Looking for some games where it feels like you’re actually trying to solve something with the clues and secrets you uncover. For example, Disco Elysium actually made me feel like a detective despite how wacky and surreal it could be.
I haven’t played LA Noire yet but that’s on my list. Anything else I should check out? TIA!
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The Return of the Obra Dinn is by far the best detective game I have ever played.
If only the art style didn’t make my head hurt
I really liked it. The music was iconic too, everything about the game is so unique. Sometimes I just listen to the OST and wish I could play the game for the first time again haha.
To each their own, I love it though!
Oh yeah, I’m not saying it’s objectively bad. I have chronic migraines and trying to play it would make them worse, so it literally made my head hurt.
Oh, sorry to hear that. I can see how it would be migraine-inducing. But I’m glad that we all now agree that it’s objectively good :)
This game (Shadows of Doubt) is in early access but is super promising so far. I’m in love with it!
This is what I came to recommend. I’m actually waiting for it to exit early access (or at least cook a bit longer), but it looks like a detective game wet dream.
I can’t get it out of my mind, only reason I haven’t bought it yet is because I don’t want to experience an inferior version of it.
Yeah I def get what you mean. I have a lot of games in early access on my wishlist that I want to wait for the EA period to end.
But for this one, with each case being different and randomly generated, I felt like I could experience it now without diminishing any experience I’d have when it has a full release
It’s really fun but still kinda rough around the edges. I wish there other games like this that are fully fleshed out and complete.
Shadows of Doubt is probably the closest thing to a pure detective game. It’s definitely a bit rough around the edges, but the core concept is really cool. I had a lot of fun playing it even in its current state, and look forward to coming back once it’s further along in development.
Return of the Obra Dinn is a very good game about piecing together clues to find out who everybody is and their eventual fate.
Murder by Numbers - it’s picross + detective visual novel. While the core gameplay is nonogram puzzles, the visual novel parts involves finding clues and interrogations as an amateur detective. Probably not exactly what you’re looking for, but it’s a surprisingly fun game and I highly recommend it.
Perhaps a point & click adventure would be a good fit? I’ve played and quite enjoyed The Blackwell Legacy and I’ve heard good things about other games by Wadjet Eye.
It’s a different style, but Ghost Trick is being re released in HD very soon. I definitely recommend you give it a try!
An older game that fits this, which I loved and that ended up not really getting anymore content sadly, was D4: Dark Dreams Don’t Die. It’s worth a play though IMO.
It’s played in episodes and only ever got one “season” of content, so there’s a prologue and two episodes to play.
If you like puzzles while soving a mystery I would recommend any of The Room games or Agent A a puzzle in Disguise.
Return of the Obra Dinn is worth checking out like others have mentioned. I also really enjoyed The Case of the Golden Idol, which is somewhat similar.
I’m surprised no one has mention The Outer Wilds yet. The whole game makes you feel like part detective, part archeologist, and one of the best games I’ve ever played.
Would Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney fit your bill? I mean it’s mostly about moon logical deduction but also finding clues and such.
I wouldn’t rate L.A. Noire too highly, as it’s a weird hybrid between detective game and GTA.
What rubbed me the wrong way was the illusion of choice in side quests (roadside police work) where it seems like it’s always the worst possible outcome. The story, especially the choices my character made (without me having a say in it), wasn’t to my taste either.
You simply must play Technobabylon.
Not exactly detective but the zero escape series is all about finding out mysteries
LA Noire was really fun on the steamdeck. Low key wish rockstar would make #2 instead of all that GTA RDR stuff…
Have you played The Wolf Among Us? It’s a Telltale adventure game, so in terms of gameplay it’s more like an interactive graphic novel, but the story is great, and the detective work and interrogations are really immersive.
I haven’t played it myself but my brother has and I do remember a good amount of it. I should probably pick it up since they did announce a sequel if I’m not mistaken!
It’s been a long time coming but I’d love more.
