- #1 AI: The Somnium Files
97% matchVery Positive92% of 9,207 reviews2019
Dev: Spike Chunsoft Co., Ltd.
Windows
Median: 4.6 hrsMean: 15.0 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 24.3%, Visual Novel 17.1%, Anime 14.6%, Mystery 11.1%, Story Rich 5.1%
Why You'll Like It: A high-stakes detective thriller that combines deep investigation with surreal psychological elements and multiple branching paths.
- #2 PARANORMASIGHT: The Seven Mysteries of Honjo
96% matchOverwhelmingly Positive96% of 6,838 reviews2023
Dev: Square Enix
Windows
Median: 8.7 hrsMean: 10.2 hrs≥1hr: 87%
How far would you go to bring someone back from the dead? Discover the depths that some will go to in this horror-adventure game.
Why similar: Visual Novel 22.2%, Anime 18.9%, Horror 15.2%, Mystery 12.9%, Point & Click 12.3%
Why You'll Like It: This supernatural mystery features a branching narrative and investigative mechanics that perfectly mirror the tension and atmosphere of Tokyo Dark.
- #3 Spirit Hunter: Death Mark
96% matchVery Positive82% of 512 reviews2019
Dev: EXPERIENCEPub: Aksys Games
Windows
Median: 3.3 hrsMean: 13.2 hrs≥1hr: 71%
A strange rumor is spreading through the shadows of Tokyo's H City: a mysterious disfigurement has been appearing on the bodies of certain individuals. Anyone who receives the Mark will rapidly die of unknown, horrifying causes. The countdown to death has already begun...
Why similar: Visual Novel 27%, Horror 22.5%, Detective 13.4%, Anime 12.2%, Violent 10.7%
Why You'll Like It: This horror-adventure game focuses on investigating urban legends and making critical choices to survive, much like the detective work in Tokyo Dark.
- #4 Zero Escape: The Nonary Games
95% matchVery Positive93% of 7,129 reviews2017
Dev: Spike Chunsoft Co., Ltd.
Windows
Median: 6.4 hrsMean: 21.5 hrs≥1hr: 89%
Kidnapped and taken to an unfamiliar location, nine people find themselves forced to participate in a diabolical Nonary Game by an enigmatic mastermind called Zero. Why were they there? Why were they chosen to put their lives on the line? And more importantly, who can be trusted?
Why similar: Visual Novel 19.2%, Mystery 11.6%, Psychological Horror 9.9%, Anime 9.8%, Choices Matter 7.6%
Why You'll Like It: A gripping series that blends complex puzzle-solving with a dark, branching narrative where every choice carries significant weight.
- #5 The House in Fata Morgana
94% matchVery Positive95% of 6,235 reviews2016
Dev: NOVECTPub: MangaGamer
Windows
Median: 6.5 hrsMean: 27.3 hrs≥1hr: 84%
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: Visual Novel 17.2%, Anime 12.2%, Psychological Horror 11.7%, Mystery 10.9%, Horror 10%
Why You'll Like It: A deeply atmospheric and psychological story-rich experience that explores dark themes and complex character motivations.
- #6 Danganronpa: Trigger Happy Havoc
94% matchOverwhelmingly Positive96% of 36,871 reviews2016
Dev: Spike Chunsoft Co., Ltd.
Windows · Mac · Linux
Median: 8.0 hrsMean: 22.9 hrs≥1hr: 89%
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 26%, Visual Novel 16.7%, Anime 16.2%, Mystery 11.5%, Psychological Horror 8.4%
Why You'll Like It: A definitive mystery visual novel that features intense investigations and high-stakes decision-making in a claustrophobic setting.
- #7 Kara no Shojo
93% matchVery Positive92% of 449 reviews2018
Dev: Innocent GreyPub: MangaGamer
Windows
Median: 5.9 hrsMean: 161.1 hrs≥1hr: 63%
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 20.4%, Visual Novel 12.4%, Anime 11.6%, Point & Click 10%, Psychological Horror 9.4%
Why You'll Like It: A gritty detective visual novel that captures the dark, investigative essence of hunting a killer in a tense, urban environment.
- #8 Detention
92% matchOverwhelmingly Positive96% of 11,710 reviews2017
Dev: RedCandleGames
Windows · Mac · Linux
Median: 3.6 hrsMean: 5.1 hrs≥1hr: 86%
Detention is an atmospheric horror game set in 1960s Taiwan under martial law. Incorporated religious elements based in Taiwanese/Chinese culture and mythology, the game provided players with unique graphics and gaming experience.
Why similar: Horror 24.1%, Psychological Horror 17.4%, Point & Click 14%, Female Protagonist 10.1%, Visual Novel 7.8%
Why You'll Like It: This atmospheric horror game uses a unique 2D perspective to explore psychological trauma and mystery within a haunting, historically-inspired setting.
- #9 Return to Shironagasu Island
91% matchVery Positive94% of 4,067 reviews2020
Dev: HYOGO ONIMUSHIPub: TABINOMICHI
Windows
Median: 5.6 hrsMean: 14.1 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 20.2%, Detective 15.2%, Mystery 12.9%, Horror 11.1%, Anime 10.7%
Why You'll Like It: A classic-style adventure game that focuses on mystery, investigation, and uncovering dark secrets on a remote island.
- #10 The Letter - Horror Visual Novel
91% matchVery Positive86% of 1,515 reviews2017
Dev: Yangyang MobilePub: Neon Doctrine
Windows · Mac · Linux
Median: 6.6 hrsMean: 11.1 hrs≥1hr: 90%
When seven people fall prey to a vicious curse, they will discover that horror rests not from the shadows lurking about, but within themselves. To what ends will one go in order to survive?
Why similar: Visual Novel 23.3%, Horror 17.9%, Anime 10.3%, Psychological Horror 9%, Choices Matter 7.8%
Why You'll Like It: A branching horror visual novel where the fate of the characters is entirely dependent on the choices you make during investigation.
- #11 CORPSE FACTORY
90% matchVery Positive80% of 866 reviews2022
Dev: RIVER CROW STUDIO
Windows
Median: 4.3 hrsMean: 6.6 hrs≥1hr: 94%
Discard your sense of morality and enter the world of CORPSE FACTORY. An obscure website allows users to request a death. Victims supposedly receive a photograph of their own corpse before they are killed! With English voice acting by an all-star cast.
Why similar: Visual Novel 17.5%, Anime 15.3%, Psychological Horror 13.8%, Mystery 10.5%, Horror 9.1%
Why You'll Like It: A psychological thriller that leans into dark, violent themes and narrative-driven suspense similar to the tone of Tokyo Dark.
- #12 Your Turn To Die -Death Game By Majority-
88% matchOverwhelmingly Positive98% of 4,059 reviews2023
Dev: NankidaiPub: 0UP GAMES
Windows
Median: 6.4 hrsMean: 13.8 hrs≥1hr: 81%
Your Turn To Die -Death Game By Majority- is a multi-ending horror adventure game. Sara Chidouin returns home from school late one night to discover that something's gone terribly wrong. When she comes to, she finds herself, her friend Joe, and 9 other people trapped in a mysterious place.
Why similar: Point & Click 19.1%, Female Protagonist 16.5%, Anime 14%, Mystery 13.1%, Psychological Horror 13%
Why You'll Like It: A tense death-game visual novel where player choices and social deduction are essential to uncovering the truth and surviving.
- #13 Fran Bow
89% matchOverwhelmingly Positive97% of 22,182 reviews2015
Dev: Killmonday Games AB
Windows · Mac · Linux
Median: 7.4 hrsMean: 10.5 hrs≥1hr: 91%
Fran Bow is a creepy adventure game that tells the story of Fran, a young girl struggling with a mental disorder and an unfair destiny.
Why similar: Psychological Horror 24%, Point & Click 23.8%, Horror 14.5%, Female Protagonist 9.4%, Story Rich 7.7%
Why You'll Like It: A surreal point-and-click adventure that explores psychological horror through the eyes of a young girl navigating a distorted reality.
- #14 Sound of Drop - fall into poison -
89% matchVery Positive85% of 537 reviews2015
Dev: aiueoKompanyPub: Sekai Project
Windows · Mac · Linux
Median: 3.6 hrsMean: 8.8 hrs≥1hr: 95%
Nestled in the heart of Tokyo, the quaint little aquarium, Manten Aquarium. Numerous urban legends have arisen from here. On the night of the full moon the waters turn to blood and man faced fish lurk within.
Why similar: Visual Novel 22.3%, Anime 17.1%, Horror 14.2%, Female Protagonist 11.4%, Gore 7.3%
Why You'll Like It: A horror-focused visual novel that emphasizes exploration and the consequences of your choices in a mysterious aquarium.
- #15 WORLD OF HORROR
86% matchVery Positive90% of 9,764 reviews2023
Dev: panstaszPub: Ysbryd Games
Windows · Mac
Median: 2.5 hrsMean: 7.8 hrs≥1hr: 71%
Experience the quiet terror of this 1-bit love letter to Junji Ito and H.P. Lovecraft. Navigate a hellish roguelite reality with turn-based combat and unforgiving choices. Experiment with your deck of event cards to discover new forms of cosmic horror in every playthrough. The inevitable awaits...
Why similar: Horror 23.8%, Point & Click 23.3%, Psychological Horror 18.7%, Anime 15.4%, Mystery 11.5%
Why You'll Like It: This cosmic horror game emphasizes investigation and decision-making in a retro-styled world filled with dread and mystery.
- #16 Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective
86% matchOverwhelmingly Positive98% of 8,077 reviews2023
Dev: CAPCOM Co., Ltd.
Windows
Median: 6.6 hrsMean: 8.3 hrs≥1hr: 84%
Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective, the classic puzzle-solving mystery adventure directed by Ace Attorney creator Shu Takumi, is back! This long-awaited HD remaster features upgraded visuals and sound and new gallery content.
Why similar: Detective 33.5%, Mystery 17.2%, Visual Novel 11.4%, Anime 10.2%, Point & Click 9.5%
Why You'll Like It: A unique detective game that uses clever puzzle mechanics to unravel a complex mystery surrounding the protagonist's death.
- #17 The 25th Ward: The Silver Case
87% matchVery Positive92% of 507 reviews2018
Dev: GRASSHOPPER MANUFACTURE INC.Pub: NIS America, Inc.
Windows · Mac · Linux
Median: 3.6 hrsMean: 9.8 hrs≥1hr: 85%
In the bayside area of Kanto, a murder with unknown motivations sets off a series of seemingly random events bringing together peculiar individuals, one of whom is detective Tokio Morishima. When their ambitions begin to collide, a truly shocking pattern emerges…
Why similar: Visual Novel 29.4%, Detective 25%, Mystery 14.6%, Violent 11.2%, Adventure 7.9%
Why You'll Like It: A stylized detective adventure that offers a deep, complex narrative filled with mystery and psychological intrigue.
- #18 SIMULACRA
85% matchVery Positive90% of 4,633 reviews2017
Dev: Kaigan Games OÜ
Windows · Mac
Median: 3.6 hrsMean: 7.6 hrs≥1hr: 71%
An interactive horror experience of exploring a missing woman’s phone.
Why similar: Detective 22.4%, Point & Click 13.8%, Visual Novel 12.6%, Horror 10.9%, Psychological Horror 10%
Why You'll Like It: A unique detective experience that uses a simulated phone interface to uncover the truth behind a missing person's disappearance.
- #19 The Coma: Recut
84% matchVery Positive84% of 3,009 reviews2017
Dev: Dvora Studio Co., Ltd.Pub: Headup
Windows · Mac · Linux
Median: 3.3 hrsMean: 9.1 hrs≥1hr: 86%
You are Youngho, a Korean high school student trapped and relentlessly pursued by a psychotic killer in the hellish corridors of Sehwa High. Run, hide, explore, and survive while piecing together the mystery The Coma in this remastered version of the Korean cult classic.
Why similar: Anime 19.1%, Horror 17.8%, Visual Novel 14.1%, Psychological Horror 9.5%, Mystery 7.9%
Why You'll Like It: A survival horror game that forces you to explore a school while being hunted, blending stealth with investigative elements.
- #20 Danganronpa V3: Killing Harmony
84% matchVery Positive83% of 22,376 reviews2017
Dev: Spike Chunsoft Co., Ltd.
Windows
Median: 9.2 hrsMean: 30.6 hrs≥1hr: 91%
A new cast of 16 characters find themselves kidnapped and imprisoned in a school. Inside, some will kill, some will die, and some will be punished. Reimagine what you thought high-stakes, fast-paced investigation was as you investigate twisted murder cases and condemn your new friends to death.
Why similar: Detective 26%, Visual Novel 16%, Anime 13.6%, Female Protagonist 12.2%, Mystery 9.8%
Why You'll Like It: A polished mystery adventure that pushes the boundaries of the detective genre with its intense trials and character-driven narrative.
- #21 The Shell Part I: Inferno
82% matchVery Positive91% of 1,368 reviews2023
Dev: Innocent GreyPub: Shiravune
Windows
Median: 10.9 hrsMean: 114.3 hrs≥1hr: 70%
Unravel a string of gruesome murders terrorizing Tokyo in this mystery-thriller visual novel. The secrets of a case from six years prior may just be the key to the current unending cycle of tragedy—and the thing that cracks this woeful world’s shell may be one girl’s smile.
Why similar: Detective 26.4%, Visual Novel 17.6%, Psychological Horror 11.8%, Mystery 11.7%, Anime 8.1%
Why You'll Like It: A dark detective visual novel that delves into psychological horror and complex mystery-solving.
- #22 Yomawari: Night Alone
83% matchMostly Positive76% of 2,280 reviews2016
Dev: Nippon Ichi Software, Inc.Pub: NIS America, Inc.
Windows
Median: 5.9 hrsMean: 9.1 hrs≥1hr: 80%
A quiet evening stroll takes a turn for the worse as a tragic accident befalls a little girl and her dog. When her sister goes missing later in the night, the little girl decides to venture out into the eerie darkness to search for her loved ones as evil spirits haunt the alleyways and streets of her once-peaceful town.
Why similar: Horror 34%, Female Protagonist 20.6%, Anime 20.1%, Great Soundtrack 6.6%, Adventure 6.6%
Why You'll Like It: An atmospheric horror game that captures the feeling of vulnerability and discovery while exploring a dark, supernatural town.
- #23 Wonderful Everyday Down the Rabbit-Hole
81% matchVery Positive92% of 2,538 reviews2017
Dev: KeroQPub: Frontwing USA
Windows
Median: 9.6 hrsMean: 173.0 hrs≥1hr: 89%
Wonderful Everyday is a visual novel with multiple routes which develops a story based on a few concepts: "the sky and the world", "the beginning and the end", "literature and science", "savior and hero", "brother and sister".
Why similar: Visual Novel 21.1%, Psychological Horror 15.2%, Anime 11.1%, Female Protagonist 8.4%, Mystery 8%
Why You'll Like It: A profound and often disturbing psychological visual novel that challenges the player's perception of reality.
- #24 Root Double -Before Crime * After Days- Xtend Edition
82% matchVery Positive90% of 598 reviews2016
Dev: YetiPub: Sekai Project
Windows
Median: 8.9 hrsMean: 14.3 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 31.4%, Anime 19.6%, Mystery 11.6%, Multiple Endings 7.4%, Story Rich 6.6%
Why You'll Like It: A high-stakes visual novel that utilizes a unique 'Senses Sympathy System' to influence the narrative based on your choices.
- #25 Higurashi When They Cry Hou - Ch.1 Onikakushi
80% matchOverwhelmingly Positive96% of 6,381 reviews2015
Dev: 07th ExpansionPub: MangaGamer
Windows · Mac · Linux
Median: 4.0 hrsMean: 21.7 hrs≥1hr: 85%
Higurashi When They Cry is a sound novel. The music, backgrounds and characters work together to create a world that is the stage of a novel for the user to read. They laugh and cry and get angry. The user takes the point of view of the protagonist to experience the story.
Why similar: Visual Novel 32.9%, Anime 22.7%, Mystery 18.5%, Psychological 8.4%, Story Rich 7%
Why You'll Like It: A classic horror-mystery visual novel that excels at building dread and exploring the dark side of human nature.
- #26 Urban Myth Dissolution Center
77% matchVery Positive88% of 5,930 reviews2025
Dev: HakababunkoPub: SHUEISHA GAMES
Windows
Median: 8.0 hrsMean: 9.9 hrs≥1hr: 84%
Join forces with the psychic Director of the Urban Myth Dissolution Center and solve a variety of cases involving cursed relics, rental properties with shady histories, and dimensional anomalies. Monstrous oddities and otherworldly planes abound in this occult mystery adventure game!
Why similar: Visual Novel 18.9%, Detective 17.3%, Psychological Horror 13.7%, Mystery 11.6%, Point & Click 9.5%
- #27 √Letter - Root Letter -
81% matchMostly Positive79% of 578 reviews2017
Dev: DRAGAMI GAMES, LTD.
Windows
Median: 5.0 hrsMean: 11.6 hrs≥1hr: 92%
When a letter is delivered 15 years late - you discover an old pen-friend was involved in a murder, before she disappeared. Travelling to her hometown, you must investigate the murder, using her past letters as clues to uncover the disturbing truth.
Why similar: Detective 23.3%, Visual Novel 14.3%, Anime 13.6%, Point & Click 13.2%, Mystery 10.2%
Why You'll Like It: A mystery adventure that focuses on investigating a disappearance through letters and exploring a Japanese town.
- #28 the white chamber
78% matchVery Positive99% of 102 reviews2023
Dev: Locked Door PuzzlePub: Lupus Studios Limited
Windows
Sci-fi horror anime point and click adventure game. Guide a young woman through a nightmarish space station as she tries to uncover why she's there and how she can escape.
Why similar: Point & Click 29.5%, Anime 25.2%, Horror 18.5%, Adventure 9.5%, Gore 8.9%
Why You'll Like It: A classic point-and-click horror game that focuses on uncovering the truth behind a mysterious space station disaster.
- #29 Saint Kotar
79% matchMostly Positive75% of 280 reviews2021
Dev: The-Mark EntertainmentPub: SOEDESCO
Windows · Mac · Linux
Median: 3.4 hrsMean: 6.1 hrs≥1hr: 89%
Saint Kotar is a psychological horror detective game set in a cursed valley in rural Croatia. Investigate the disappearance of your relative in the occult-ridden town of Sveti Kotar as you switch between conflicting realities through the eyes of two godly men.
Why similar: Detective 21%, Point & Click 13.1%, Psychological Horror 9.7%, Visual Novel 9.2%, Horror 8.9%
Why You'll Like It: A point-and-click psychological horror game that deals with occult themes and branching paths in a dark, atmospheric setting.
- #30 Zero Escape: Zero Time Dilemma
79% matchVery Positive82% of 4,789 reviews2016
Dev: Spike Chunsoft Co., Ltd.
Windows
Median: 4.6 hrsMean: 11.4 hrs≥1hr: 90%
Nine participants awaken, trapped in an underground facility. To escape, they must play a game with deadly consequences. Who will live, and who will die? The choice is yours. Let the Decision Game begin…
Why similar: Visual Novel 20.7%, Psychological Horror 15%, Mystery 13.2%, Anime 11.8%, Choices Matter 8.6%
Why You'll Like It: The final chapter in the Zero Escape series, offering more branching paths and high-tension psychological puzzles.
- #31 outside the door
76% matchOverwhelmingly Positive96% of 619 reviews2024
Dev: basandaika games
Windows
Median: 2.0 hrsMean: 2.5 hrs≥1hr: 79%
Outside the door is a mystic visual novel set within one office. You are about to figure out the stories of a few visitors without having a single memory of yourself.
Why similar: Visual Novel 20.5%, Anime 20.3%, Psychological Horror 14.3%, Female Protagonist 8.9%, Mystery 7.8%
- #32 The Occult Detective
76% matchMostly Positive71% of 326 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 31.9%, Visual Novel 21.7%, Anime 19.4%, Mystery 11.6%, Story Rich 8.1%
- #33 Master Magistrate
78% matchVery Positive90% of 210 reviews2020
Dev: IRODORIPub: Shiravune
Windows
Median: 5.0 hrsMean: 8.8 hrs≥1hr: 93%
The samurai detective visual novel! Solve crimes and pass judgment on vigilantes, officials, inventors, and brigands to protect a city of eternal cherry blossoms.
Why similar: Detective 25%, Visual Novel 14.4%, Anime 9.9%, Point & Click 9.4%, Mystery 9.1%
Why You'll Like It: A historical detective visual novel that requires careful investigation and logical deduction to solve gruesome crimes.
- #34 Type-NOISE: Shonen Shojo
75% matchMostly Positive79% of 136 reviews2025
Dev: DankHeartsPub: WhisperGames
Windows
Type-NOISE: Shonen Shojo is a multi-ending mystery adventure game. A group of boys and girls who have lost their memories gather in a “Tokyo” that is both familiar and unfamiliar. They must trace their lost memories to escape the bizarre labyrinths. Are they prepared to confront their “true selves”?
Why similar: Detective 24.2%, Visual Novel 16.7%, Anime 15.3%, Point & Click 12.2%, Mystery 7.7%
- #35 Tokyo Detectives
77% matchMixed69% of 57 reviews2021
Dev: Rincho Games
Windows · Mac · Linux
Detective Game. Murder Investigation. Interrogate witnesses. Rebut with evidence.
Why similar: Detective 30%, Visual Novel 16.1%, Anime 15.6%, Mystery 11.1%, Female Protagonist 10.3%
- #36 High School Dirty Secrets
73% matchPositive94% of 51 reviews2025
Dev: Mitsuki Game StudioPub: JanduSoft
Windows
High School Dirty Secrets is a horror/puzzle adventure where Kasuga wakes up locked inside her high school with no memory of how she got there. As she searches for a way out, strange and unsettling events unfold, leading her to uncover dark secrets hidden within the school's walls.
Why similar: Anime 16.3%, Psychological Horror 14.3%, Female Protagonist 13.9%, Horror 13.1%, Mystery 11.1%
- #37 DIGITAL EXORCIST case_(0);
74% matchVery Positive94% of 162 reviews2023
Dev: COOL BEANS PRODUCTIONSPub: HYPER REAL
Windows
Step into a dark world where cyberdemons haunt humankind. When mutilated bodies start appearing all over this sleepy town in the Mississippi inaka, Sawyer, ex-AGENCY operative; now unemployed shut-in, must exorcise the demon perpetrator in this story-rich, PC-98 style adventure game.
Why similar: Detective 26.7%, Visual Novel 17.5%, Point & Click 16%, Anime 13.3%, Horror 9.5%
- #38 Tiny Bunny
71% matchVery Positive83% of 30,195 reviews2025
Dev: Saikono
Windows · Mac
Median: 8.5 hrsMean: 12.6 hrs≥1hr: 91%
Tiny Bunny is a non-linear horror visual novel. Those, who have heard the voice of the forest, are beyond help.
Why similar: Visual Novel 21.9%, Horror 15.2%, Psychological Horror 13.3%, Point & Click 8.3%, Choices Matter 7.6%
- #39 Sunlight Scream
74% matchVery Positive84% of 81 reviews2023
Dev: Faithy Games
Windows · Mac · Linux
The hero moves to a new city. However, along with him comes a masked killer who begins to kill his friends one by one... Make decisions to build your adventure. Can you stop him before it's too late?
Why similar: Detective 24%, Visual Novel 14.8%, Anime 13.5%, Psychological Horror 10.2%, Mystery 10%
- #40 Corpse Party
75% matchVery Positive89% of 1,376 reviews2016
Dev: GrisGrisPub: XSEED Games
Windows · Linux
Median: 3.5 hrsMean: 17.2 hrs≥1hr: 81%
A group of friends unknowingly perform an occult ritual that traps them in an otherworldly elementary school. Here, the vengeful spirits of young children threaten their lives and their sanity, and the only hope of survival is to uncover the chilling details behind the murders of those trapped before them...
Why similar: Horror 24.7%, Anime 21.6%, Visual Novel 14.8%, Psychological Horror 13.7%, Gore 8.2%
- #41 I'll Do It Tomorrow
73% matchVery Positive96% of 82 reviews2024
Dev: Luca Morotti
Windows
It's Sara's first day of work. However, when she takes the elevator to go to the office, she suddenly finds herself on a mysterious floor. What truth lies behind these weird rooms? Will you be able to move on? Or rather... will you want to move on?
Why similar: Visual Novel 18.4%, Anime 17.4%, Psychological Horror 15.8%, Female Protagonist 13.4%, Choices Matter 6.5%
- #42 CHAOS;CHILD
73% matchVery Positive93% of 3,899 reviews2019
Dev: MAGES. Inc.Pub: Spike Chunsoft Co., Ltd.
Windows
Median: 4.2 hrsMean: 81.0 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 22.8%, Anime 14.5%, Mystery 12.2%, Psychological Horror 10.1%, Horror 7.8%
- #43 Hazy Mind
72% matchVery Positive86% of 331 reviews2024
Dev: betetiro
Windows · Mac · Linux
You can't remember anything, and all you can see is HER. Delve into your story and uncover the truth behind what happened to you and your parents.
Why similar: Visual Novel 18.7%, Psychological Horror 16.4%, Anime 13.5%, Female Protagonist 9.1%, Horror 9%
- #44 CHAOS;HEAD NOAH
72% matchVery Positive88% of 1,810 reviews2022
Dev: MAGES. Inc.Pub: Spike Chunsoft Co., Ltd.
Windows
Median: 4.4 hrsMean: 52.6 hrs≥1hr: 83%
CHAOS;HEAD NOAH is now available on Steam!
Why similar: Visual Novel 26.1%, Anime 16.7%, Mystery 12.8%, Psychological Horror 12.1%, Gore 9.3%
- #45 Reaplaced
71% matchVery Positive91% of 55 reviews2023
Dev: Mystery Gamedev
Windows · Mac · Linux
A supernatural Halloween whodunnit. Solve a chilling locked-room mystery before the grim reaper reveals the answer!
Why similar: Detective 24.1%, Anime 12.6%, Female Protagonist 12%, Visual Novel 11.7%, Psychological Horror 11.2%
- #46 Danganronpa 2: Goodbye Despair
70% matchOverwhelmingly Positive96% of 31,308 reviews2016
Dev: Spike Chunsoft Co., Ltd.
Windows · Mac · Linux
Median: 10.7 hrsMean: 32.7 hrs≥1hr: 91%
Jabberwock Island—You and your classmates were ready for fun in the sun until Monokuma returned to restart his murderous game! Trapped in a kill-or-be-killed situation, your only hope rests in solving the island’s mysteries.
Why similar: Detective 30.1%, Anime 17.5%, Visual Novel 16.4%, Mystery 11%, Psychological Horror 7.6%
- #47 Whispers of a Machine
70% matchVery Positive93% of 1,977 reviews2019
Dev: Clifftop GamesPub: Raw Fury
Windows · Mac
Median: 4.2 hrsMean: 5.0 hrs≥1hr: 92%
Whispers of a Machine is a Sci-Fi Nordic Noir that tells the story of Vera, a cybernetically augmented detective in a post-AI world, who investigates a string of murders and unravels a dark conflict over forbidden technology.
Why similar: Detective 30.7%, Point & Click 24.5%, Female Protagonist 15%, Mystery 9.7%, Choices Matter 6.8%
- #48 Ib
68% matchOverwhelmingly Positive99% of 5,122 reviews2022
Dev: kouriPub: PLAYISM
Windows
Median: 3.4 hrsMean: 16.2 hrs≥1hr: 82%
A 2D exploration adventure game set in a creepy, mysterious art gallery.
Why similar: Horror 17.9%, Psychological Horror 17.2%, Female Protagonist 16.8%, Anime 16.5%, Choices Matter 9.7%
- #49 Lucid9: Inciting Incident
71% matchVery Positive90% of 1,040 reviews2016
Dev: Fallen Snow Studios
Windows · Mac · Linux
Median: 1.8 hrsMean: 12.1 hrs≥1hr: 71%
Lucid9 is a visual novel focused on a web of intricate mysteries set in the fictional 2018 metropolis of Isamu. Lucid9: Inciting Incident is the first part of the story, focused on a string of disappearances that occur at a prestigious, uppity boarding academy.
Why similar: Visual Novel 28.6%, Anime 22.2%, Mystery 14.6%, Horror 9.8%, Psychological Horror 6.7%
- #50 Nightmare Zapping
69% matchVery Positive99% of 76 reviews2023
Dev: Maldo19
Windows
A horror channel browsing game where each channel holds a different nightmare to experience, explore them and find out the truth about what has happened in a small town where the inhabitants have disappeared.
Why similar: Visual Novel 19.4%, Anime 14.2%, Horror 13.8%, Point & Click 12.7%, Psychological Horror 11.7%
- #51 Higurashi When They Cry Hou - Ch.3 Tatarigoroshi
68% matchOverwhelmingly Positive98% of 1,271 reviews2016
Dev: 07th ExpansionPub: MangaGamer
Windows · Mac · Linux
Median: 4.5 hrsMean: 21.9 hrs≥1hr: 93%
Higurashi When They Cry is a sound novel. The music, backgrounds and characters work together to create a world that is the stage of a novel for the user to read. They laugh and cry and get angry. The user takes the point of view of the protagonist to experience the story.
Why similar: Visual Novel 21.3%, Anime 16.6%, Mystery 12.4%, Horror 11.1%, Psychological Horror 9.2%
- #52 Night Loops
67% matchVery Positive89% of 163 reviews2023
Dev: JiaquariumPub: indie.io
Windows · Mac
Median: 3.3 hrsMean: 3.9 hrs≥1hr: 91%
Journey through the psyche… Welcome to the Seaside Hotel, where the final hour of your night shift awaits. Tend to guests, explore their dreams, and lose your sense of Self – time and again. In this dark, labyrinthine adventure, unravel the path to the truth below.
Why similar: Visual Novel 16%, Anime 15.6%, Psychological Horror 14.7%, Female Protagonist 13.8%, Horror 12.7%
- #53 Lydia
69% matchVery Positive89% of 610 reviews2017
Dev: Platonic Partnership
Windows
Median: 1.4 hrsMean: 2.6 hrs≥1hr: 66%
Award winning emotional visual novel about a little girl in a world of adults. How can you find a monster you can’t see?
Why similar: Point & Click 21.7%, Female Protagonist 16.9%, Psychological Horror 13.5%, Horror 12.9%, Psychological 7.8%
- #54 The Chrono Jotter
66% matchVery Positive94% of 2,231 reviews2021
Dev: Orca LayoutPub: 2P Games
Windows
Median: 5.3 hrsMean: 7.6 hrs≥1hr: 87%
Rewind time to save your girlfriend in a twisted high school death game. A gripping yuri visual novel: Investigate brutal murders, unravel psychological horrors, and fight for a forbidden love that defies death itself.
Why similar: Detective 22.3%, Visual Novel 14.4%, Female Protagonist 12.2%, Horror 9.8%, Mystery 9.3%
- #55 PSYCHO-PASS: Mandatory Happiness
70% matchMostly Positive79% of 178 reviews2017
Dev: MAGES. Inc.Pub: NIS America, Inc.
Windows
Median: 4.8 hrsMean: 7.9 hrs≥1hr: 87%
In a world where psychological states can be quantified, every choice has consequences, victims can become criminals, and the very nature of truth can warp and shift. Can detectives Nadeshiko Kugatachi and Takuma Tsurugi remain on the path of justice as they face the ugly truths of humanity?
Why similar: Visual Novel 33.9%, Anime 33.7%, Detective 18.7%, Adventure 7.1%, Psychological 5.9%
- #56 Raging Loop
67% matchOverwhelmingly Positive96% of 10,075 reviews2017
Dev: KEMCO
Windows
Median: 24.2 hrsMean: 59.5 hrs≥1hr: 84%
The feast has begun, can you escape the village alive?
Why similar: Visual Novel 24.4%, Detective 15.8%, Mystery 12.8%, Psychological Horror 12.8%, Anime 6.5%
- #57 Higurashi When They Cry Hou - Ch.7 Minagoroshi
67% matchOverwhelmingly Positive97% of 703 reviews2019
Dev: 07th ExpansionPub: MangaGamer
Windows · Mac · Linux
Median: 15.8 hrsMean: 89.0 hrs≥1hr: 88%
Higurashi When They Cry is a sound novel. The music, backgrounds and characters work together to create a world that is the stage of a novel for the user to read. They laugh and cry and get angry. The user takes the point of view of the protagonist to experience the story.
Why similar: Visual Novel 18.8%, Anime 18.3%, Psychological Horror 13.9%, Horror 13.8%, Mystery 12.7%
- #58 TOKYO PSYCHODEMIC
69% 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 25.4%, Point & Click 14.9%, Visual Novel 14.6%, Anime 13.7%, Mystery 10.6%
- #59 Outlying Islands
65% matchVery Positive96% of 92 reviews2025
Dev: 九指画尸Pub: 2P Games
Windows
A story about discovering anomalies, finding strange energy sources, and the intertwining of peculiar spaces. Get ready to uncover hidden stories, delve into a horrifying narrative and unveil the most fundamental truth!
Why similar: Detective 19.3%, Point & Click 13.2%, Visual Novel 13.1%, Female Protagonist 11.6%, Horror 10.6%
- #60 Corpse Party: Book of Shadows
68% matchVery Positive86% of 505 reviews2018
Dev: MAGES. Inc.Pub: XSEED Games
Windows
Median: 3.9 hrsMean: 16.2 hrs≥1hr: 84%
An anthology series that serves as a Corpse Party sequel, prequel, midquel, and alternate universe tale all in one. Rejoin old friends for a deeper dive into the haunted halls of Heavenly Host Elementary...
Why similar: Visual Novel 15.4%, Anime 14.7%, Point & Click 14.5%, Horror 13.4%, Psychological Horror 10.8%