While it can be entertaining to watch detectives in movies, TV, and books work tirelessly to identify key suspects, witnesses, evidence, and events to form a intricate web.
However, there’s a certain kind of satisfaction that comes with solving a mystery for yourself and cracking the case wide open.
In this list, we’ll highlight the greatest detective games to play in 2025, including the top detective games on Steam, PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch.
We’ll be updating this catalog in the future with new titles, so make sure to check back and let us know if we missed any games!
Table of ContentsShow

L.A. Noire
Genre: Open-World, AdventurernrnPlatforms: Windows, PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch
Set during the late 1940s, L.A. Noire is an absorbing crime drama in which you play as Cole Phelps, a patrolman turned detective looking to work his way up the police force without compromising his moral principles.
The game sees you examining crime scenes for clues, questioning witnesses, and chasing down leads until you’ve narrowed down the list to one or two suspects.
L.A. Noire’s defining feature is its highly sophisticated facial rendering technology, which allows for nuanced facial expressions that may indicate when a character is lying.
Although learning how to interpret these facial cues is a challenge within itself, the feature adds a lot of immersion to the overall experience.

The Vanishing of Ethan Carter
Genre: Mystery, AdventurernrnPlatforms: Windows, PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch
The Vanishing of Ethan Carter puts you in the shoes of a private detective who can visualize crimes long after they’ve occurred by analyzing clues in the environment.
Played from a first-person POV, the game sees Prospero investigating the mysterious disappearance of a young boy in the scenic town of Red Creek Valley, Wisconsin.
Using your remarkable powers, you’ll piece together evidence and recreate key moments that paint a much different picture of Red Creek.
The best part is how much freedom the game affords you, allowing you to explore the entire valley from top to bottom as you build your case.

Observer
Genre: Psychological HorrorrnrnPlatforms: Windows, PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, Mac
Observer is a futuristic investigative game from the same team behind the terrifying adventure series Layers of Fear.
In it, you play as a specialized detective known as an ‘Observer’ who can tap into others’ minds using a neural link device, utilizing any evidence to further an ongoing investigation.
This power proves to be a double-edged sword, as your mind will start to deteriorate due to constant exposure to the unfiltered thoughts and emotions of suspects and witnesses.
Things only get worse when you’re tasked with investigating a case of murder in a rundown housing unit whose residents suffer from mental illness and PTSD.

Danganronpa: Trigger Happy Havoc
Genre: Visual NovelrnrnPlatforms: Windows, PS4, PS Vita, Android, iOS
Eager to study at the prestigious Hope’s Peak Academy, a group of teens quickly realize they’re all pawns in a sinister game concocted by a malevolent bear named Monokuma.
Now trapped in the would-be school, the students are forced to play by Monokuma’s rules, where the only way to escape is to murder a classmate and get away with it.
One by one, students start getting murdered, prompting you to search for evidence, interview crucial witnesses, and interrogate potential suspects before arriving at a conclusion.
Should you accuse the incorrect person, everyone dies, and the actual culprit walks free; however, if you guess correctly, only the murderer gets punished, and everyone else gets to ‘graduate.’

Grim Fandango Remastered
Genre: Point u0026 Click AdventurernrnPlatforms: Windows, PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, Android, iOS
Grim Fandango is a timeless point-and-click adventure game that substantially benefited from a remastered version with updated visuals, sounds, and controls.
The game takes place in an alternate dimension called the Land of the Dead, a place where all departed souls end up.
You play as Manny Cavelera, an afterlife travel agent who uncovers his boss has been manipulating the system for years.
Wanting to set things right, Manny sets out across the Land of the Dead in search of proof that will demonstrate his boss’s corruption.

The Darkside Detective
Genre: Point u0026 Click AdventurernrnPlatforms: Windows, Nintendo Switch, Mac
Blending contemporary pixel art design with classic point-and-click gameplay, The Darkside Detective is a comedic adventure game with excellent writing and captivating characters.
The game sees you playing as detective Francis McQueen, joined by his cop partner Dooley, as the two solve a series of bizarre cases caused by supernatural powers.
McQueen is a daring detective who’s not afraid to speak his mind, even when it comes to complaining about how underfunded his department is.
If you’re a devotee of detective shows and pop culture, you’ll certainly enjoy the barrage of references to series like Twin Peaks.

The Wolf Among Us
Genre: AdventurernrnPlatforms: Windows, PS4, Xbox One, iOS, Android
The Wolf Among Us is a melancholy and gritty detective thriller based on the award-winning Fables DC comic book series written by Bill Willingham.
Set in an alternate universe where fairytale characters have adapted to modern civilization, the game has you play as Bigby Wolf, aka the big bad wolf.
Following the murder of a mysterious woman, Bigby sets out to investigate the crime only to find himself plunging deeper and deeper into a pool of plots taking place right in Fabletown.
The game takes place over the course of five acts, with each decision made impacting the story and determining whether Bigby rises above his tempestuous past or succumbs to his inner rage.

Judgment
Genre: Action-adventurernrnPlatform: PS4
Set in the Yakuza universe, Judgment is an exciting detective game that includes numerous allusions to the Japanese beat-em-up and cameos from recognizable characters.
The story follows lawyer-turned-detective Takayuki Yagami after he’s assigned to a murder case involving a killer who gets joy from removing victims’ eyes.
The game tasks you with exploring the fictional Tokyo district of Kamurocho in search of clues while assisting in smaller cases and sometimes getting yourself in alleyway brawls with hooligans.
While it may not be the greatest in terms of gameplay variety, Judgment will keep you hooked with its captivating story and excellent cast performance.

Return of the Obra Dinn
Genre: Mystery, PuzzlernrnPlatforms: Windows, PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch
Return of the Obra Dinn is a stand-out title for both its daring, 1-bit monochromatic art style as well as its ability to take you on an immersive, atmospheric adventure.
You play as an insurance adjuster, tasked with determining how the crew of a mysterious ship met their demise.
To complete this task, you’re given a ‘Memento Mortem,’ a diminutive timepiece that replays the moments before a character’s death.
The game offers little in terms of tutorials and hand-holding, encouraging you to make discoveries on your own by paying close attention to clues you encounter along your journey.

Sherlock Holmes: Crimes u0026 Punishments
Developer: Mystery, AdventurernrnPlatforms: Windows, PS4, Xbox One
We would be remiss not to include at least one entry from Frogwares’ daring mystery series centered on the world’s most famous detective.
Crimes & Punishments, in particular, is an exceptional example of how to adapt sleuthing to an interactive medium like video games.
Clues aren’t just handed to the player, but instead earned by searching meticulously through every nook and cranny of the crime scene.
Once you’ve gathered ample evidence to build a case, it’s still possible to be mistaken in your deduction since the game will frequently keep back vital details from the player.

Disco Elysium
Genre: RPGrnrnPlatforms: Windows, PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, Mac
Disco Elysium is a narrative-driven RPG that sees you playing as a detective sent to investigate the murder of a man found hanging from a tree.
Set in the remnants of a failed communist uprising, the game offers a commentary on the enduring effects of political turmoil while serving as a backdrop for the mystery you’re trying to solve.
Hunting down clues and potential leads involve a lot of conversation, giving you plenty of chances to poke and prod around NPCs’ personal beliefs and biases while dealing with your own uncertainties.
This is where the game’s RPG mechanics come into play, allowing you to acquire an array of distinctive skills suited for various playstyles.

Hypnospace Outlaw
Genre: Point u0026 Click, SimulationrnrnPlatforms: Windows, Nintendo Switch, Mac
In Hypnospace Outlaw, you play as an Enforcer: an internet investigator in charge of monitoring the world wide web for criminals looking to pirate music, hack into websites, and spread malicious software.
Inspired by the golden age of the internet, the game drops players into a sea of awkward webpages cluttered with low-res gifs and lines of blinking text.
The actual detective work can sometimes feel tedious, especially after scouring through multiple webpages looking for illicit activity.
However, you’re rewarded for all your diligent work with virtual currency used to purchase various vaporwave-inspired music, wallpapers, and screensavers.

Blacksad: Under the Skin
Genre: Noir AdventurernrnPlatforms: Windows, PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, Mac
Blacksad: Under the Skin is a video game adaptation of the Eisner-winning Spanish comic series created by Juan Díaz Canales and Juanjo Guarnido.
In it, you play as seasoned detective John Blacksad as he tries to solve the mysterious murder of a boxing club owner in the seedy underworld of New York City.
Gameplay is divided into crime scene investigations, riddles, quick-time events, and dialogue choices that affect Blacksad’s character development and the outcome of the compelling narrative.
Despite some minor problems with its controls and visuals, Under the Skin is ultimately redeemed by the excellence of its writing.

Thimbleweed Park
Genre: Point u0026 Click AdventurernrnPlatforms: Windows, PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, Android, iOS
Inspired by traditional point-and-click adventure games like Maniac Mansion, Thimbleweed Park challenges you with investigating a small-town murder from the perspective of two FBI agents.
Things eventually expand as new persons of interest are revealed and become playable, allowing you to gain additional insight into each character’s personality and hidden motives.
This is another game that’s replete with references, including nods to Twin Peaks and just about every LucasArts adventure game.
Its vibrant pixel art visuals are further complemented by excellent writing brimming with off-beat jokes, dry humor, and the occasional gag.

Twin Mirror
Genre: Narrative AdventurernrnPlatforms: Windows, PS4, Xbox One
Twin Mirror sees Life is Strange developer Dontnod back at the helm with a distinctive story focusing on a fresh cast of characters.
You play as Sam, a man struggling with depression that becomes substantially worse upon returning to his hometown for his best friend’s funeral.
One morning, Sam wakes up in his hotel room to find his shirt bloody, and his memory wiped.
Unable to recall events from the night before, Sam sets off to investigate where he was and what happened from the time he left his hotel room up until he woke up.