Current Events > Are there any good murder mystery / serial killer / detective games?

(+) Yeah! (+)

walking simulators do have an aspect of gameplay that may fulfil this. Firewatch isn't exactly a "Detective" game but it is a mystery game and can be quite eerie

One more for you, TC

https://www.gog.com/en/game/cognition_an_erica_reed_thriller

It's on Steam and I think some other places too

Highly recommend The Black Watchmen. It's a permanent alternate reality game where you use real world resources to complete investigations. The game itself is more of like a graphical interface for tracking your progress.

One of the early "puzzles" is using a person's bank account statement to figure out their password on a company website. You literally just have the statement and maybe one or two clues and have to look up historical information online to make connections. Apparently some more tech savvy users found a way to crack the password directly on the website and the developers weren't even angry about it since it enabled them to complete the objective.

Danganronpa series

Yeah put me down with the others who suggested the ace attorney games. Played the original trilogy and starting on the chronicles games. Definitely getting the Apollo justice trilogy when it comes out.

boxoto posted...

I heard it's really divisive, but Twelve Minutes.

12 minutes is garbage. I tried to play it but it expects way too much out of you. They don't even really give you 12 minutes from repeat to repeat, its more like 5-6 minutes and your literally rushing to try and complete the same tasks. Sometimes you have to repeat the same things 4-5 times to get a different thing to show up.

On topic, Shadow of Destiny for the PS2.

If the title said good and people are bringing up Her Story then I don't feel bad for saying Alternate Jake Hunter - Daedalus: The Awakening of Golden Jazz.

Hexenherz posted...

Highly recommend The Black Watchmen. It's a permanent alternate reality game where you use real world resources to complete investigations. The game itself is more of like a graphical interface for tracking your progress.

One of the early "puzzles" is using a person's bank account statement to figure out their password on a company website. You literally just have the statement and maybe one or two clues and have to look up historical information online to make connections. Apparently some more tech savvy users found a way to crack the password directly on the website and the developers weren't even angry about it since it enabled them to complete the objective.

that game seems neat af.

i tried playing the demo but it says the servers are down tho =/

DnDer posted...

Westwood's Blade Runner wasn't bad, either.

Came in to say this. Still have my copy!

Ratchetrockon posted...

that game seems neat af.

i tried playing the demo but it says the servers are down so im unsure if its playable now =/

Oh shit that would really suck.

Condemned series

I will download and check it out again to see if I can access it.

They also made NITE Team 4 - https://store.steampowered.com/app/544390/NITE_Team_4__Military_Hacking_Division/

sad that nobody has mentioned Still Life.

you play a female fbi agent tracking down a serial killer. has a very distinct feel to se7en with its crime scene investigations.

too bad the sequel kinda sucked.

Also, maybe you goofballs should play The Silver Case.

Condemned

Others have mentioned them, but my votes go to:

The Ace Attorney Series, which has a lot of games
The Danganronpa series (the three main games)
Master Detective Archives: Rain Code

Also, The Zero Escape series is pretty good

Ive also enjoyed Raging Loop (the amount Ive played so far). Though, its a little different, its still a mystery that changes based on a bunch of things

There are some others, too

Alter Ego was kind of a fun point-and-clicker. IIRC, you play half of it as a criminal and half as the detective chasing him (or some related case).

AsucaHayashi posted...

sad that nobody has mentioned Still Life.

you play a female fbi agent tracking down a serial killer. has a very distinct feel to se7en with its crime scene investigations.

too bad the sequel kinda sucked.

I like that game.

The 2nd game i played for several hours until I got to the point that was littered with timed events. Frustrated me enough to quit lol. Watched the rest on youtube. I was only about an hour or less away from the ending.

Paranormasight: The Seven Mysteries of Honjo is a great one that hasn't been mentioned here. It has more of a paranormal spin than traditional serial killer stories, but it scratches the same itch for sure. It's a fantastic, albeit short, VN with some really clever puzzles and a super compelling mystery.

Ace Attorney has been mentioned several times, but I'd have to advocate for it as well.

I'll also mention The House in Fata Morgana. It's a bit different, and isn't focused on serial killings, but it still has an extremely strong central mystery to it. It's also the best VN I've ever played. If you like mystery games in general without a murder component being necessary, I'd have to recommend that one.

Not sure if A.I.: The Somnium Files was mentioned yet, but if not, it's really good. The sequel isn't as good, but still worth checking out. (edit: it was mentioned earlier, nevermind)

Though my pick would be Judgement. It's a spin-off of the Yakuza/Like a Dragon series, so there's some action base combat, but the main story is about trying to solve a mystery as a private detective. There's also a few sub mysteries you can partake in as well.

Ivany2008 posted...

12 minutes is garbage. I tried to play it but it expects way too much out of you. They don't even really give you 12 minutes from repeat to repeat, its more like 5-6 minutes and your literally rushing to try and complete the same tasks. Sometimes you have to repeat the same things 4-5 times to get a different thing to show up.

On topic, Shadow of Destiny for the PS2.

yea, the negative things I've heard about Twelve Minutes is what kept me from trying it out.

I also second Shadow of Destiny.

projektpete posted...

Heavy Rain checks that box.

Its awful.

spikethedevil posted...

Its awful.

That's your opinion... but quite a large number of people disagree with it.

In roughly my order of priority:

Ace Attorney (basically all of them)
Return of the Obra Dinn
Ghost Trick
Her Story
Case of the Golden Idol
Chinatown Detective agency (this one expects you to look things up IRL outside the game to find solutions)
Murder By Numbers
Contradiction: Spot The Liar (an FMV game)
Hotel Dusk
Danganronpa
Heavy Rain
What Remains of Edith Finch
Hypnospace Outlaw (might not feel like it initially, but it gets there)
Paradise Killer
The Vanishing of Ethan Carter
The Sinking City
Tangle Tower

I would say Outer Wilds scratches the same mystery itch, although it's not a mystery/detective game as such

The Professor Layton games kind of have some energy of this too, but are very puzzle heavy.

https://store.steampowered.com/app/2324650/The_Murder_of_Sonic_the_Hedgehog/

Hexenherz posted...

Highly recommend The Black Watchmen. It's a permanent alternate reality game where you use real world resources to complete investigations. The game itself is more of like a graphical interface for tracking your progress.

yooooo, I forgot about this game. I've still got it in my STeam library from way back then

projektpete posted...

That's your opinion... but quite a large number of people disagree with it.

Some people also dislike David Cage games and then weirdly like games made by Sam Barlow like Telling Lies and Immortality. Some people are all over the place.

deoxxys posted...

I have been wanting to play Obra Dinn for a while now, loved his first game, Papers Please.

HE DID PAPERS PLEASE????

This just shot up to the top of my list

Also Ghost Trick is a lot of fun but a bit more puzzle than mystery

Also Heavy Rain is amazing. I'll forgive the alight falling apart of the story when the actual game experience is so fucking good, one of the most tense and emotional first playthroughs I've ever had, and it didn't fall apart until AFTER I was done with it.

Senta posted...

Don't know if it has been said yet, but if you have a girlfriend or wife, or just some friends..

Hunt A Killer is a very fun investment.

What's the replayability on those? I feel like $30 is a bit much for a one and done game.

Scene Investigators (Eq Studios) is another game to watch out for

same devs as Painscreek Killings. There is a demo out on steam.

RuneterranSnap posted...

HE DID PAPERS PLEASE????

This just shot up to the top of my list

Yee!

I always check up on the developers of indie games I really like because it helps you find their new games and they can be pretty consistent.

Sonic_Cannon posted...

Paradise Killer

Ooh I'll have to play this I think I own it and it looks really fun

The Forgotten City kinda falls under this, it was a good time at least.

Tyranthraxus posted...

The Phoenix Wright / Ace Attorney series if you haven't played it yet

This. Also Danganronpa.

deoxxys posted...

Yee!

I always check up on the developers of indie games I really like because it helps you find their new games and they can be pretty consistent.

I'm amazed I never did this for PP because I do it sometimes too. Just did it for Megacrit but nothing announced beyond Slay the Spire :(

@Tyranthanxus

One more for you, TC

https://www.gog.com/en/game/cognition_an_erica_reed_thriller

It's on Steam and I think some other places too

This looks interesting. Thanks. Wishlisting it.

@Hexenherz

Highly recommend The Black Watchmen. It's a permanent alternate reality game where you use real world resources to complete investigations. The game itself is more of like a graphical interface for tracking your progress.

One of the early "puzzles" is using a person's bank account statement to figure out their password on a company website. You literally just have the statement and maybe one or two clues and have to look up historical information online to make connections. Apparently some more tech savvy users found a way to crack the password directly on the website and the developers weren't even angry about it since it enabled them to complete the objective.

That sounds super different looking into it a little. Very down. Will have to look into if it is still playable.

SiO4 posted...

Condemned

Actually plan on playing the first one this October. Wish the 2nd was also on steam.

@AsucaHayashi

sad that nobody has mentioned Still Life.

you play a female fbi agent tracking down a serial killer. has a very distinct feel to se7en with its crime scene investigations.

Sounds worth checking out. Thanks.

@Sonic_Cannon

In roughly my order of priority:

Ace Attorney (basically all of them)
Return of the Obra Dinn
Ghost Trick
Her Story
Case of the Golden Idol
Chinatown Detective agency (this one expects you to look things up IRL outside the game to find solutions)
Murder By Numbers
Contradiction: Spot The Liar (an FMV game)
Hotel Dusk
Danganronpa
Heavy Rain
What Remains of Edith Finch
Hypnospace Outlaw (might not feel like it initially, but it gets there)
Paradise Killer
The Vanishing of Ethan Carter
The Sinking City
Tangle Tower

I would say Outer Wilds scratches the same mystery itch, although it's not a mystery/detective game as such

The Professor Layton games kind of have some energy of this too, but are very puzzle heavy.

Thanks for the list. I've actually played quite a few of those and own a couple more. Contradiction's installed on my desktop right now.

Heartomaton posted...

https://store.steampowered.com/app/2324650/The_Murder_of_Sonic_the_Hedgehog/

An instant classic.

@Ratchetrockon

Scene Investigators (Eq Studios) is another game to watch out for

same devs as Painscreek Killings. There is a demo out on steam.

Oh nice. That looks like it has some good potential.

I don't know why my @'s aren't working for Ratchetrockon and for you, GameGodOfAll... but I did load up Black Watchmen and tried the first couple of tutorial puzzles and they did work. I can't guarantee everything else still works (for instance, if the real world websites are down), though.

Deadly Premonition, though you might just want to watch an LP of it so you don't have to actually deal with some of the gameplay. Has a Twin Peaks vibe and quite a few WTF moments.

loafy013 posted...

Deadly Premonition, though you might just want to watch an LP of it so you don't have to actually deal with some of the gameplay. Has a Twin Peaks vibe and quite a few WTF moments.

Already one of my favorite games.

Hexenherz posted...

I don't know why my @'s aren't working for Ratchetrockon and for you, GameGodOfAll... but I did load up Black Watchmen and tried the first couple of tutorial puzzles and they did work. I can't guarantee everything else still works (for instance, if the real world websites are down), though.

I've had that problem for a while I wonder if there's an option to toggle off being @ mentioned

Shadows of doubt is a bit rough around the edges but it's overall a fun game.

RuneterranSnap posted...

I'm amazed I never did this for PP because I do it sometimes too. Just did it for Megacrit but nothing announced beyond Slay the Spire :(

Yeah sadly mega crit has not announced another game yet.

But quite a few other devs have made good follow up games:

• Supergiant games: bastion, transistor, Hades
• Klei: Mark of the Ninja, don't starve, oxygen not included, The floor is lava, Griftlands
• Subset games: faster than light, into the breach
• Juicebox Studios: Guacamelee, Nobody Saves the world
• Team Cherry: Hollow Knight, Silksong (we know this is going to be a smash hit)

Conrad stevens paranormal P.I.

Especially the lighthouse map. Its a very lore heavy game involving ghosts that met a tragic end

LinkPizza posted...

Also, The Zero Escape series is pretty good

Zero Escape isn't really a murder mystery game as much as it's a series of... escape rooms.

Yes, there is a killer. but it's the least important thing that's going on.

Amakusa posted...

Zero Escape isn't really a murder mystery game as much as it's a series of... escape rooms.

Yes, there is a killer. but it's the least important thing that's going on.

True. But I thought it might have the same vibes kind of

If you want game built on mystery but isn't a detective game

Outer Wilds is stellar.

I'm playing through it right now and it's heavy on lore, exploration and mystery behind an ancient alien race and their technology.

I'm gonna toss in a couple lighthearted ones.

Jenny LeClue - Detectivu: An homage to Nancy Drew novels wear the Author is pressured by his publisher to make his children's book series darker.

428: Shibuya Scramble: A funny live action visual novel with a little mystery and intrigue about a bunch of different characters trying to figure out a twin girl's kidnapping.