Solving puzzles is a game mechanic we’ve all grown used to — logic challenges, tracing clues, finding lost people or objects.
You’ll find it in nearly every adventure or RPG out there. But only some games truly let you feel like a real detective. Not just someone chasing a waypoint, but someone who reads between the lines, understands human behaviour, and knows that the truth is rarely simple.
Our Pick Process
You know the drill: an NPC asks you to find their missing son, so you head to the last place he has been seen, question a few people, follow the trail, and eventually find his skeleton just outside a bandit camp. Or maybe you need to unlock a door, which means finding a key, which is inside a room you can only access by solving a riddle written on a torn photo. Logic puzzles and mystery-solving have been baked into video games for decades.
But if that kind of investigation still feels a bit too surface-level for you, this list is made for you. We focused on games where being a detective is more than just a break from fighting monsters or dodging bullets.These titles revolve around deduction, observation, and piecing together the truth one step at a time. Some are open-world, others are tightly written narrative experiences — but in every one of them, your role as the investigator is absolutely central.
Best Detective Games
Some games will hand you a magnifying glass and a classic crime scene. Others will challenge you to dig through memories, emotions, and sometimes even your own motives.
L.A. Noire: Complete Edition
Release Date: November 08, 2011
Genres: Strategy, Adventure
Sherlock Holmes: The Secret of the Silver Earring
Release Date: September 30, 2004
Genres: Point-and-click, Puzzle, Adventure
Disco Elysium
Release Date: November 15, 2019
Genres: Role-playing (RPG), Adventure, Indie
The Vanishing of Ethan Carter
Release Date: September 25, 2014
Genres: Puzzle, Adventure, Indie
Danganronpa V3: Killing Harmony
Release Date: September 25, 2017
Genres: Point-and-click, Adventure, Visual Novel
Danganronpa: Trigger Happy Havoc
Release Date: February 18, 2016
Genres: Point-and-click, Adventure, Visual Novel
Return of the Obra Dinn
Release Date: October 18, 2018
Genres: Puzzle, Adventure, Indie
The Vanishing of Ethan Carter
Release Date: September 25, 2014
Genres: Puzzle, Adventure, Indie
Paradise Killer
Release Date: September 04, 2020
Genres: Puzzle, Role-playing (RPG), Adventure, Indie, Visual Novel
Murdered: Soul Suspect
Release Date: June 05, 2014
Genres: Puzzle, Role-playing (RPG), Adventure
The Wolf Among Us
Release Date: October 11, 2013
Genres: Point-and-click, Adventure
Heavy Rain
Release Date: June 18, 2020
Genres: Adventure
Because being a detective isn’t always about chasing criminals — sometimes it’s about confronting uncertainty, navigating gaps in the evidence, or facing uncomfortable truths.
Conclusion
Detective games can be more satisfying than the biggest loot drop — because instead of collecting gear, you’re collecting understanding. If you’re drawn to theory-crafting, analysing behaviour, and uncovering the truth piece by piece, these games are calling your name. So grab your coat, open your notebook, and trust your instincts — the investigation starts now!