- #1 The Shell Part I: Inferno
97% matchVery Positive91% of 1,407 reviews2023
Dev: Innocent GreyPub: Shiravune
Windows
Median: 11.4 hrsMean: 115.0 hrs≥1hr: 71%
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: Cult 38.1% ★, Detective 15.4%, Romance 9.1%, Visual Novel 9%, Mystery 7%
Why You'll Like It: As the direct prequel, this title is essential for understanding the foundational mystery and character motivations of the series.
- #2 The Shell Part III: Paradiso
96% matchOverwhelmingly Positive97% of 638 reviews2025
Dev: Innocent GreyPub: Shiravune
Windows
Median: 13.5 hrsMean: 199.8 hrs≥1hr: 77%
The coiling chains of obsession that began with The Shell now threaten to strangle Detective Reiji Tokisaka in the third and final entry in the trilogy. As old friends and foes rise up for one last confrontation, can anyone break the cycle—and can Reiji's heart ever be set free?
Why similar: Cult 26.3% ★, Noir 10.2%, Detective 8.3%, Conspiracy 8.1% ★, Historical 7.6%
Why You'll Like It: This is the direct sequel that concludes the overarching narrative arc established in Purgatorio.
- #3 Kara no Shojo
96% matchVery Positive92% of 450 reviews2018
Dev: Innocent GreyPub: MangaGamer
Windows
Median: 5.9 hrsMean: 158.4 hrs≥1hr: 62%
Play as a detective tasked with catching a serial killer in this visual novel set in post-war Japan. Investigate key locations, question many complex characters, piece together clues, and try to stop the culprit before they end yet another young girl's smile.
Why similar: Detective 25.3%, Investigation 20.5%, Visual Novel 13.4%, Mystery 11.4%, Anime 10.3%
Why You'll Like It: Developed by the same studio, this game shares the exact same gritty, historical detective atmosphere and mature thematic depth.
- #4 AI: THE SOMNIUM FILES - nirvanA Initiative
95% matchVery Positive86% of 3,714 reviews2022
Dev: Spike Chunsoft Co., Ltd.
Windows
Median: 5.5 hrsMean: 16.0 hrs≥1hr: 91%
Special Agents Mizuki and Ryuki, along with their AI partners Aiba and Tama, are tasked to solve the bizarre Half Body serial killings in this sequel to the critically acclaimed AI: THE SOMNIUM FILES.
Why similar: Detective 17.9%, Noir 17.5%, Conspiracy 14.7% ★, Investigation 14.1%, Visual Novel 10.3%
Why You'll Like It: A modern detective visual novel that combines surreal mystery-solving with a compelling, character-driven plot.
- #5 The House in Fata Morgana
94% matchVery Positive95% of 6,401 reviews2016
Dev: NOVECTPub: MangaGamer
Windows
Median: 6.2 hrsMean: 26.8 hrs≥1hr: 83%
A gothic suspense tale set in a cursed mansion. "The House in Fata Morgana" is a full-length visual novel spanning nearly a millennium that deals in tragedy, human nature, and insanity.
Why similar: Romance 22.1%, Visual Novel 20.4%, Mystery 15.3%, Anime 11.8%, Horror 10.7%
Why You'll Like It: While more gothic in tone, it shares the same level of narrative sophistication and atmospheric, emotional storytelling.
- #6 PARANORMASIGHT: The Seven Mysteries of Honjo
93% matchOverwhelmingly Positive96% of 6,978 reviews2023
Dev: Square Enix
Windows
Median: 8.9 hrsMean: 10.2 hrs≥1hr: 88%
How far would you go to bring someone back from the dead? Discover the depths that some will go to in this horror-adventure game.
Why similar: Visual Novel 18.3%, Text-Based 17.3%, Anime 12.8%, Mystery 12.5%, Horror 11.3%
Why You'll Like It: A supernatural mystery visual novel that excels at building an unsettling, atmospheric investigation experience.
- #7 Root Double -Before Crime * After Days- Xtend Edition
94% matchVery Positive91% of 603 reviews2016
Dev: YetiPub: Sekai Project
Windows
Median: 8.9 hrsMean: 14.2 hrs≥1hr: 94%
Rescue squad captain Watase Kasasagi wakes up without his memories in the middle of his most critical mission yet-- a nuclear meltdown at a research facility. In an unfamiliar place and without his years of training, he must rescue the survivors and escape...
Why similar: Visual Novel 45.4%, Anime 23.3%, Mystery 19.8%, Horror 4.5%, Atmospheric 3.6%
Why You'll Like It: A high-stakes visual novel that excels at building tension and delivering intricate, branching mystery narratives.
- #8 The Rise of the Golden Idol
91% matchVery Positive93% of 4,021 reviews2024
Dev: Color Gray GamesPub: Playstack
Windows · Mac
Median: 13.8 hrsMean: 16.8 hrs≥1hr: 91%
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 22.2% ★, Detective 20.5%, Investigation 18.2%, Mystery 10.1%, Historical 9.6%
Why You'll Like It: A brilliant investigative game that requires the same level of deduction and attention to detail as the Shell series.
- #9 Return to Shironagasu Island
92% matchVery Positive94% of 4,118 reviews2020
Dev: HYOGO ONIMUSHIPub: TABINOMICHI
Windows
Median: 5.6 hrsMean: 14.0 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: Visual Novel 26.1%, Detective 22.4%, Mystery 19.5%, Horror 12.9%, Anime 11.3%
Why You'll Like It: A classic-style mystery visual novel that focuses on a detective solving a complex case in an isolated, atmospheric setting.
- #10 428: Shibuya Scramble
91% matchVery Positive95% of 3,846 reviews2018
Dev: Spike Chunsoft Co., Ltd.
Windows
Median: 4.4 hrsMean: 12.1 hrs≥1hr: 83%
A kidnapping on the streets of Shibuya brings together a hot-blooded detective, hard-hitting journalist, former gang leader, the head researcher of a big pharma manufacturer and a part-timer stuck in cat costume for a series of events each more unexpected and outrageous than the last.
Why similar: Visual Novel 44.7%, Mystery 27.3%, Detective 23.1%, Adventure 4.9%
Why You'll Like It: This game features a complex, interlocking investigation system that mirrors the detective work found in the Shell series.
- #11 The Sekimeiya: Spun Glass
90% matchVery Positive87% of 290 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 26.6%, Investigation 18.4%, Visual Novel 14.2%, Mystery 13.2%, Text-Based 9.9%
Why You'll Like It: A highly regarded mystery visual novel that delivers a deep, sci-fi tinged investigation experience.
- #12 GNOSIA
89% matchVery Positive94% of 4,951 reviews2022
Dev: Petit DepottoPub: PLAYISM
Windows
Median: 7.6 hrsMean: 15.4 hrs≥1hr: 91%
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 22.9%, Mystery 17.2%, Anime 16.4%, Atmospheric 7.4%
Why You'll Like It: A unique blend of social deduction and visual novel that captures the paranoia and mystery-solving elements of a detective story.
- #13 Urban Myth Dissolution Center
87% matchVery Positive88% of 6,076 reviews2025
Dev: HakababunkoPub: SHUEISHA GAMES
Windows
Median: 7.3 hrsMean: 9.6 hrs≥1hr: 83%
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 23.7%, Visual Novel 22.1%, Text-Based 16.3%, Mystery 16%, Horror 9.5%
Why You'll Like It: This game focuses on investigating supernatural phenomena, mirroring the detective-led mystery structure of the Shell series.
- #14 Tokyo Dark
89% matchVery Positive84% of 1,343 reviews2017
Dev: CherrymochiPub: Square Enix
Windows
Median: 4.5 hrsMean: 5.5 hrs≥1hr: 90%
Legend tells of a door deep below Tokyo's sewers. All who enter are lost forever. Detective Ito's partner is missing. Explore Tokyo & uncover the darkness that lays beneath the streets in this Point & Click - meets Visual Novel - narrative adventure that questions the very core of Ito's sanity.
Why similar: Detective 33.8%, Visual Novel 18.8%, Anime 16.6%, Mystery 12.7%, Horror 12.2%
Why You'll Like It: This title features a detective protagonist navigating a dark, mystery-filled version of Tokyo with multiple branching paths.
- #15 CHAOS;CHILD
88% matchVery Positive93% of 3,973 reviews2019
Dev: MAGES. Inc.Pub: Spike Chunsoft Co., Ltd.
Windows
Median: 4.2 hrsMean: 81.1 hrs≥1hr: 82%
From the creators of the critically acclaimed STEINS;GATE comes a sensational new visual novel: CHAOS;CHILD. Set in Shibuya in 2015, a group of high school students who survived an earthquake six years ago find themselves at the center of a new series of bizarre murders in the city.
Why similar: Visual Novel 37.8%, Mystery 23.8%, Anime 19.5%, Horror 11.6%, Atmospheric 4.8%
Why You'll Like It: A psychological thriller visual novel that features a dark, investigative plot centered around a series of bizarre murders.
- #16 The Murder Hotel
86% matchVery Positive95% of 66 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 26.9%, Visual Novel 15%, Crime 14%, Mystery 12.9%, Anime 10.2%
Why You'll Like It: A focused mystery visual novel that emphasizes the investigation of a singular, high-stakes crime.
- #17 Night Cascades
85% matchVery Positive92% of 208 reviews2022
Dev: Hanako Games
Windows · Linux
Median: 3.2 hrsMean: 3.6 hrs≥1hr: 91%
The city is on fire, and the Devil is to blame - or is it? Two women must solve an occult-themed mystery set in an alternate 1980s while unraveling the secrets of their past. Hunt for clues and interrogate suspects in this interactive yuri visual novel.
Why similar: Noir 18.8%, Detective 17%, Conspiracy 14.5% ★, Romance 12.2%, Investigation 9.7%
Why You'll Like It: A 1980s-set detective visual novel that focuses on atmosphere, investigation, and character-driven drama.
- #18 LumineNight
84% matchVery Positive89% of 534 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 25.9%, Noir 21.1%, Investigation 12.3%, Visual Novel 11.5%, Mystery 11.4%
Why You'll Like It: An atmospheric detective game that prioritizes story-rich investigation and mystery elements.
- #19 Stillwater
84% matchVery Positive95% of 234 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: Visual Novel 17.5%, Text-Based 17.3%, Mystery 14.5%, Detective 12.1%, Noir 11%
Why You'll Like It: A stylized indie visual novel that offers a unique, text-based approach to mystery and investigation.
- #20 Tokyo Detectives
86% matchMixed69% of 59 reviews2021
Dev: Rincho Games
Windows · Mac · Linux
Detective Game. Murder Investigation. Interrogate witnesses. Rebut with evidence.
Why similar: Detective 25.5%, Investigation 20.5%, Crime 12.9%, Visual Novel 12%, Mystery 9.8%
Why You'll Like It: A straightforward detective visual novel that leans into the investigation and mystery-solving tropes of the genre.
- #21 Staffer Reborn
82% matchOverwhelmingly Positive96% of 941 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: Noir 19.5%, Detective 17.8%, Investigation 16.9%, Text-Based 10.3%, Visual Novel 10%
Why You'll Like It: A visual novel that features a unique investigation system and a compelling, story-driven mystery.
- #22 STEINS;GATE
83% matchOverwhelmingly Positive97% of 26,241 reviews2016
Dev: MAGES. Inc.Pub: Spike Chunsoft Co., Ltd.
Windows
Median: 6.5 hrsMean: 67.1 hrs≥1hr: 81%
Developed by 5pb. and Nitroplus, STEINS;GATE was awarded Famitsu magazine's coveted annual Game of Excellence award and was voted one of the most emotionally charged “tear-inducing games” ever made, in a Famitsu poll. It is a gripping and moving Visual Novel, which has already spawned manga and anime adaptations.
Why similar: Visual Novel 41.8%, Anime 24.9%, Romance 14.4%, Mystery 9.7%, Atmospheric 5.2%
Why You'll Like It: While sci-fi focused, its narrative structure and slow-burn mystery reveal are perfect for fans of complex visual novels.
- #23 BUSTAFELLOWS
81% matchVery Positive86% of 1,031 reviews2021
Dev: NIPPON CULTURAL BROADCASTING EXTEND INC.Pub: PQube
Windows
Median: 2.5 hrsMean: 14.5 hrs≥1hr: 62%
A new visual novel from the legendary eXtend! Mixing dangerous romance with murder mystery, BUSTAFELLOWS is a steamy noir mystery that will make you shiver but ask for more!
Why similar: Noir 29.5%, Romance 16.8%, Visual Novel 13.6%, Text-Based 13.2%, Crime 13.1%
Why You'll Like It: A stylish visual novel that incorporates detective work and romance within a gritty, urban noir setting.
- #24 Liminal Border Part II
81% matchVery Positive92% of 84 reviews2024
Dev: Purple SoftwarePub: Shiravune
Windows
Unfairly saddled with crippling debt after the events of Part I, Itsuki Ninomae and the gang turn to fellow student and daughter of a crime lord Kotoko Teshigawara for help. An intertwined web of loyalties and desire awaits as Itsuki, Kotoko and the others fight for justice.
Why similar: Visual Novel 43.9%, Anime 23%, Dark 20.2%, Adventure 6.8%, 2D 6.1%
Why You'll Like It: A dark, story-rich visual novel that maintains a tense atmosphere throughout its investigative narrative.
- #25 Dreambound
80% matchVery Positive95% of 94 reviews2024
Dev: Two and a Half Studios
Windows · Mac
Mysterious deaths. Dreams that are reality, and reality that is a dream. Will Noah be able to move forward and solve the mystery—or will he give in to the demons of his past? A story-rich BL mystery visual novel.
Why similar: Romance 24.5%, Visual Novel 22.2%, Mystery 18.8%, Anime 15.1%, Atmospheric 8%
Why You'll Like It: A mystery-focused visual novel that explores dark, dramatic themes through a character-driven lens.
- #26 PARANORMASIGHT: The Mermaid's Curse
77% matchOverwhelmingly Positive95% of 2,353 reviews2026
Dev: Square Enix
Windows
Median: 13.8 hrsMean: 15.0 hrs≥1hr: 93%
Will you survive the curse together this summer? A new supernatural mystery adventure begins, telling a bittersweet story of the passions of youth featuring new locations, new legends and a new cast of characters.
Why similar: Visual Novel 25.3%, Mystery 20.4%, Horror 14%, Text-Based 10.5%, Anime 10.4%
- #27 CARTAGRA
79% matchVery Positive94% of 53 reviews2026
Dev: Innocent GreyPub: MangaGamer
Windows
Set in Ueno, Tokyo, where the wounds of the Pacific War have not yet healed, detective Takashiro Shugo becomes involved in a series of gruesome murders. A visual novel of love and hatred leading to obsession and madness…
Why similar: Detective 26.3%, Visual Novel 15.1%, Historical 13.8%, Investigation 12.4%, Anime 9.4%
- #28 Detective Butler: Maiden Voyage Murder
82% matchVery Positive82% of 310 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 22.5%, Investigation 18.1%, Text-Based 13.6%, Visual Novel 11.9%, Crime 11.7%
Why You'll Like It: A classic-style detective mystery that focuses on gathering clues and solving a murder on a cruise ship.
- #29 Umineko When They Cry - Answer Arcs
79% matchOverwhelmingly Positive95% of 1,518 reviews2017
Dev: 07th ExpansionPub: MangaGamer
Windows · Mac · Linux
Median: 18.8 hrsMean: 53.0 hrs≥1hr: 87%
This is the 2nd half of the Umineko When They Cry sound novel series, featuring episodes 5 through 8. This steam version features multi-language options, swap-able renewed character sprites, as well as the original BGMs and un-cut content.
Why similar: Visual Novel 26.3%, Mystery 22.4%, Detective 19%, Anime 10.6%, Horror 9.3%
- #30 Mojika - Truth Rears Its Ugly Head
78% matchMostly Positive77% of 500 reviews2025
Dev: NITRO ORIGINPub: JAST
Windows
Median: 7.3 hrsMean: 9.9 hrs≥1hr: 89%
Haunted by the ability to read minds, Suteru embarks on a journey of revenge against those who wronged him. Uncovering the secrets of his tormentors, he must confront his demons in a story that explores the depths and darkness of the human mind.
Why similar: Cinematic 23.3%, Visual Novel 18.5%, Mystery 16%, Anime 12.5%, Hand-drawn 12.3%
- #31 Kathy Rain 2: Soothsayer
75% matchOverwhelmingly Positive96% of 1,292 reviews2025
Dev: Clifftop GamesPub: Raw Fury
Windows · Mac · Linux
Median: 9.0 hrsMean: 9.4 hrs≥1hr: 87%
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: Noir 19.8%, Detective 18.8%, Conspiracy 18.1% ★, Investigation 17.1%, Mystery 9%
- #32 The Occult Detective
76% matchMostly Positive70% of 330 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 39.4%, Visual Novel 23.4%, Anime 17.2%, Mystery 14.8%, 2D 2.7%
- #33 SIMULACRA 2
77% matchVery Positive87% of 1,679 reviews2020
Dev: Kaigan GamesPub: Soft Source
Windows
Median: 3.9 hrsMean: 6.5 hrs≥1hr: 75%
A dead influencer. An obsessed detective. Three suspects. Piece the truth together by going through the victim’s phone messages, videos, and social media in the follow up to the critically acclaimed SIMULACRA.
Why similar: Detective 38.6%, Text-Based 20.6%, Visual Novel 19.2%, Horror 14.6%, Simulation 3.7%
- #34 Meteor World Actor: Badge & Dagger
76% matchVery Positive89% of 361 reviews2022
Dev: HeliodorPub: Shiravune
Windows
Median: 4.6 hrsMean: 9.2 hrs≥1hr: 66%
Superpowered detective noir. Maverick detective Ruka Hiryu pursues criminals by day—and ices perps by night...
Why similar: Cult 30% ★, Noir 21.3%, Detective 18.2%, Visual Novel 9.1%, Crime 6.9%
- #35 HENPRI
72% matchOverwhelmingly Positive96% of 3,929 reviews2025
Dev: QruppoPub: Shiravune
Windows
Median: 22.0 hrsMean: 36.9 hrs≥1hr: 84%
Thrown into prison for an act of self-expression, protagonist Shuichiro must confront both a violent system and his own actions—or else try to find happiness on the inside in this visual novel from the makers of NUKITASHI.
Why similar: Cult 41.8% ★, Noir 16.5%, Romance 10.2%, Crime 9.2%, Visual Novel 8.2%
- #36 Ace Attorney Investigations Collection
72% matchOverwhelmingly Positive97% of 4,611 reviews2024
Dev: CAPCOM Co., Ltd.
Windows
Median: 31.2 hrsMean: 34.7 hrs≥1hr: 87%
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: Investigation 23.5%, Detective 22.1%, Crime 13.8%, Visual Novel 12.1%, Mystery 10.9%
- #37 The Test: Secrets of the Soul 2
73% matchOverwhelmingly Positive98% of 688 reviews2023
Dev: Randumb Studios
Windows
You will answer questions that will reveal things deep within. Some will be uncomfortable, but with great knowledge comes great sacrifice. Can you make it all the way through The Test, and are you SURE you want the answers you seek? For it is time to once again unlock "Secrets of the Soul..."
Why similar: Investigation 27.8%, Detective 26.7%, Visual Novel 18.4%, Anime 11.8%, Horror 10%
- #38 TOKYO PSYCHODEMIC
78% matchMostly Negative31% of 106 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 17%, Investigation 14.2%, Cinematic 13.7%, Crime 10.6%, Text-Based 9.9%
- #39 STEINS;GATE 0
74% matchOverwhelmingly Positive96% of 8,213 reviews2018
Dev: MAGES. Inc.Pub: Spike Chunsoft Co., Ltd.
Windows
Median: 4.7 hrsMean: 126.8 hrs≥1hr: 88%
If you can't save the one you love… How can you save humanity? Sequel to the visual novel cult classic. Experience an alternate worldline of STEINS;GATE.
Why similar: Visual Novel 48.2%, Anime 29.2%, Romance 10.1%, Mystery 6.1%, Adventure 3.3%
- #40 Gensokyo：Presumption of Guilt~Pansies Before Dawn
71% matchVery Positive93% of 350 reviews2026
Dev: 戏壤游戏(Xirang Games)
Windows
Explore the intertwined fates of humans and youkai in this interactive fiction. As an unwitting protagonist, enter the sealed realm of Gensokyo to investigate a series of bizarre murders. Unearth ancient secrets and witness a gripping saga hidden for millennia.
Why similar: Detective 28.8%, Visual Novel 16.7%, Romance 15.9%, Text-Based 15.1%, Mystery 14.3%
- #41 BUSTAFELLOWS season2
73% matchVery Positive87% of 60 reviews2025
Dev: NIPPON CULTURAL BROADCASTING EXTEND INC.Pub: PQube
Windows
The hit series BUSTAFELLOWS continues with an all-new season! Fight for love and fight against crime, in this romantic, mystery, visual novel!
Why similar: Romance 16.5%, Crime 14.5%, Cinematic 13.8%, Visual Novel 13.2%, Text-Based 13%
- #42 Iwaihime
75% matchMostly Positive79% of 900 reviews2020
Dev: DMM GAMESPub: Shiravune
Windows
Median: 5.5 hrsMean: 17.2 hrs≥1hr: 88%
From hit writer Ryukishi07, the creator of When They Cry, comes a story on the theme of “curses.” Strike down the dark riddle of dolls and soot in this supernatural horror visual novel.
Why similar: Visual Novel 27.8%, Anime 20.9%, Hand-drawn 15%, Horror 14.4%, Atmospheric 10.2%
- #43 AI: The Somnium Files
73% matchVery Positive92% of 9,294 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 37.8%, Visual Novel 23.2%, Mystery 17.7%, Anime 16%, Horror 3%
- #44 Salthe
74% matchVery Positive85% of 221 reviews2020
Dev: SoireePub: Shiravune
Windows
Median: 3.5 hrsMean: 15.1 hrs≥1hr: 85%
A dark, dramatic medieval visual novel. On a stage at the boundary between life and death, an actress struggles through her hardest performance—directed by a jester, she relives her past for the the prize of resurrection...
Why similar: Visual Novel 24.6%, Mystery 20.7%, Anime 20.1%, Horror 14%, Dark 9.2%
- #45 Demons' Timeline
69% matchVery Positive98% of 368 reviews2026
Dev: DigitalCats
Windows
Cyber Detective L solves Paradoxes—bizarre incidents by supernatural Demons—via the social media giant Parrotter. The Cyber Detective Squad, L and his Demon partner Nyasuteria, wield elite hacking and psychic powers to take on the final Paradox investigation.
Why similar: Detective 23.6%, Investigation 19.4%, Text-Based 16.1%, Mystery 13.2%, Visual Novel 10.1%
- #46 DATE A LIVE: Ren Dystopia
71% matchVery Positive96% of 428 reviews2024
Dev: Idea FactoryPub: Idea Factory International
Windows
Median: 5.3 hrsMean: 39.8 hrs≥1hr: 88%
Play as Shido and unravel the secrets of the mysterious spirit Ren in the visual novel follow-up to DATE A LIVE: Rio Reincarnation, based on the acclaimed light novel and anime series.
Why similar: Romance 34.4%, Visual Novel 27.3%, Anime 20.8%, Mystery 12.9%, 2D 4.6%
- #47 Umineko When They Cry - Question Arcs
71% matchOverwhelmingly Positive95% of 2,754 reviews2016
Dev: 07th ExpansionPub: MangaGamer
Windows · Mac · Linux
Median: 14.4 hrsMean: 44.8 hrs≥1hr: 82%
Umineko When They Cry is the 2nd series of Sound Novel released by 07th Expansion. The steam version features renewed character sprites which is swappable from the classic art.
Why similar: Visual Novel 26.2%, Mystery 22.9%, Detective 20.4%, Anime 10.5%, Horror 9%
- #48 The Dark Rites of Arkham
67% matchOverwhelmingly Positive98% of 580 reviews2026
Dev: Postmodern AdventuresPub: enComplot
Windows
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 32%, Investigation 26.4%, Mystery 13.8%, Horror 10.2%, Dark 6.8%
- #49 DAEMON MASQUERADE
68% matchVery Positive95% of 484 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 24.1%, Conspiracy 20% ★, Investigation 19.7%, Mystery 10%, Visual Novel 9.7%
- #50 Subsurface Circular
70% matchVery Positive94% of 1,932 reviews2017
Dev: Bithell Games
Windows · Mac
Median: 2.1 hrsMean: 3.2 hrs≥1hr: 69%
When the truth is buried, go underground. Step into this new take on text-based adventure from the award-winning team behind Thomas Was Alone and Volume. A short story that hands you the fate of the world above, as a detective looking for answers on the Subsurface Circular.
Why similar: Detective 20.2%, Noir 20.1%, Investigation 17.5%, Text-Based 12.1%, Visual Novel 11%
- #51 CHAOS;HEAD NOAH
69% matchVery Positive88% of 1,885 reviews2022
Dev: MAGES. Inc.Pub: Spike Chunsoft Co., Ltd.
Windows
Median: 4.4 hrsMean: 53.3 hrs≥1hr: 83%
CHAOS;HEAD NOAH is now available on Steam!
Why similar: Visual Novel 40.3%, Mystery 23.1%, Anime 20.7%, Horror 6.2%, Romance 3.8%
- #52 Mercury Abbey
67% matchVery Positive91% of 974 reviews2024
Dev: YiTi GamesPub: Gamirror Games
Windows
In a mansion surrounded by mist, as the curse made by the Alchemist and Fairy reappears, the danger is quietly lurking in the darkness, awaiting its visitors.Follow Harrod and Willie to unravel an incredible story in Mercury Abbey, and go on an adventure that you would only find in mystery novels.
Why similar: Detective 40.9%, Hand-drawn 19.2%, Visual Novel 12.7%, Anime 9.1%, Horror 6.9%
- #53 The Allure Of Wanton Cove
70% matchMostly Positive78% of 119 reviews2024
Dev: Ktulhu Solutions
Windows · Mac · Linux
An adult tale of lust and horror in the vein of HP Lovecraft. Take on the part of a former detective who could never let go of the last terrible case he worked. One day his old partner comes knocking, begging for help.
Why similar: Noir 23.5%, Detective 18.1%, Investigation 17.7%, Text-Based 13.4%, Hand-drawn 8.2%
- #54 The Case of the Golden Idol
67% matchOverwhelmingly Positive98% of 10,678 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 21.3%, Conspiracy 20.4% ★, Investigation 18%, Historical 11.7%, Mystery 10.2%
- #55 Ever 17 - The Out of Infinity
68% matchVery Positive85% of 204 reviews2025
Dev: MAGES. Inc.Pub: Spike Chunsoft Co., Ltd.
Windows
To the promise we once made and the place we must return
Why similar: Visual Novel 34.4%, Romance 32%, Anime 21.3%, Adventure 6.9%, 2D 5.4%
- #56 Nanairo Reincarnation
70% matchVery Positive96% of 166 reviews2019
Dev: Silky's Plus WasabiPub: Sekai Project
Windows
Median: 5.3 hrsMean: 11.6 hrs≥1hr: 82%
Join spirit detective Kagami Makoto and his demon familiars as they hunt down the wandering ghosts disrupting the peace of his small town.
Why similar: Visual Novel 33.5%, Romance 29.2%, Anime 21.1%, Text-Based 11.2%, Adventure 2.6%
- #57 Omen Exitio: Hunger
66% matchVery Positive95% of 122 reviews2026
Dev: Tiny Bull StudiosPub: 2P Games
Windows · Mac
A Lovecraftian investigative gamebook. New York, 1927. A case pulled from real history, wrapped in cosmic horror. His name was Billy Gaffney. The man who took him was real. But his purpose was from another plane of existence. You play a journalist. You make choices. The story remembers all of them.
Why similar: Noir 15.6%, Detective 14.2%, Investigation 12%, Historical 11.6%, Crime 9.3%
- #58 Kuroinu 2 Redux
69% matchVery Positive83% of 187 reviews2023
Dev: LiquidPub: Shiravune
Windows
Median: 54 minMean: 24.4 hrs≥1hr: 49%
As the Nation faces invasion from the peoples it has pillaged for a century, one man defends it: Derek Rondo, the second coming of the Mercenary King Vult. He fights for his country, but plots to seize the throne for himself... A new visual novel betrayal epic begins from within!
Why similar: Visual Novel 24.3%, Romance 22.6%, Text-Based 17.1%, Anime 15.3%, Atmospheric 9.3%
- #59 The Test: Hypothesis Rising
67% matchOverwhelmingly Positive98% of 5,928 reviews2020
Dev: Randumb Studios
Windows
Median: 48 minMean: 1.5 hrs≥1hr: 41%
The second chapter in The Test trilogy. Answer a series of in-depth questions to reveal hidden truths about yourself and unlock secrets to discover how your life can change drastically with just a few, slight modifications. ...But are you sure you want the answers you seek?
Why similar: Detective 24.7%, Investigation 21.5%, Visual Novel 13.5%, Mystery 11.6%, Anime 9.8%
- #60 Heaven Does Not Respond
65% matchVery Positive90% of 492 reviews2026
Dev: Rise Studios
Windows
Heaven Does Not Respond is a psychological and analog horror game set in an alternate 2005 timeline. Play as an intelligence agent, exploring a retro computer interface to decipher secret files, watch mysterious videos, and uncover the dark secrets behind a young man's death.
Why similar: Detective 29.7%, Investigation 27.4%, Crime 18.5%, Horror 11.6%, Atmospheric 6.8%
