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Detective hidden gems on Steam
Every game here is tagged Detective on Steam, sits between 1,000 and 5,000 reviews, is rated at least 80% positive, and carries a catch drawn from its own negative reviews. All 49 of them, most reviewed first. How these pages are made.
Cozy mystery game where you interview characters and use deduction to solve a conspiracy. Features a short, fully voice-acted narrative with a unique observational mechanic.
What players likedPlayers praise "Duck Detective: The Secret Salami" as a charming, funny, and cozy point-and-click mystery with excellent voice acting, similar to Frog Detective or Ace Attorney.
The catchVery short; completable in well under an hour
Games like Duck Detective: The Secret Salami →
SIMULACRA90% positive from 4,653 reviews201711% finish itDeck Verified
This is a mobile phone horror thriller where players piece together a missing person's story by exploring their phone. It features live-action footage and decryption puzzles for an immersive, realistic feel.
What players likedPlayers praise its interesting lore, memorable characters, and replayability through multiple endings and easter eggs, similar to horror mystery games with jumpscares.
The catchPuzzles feel unfulfilling and grow repetitive quickly
Games like SIMULACRA →
A short free visual novel about a new teacher working in an empty school over the holidays who meets an unsettling girl in a classroom, with two endings and long buried regrets.
What players likedPlayers praise its surprisingly well-written story, despite a confusing English translation.
The catchThe plot centres on an adult's attraction to a 10 year old and treats it casually.
Games like Kid,napper: Gosh, I'm Kidnapped by a Pupil →
Paradise Killer93% positive from 4,458 reviews202021% finish itDeck Verified
This is an open-world detective game where players investigate a murder on a surreal island. The core loop involves exploring, gathering evidence, and building a case to present in a trial.
What players likedPlayers praise Paradise Killer as a unique open-world detective game akin to Disco Elysium, Danganronpa, and Ace Attorney, for its deep lore and engaging mystery.
The catchMost of the time goes to aimless wandering and collecting, not actual deduction.
Games like Paradise Killer →
A supernatural mystery adventure game where players find clues, arrange them into documents, and identify contradictions to solve murders. It features a 1960s London setting with supernatural abilities and detective work.
What players likedPlayers praise the game's art, music, and engaging story with accessible multiple endings, recommending the "reborn" bundle.
The catchThe same clue matching repeats, and answers are either obvious or plainly illogical.
Games like Staffer Case: A Supernatural Mystery Adventure →
A narrative adventure game where players investigate crime scenes, find clues, and interrogate suspects as Sherlock Holmes. It features a dark, twisting story set in Victorian London.
What players likedPlayers praise the engaging story and varied, intuitive puzzles, wishing its sequel maintained its quality.
The catchObscure puzzles and pixel hunting leave you stuck and reaching for a walkthrough.
Games like The Testament of Sherlock Holmes →
A visual novel adventure game where players investigate surreal crime scenes by entering dreams, featuring a dark, mystery-driven narrative.
What players likedPlayers praise its improved Somnium logic puzzles and engaging story, similar to the first game but with enhanced gameplay.
The catchThe plot hinges on a late twist that hides information and lands as a cheap gotcha.
Games like AI: THE SOMNIUM FILES - nirvanA Initiative →
Kona83% positive from 3,632 reviews201737% finish itDeck Verified
Kona is a narrative-driven survival mystery game where players investigate a surreal town and battle the elements. It blends exploration, detective work, and survival mechanics in a chilling atmosphere.
What players likedPlayers praise Kona's immersive detective mystery, atmospheric setting, and excellent narration, comparing it to Painscreek Killings.
The catchMost of the time goes on slow travel and rummaging through the same empty houses.
Games like Kona →
CaseCracker90% positive from 3,383 reviews202234% finish itDeck Playable
A detective simulation game where players actively search a database for clues to solve interconnected cases. It features a fragmented deduction system and requires thorough investigation to uncover the truth.
What players likedPlayers praise the engrossing, text-based investigations that feel like a satisfying wiki walk, where clues intertwine and logic is key.
The catchClue entry only accepts one exact phrase, so you get stuck guessing wording.
Games like CaseCracker →
Tangle Tower95% positive from 3,117 reviews201959% finish itDeck Verified
A narrative adventure game with point-and-click investigation, clue gathering, and dialogue puzzles. It features a fully voiced cast and atmospheric, hand-painted environments.
What players likedPlayers praise Tangle Tower as an engaging, fully-voiced point-and-click detective game with beautiful art, reminiscent of Professor Layton.
The catchEnding and plot resolution fall flat
Games like Tangle Tower →
Third-person detective adventure adapted from the Agatha Christie novel. As Poirot you comb crime scenes, read how suspects answer, and assemble clues into deductions and a timeline.
What players likedPlayers praise it as a polished, engaging adventure game and interactive novel, faithful to the detective story.
The catchWalking, dialogue and puzzles all move slowly, turning the investigation into a chore.
Games like Agatha Christie - The ABC Murders →
This is a narrative-driven sci-fi noir point-and-click adventure game where player choices have permanent consequences. Players investigate a murder, gather evidence, and make difficult moral decisions that shape the story's outcome.
What players likedPlayers praise Lacuna as an engaging visual novel with a good story, thoughtful characters, and effective pixel art.
The catchThe story and characters lean on stale noir tropes and rarely become interesting.
Games like Lacuna – A Sci-Fi Noir Adventure →
This is a Lovecraftian adventure game where players investigate mysteries as Sherlock Holmes. The core loop involves finding clues and fighting encroaching insanity.
What players likedPlayers praise its Lovecraftian horror and detective themes, feeling like a good remaster and continuation of the "Sherlock Holmes" franchise.
The catchVery linear with little gameplay depth or side content
Games like Sherlock Holmes The Awakened →
Puzzle Agent89% positive from 2,821 reviews2010Deck Verified
A narrative puzzle adventure game where players solve brainteasers to uncover a town's mystery. Collect gum for hints to progress through logic puzzles and riddles.
What players likedPlayers praise its charming art style and Twin Peaks/Fargo-esque world, often comparing its puzzles to Professor Layton.
The catchPuzzle instructions leave out rules, so failures come from guessing what was meant.
Games like Puzzle Agent →
This is a point-and-click detective game where players investigate crime scenes to deduce motives and identify culprits. It features a unique mechanic of collecting keywords from observations to build theories.
What players likedPlayers praise its "eureka moment" mysteries and engaging story, a worthy sequel to the first "Golden Idol" game.
The catchSolving reduces to trial-and-error word swapping
Games like The Rise of the Golden Idol →
This is a narrative-driven noir adventure game featuring a complex interrogation system and detective gameplay. It offers a rich story with fully voiced characters and a unique, colorful world.
What players likedPlayers praise its engaging noir detective story, jazzy soundtrack, and humorous characters, reminiscent of classic film noir.
The catchIt plays as an on rails visual novel with almost no real detective work.
Games like Chicken Police - Paint it RED! →
Live-action video murder mystery adventure where you interview characters, find contradictions in their statements, and catch them in lies. It offers free exploration and evidence gathering.
What players likedPlayers praise this unique FMV mystery and detective game for its great acting, sound design, and engaging contradiction system.
The catchEvery new clue means trekking back to ask all six characters about it again.
Games like Contradiction - Spot The Liar! →
A visual novel adventure game where you play a bird lawyer solving cases through investigation and courtroom arguments. It features a 19th-century Parisian setting with unique art and music.
What players likedPlayers praise this high-quality visual novel, similar to Ace Attorney, for its enjoyable story, characters, and unique setting.
The catchA harsh day timer punishes exploring, and going out of order costs you the case.
Games like Aviary Attorney →
A dark fantasy detective action game where you investigate crime scenes and solve puzzles in a "Mystery Labyrinth" to uncover the truth. It features unique detective abilities and fast-paced reasoning sequences.
What players likedPlayers praise "RAIN CODE Plus" as a vibrant, high-quality murder mystery, often comparing it positively to Danganronpa.
The catchMysteries are predictable with obvious solutions
Games like Master Detective Archives: RAIN CODE Plus →
A narrative puzzle adventure where you possess objects to alter events and solve your own murder. It features quirky humor and charming characters.
What players likedPlayers praise its unique mystery, engaging puzzles, and strong story with Ace Attorney vibes.
The catchFailing a puzzle means sitting through the same long dialogue and animations again.
Games like Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective →
This is a text adventure game with a film noir feel, featuring a private investigator uncovering mysteries. Players click through dioramas while managing the protagonist's illness and vices.
What players likedThis short, stylish noir visual novel with a unique diorama art style and semi-interactive sections is praised for its intriguing story and unique traits.
The catchDialogue choices change nothing, so it plays as a short story you click through.
Games like The Monster Inside →
This is a sci-fi Nordic noir adventure game where you use cybernetic augmentations to solve puzzles and investigate murders. Your choices shape Vera's abilities and lead to multiple endings in a dystopian future.
What players likedPlayers praise its beautiful art, stellar writing, and intriguing story, feeling like an interactive choose-your-own-adventure book with unique abilities.
The catchSeveral puzzles hinge on obscure, exact-order steps that force a walkthrough.
Games like Whispers of a Machine →
Mystery adventure game where players dive into the past using mementos to solve a murder. Features quirky characters and a surreal, dreamlike atmosphere.
What players likedPlayers praise the game's incredibly detailed world and intriguing story with memorable characters, despite its lack of a conclusive ending.
The catchThe story stops on a cliffhanger and the sequel was abandoned for good.
Games like D4: Dark Dreams Don’t Die -Season One- →
Cozy mystery adventure game. Interview suspects, find clues, and solve a case.
What players likedPlayers praise its charming art, humor, and voice acting as a worthy successor to the first game, improving its detective puzzles.
The catchSolutions demand answers the given clues don't support
Games like Duck Detective: The Ghost of Glamping →
This is a short, narrative-driven adventure game where players collect words to solve dialogue puzzles. It features a unique vocabulary inventory and a detective story feel.
What players likedPlayers praise its engaging, narrative-heavy sci-fi mystery with well-written dialogue, often compared to a "Thomas Was Alone" sequel.
The catchChoices barely change anything and the ending arrives rushed and abrupt.
Games like Subsurface Circular →
Whos Lila?95% positive from 1,826 reviews2022Deck Verified
This is a point-and-click adventure game where players control character facial expressions to drive dialogue. It features a surreal, dither-punk aesthetic and a mystery narrative.
What players likedPlayers praise its unique, convoluted mystery and face-making gameplay, often compared to multimedia mysteries and David Lynch.
The catchSeeing the full story means replaying the same scenes many times until it drags.
Games like Whos Lila? →
This is a visual novel mystery game featuring puzzle minigames and multiple endings, with a focus on supernatural detective cases and fully voiced Chinese dialogue.
What players likedPlayers praise this detective visual novel for its interesting mystery, believable characters, and unique puzzles, often comparing it to Ace Attorney and Sherlock Holmes.
The catchThe English translation is rough enough to break immersion throughout.
Games like The Adventures of Fei Duanmu 端木斐异闻录 →
This is a point-and-click adventure game where players investigate a murder by exploring, gathering clues, and interrogating characters. Its core loop involves assembling thoughts to solve puzzles and uncover the swamp's secret.
What players likedPlayers praise its art style, full voice-over, and intriguing story, finding it a pleasant, easy point-and-click detective adventure.
The catchThe mystery and puzzles are far too easy for adults, and it is over in two hours.
Games like Detective Grimoire →
Courtroom detective game with evidence-based trials and witness interrogation. Features unique locations and a deep narrative.
What players likedPlayers praise "Trials of Innocence" as a smartly written visual novel detective game, similar to Ace Attorney, with a great storyline and memorable characters.
The catchThe English translation is rough and awkward, which makes following the trials harder.
Games like Trials of Innocence →
SIMULACRA 287% positive from 1,676 reviews202021% finish itDeck Unsupported
This is a found-phone horror game where players investigate a death by exploring a victim's phone. It features a branching narrative and realistic characters with a dark internet feel.
What players likedPlayers praise this enjoyable, intriguing trilogy for its amazing story, gameplay, interesting routes, and characters.
The catchStiff acting and almost no real scares make it weaker than the first game.
Games like SIMULACRA 2 →
Point-and-click adventure game where you solve paranormal mysteries with Detective McQueen. It features a humorous, pixelated art style and standalone cases.
What players likedPlayers praise its humor and creative puzzles, comparing it to the original Darkside Detective game as an enjoyable point-and-click adventure.
The catchPuzzle logic is so obscure that brute-force clicking or a guide is the norm.
Games like The Darkside Detective: A Fumble in the Dark →
This is a point-and-click detective mystery game with a '90s setting. Players collect clues, interrogate suspects, and solve puzzles to uncover a dark truth.
What players likedPlayers praise its engaging story, good voice acting, and logical puzzles, comparing it to classic point-and-click adventures like Zak McKracken and Silent Hill.
The catchIt starts strong then falls apart, ending in a nonsensical supernatural anticlimax.
Games like Kathy Rain: Director's Cut →
A narrative adventure game where players make choices to shape the story and help a young detective solve a murder mystery. It features a hand-drawn world and observational gameplay during dialogue.
What players likedPlayers praise its unique, polished adventure gameplay, captivating art, and immersive story with endearing characters.
The catchIt stops on a cliffhanger with no resolution, and the sequel never arrived.
Games like Jenny LeClue - Detectivu →
Scrutinized89% positive from 1,354 reviews20202% finish itDeck Playable
This is a survivor horror game where players analyze digital evidence on a simulated computer to identify threats. The core loop involves investigating reports and defending against home invaders.
What players likedPlayers praise its thrilling tension and skill-based thinking, comparing it to "The Case of the Golden Idol" and "The Roottrees are Dead."
The catchThe timed rootkit hacking minigame is brutally hard and stalls case progress.
Games like Scrutinized →
This is a 3D point-and-click adventure game where players investigate Jack the Ripper's crimes from two perspectives. It features a dark, horrifying manhunt through 1888 London.
What players likedPlayers praise its immersive atmosphere and story, comparing it favorably to "The Awakened" and a visit to London.
The catchSeveral puzzles give no clear instructions and need outside walkthroughs to solve.
Games like Sherlock Holmes versus Jack the Ripper →
Tokyo Dark84% positive from 1,343 reviews20179% finish itDeck Unsupported
A narrative-driven point-and-click adventure with a sanity-tracking system. It features a branching story with multiple endings and a dark, psychological feel.
What players likedNo information about comparisons to other games or what players praise most is available in the provided text.
The catchLong standing game breaking bugs can softlock progress and force a full restart.
Games like Tokyo Dark →
A short, humorous point-and-click adventure game where players investigate a mystery by talking to quirky characters. The core loop involves gathering clues and solving puzzles to uncover the culprit.
What players likedPlayers praise its humor and wholesome narrative, building on the first game with a unique investigative process.
The catchThere is no real detective work, just fetch quests and dialogue with no puzzles.
Games like Frog Detective 2: The Case of the Invisible Wizard →
Cyberpunk noir detective adventure with live-action FMV and 3D environments. Solve puzzles and dialogue to uncover a lost memory and prevent a dark future.
What players likedPlayers praise "Tesla Effect" as a strong Tex Murphy adventure, often ranking it second only to "Under a Killing Moon."
The catchConvoluted puzzles and a dragging final act
Games like Tesla Effect: A Tex Murphy Adventure →
This is a narrative-driven point-and-click adventure game focused on investigation and puzzle-solving. Players explore, gather clues, and make dialogue choices to solve a murder mystery in ancient China.
The catchVital items hide in near invisible spots and several puzzle solutions follow no logic.
Games like Detective Di: The Silk Rose Murders →
This is a point-and-click adventure game featuring a globe-trotting mystery with fully voiced characters and challenging puzzles. Players explore exotic locations, solve riddles, and uncover conspiracies.
What players likedPlayers praise the beautiful remaster of this classic point-and-click adventure, which looks and feels like their nostalgic memories.
The catchSlow pacing with drawn-out, hard-to-skip animations
Games like Broken Sword - Shadow of the Templars: Reforged →
This is a narrative-driven prison escape RPG where players investigate and make choices to break free. It features two distinct protagonist storylines with branching paths and multiple endings.
What players likedPlayers praise this prison escape RPG for its creative storytelling, deep mechanics, and distinct characters, offering a thrilling adventure.
The catchThe 21 day time limit forces rushed play and replays just to reach a good ending.
Games like Back to the Dawn →
This is a point-and-click urban thriller adventure game. Players solve serial murders by investigating and logging findings in Kathy's notebook.
What players likedPlayers praise "Kathy Rain 2: Soothsayer" as a well-crafted point-and-click mystery, akin to Wadjet Eye Games, with engaging puzzles and a compelling story.
The catchStory loses momentum and dumps everything at the end
Games like Kathy Rain 2: Soothsayer →
This is a modern detective adventure game where players solve a murder mystery on a train. It features two detectives and a focus on deduction and uncovering secrets.
What players likedPlayers praise its good balance of story, gameplay, voice acting, and puzzles, making it a polished and classic mystery experience.
The catchThe detective work is far too easy and the game holds your hand at every step.
Games like Agatha Christie - Murder on the Orient Express →
Loco Motive93% positive from 1,182 reviews202437% finish itDeck Verified
A comedy point-and-click murder mystery aboard a 1930s steam train. You play the three prime suspects in turn, a lawyer, a rookie detective and a spy, solving item puzzles to clear their names.
What players likedPlayers praise "Loco Motive" as a classic point-and-click adventure, reminiscent of Monkey Island, for its humor, story, and exceptional voice acting.
The catchThe comedy is loud and constant but the jokes almost never land.
Games like Loco Motive →
Puzzle Agent 287% positive from 1,148 reviews201157% finish itDeck Playable
This is a creepy puzzle adventure game featuring dark humor and challenging logic puzzles. Players solve mysteries in a town plagued by strange occurrences.
What players likedPlayers praise the challenging puzzles and the unique, weird atmosphere that enhances the original game.
The catchA handful of puzzle types repeat over and over, many recycled from the first game.
Games like Puzzle Agent 2 →
Story-driven point-and-click escape room puzzles. Solve mysteries by finding clues and using inventory items.
What players likedPlayers praise its enjoyable puzzles and key system, making it a go-to game for puzzle lovers.
The catchChapters and hints sit behind keys you either pay for or wait hours to earn.
Games like Adventure Escape Mysteries →
NUTS88% positive from 1,060 reviews202143% finish itDeck Verified
This is a surveillance and tracking puzzle game where players set up cameras to observe squirrel behavior. It features a mysterious story and a unique day/night gameplay loop.
What players likedPlayers praise the amazing visuals and engaging gameplay, with a curious, spooky mystery driving the story.
The catchThe story drops its plot threads and ends with no resolution after only a few hours.
Games like NUTS →
A horizontal detective game with a brush painting art style. Players use logical reasoning to investigate crime scenes and interrogate suspects to solve mysteries.
What players likedPlayers praise this Ace Attorney-like detective game for its immersive mechanics, intricate historical narrative, and well-connected cases.
The catchDeductions demand leaps of logic the evidence never actually supports.
Games like Murders on the Yangtze River →
This is a narrative investigation game where you explore a found phone's apps and messages to uncover a mystery. It's a relatable story about a young woman's life and disappearance.
The catchMost of it is tedious scrolling through messages to find vague password clues.
Games like Another Lost Phone: Laura's Story →
