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Best Detective Games

Top 50 of 291 qualifying games — tagged Detective (community voting), 1,000+ reviews · ranked by Wilson lower bound on Steam review score · review data as of 2026-10-22. Under each game: what its Steam reviewers most often mention (+ praise, − complaint), with how many of about 100 most-helpful reviews raise it — from the review consensus on each game's page.

1 The Mermaid Mask (2026) Detective · Adventure · Point & Click · $19.99 + Compelling mysteries and characters 72+ Charming animated presentation 55− Easy or poorly telegraphed puzzles 9 99.4%3,126 reviews 2 of the Devil (2025) Visual Novel · Female Protagonist · Cyberpunk · Free + Compelling cyberpunk writing 69+ Poker courtroom deduction systems 35 99.0%2,691 reviews 3 The Children of Clay (2025) Horror · Atmospheric · Detective · Free + Brief experiences fit well 30+ Atmospheric stop-motion visuals 29− Requests for longer versions 16 98.8%4,092 reviews 4 Chants of Sennaar (2023) Puzzle · Adventure · Singleplayer · $19.99 + satisfying language-deciphering puzzles 89+ striking stylized visuals 41− obtuse or overly easy puzzles 11 98.2%35,028 reviews 5 Frog Detective 3: Corruption at Cowboy County (2022) Comedy · Funny · Short · $4.99 + Emotional trilogy finale 35+ Simple cozy mystery gameplay 16− Repetitive fetch-quest gameplay 6 98.6%2,098 reviews 6 Money for Girls: Amortized (2026) Visual Novel · Horror · LGBTQ+ · $15.00 98.7%1,301 reviews 7 Threefold Recital (2025) Drama · Mystery · Visual Novel · $14.99 98.3%5,800 reviews 8 The Wolf Among Us (2013) Adventure · Detective · Story Rich · $14.99 + gripping noir mystery and characters 53+ engaging choices and enjoyable QTEs 15− choices lacking meaningful consequences 10 97.9%40,391 reviews 9 Great God Grove (2024) Puzzle · Adventure · Funny · $19.99 + Charming characters and queer representation 54+ Distinctive charming mixed-media art 41− Simple puzzles with little challenge 8 98.5%1,567 reviews 10 Cube Escape Collection (2020) Puzzle · Point & Click · Mystery · $4.99 + clever engaging rewarding puzzle design 44+ deep mysterious interconnected lore 31− tricky unintuitive frustrating puzzle logic 12 97.9%8,027 reviews 11 The Case of the Golden Idol (2022) Mystery · Detective · Investigation · $17.99 + Clever deductive reasoning puzzles 96+ Intriguing mystery with plot twists 47− Can bypass intended puzzle logic 15 97.8%11,012 reviews 12 Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Trilogy (2019) Detective · Visual Novel · Story Rich · $29.99 + Fun deduction and courtroom mechanics 35+ Witty mysteries and lovable characters 30− Frustrating convoluted boring interactions 7 97.5%45,224 reviews 13 The Test: Final Revelation (2020) Simulation · Choose Your Own Adventure · Choices Matter · $1.99 + thought-provoking questions and tests 16+ heartwarming, positive messages 6− limited gameplay and leading questions 9 97.8%5,358 reviews 14 第七号列车 - Train No. 7 (2021) Casual · Detective · Visual Novel · Free + touching, twist-filled narratives 26+ strong value for free 7− very short playtime 7 97.7%7,031 reviews 15 The Test: Hypothesis Rising (2020) Simulation · Multiple Endings · Choices Matter · $1.99 + Accurate, reflective test conclusions 10+ Interesting varied question formats 7− Inaccurate or generic conclusions 9 97.6%5,918 reviews 16 Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective (2023) Puzzle · Adventure · Mystery · $29.99 + Mystery-driven narrative with surprising emotional twists 61+ Fair challenging puzzles with satisfying solutions 44− Occasional frustrating sequences disrupt puzzle flow 7 97.4%8,679 reviews 17 ギルド探求団へようこそ！ (2026) Detective · Adventure · Puzzle · $3.99 97.8%1,793 reviews 18 Persona 4 Golden (2020) JRPG · Great Soundtrack · Story Rich · $19.99 + lovable cast and gripping mystery 50+ engaging combat and social systems 23− dated repetitive dungeon combat 8 97.0%87,606 reviews 19 The Test: Secrets of the Soul (2023) Simulation · Visual Novel · Choices Matter · Free + thought-provoking question design 10+ deep, personal concluding dialogue 7− opaque questionnaire and inaccurate results 7 97.6%1,566 reviews 20 Cube Escape: Paradox (2018) Puzzle · Free to Play · Psychological Horror · Free + Clever, engaging puzzle design 87+ Eerie, atmospheric visual design 27 97.1%12,257 reviews 21 The Murder of Sonic the Hedgehog (2023) Visual Novel · Free to Play · Mystery · Free + Engaging mystery and character writing 27+ Fun minigames and investigation 18− Short overall experience 15 96.9%25,249 reviews 22 Murders on the Yangtze River (2024) Detective · Adventure · Puzzle · $14.99 + interconnected case solving and logic 72+ historical narrative with compelling characters 59− translation errors and missing English audio 8 97.0%21,291 reviews 23 Return of the Obra Dinn (2018) Detective · Mystery · Puzzle · $19.99 + satisfying nonlinear detective deductions 68+ intriguing nonlinear shipboard mystery 36− knowledge limits repeat playthroughs 11 96.7%35,274 reviews 24 lily's world XD (2026) Psychological Horror · Investigation · Retro · $11.99 + emotional body-image narrative 61+ immersive detective puzzle-solving 57− short three-hour experience 16 97.6%1,144 reviews 25 Demons' Timeline (2026) Mystery · Text-Based · Story Rich · $10.99 + Clever, satisfying mystery stories 19+ Satisfying social-media deduction 18− Generally easy investigations 8 97.4%1,369 reviews 26 The Test (2020) Choose Your Own Adventure · Simulation · Multiple Endings · $1.99 + thought-provoking questions 39+ accurate personalized feedback 39− shallow inaccurate conclusions 5 96.7%20,111 reviews 27 Enigmatis 2: The Mists of Ravenwood (2014) Hidden Object · Adventure · Casual · $14.99 + engaging supernatural investigation 45+ varied hidden-object puzzles 41− detective misses obvious clues 7 97.2%1,620 reviews 28 枝江往事 (2021) Casual · Interactive Fiction · Visual Novel · Free + Appealing anime character visuals 8+ Emotional, character-driven narrative 6− No English translation 12 96.8%4,881 reviews 29 Ace Attorney Investigations Collection (2024) Adventure · Investigation · Mystery · $39.99 + Engaging investigations and case mechanics 48+ Strong characters and second-game stories 29− Frustrating mind chess and investigations 12 96.8%4,875 reviews 30 Batman: Arkham Asylum Game of the Year Edition (2010) Action · Stealth · Third Person · $19.99 + fluid satisfying combat and stealth 52+ dark immersive asylum atmosphere 33− dated clunky mechanics and bosses 15 96.4%88,582 reviews 31 Enigma of Fear (2024) Mystery · Investigation · Supernatural · $29.99 + Creative puzzle design 43+ Intriguing paranormal mystery 27− Combat mechanics frustrate 12 96.5%10,352 reviews 32 Duck Detective: The Ghost of Glamping (2025) Casual · Adventure · Detective · $9.99 + Satisfying deduction puzzles 57+ Charming mysteries and characters 48− Short two-hour adventures 31 96.9%2,805 reviews 33 Hypnospace Outlaw (2019) 1990's · Simulation · Point & Click · $19.99 + Immersive exploration and puzzle solving 85+ Emotionally compelling characters and writing 36− Obtuse puzzle design moments 12 96.6%5,573 reviews 34 Tyrion Cuthbert: Attorney of the Arcane (2023) Visual Novel · Anime · Mystery · $11.99 + compelling characters and case arcs 62+ Ace Attorney-style investigation mechanics 50− finicky evidence and logic puzzles 12 97.0%1,795 reviews 35 Backbone: Prologue (2019) Free to Play · Indie · Adventure · Free + detailed pixel art backgrounds 40+ engaging detective narratives 31− short one-hour prologue 8 96.7%4,101 reviews 36 Batman: Arkham City - Game of the Year Edition (2012) Action · Open World · Stealth · $19.99 + smooth freeflow combat and traversal 55+ engaging Batman story and characters 43− uneven bosses, traversal, and challenges 14 96.2%78,923 reviews 37 Database Detective: Minor Crimes Division (2026) Programming · Puzzle · Indie · $14.99 97.2%1,068 reviews 38 The Roottrees are Dead (2025) Mystery · Puzzle · Detective · $19.99 + research-driven deduction loop 91+ balanced deduction challenge 24− Roottreemania backtracking becomes tedious 10 96.4%10,220 reviews 39 No Case Should Remain Unsolved (2024) Interactive Fiction · Puzzle · Visual Novel · $6.99 + Unique satisfying puzzle mechanics 70+ Emotionally resonant well-written narrative 61− Too short wants more content 10 96.4%10,737 reviews 40 BROK the InvestiGator (2022) Adventure · Point & Click · Beat 'em up · $19.99 96.9%1,300 reviews 41 Danganronpa: Trigger Happy Havoc (2016) Anime · Visual Novel · Mystery · $19.99 + twisty mysteries and memorable characters 62+ engaging investigations and class trials 45− weak endings and problematic characterization 22 96.0%38,912 reviews 42 Unheard - Voices of Crime (2019) Detective · Puzzle · Mystery · $6.99 + unique audio-based deduction mechanic 63+ engaging mysteries and surprising twists 23− too short with too few cases 16 95.9%34,042 reviews 43 Danganronpa 2: Goodbye Despair (2016) Anime · Detective · Visual Novel · $19.99 + memorable cast, twists, and mysteries 65+ improved trials and fun mechanics 36− weaker writing, endings, and fanservice 19 95.8%32,944 reviews 44 CARIMARA: Beneath the forlorn limbs (2025) Story Rich · Mystery · Exploration · $4.99 + distinctive folklore visuals 63+ mysterious queer fairy tale 39− extremely short experiences 20 96.2%3,066 reviews 45 The Rewinder (2021) Adventure · Mystery · Pixel Graphics · $14.99 95.8%7,372 reviews 46 Detective Grimoire (2014) Exploration · Point & Click · Visual Novel · $6.99 + charming character-focused mysteries 45+ simple point-and-click investigations 42− short two-to-four-hour campaigns 31 96.0%2,668 reviews 47 Lost Wiki: Kozlovka (2026) Mystery · Detective · Investigation · $4.99 + Wiki-based deduction investigation 44+ Captivating mystery narrative 33− Very short game 54 96.0%1,784 reviews 48 The Red Pearls Of Borneo (2026) Adventure · Puzzle · Detective · Free + deduction puzzles and timeline tracing 70+ historical mystery and compelling characters 62− linear latter-half gameplay 19 95.6%4,713 reviews 49 Desktop Explorer (2026) Psychological Horror · Point & Click · Puzzle · $17.99 + Creative puzzle design 86+ Emotional, unfolding mystery 58− Obtuse, confusing puzzles 14 95.8%2,547 reviews 50 The Darkside Detective: A Fumble in the Dark (2021) Pixel Graphics · Detective · Point & Click · $14.99 + Witty humor and lovable characters 35+ Puzzle variety and smoothness 17− Unintuitive moon-logic puzzles 14 95.8%2,028 reviews