11 Best Detective Games in 2025: Leave No Stone Unturned
Recent update
This list is regularly updated to match what’s trending and in-demand among gamers.
The best detective games pull you into a world where every clue matters and the story twists like crazy.
As a huge fan who’s played tons of mystery games, I can tell you, nothing beats that rush of detective work. If connecting the dots, hunting killers, and diving deep into well-crafted detective stories are things that drive you too, then don’t look any further because this list is for you.
Today, I’ll share with you some of the greatest detective games ever made and, hopefully, help you find your new favorite mystery along the way. Are you in?
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Our Top Picks for Detective Games
These days, we’re fortunate enough to have a very solid amount of actually great detective games available to us. However, when it comes to the best of the best, you simply can’t fit everything.
So, if you want to have a peek at what we’re about to cover in just a few short moments, here are our top picks:
- Disco Elysium (2019) – A dialogue-driven detective RPG where your fractured mind becomes your greatest ally and enemy. Every choice and failure reshapes the investigation and your identity.
- L.A. Noire (2011) – Step into post-war Los Angeles as a rising detective solving brutal crimes through interrogation, clue-hunting, and gut instinct. Every case feels cinematic and deeply human.
- Return of the Obra Dinn (2018) – Investigate a vanished ship using observation and a magical timepiece. Every deduction brings you closer to uncovering one of gaming’s smartest mysteries.
You might already see something that caught your eye, or your mind might still be wandering.
But no matter which scenario fits you better, no good detective should ever leave evidence half-examined. With that in mind, I invite you to follow me, because the full list is right up ahead, and you’ve got to see it!
11 Best Detective Games for Investigative Minds
And now, finally, let’s get into it and crack this case wide open. These detective games are more than good – they’re addictive, and they’re bound to pull you in. But you know, I believe that every good detective needs a dash of obsession.
I’ve spent hours chasing answers, solving puzzles, and trying to stay one step ahead in these masterpieces that you’re about to see and possibly experience yourself. So get ready, because now, it’s time to put your detective skills to the test. Let’s dive in!
1. Disco Elysium [Best Narrative-Driven Detective RPG]
| Our Score | 10
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| Platforms | Windows, macOS, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch |
| Year of release | 2019 |
| Developer | ZA/UM |
| Average playtime | 33 Hours |
Disco Elysium is easily one of the wildest and most unique PC games in recent years. The fact that it’s also an incredible detective game only makes it better.
From start to finish, this title is like nothing else. You wake up hungover, half-naked, and completely clueless. It doesn’t take too long to realize that you’re actually a detective on a murder case. Once you do, you embark on a mind-bending investigation through a broken city full of crime, politics, and some of the most interesting characters in gaming.
Disco Elysium redefines detective storytelling by turning your inner thoughts into companions and rivals. Its writing, world-building, and choice system build a psychological mystery unlike anything else in the genre.
The writing is absolutely brilliant, full of hilarious, dark, sad, fun, and deeply philosophical moments. The gameplay is all dialogue and decisions with D&D-style dice rolling when it comes to more complicated actions. Essentially, it’s just you, your partner, your thoughts (which argue with you), and your choices.
It really is a one-of-a-kind detective game in the best way possible, and that alone is a massive reason for you to try it.
My Verdict: Disco Elysium is for players who crave deep, choice-driven stories where your own mind is part of the case. It’s bold, weird, and unforgettable.
2. L.A. Noire [Best Classic Crime Investigation Experience]
| Our Score | 9.8
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| Platforms | Windows, PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch |
| Year of release | 2011 |
| Developer | Team Bondi |
| Average playtime | 30 Hours |
For those who love a truly good classic murder mystery, you simply can’t find anything that tops the masterpiece that is L.A. Noire. It drops you into a smoky, post-war Los Angeles where you step into the shoes of a rising detective. The gameplay is super fun, the writing is top-of-the-shelf, and the atmosphere is as if straight out of the greatest noir movies.
Few games capture old-school detective drama like L.A. Noire. Every case feels pulled straight from vintage Hollywood crime cinema, from reading suspects’ faces to chasing getaway cars through smoky post-war streets.
In this game, the detective is not only the protagonist’s title. Sure, there’s a fair amount of action that makes you feel as if you’re in the best Mafia games, just on the other side of the law. But the rest of the time, you’re investigating, collecting clues, reading faces, and catching lies in interviews.
In other words, you’re actually solving cases, and boy, are they great. Each one is like its own little mystery game, with twists that keep you guessing until the final piece clicks into place. And when it comes to detective games, it’s exactly what you need.
My Verdict: L.A. Noire is perfect for fans of noir thrillers and slow-burn mysteries who want the full detective fantasy done right.
3. Return of the Obra Dinn [Best Logic-Based Mystery Puzzle Game]
| Our Score | 9.7
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| Platforms | Windows, macOS, PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch |
| Year of release | 2018 |
| Developer | Lucas Pope |
| Average playtime | 10 Hours |
When talking about more highly unique detective games, there’s simply no skipping over the Return of Obra Dinn.
You’re tasked with solving the mystery of a ghost ship, and it’s up to you to investigate the crime scenes. There’s no hand-holding, and almost everything, from graphics to various gameplay mechanics, feels absolutely refreshing.
Return of the Obra Dinn turns investigation into pure deduction. Its black-and-white art style and time-freeze mechanics make every discovery feel earned as you piece together a ship’s haunting fate.
You piece together a murder mystery by looking at frozen moments in time. It’s like playing a detective with a time machine. Every detail matters, with every face, every uniform, and every little clue you find telling a part of the story. The world is stark, minimalistic, and haunting, drawing you in deeper as you try to figure out what happened.
It’s a true masterpiece for anyone who loves a slow burn mystery. Don’t pass up on it, because there really are not many detective games as great as this gem.
My Verdict: Return of the Obra Dinn is perfect for players who love solving puzzles through reasoning alone. It’s strange, methodical, and brilliant from start to finish.
4. The Case of the Golden Idol [Best Indie Puzzle Detective Game]
| Our Score | 9.5
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| Platforms | Windows, macOS, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch, Android, iOS |
| Year of release | 2022 |
| Developer | Color Gray Games |
| Average playtime | 8 Hours |
At first glance, The Case of the Golden Idol really doesn’t look like anything special. But once you give it a shot, you quickly realize that it’s really a masterpiece in a very good disguise.
Despite its mobile game looks, it’s an incredible detective title that could also rank among the greatest puzzle games ever. You find yourself in a strange world full of death, greed, and secrets, and get tasked to figure out what happened, all on your own.
The Case of the Golden Idol hides one of the smartest detective systems behind a quirky pixel façade. Each crime scene feels handcrafted, which appreciates keen observation and logical leaps.
Each crime scene is like a locked box. You collect clues, read notes, examine rooms, and slowly piece together the murder mystery. The gameplay feels like flipping through pages of a twisted detective story, where every word matters and every object hides something.
It’s got a weirdly appealing art style, too, and it might take a little getting used to, but it’s well worth it. The Case of the Golden Idol is clever, creepy, and totally unforgettable.
My Verdict: The Case of the Golden Idol is ideal for mystery fans who want an unconventional challenge that values sharp thinking over spectacle. Clever, dark, and totally distinct.
5. Trials of Innocence [Best Courtroom Detective Drama]
| Our Score | 9.4
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| Platforms | Windows |
| Year of release | 2025 |
| Developer | C&D Games |
| Average playtime | 22 Hours |
Trials of Innocence hits that sweet spot between classic courtroom drama and personal mystery. You play as Luna Ray, a rookie lawyer thrown into a world of corrupt courts and cases that blur the line between justice and morality. It’s tailor-made for players who love logic-driven stories with emotional depth and high stakes.
Playing this interesting visual novel game feels intense and unpredictable. One minute, you’re calmly questioning a suspect, and the next, you’re racing to object before the judge closes the case. The dialogue system rewards sharp observation, and the branching choices keep every case feeling personal. Some moments drag between trials, but the emotional payoffs more than make up for it.
Trials of Innocence mixes sharp courtroom strategy with emotional storytelling. Luna Ray’s trials feel personal, and every decision carries real weight, making it a standout detective experience.
Visually, it’s a clean, stylized indie presentation with hand-drawn characters and a strong sense of tone. The courtroom lighting shifts with tension and small animations bring the cast to life. It doesn’t chase realism but nails atmosphere, letting the drama carry the weight.
My Verdict: Trials of Innocence is perfect for players who crave detective stories with heart and intellect. It balances logic puzzles, moral choices, and gripping storytelling in a way that few courtroom games manage to pull off.
6. Sherlock Holmes: Crimes & Punishments [Best Classic Detective Adventure]
| Our Score | 9.2
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| Platforms | Windows, PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch |
| Year of release | 2014 |
| Developer | Frogwares |
| Average playtime | 15 Hours |
It would be weird to have the best detective games list without one of the most famous detectives of all time. Of course, that’s not the sole reason why Sherlock Holmes: Crimes & Punishments is here, because this game truly makes you feel like the legendary consulting detective.
As you step into the mystery-filled Victorian London, the feeling is unmatched. Every investigation you take on is smart and immersive. You actually get to collect clues, interrogate suspects, and piece together the crime to draw your own conclusions.
Sherlock Holmes: Crimes & Punishments captures the essence of Sherlock Holmes; sharp deduction, layered storytelling, and moral ambiguity. Each case feels like a proper mystery novel where your conclusions truly shape the outcome.
From analyzing crime scenes to using your detective skills to reconstruct the sequence of events, everything matters. The choices you make impact the story, and in some cases, you can even accuse the wrong person, adding a layer of complexity and realism to the detective story.
It really makes you feel like you’re in one of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s books, and that’s exactly how a Sherlock Holmes game should be.
My Verdict: If you’ve ever wanted to be Sherlock, this game nails the feeling. Smart, immersive, and surprisingly human.
7. The Wolf Among Us [Best Dark Fairy-Tale Noir Story]
| Our Score | 9
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| Platforms | Windows, OS X, PS3, PS4, PS Vita, Xbox 360, Xbox One, Android, iOS |
| Year of release | 2013 |
| Developer | Telltale Games |
| Average playtime | 10 Hours |
The Telltale Games did like to involve plenty of detective elements in their amazing story games. Yet, no other title did it as well as The Wolf Among Us, which is nothing short of fantastic.
From the beginning, as you get pulled into a world of living yet twisted fairy tales, every step feels completely magical. You’re Bigby Wolf, the hard-hitting sheriff of Fabletown, trying to solve a gruesome murder mystery that could tear the entire community apart.
The Wolf Among Us blends gritty detective work with twisted fairy-tale lore. Its branching choices and stylized visuals build an atmosphere that’s both brutal and beautiful.
Everything is raw, gritty, and brimming with suspense. Every crime scene you investigate feels alive, every clue you gather unlocks secrets that leave you questioning everyone, and every choice you make influences the story around you.
It’s a perfectly weird dark noir and fairy tale mix that you won’t find anywhere else. Ever since it dropped, fans have been begging for a Season 2. Now, over a decade later, we might just get it, so be sure to play this and get ready!
My Verdict: The Wolf Among Us is perfect for story-driven players who love dark fantasy mixed with crime drama. It’s emotional, stylish, and full of tension.
8. Her Story [Best FMV Interactive Mystery]
| Our Score | 8.9
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| Platforms | Windows, OS X, Android, iOS |
| Year of release | 2015 |
| Developer | Sam Barlow |
| Average playtime | 4 Hours |
Her Story is yet another gem of a detective game that creeps up on you unexpectedly. It’s a video-based game that gives you nothing more than an old computer and a pile of broken video clips from a police interrogation, leaving you alone to figure out what happened.
But a great detective doesn’t necessarily need all the big features of a complicated RPG. You search keywords, watch interviews, and slowly figure out what happened in this eerie murder mystery. Every clip is a clue, and the moment the story starts clicking together is unforgettable.
Her Story turns video footage into the core gameplay. Searching an old police database to uncover the truth feels intimate and realistic; it gives players the thrill of genuine discovery.
The game really trusts you to think. You investigate at your own pace, connect the dots, and chase that final answer. The gameplay is simple but brilliant, turning the act of searching into a full-on investigation discovery rush.
It’s not very long, but every step is pure quality, and it feels absolutely real because of it. Trust me, you shouldn’t ignore this one.
My Verdict: Her Story is short, smart, and powerful, the perfect pick for anyone who loves solving mysteries through pure intuition and observation.
9. Heavy Rain [Best Emotional Interactive Thriller]
| Our Score | 8.7
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| Platforms | Windows, PS3, PS4 |
| Year of release | 2010 |
| Developer | Quantic Dream |
| Average playtime | 12 Hours |
Heavy Rain is a total emotional rollercoaster that pulls you into a web of lies, danger, and loss from the moment you set foot in it.
You follow four different characters, each with their own detective skills, all chasing the elusive origami killer. As you collect clues trying to connect the dots, you feel every twist and turn of this masterfully written story with ever-rising stakes. It’s a journey through heartbreak, guilt, and redemption.
Heavy Rain weaves four lives together in a desperate hunt for a killer. The branching narrative, moral choices, and emotional stakes keep you hooked from start to finish.
The crime scenes you explore are full of small details that tell a bigger story, making every investigation a puzzle to piece together. There may be some moments that feel slow, but for the majority of the time, Heavy Rain keeps you on the edge of your seat like few other games can. You simply can’t miss out on this one.
My Verdict: Heavy Rain is an emotional gut punch built for players who want storytelling that hurts in all the right ways.
10. Batman: Arkham Collection [Best Action Detective Experience]
| Our Score | 8.5
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| Platforms | Windows, PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch |
| Year of release | 2019, 2023 (Switch) |
| Developer | Rocksteady Studios |
| Average playtime | 70 Hours |
Naturally, no truly good detective games list could ever be complete without the world’s greatest detective on the scene. For that, let’s step into the shadows of Gotham with Batman: Arkham Collection.
It’s no secret that these amazing superhero titles pack a fair amount of action. After all, you’re the Dark Knight himself who has to defend his crime-ridden city. Yet there’s more to it than just throwing fists.
The Arkham Collection mixes detective work with action perfectly. Using gadgets to reconstruct crimes and track villains through Gotham adds depth to the superhero genre.
The detective work, which takes up a fair amount of the games, is rich, with Batman’s unique detective skills helping you piece together crime scenes, interrogate suspects, and uncover dark secrets. Each game features some of the most iconic Batman villains attempting to execute their vile plans, but before you can catch them, you must find them.
If you love a great mystery but also like it when it’s combined with some top-of-the-shelf action, these are three of the best Batman games combined into a single pack, and it’s absolutely worth it.
My Verdict: For those who want brawls and brainwork in one, The Arkham Collection is the ultimate detective-action combo.
11. The Great Ace Attorney Chronicles [Best Courtroom Detective Adventure]
| Our Score | 8.3
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| Platforms | Capcom |
| Year of release | 2021 |
| Developer | Windows, PS4, Nintendo Switch |
| Average playtime | 75 Hours |
If you’re looking for a detective mystery game that’s also a full-on courtroom chaos, The Great Ace Attorney Chronicles is absolutely perfect for you.
You play as Ryunosuke Naruhodo, an anxious rookie lawyer with sharp detective skills and a knack for turning hopeless criminal cases around. The story, set in a beautifully stylized version of 19th-century London and Japan, is absolutely gripping, full of twists, eccentric witnesses, and absurd logic that somehow makes perfect sense.
Blending investigation with courtroom chaos, The Great Ace Attorney Chronicles captures the thrill of deduction and debate. Its humor and charm turn logic puzzles into high-stakes drama.
This game strikes a surprisingly great balance between investigation and courtroom drama. You’re collecting clues, poking holes in testimonies, and teaming up with a very familiar-looking Sherlock Holmes-style detective. It’s funny, clever, and surprisingly heartfelt.
The characters are unforgettable, the plot is full of wild turns, and the presentation is absolutely top-tier. Sure, it’s pretty text-heavy, but if you want one of the best detective games with style, charm, and tons of twists, this is it.
My Verdict: The Great Ace Attorney Chronicles is the perfect mix of wit, mystery, and courtroom theatrics. A must-play for players who enjoy stories with brains and personality.
My Overall Verdict on the Best Detective Games
When it comes to detective games, there’s something for every kind of sleuth out there. Here’s what I’d recommend:
- For players who love deep storytelling and layered characters → Disco Elysium. Its dialogue-driven design and inner-voice mechanics make every decision feel meaningful and personal.
- For fans of classic crime drama and cinematic mystery → L.A. Noire. It captures the tension and glamour of 1940s Los Angeles with lifelike interrogations and perfectly written cases.
- For puzzle lovers who enjoy slow, methodical deduction → Return of the Obra Dinn. You’ll rely entirely on observation and logic to solve one of gaming’s most satisfying mysteries.
- For those craving a mix of logic and chaos in storytelling → The Wolf Among Us. It blends dark fantasy with gritty detective noir for a story that’s as emotional as it is unpredictable.
No matter if you’re drawn to realism, brain-teasing puzzles, or strong narratives, these detective games prove that mystery-solving is as thrilling as ever.
FAQs
L.A. Noire remains one of the best detective games for its deep investigations, realistic interrogations, and immersive 1940s crime setting.
Return of the Obra Dinn is arguably the best mystery-solving game, known for its unique deduction gameplay and captivating story aboard a ghost ship.
No, detective games focus on solving crimes using clues and investigation, while spy games often involve stealth, espionage, and covert missions.
