Table of Contents
In our Best Murder Mystery Games guide, you can find the perfect whodunit, from murder mystery board games like Mysterium to subscriptions like Hunt a Killer. If you like finding clues, gathering evidence, and solving mysteries, the best murder mystery games might make you feel like a modern-day Sherlock Holmes.
All of them are a little bit different, but they all have fun themes, different lengths of play, and investigations that can be done by one person or by large group. You choose from immersive, one-time-use case files or games you’ll want to play again and again when you go shopping.
Best Murder Mystery Games Comparison Table
| Game Title | Genre | Mode | Price | Download Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hunt a Killer | Mystery | Cooperative | $30 (Box Set) | Download |
| Mysterium | Mystery | Cooperative | $49.99 | Download |
| Sherlock Holmes: Consulting Detective | Mystery | Solo/Cooperative | $44.99 | Download |
| MicroMacro: Crime City | Mystery | Solo | $24.99 | Download |
| Disco Elysium | RPG/Mystery | Single Player | $39.99 | Download |
| Return of the Obra Dinn | Mystery/Puzzle | Single Player | $19.99 | Download |
| Zero Escape | Mystery/Puzzle | Single Player | $49.99 | Download |
| Awkward Guests | Mystery/Party Game | Cooperative | $39.99 | Download |
Hunt a Killer
| Feature | |
|---|---|
| Immersive Murder Mystery | Engaging storyline with clues to uncover the killer |
| Monthly Subscription Box | New episode delivered to your doorstep each month |
| Interactive Investigation | Solve puzzles, examine evidence, and make deductions |
| Online Community | Join a community of players for discussions and hints |
| High-Quality Components | Includes physical evidence, letters, and documents |
If you want a murder mystery game that lasts more than a few hours, Hunt a Killer is the best choice. Hunt a Killer has mysteries that take place over more than one “episode” box and take between 90 minutes and three hours to solve.
You can keep up with the latest mysteries by signing up for a service that sends you new episodes over time, or you can buy a box set to get the whole series at once. Of course, if you want a mystery game that you only have to play once.
The Good
- Innovative and unique detective puzzle gameplay
- A detailed city map is visually appealing and brings you into the city.
The Bad
- Once all the cases are solved, there isn’t much else to do.
Mysterium
| Feature | |
|---|---|
| Cooperative Investigation | Players work together to solve a murder mystery |
| Unique Asymmetrical Roles | One player is the ghost providing clues to other players |
| Beautifully Illustrated | Stunning artwork and visual design |
| Challenging Psychic Clues | Interpret abstract and surreal visions as clues |
| Multiple Game Modes | Play with different game variants and difficulty levels |
Mysterium is not like most murder-mystery board games. It asks you to break codes and find the killer, but you do this by figuring out what the ghost of the dead party is showing you. This ghost is played by one player. The ghost can’t talk.
The only way they can give clues to their killer is by showing him or her cards with strange pictures on them. After that, they have to hope that the living players can match their image to the right murderer, murder location, and murder weapon.
The Good
- A story that won an award for its character development and storyline.
- Immersive experience playing the part of a troubled detective
- Different endings can be reached based on how the player goes through the story.
- Conversations are important and affect the game in a deep way.
- The game’s atmosphere is helped by its unique art style and moody music.
The Bad
- Most of the game is about the story, and there aren’t many ways to play.
- Players who like action-packed or fast-paced games might not like it.
- It takes time and careful observation to find clues and move forward in the game.
Sherlock Holmes: Consulting Detective
| Feature | |
|---|---|
| Solitary Detective Work | Play as a detective solving cases in Victorian London |
| Narrative-Driven Gameplay | Read through casebooks, interview suspects, and deduce |
| Open-Ended Investigations | Multiple ways to approach each case and uncover the truth |
| Historical Setting | Immersive experience in the world of Sherlock Holmes |
| Challenging Mysteries | Complex cases that require critical thinking and deduction |
The Sherlock Holmes: Consulting Detective has everything a mystery fan could want: interesting stories, papers to analyze, and puzzles to solve. Oh, and even Sherlock Holmes. In the series, Holmes does show up, but he won’t help you catch the bad guys.
Instead, your team has to figure out the mystery on its own, and you’ll be graded on how close you were to Holmes’s answer. This might be the worst part of the game. Holmes is hard to beat, and sometimes he can figure out who did it in just three turns.
The Good
- Puzzle-solving games that are new and different
- The use of time travel gives the detective work an interesting twist.
- Puzzle-based gameplay that is hard and requires critical thinking
- Atmospheric art and a retro look make for a captivating atmosphere.
- Story that keeps players interested throughout the whole game.
The Bad
- Once the mystery is solved, you can’t play it as much.
- To move forward, you need to be able to observe and figure things out quickly.
- It might not be good for people who like fast-paced or action-packed games.
MicroMacro: Crime City
| Feature | |
|---|---|
| Unique Detective Puzzle | Solve a crime by examining a detailed city map |
| Macro and Micro Gameplay | Zoom in and out of the map to find clues and connections |
| Cooperative or Solo Play | Play solo or with others to uncover the truth |
| Varied Cases | Different cases with varying levels of difficulty |
| Replayable Mysteries | Can be played multiple times with different solutions |
Crime City is a mix of a Where’s Waldo book and a thrilling thriller. There have been 16 crimes in this shady-looking city, and the clues to each one are hidden on a huge black-and-white map. Time and space are shown on the paper, so you can use your finger to follow your suspects on their suspicious journeys as you try to figure out what really happened on the different case cards.
This cooperative board game can be hard to figure out. Even though the idea is simple, the puzzles can be very hard. The best way to enjoy them is with a group of people and a long evening, so you can really think about the possible reasons for the murders and the murder weapons that are hidden on every street.
The Good
- Puzzles and obstacles that are hard to solve and make the escape room game interesting
- Different endings can be reached based on how the player goes through the story.
- The story has a deep mystery and a suspenseful plot that keeps players interested.
- Different parts and ways to play add to the overall appeal of the game.
- Characters with distinct personalities and goals that stick in your mind
The Bad
- To move forward, you may need to be able to think critically and solve problems.
- Some players may not like the non-traditional parts of the game.
- Some players might find the story and puzzles too hard to handle.
Disco Elysium
| Feature | |
|---|---|
| Award-Winning Narrative | Compelling and immersive story with rich character development |
| Detective Role-Playing | Play as a troubled detective investigating a murder case |
| Branching Storylines | Choices and actions affect the outcome of the game |
| Deep Dialogue System | Engage in meaningful conversations and uncover clues |
| Unique Art Style | Distinctive hand-painted visuals and atmospheric soundtrack |
Even the games on this list aren’t like Disco Elysium. It combines different racial identities, accents, and dialects in a way that makes you feel both at home and confused. The detective you play as has a name, a body, and a face, but you can change everything else about him.
You can have a charming silver tongue or use force to get people to talk. Both ways are equally good. This game is for you if you want to feel like a real detective, where no one way is better than another. it is one of the best Murder Mystery Games that you can download.
The Good
- Unique gameplay based on deduction that tests players’ ability to figure things out
- Interacting with players in a dynamic way through conversations and questions
- Depending on what the player does, the game can be played more than once.
- Complex murder mystery plot with twists and turns that will keep you interested
- Players are actively involved in solving the mystery, which keeps them interested.
The Bad
- To figure out the mystery, you need to be able to watch and think carefully.
- It might not be good for people who like fast-paced or action-packed games.
- Some players may find the story and deductions too hard to follow.
Return of the Obra Dinn
| Feature | |
|---|---|
| Unique Puzzle Solving | Investigate a mysterious ship and unravel its secrets |
| Innovative Time Travel | Use a magical pocket watch to witness past events |
| Challenging Deduction | Deduce the fate of the ship’s crew through clues |
| Atmospheric Art Style | Monochromatic visuals with a distinctive retro aesthetic |
| Captivating Storyline | Unravel the mystery of the Obra Dinn and its passengers |
If you think it’s too easy to solve one murder, try 60. As you get on The Obra Dinn, you can see a picture of how 60 of the people on board died. By explaining what happened to each person, you will be able to cross this off your list once you have solved three murders.
As you go back and forth to put the pieces together, each picture doesn’t give you enough information to solve the puzzle. Even though “insurance broker” isn’t as exciting a job title as “detective,” you’ll have to work hard to figure out what happened on the Obra Dinn.
The Good
The Bad
Zero Escape
| Feature | |
|---|---|
| Thrilling Escape Room | Solve intricate puzzles and escape from dangerous situations |
| Gripping Visual Novel | Engaging story with branching paths and multiple endings |
| Complex Narrative | Intriguing plot with mystery, suspense, and surprises |
| Unique Gameplay Mechanics | Non-traditional gameplay elements and mechanics |
| Memorable Characters | Well-developed characters with their own motives and stories |
Zero Escape is a set of three games that combine murder mysteries with puzzles like those in escape rooms. The first game in the series, Nine Hours, Nine Persons, Nine Doors, is a good place to start because there are only nine puzzles to solve.
But what makes this game different is that you can jump back and forth, make different choices, and see what happens. Virtue’s Last Reward is the best book in the series because it has the most complicated, intertwined timelines and gives you a lot of clues that you have to put together.
The Good
- Puzzles and obstacles that are hard to solve and make the escape room game interesting
- Different endings can be reached based on how the player goes through the story.
- The story has a deep mystery and a suspenseful plot that keeps players interested.
- Different parts and ways to play add to the overall appeal of the game.
- Characters with distinct personalities and goals that stick in your mind
The Bad
- To move forward, you may need to be able to think critically and solve problems.
- Some players may not like the non-traditional parts of the game.
- Some players might find the story and puzzles too hard to handle.
Awkward Guests
| Feature | |
|---|---|
| Unique Deduction Game | Solve a murder mystery by deducing clues and motives |
| Dynamic Player Interaction | Engage in interactive conversations to gather information |
| Variable Game Endings | Multiple solutions and outcomes based on player choices |
| Intricate Murder Mystery | Complex narrative with unexpected twists and turns |
| Engaging Player Engagement | Active participation through engaging deduction gameplay |
Awkward Guests is a great murder mystery game with a lot of ways to play it again and again. It focuses on both teamwork and competition. The players’ job is to figure out how Mr. Walton was killed, which could have happened in a lot of different ways. Each player has a hand of cards, and each player takes a turn asking the group for information.
They will also look at the crime scene, talk to people who were there, look for clues, and read police reports. Players can share or keep information from the cards they are holding, and the first player or players to solve the crime win the game. This is one of the best Murder Mystery Games that you can download right now.
The Good
- Unique gameplay based on deduction that tests players’ ability to figure things out
- Interacting with players in a dynamic way through conversations and questions
- Depending on what the player does, the game can be played more than once.
- Complex murder mystery plot with twists and turns that will keep you interested
- Players are actively involved in solving the mystery, which keeps them interested.
The Bad
- To figure out the mystery, you need to be able to watch and think carefully.
- It might not be good for people who like fast-paced or action-packed games.
- Some players may find the story and deductions too hard to follow.
FAQs
Cluedo, which is called Clue in North America, was the first board game with a murder mystery theme. Players race to figure out who did it. It came out some time later, in 1948, and has been popular ever since.
So, if you like the theme of a game but don’t have enough people to play, you should still play it. But most games are more fun with more people. If you don’t know how many people will show up, you should make an estimate and choose a game that works for a wide range of people.