 32.7%, Mystery 13.6%, Horror 12.6%, Thriller 10.1%, Story Rich 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%, Walking Simulator 17.8%, Mystery 10.7%, Exploration 8.8%, Realistic 7.9%

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%, Walking Simulator 13.3%, Mystery 12.6%, Exploration 7.4%, Puzzle 6.9%

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 22.3%, Horror 12%, Exploration 11%, Puzzle 9.6%, Mystery 7.6%

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 27.7%, Mystery 17.3%, Investigation 14.9%, Exploration 9.5%, Story Rich 7.5%

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

Why similar: Supernatural 24%, Horror 22.6%, Mystery 17.2%, Atmospheric 6.4%, Thriller 6.1%

You're a detective. Investigate the haunting events surrounding the murder of Ann Peterson and her boyfriend. Explore an old safehouse for clues, deduce keywords and reveal redacted words as you search Ann's digital journal, and piece together your case report as this unfortunate story unfolds.

Why similar: Detective 27.9%, Investigation 27%, Supernatural 12%, Walking Simulator 11.4%, Story Rich 7.2%

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 18%, Horror 14.8%, Thriller 13.3%, Exploration 8.9%, Atmospheric 8.2%

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

Why similar: Investigation 27.7%, Mystery 20.4%, Puzzle 9.6%, Story Rich 9%, Exploration 8.4%

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 17.4%, Adventure 14.4%, Mystery 11.8%, Story Rich 9.8%, Puzzle 9.6%

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 19.6%, Horror 17.4%, Mystery 12.8%, Atmospheric 8.2%, Story Rich 7.9%

A cinematic point-and-click adventure where you step into the shoes of photographer Charlotte Gray as she explores the abandoned camp of Deer Creek and uncovers the tragedy that befell the camp and its people.

Why similar: Investigation 23.7%, Supernatural 20.7%, Mystery 19.4%, Atmospheric 7.7%, Puzzle 7.4%

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

Why similar: Detective 24.3%, Investigation 22.4%, Mystery 13.7%, Supernatural 12.6%, Puzzle 6.2%

Something strange appears in the woods. Lost in a dark and unknown place, survive an unrelenting enemy, solve puzzles, and uncover the ancient mystery that’s befallen this land in this Lovecraftian Cosmic Horror adventure.

Why similar: Walking Simulator 18.2%, Mystery 17.1%, Supernatural 13%, Horror 11.8%, Exploration 9.6%

Wander through an interactive nightmare set within the confines of a once-happy household. Piece together the mystery behind a harrowing series of events while struggling to survive encounters with an entity that relentlessly stands in the way of finding absolution.

Why similar: Horror 20.1%, Walking Simulator 20%, Psychological Horror 10.6%, Realistic 10.2%, Story Rich 9.7%

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 23.7%, Detective 19.8%, Mystery 18%, Walking Simulator 11.1%, Story Rich 7.7%

In this story-driven detective thriller, a young Sherlock Holmes struggles to prove himself as he navigates an exotic, dangerous island in the Mediterranean to investigate the mystery of his mother’s death.

Why similar: Detective 27.8%, Investigation 20.2%, Mystery 13.6%, Open World 10%, Story Rich 6.8%

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 20.8%, Detective 18.7%, Mystery 11.1%, Supernatural 9.3%, Exploration 7.1%

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 31%, Psychological Horror 12%, Mystery 9.9%, First-Person 8.2%, Walking Simulator 7.9%

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%, Detective 20.7%, Supernatural 14%, Mystery 13.7%, Open World 6.7%

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%, Mystery 16.4%, Horror 11.3%, Exploration 9%, Atmospheric 7.2%

Explore disturbing corners of the human psyche. Delve into a dimension of nightmares, the occult and a tense psychological world created in classic Lovecraftian style. As police detective Howard E. Loreid, you are tasked to solve the murder of Clark Field, a wealthy man involved in the occult.

Why similar: Detective 34.2%, Horror 23.2%, Puzzle 12.3%, Psychological Horror 9.4%, Atmospheric 8.2%

12 March 1938, Renée, 16, was ripped out of her world, her only fault was that of not knowing her place in the world.

Why similar: Mystery 15.7%, Walking Simulator 14%, Horror 13.9%, Exploration 13.2%, Female Protagonist 7.8%

A story-driven horror puzzle game where the player takes on the role of a resentful ghost, possessing others in order to search for her own corpse.

Why similar: Mystery 48.1%, Story Rich 25.3%, Psychological Horror 15.2%, Adventure 2.6%, Puzzle 2.5%

Insight is a single-player horror story game shrouded in mystery. You'll take control of different characters to solve crimes and unveil the dark secrets behind them.

Why similar: Detective 39.4%, Thriller 16.6%, Horror 14.6%, Story Rich 12.4%, Psychological Horror 7.1%