The art of deducing the truth has long been a human fascination, from the Benjamin Button style of Columbo, to the ‘little grey cells’ of some Belgium chap with a fabulous moustache. Detectives have captured the attention of millions for centuries.
But whilst some of the greats reside in books and film. What could be a better experience than playing as the one who is uncovering the truth. Video games allow us the freedom to live out our fantasies, more so than any other medium. Below is a list of the top fifteen best detective games for PC.
15. Judgement
Judgement official trailer.
Judgement is an action adventure detective game set in the fictional light district of Kamurocho, Tokyo. You play as Takayuki Yagami, a disgraced defence attorney turned crusading detective.
Played from the third person perspective, players control Yagami, as he quests to uncover the truth behind a series of gruesome murders. Leading him deeper and deeper into the warren of Kamurocho’s underground crime network.
Judgement is a great detective game. The beautiful fictional district of Tokyo immerses the player in a story that is gripping, raw and memorable. Anyone who loves Sleeping Dogs will love this game.
Our protagonist Yagami, tailing a man through the gleaming neon streets of Kamurocho.
14. Pentiment
Pentiment official trailer.
Set in early 16th century Bavaria, Pentiment is a historical narrative driven game that puts a heavy emphasis on player choices, character development and impactful storytelling.
The game is played from a 2D perspective, as players take control of the protagonist Andreas Maler. A talented and wandering illustrator who investigates a series of murders in the fictional town of Tassing.
Pentiment is a brilliant game. Its unique and distinguishable art style and superbly written story, makes it one of the best detective games for PC.
Florian begins his autopsy, whilst Andreas observes.
13. The Case of the Golden Idol
The Case of the Golden Idol official trailer.
The Case of the Golden Idol is a point and click detective puzzle game. Where players gather together clues from twelve mysterious cases, over the course of forty years.
The player is placed shortly after one of the twelve characters of the game meets their fate. You are then tasked with discovering how they met their end as well as what connects all the characters’ deaths.
Set in the 18th century, The Case of the Golden Idol is a visually distinctive game that allows players the freedom to explore and deduce the truth of the gruesome crimes.
A player concludes the true events of a crime.
12. Strange Horticulture
Strange Horticulture official trailer.
Strange Horticulture is a puzzle game set in the old fashioned town of Undermere. You play as the Horticulturist, who owns the plant store Strange Horticulture.
Travel the lands surrounding Undermere in your search for a range of different plants, all with their own unique abilities. Serve a variety of customers and shape the course of events around you.
Strange Horticulture is an interesting narrative based mystery game that challenges the players reading and observations skills. The freedom you are given in choosing the right or wrong plant for customers, is immensely entertaining.
One of the seventy seven plants and mushrooms available in the game.
11. Contraband Police
Contraband Police official trailer.
Contraband Police is set in the fictional communist country of Acaristan in 1981. The player controls a recently appointed border guard, who is responsible for inspecting all vehicles wishing to cross the border.
The player is tasked with deducing whether any of the vehicles attempting to cross into Acaristan are smuggling contraband goods. If this is found to be the case, you will do everything in your power to apprehend the smuggler.
With its aesthetically pleasing Soviet-esque setting, immersive language and tense gameplay. Contraband Police is one of the best detective games for PC.
Inspecting a potential smugglers documents.
10. Back to the Dawn
Back to the Dawn official trailer.
Back to the Dawn is a stylish RPG that is set in a maximum security prison. Players take control of a framed and wrongfully imprisoned journalist.
Initially tasked with surviving the hostile predicament they’re in. Players then choose how they wish to thrive, slick tongued manipulator, shadowy thief or hard knuckle bruiser. The choice is yours.
Back to the Dawn is one of the best prison games there is, it’s freedom in allowing the player to choose how they wish to thrive and ultimately escape. Sets it apart from most other prison orientated games.
Wrongfully imprisoned, our protagonist must rise to the top.
9. Return of the Obra Dinn
The Return of the Obra Dinn is a first-person mystery adventure game set aboard a crewless ship that has drifted into the port of Falmouth.
You play as an insurance investigator for the East India Company’s London Office. You are dispatched and tasked with investigating and assessing the mysterious ship.
Return of the Obra Dinn has rightfully earned multiple gaming awards. It’s minimal colour art style, historical setting and intriguing story. Make it one of the best detective games on the market.
Climbing aboard the Obra Dinn to investigate its mysterious return.
8. Shadows of Doubt
Shadows of Doubt official trailer.
Shadows of Doubt is a detective stealth game set in a hyper industrialised city of the 1980’s. You play as a private investigator, who trades clues and information for money.
The overarching objective is to track down a serial killer who is committing unspeakable crimes throughout the neon city. The players also have the freedom to explore the game’s many side stories.
A very impressive detective game that ticks an awful lot of boxes. The biggest box for me is that you can explore every nook and cranny of the city.
Rain tumbles down on the neo-noir city.
7. Disco Elysium – The Final Cut
Disco Elysium official trailer.
Players take on the role of an unnamed amnesiac detective who is given the task of solving a murder mystery.
The game has two main objectives, to solve the murder mystery and to regain your memories.
I’ve been brief in my explanations as Disco Elysium is a very in depth and nuanced game. It’s also arguably the best detective game on this list and I don’t want to give anything away.
The hanged man.
6. Heavy Rain
Heavy Rain official trailer.
Heavy Rain is a psychological thriller that follows the trials and tribulations of four characters, Ethan a father, Madison a journalist, Scott a private eye and Norman a FBI agent.
All four characters are on their own quest to find the Origami Killer, each finding new clues and mysteries along their path. But be careful, if you choose poorly, you may lose some of them along the way.
Heavy Rain is a great addition to the catalogue of PC detective games. Its gritty, oppressive environment, storytelling and quick time events. Make it one of the most memorable games you’ll play.
A much happier time for Ethan Mars.
5. The Sinking City
The Sinking City official trailer.
The Sinking City is a mystery game that takes place in a fictional world that is heavily inspired by the works of H.P. Lovecraft.
Set in the 1920’s you play as a private investigator who finds himself in the flooded and supernatural city of Oakmont Massachusetts, New England. Can you keep your sanity and unravel the mystery or will you be lost to the depths.
With its unique and immersive environment and supernatural element. The Sinking City is a great detective game experience.
Not exactly a warm welcome.
4. Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Trilogy
Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Trilogy official trailer.
This game is a compilation of the first three games in the Ace Attorney series. You play as Phoenix Wright, an attorney who does battle to defend his clients in the courtroom.
The goal in this visual novel adventure game is to defend your clients across fourteen different, exciting cases.
An incredibly in depth and interesting game to play, I for one love anything revolving around a courtroom. And what could be better than to play as the attorney.
Dogged witnesses, one of the many challenges you will face.
3. Sherlock Holmes: The Devil’s Daughter
Sherlock Holmes: The Devil’s Daughter official trailer.
This is the latest entry in the long running Sherlock Holmes series. Where players once again take control of the world’s most famous detective.
Embark on five cases all with their own unique story. All of the cases expertly tie together in an overarching story about Sherlock’s ‘adopted’ daughter.
The Sherlock Holmes games developed by Frogwares give the fans the chance to role play as Arthur Conan Doyle’s brilliant detective.
A burning house is one of the many perils that await Sherlock.
2. The Wolf Among Us
The Wolf Among Us official trailer.
The Wolf Among Us is an episodic neo-noir mystery game based on the award winning Fables comic books (DC Comic/Vertigo). You play as Bigby Wolf, the Sheriff of Fabletown.
Over the course of the five episodes players will follow Bigby on his path to uncovering the truth behind a bloody, sudden murder.
Telltale’s art style is always a visual treat, the story is well written, with a host of familiar characters. Some of which are far from their romanticised portrayal.
Bigby and The Woodsman throw down.
1. L.A. Noire
L.A. Noire official trailer.
L.A. Noire is a violent crime thriller set in the booming city of Los Angeles in 1947. You step into the shoes of Cole Phelps, a war hero, ready to make his mark on the City of Angels.
You play through five different police desks, Patrol, Traffic, Homicide, Vice and Arson. As you follow Cole’s career from rookie patrolman to flying high detective.
In my humble opinion nothing will come close to L.A. Noire in terms of storytelling, innovation and capturing a period in time. This isn’t a ranked list but it deserves top spot all the same.
One of the many dirty secrets of Hollywood.
So that’s my list of the top fifteen best detective games for PC. If you’re a lover of mystery and crime, there’s plenty to get your teeth stuck into.
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