Table of Contents
When you don’t know which best detective games, you need a good list that tells you about some of the best ones. Even though detectives have been in books, movies, and TV shows for a long time, there’s something very satisfying about being able to play the role of the detective yourself.
In the best detective games, you actually have to look for clues and put together small bits of information to figure out what’s going on. When you play as a famous detective, you can solve a thrilling mystery and test your puzzle-solving skills at the same time. On this list of the best detective games, there is no wrong answer.
Best Detective Games Comparison Table
| Game Title | Genre | Mode | Price | Download Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Professor Layton | Puzzle/Adventure | Single-player | $9.99 (iOS) | Link |
| Danganronpa | Visual Novel | Single-player | $19.99 (Steam) | Link |
| Broken Sword | Point-and-click Adventure | Single-player | $5.99 (iOS) | Link |
| The Wolf Among Us | Graphic Adventure | Single-player | $14.99 (Steam) | Link |
| Deadly Premonitions | Survival Horror | Single-player | $19.99 (Steam) | Link |
| The Vanishing of Ethan Carter | Adventure/Mystery | Single-player | $19.99 (Steam) | Link |
| Broken Sword 5 – The Serpent’s Curse | Point-and-click Adventure | Single-player | $24.99 (Steam) | Link |
| Murdered: Soul Suspect | Action-Adventure | Single-player | $19.99 (Steam) | Link |
Professor Layton
| Minimum Requirements | |
|---|---|
| Nintendo DS | N/A |
| Nintendo 3DS | N/A |
| iOS | iOS 9.0 or later |
| Android | Android 4.4 and up |
The Professor Layton games show that not all detective games take place in grimy, dark places. Even though Professor Layton’s character is not a detective, he is just as good because he is good at solving puzzles. The main goal of the game is for him to figure out what’s going on.
Players talk to NPCs, find clues to help them solve puzzles, and learn more about the environment. The only way to move forward in the game is to solve puzzles. Each game has a different kind of puzzle, such as a maze, a brainteaser, a math problem, etc.
- Puzzles that are hard and require you to think critically and solve problems.
- Storyline is interesting and there are mysteries to solve.
- The game is a unique mix of adventure, puzzles, and visual novels.
- Beautiful hand-drawn art, and the characters are very likeable.
- Fewer platforms to choose from, and some games are only available on Nintendo consoles or mobile devices.
- It might not be fun for people who don’t like games with puzzles.
The Good
The Bad
Danganronpa
| Minimum Requirements | |
|---|---|
| PlayStation Vita | N/A |
| PlayStation 4 | PS4 system software 3.0 or later |
| PlayStation 5 | PS5 system software 3.0 or later |
High school was a nightmare for most people, but for the people in the Danganronpa series, it’s a nightmare that never ends. In the first three games, a remote-controlled bear named Monokuma forces students to play a cruel game he made. Students must kill their classmates without getting caught if they want to escape their fate.
The game has two different ways to play. The first one is called “School Life,” and it’s like a visual novel. The second game is called “Class Trial.” In this game, players have to figure out the truth, figure out where stories contradict each other, and find clues in order to find the real killer and stay alive.
- The game is a unique mix of visual novels, puzzles, and murder mysteries.
- Storyline is interesting, with complicated characters and turns you don’t expect.
- Dark and twisted art style that stands out and is easy to remember.
- There are different ways the story can go and different ways it can end.
- Some games are only available on PlayStation consoles and can’t be played on any other system.
- Some players might not be able to handle violent, bloody, or adult-themed content.
- Different games in the series have similar ways to play, which can get boring.
The Good
The Bad
Broken Sword
| Minimum Requirements | |
|---|---|
| Windows | Windows XP SP3/Vista/7/8/10 |
| Mac | macOS X 10.7.0 or later |
| iOS | iOS 7.0 or later |
| Android | Android 4.0 and up |
Broken Sword isn’t as good as Monkey Island when it comes to point-and-click adventure games, but it more than makes up for its lack of pirates, sword fights, and grog with clever puzzles that will make you think for just long enough before you figure out the right answer.
In the Broken Sword series, George Stobbart and Nico Collard get caught up in dark plots and old conspiracies. The writing is sharp and charming. George and Nico get into all kinds of bad situations and meet and question strange people wherever they go.
- This is a classic point-and-click adventure game with difficult puzzles and a story that pulls you in.
- Hand-drawn art that is full of details and has characters and places that stand out.
- Story is well-written and interesting, and there are mysteries to solve.
- Storylines from different games in the series that connect to each other make for a deep and interesting experience.
- Some puzzles can be hard and may require a lot of trial and error or going back and forth.
- Some people might not like games that don’t have voice acting.
The Good
The Bad
The Wolf Among Us
| Minimum Requirements | |
|---|---|
| Windows | Windows XP Service Pack 3 |
| Mac | OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard |
| PlayStation 3 | N/A |
| Xbox 360 | N/A |
| PlayStation 4 | PS4 system software 1.0 or later |
| Xbox One | Xbox One system software 1.0 or later |
| iOS | iOS 8.0 or later |
| Android | Android 2.3 and up |
In this iridescent noir setting, all of our childhood dreams live together in a dirty, dangerous place called Fabletown, which is in modern-day Manhattan. Detective Bigby, you play the role of the Big Bad Wolf. In this mystery game from Telltale Games, you have to keep the town in order while looking into the violent deaths of fairytale characters.
The main way to find justice is by making choices in the dialogue. Your roommate is a pig with a bad attitude, Mr. Toad isn’t taking his Glamour, and a severed head just showed up on your doorstep. As you slowly figure out who the Fabletown killer is, you’ll run into familiar characters like Snow White, the Huntsman, and Sleeping Beauty.
- A mature and dark story with a unique mix of graphic adventure and interactive storytelling.
- Storyline that keeps you interested, with memorable characters and choices that change how the game ends.
- The stylish cel-shaded art and moody music make for a very immersive experience.
- Characters come to life through good writing and voice acting.
- Some platforms don’t have many games, and some games can only be played on certain consoles or mobile devices.
- Some players might not be able to handle violent, bloody, or adult-themed content.
- There aren’t many ways to play, and there’s not much to explore or figure out.
The Good
The Bad
Deadly Premonitions
| Minimum Requirements | |
|---|---|
| Windows | Windows 7 SP1/8/10 (64-bit) |
| PlayStation 3 | PlayStation 3 system software 4.0 or later |
| Xbox 360 | N/A |
| Nintendo Switch | Nintendo Switch system software 3.0 or later |
Deadly Premonition is a video game that was made by Toybox Inc. and is sold by Aksys Games under a license. This is one of the oldest PC games, and the famous TV show “Twin Peaks” has a lot to do with how it looks. This is one of the best Detective Games that you can download and play this game right now.
In this story, an FBI agent is looking for a serial killer in a small American town. You have a certain amount of time to look at crime scenes and talk to suspects. Deadly Premonition has a lot of different game elements. It’s more than just shooting, driving, and exploring from the third-person perspective.
- A unique mix of survival horror and investigation in an open world.
- Storyline is mysterious and interesting, and there are psychological elements.
- Characters who are unique and stand out, and who grow and change over time.
- Soundtracks and environments with a lot of atmosphere.
- Compared to today’s standards, the graphics and game mechanics may feel old.
- Technical problems and bugs can make it hard to play.
- Complex controls and mechanics make it hard to learn.
The Good
The Bad
The Vanishing of Ethan Carter
| Minimum Requirements | |
|---|---|
| Windows | Windows XP SP3/Vista/7/8/10 (64-bit) |
| PlayStation 4 | PS4 system software 1.0 or later |
| Xbox One | Xbox One system software 1.0 or later |
The Vanishing of Ethan Carter is a first-person horror video game that tests the player’s ability to draw conclusions and do research. The players are in charge of Paul Prospero, a detective who specializes in the supernatural. The natural beauty of the area stands in stark contrast to the frightening search to find the missing child before it’s too late.
You are free to look around the whole valley, which gives you a chance to learn more about Red Creek’s secrets and what happened to Ethan Carter. The Vanishing of Ethan Carter is different from many other detective games because it lets you draw your own conclusions from the facts you find.
- The graphics are beautiful and realistic, and the visuals and environments are stunning.
- The story is interesting and draws you in, and it has a unique mix of mystery and supernatural elements.
- There are new ways to play that combine exploring, solving puzzles, and being a detective.
- Soundtrack and sound design that add to the experience as a whole.
- Fewer platforms to choose from, and some games are only available on certain consoles or operating systems.
- Some players may find the game slow-paced because there isn’t much action or traditional gameplay.
- Once the story is over, you can’t do much with the game again.
The Good
The Bad
Broken Sword 5 – The Serpent’s Curse
| Minimum Requirements | |
|---|---|
| Windows | Windows XP SP3/Vista/7/8/10 |
| Mac | macOS X 10.6.8 or later |
| PlayStation 4 | PS4 system software 1.0 or later |
| PlayStation Vita | N/A |
| Nintendo Switch | Nintendo Switch system software 3.0 or later |
| iOS | iOS 5.1.1 or later |
| Android | Android 2.3 and up |
Broken Sword has been a series since 1996. Broken Sword 5: The Serpent’s Curse is the most recent game in the series. The main characters in these point-and-click adventure games are a patent lawyer named George Stobbart and a freelance journalist named Nicole Collard.
In this game, the two characters are at the opening of a new art show when it is suddenly robbed. This sends them on a long journey to find out who did it. You don’t have to have played the other games in the series to enjoy this one.
- This is a classic point-and-click adventure game with well-made puzzles and a complex story.
- The game world comes to life with beautiful hand-drawn art and detailed environments.
- A well-written story with interesting characters and turns you didn’t see coming.
- There are different ways the story can go and different ways it can end.
- There aren’t many platforms to choose from, and some games are only available on certain consoles or mobile devices.
- Players who like games with more action might not like traditional point-and-click gameplay.
The Good
The Bad
Murdered: Soul Suspect
| Minimum Requirements | |
|---|---|
| Windows | Windows Vista/7/8/10 (64-bit) |
| PlayStation 3 | PlayStation 3 system software 4.0 or later |
| PlayStation 4 | PS4 system software 1.0 or later |
| Xbox 360 | N/A |
| Xbox One | Xbox One system software 1.0 or later |
Murdered: Soul Suspect is a unique supernatural thriller from Square Enix. It combines detective work with the supernatural. Who did the murder you’re looking into? It belongs to you. As if being killed wasn’t bad enough, you now have to figure out who killed you as a ghost.
You play as Ronan O’Connor, who used to be a detective for the Salem Police. Finding out who killed you will be your biggest case to date. A compelling story and a different way to play will keep you interested until the very end.
- A new idea that mixes supernatural mysteries and detective games in a unique way.
- The story is interesting because it is told from the point of view of a ghost who is trying to solve a murder case.
- There are some interesting mechanics that let players take control of characters and objects and change them.
- Fewer platforms to choose from, and some games are only available on certain consoles or operating systems.
- Once the story is over, you can’t do much with the game again.
The Good
The Bad
FAQs
Detective Bigby, you play the role of the Big Bad Wolf. In this mystery game from Telltale Games, you have to keep the town in order while looking into the violent deaths of fairytale characters. The main way to find justice is by making choices in the dialogue.
Each player is part of a two-person F.B.I. team that is sent to investigate a crime scene and find evidence against a criminal who has fled to a faraway city. When a player correctly names 4 pieces of evidence, the guilty fugitive will fit into the middle of them like a puzzle piece.