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1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsIf you enjoy scrutinizing evidence, testing theories and working out what happened, these eight fictional mystery games offer different ways to investigate. The list is organized by investigative style—not by a tested ranking—and none is a factual true-crime account. Her Story comes closest to reviewing documentary-style recordings, but its story is fiction.
Search recordings and build your own account
1. Her Story
Her Story puts the player in front of a police database of live-action video footage. You search the clips and assemble a nonlinear crime-fiction story, beginning with a British woman being interviewed about her missing husband. That search-and-review loop is a particularly close fit for viewers who like combing through interviews for details that change their understanding of a case. The official description presents it as fiction, not a real investigation. Its official site lists PC, Mac, iPad, iPhone and Android, but current store availability may vary. Her Story official site.
2. Telling Lies
If searching video conversations and forming your own account sounds appealing, Telling Lies is a natural next choice. The Her Story official site identifies it as that game’s successor and says it was released in 2019. That establishes the relationship, but not enough detail to promise that its mechanics or structure match Her Story in every respect. Her Story official site.
Work cases through investigation and interviews
3. L.A. Noire
L.A. Noire is the more conventional detective-thriller pick: you play LAPD detective Cole Phelps and investigate cases involving crimes such as arson, racketeering and murder. Nintendo describes its Switch edition as a detective game built around investigation. Choose it if you want a detective protagonist and a case-based crime story rather than a database of clips or a purely abstract deduction puzzle. Nintendo’s L.A. Noire Switch page.
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#1 Best Overall
- WHO STOLE THE TWILIGHT STONE? Help the chief solve the mystery in this fun and collaborative mystery game where you play as the detective.
- DECODE PUZZLES: Junior Detective Mysteries includes 8 evidence envelopes to unbox. In each envelope you will uncover detective tools and clues. Work collaboratively to decode the puzzles and solve the mystery - one case at a time!
- EXPLORE CLUEVILLE WITH YOUR MAP: Solve puzzles to unlock new areas of Clueville. Travel to new locations to solve puzzles and uncover clues.
- UNBOX NEW TOOLS: Each envelope includes a tool that will help you collect evidence and connect clues. Unbox tools and use them throughout the game to solve the mystery.
- COOPERATIVE ONE-TIME SOLVE GAME: In this single-play strategy game, work together to decode puzzles, uncover hidden secrets and solve the case. Play collaboratively with others or solo!
4. Sherlock Holmes: Crimes & Punishments
This entry gives you six separate cases, spanning murders, missing persons and thefts. Nintendo’s description highlights interrogations, deductions and decisions about what should happen to the suspects, making this the clearest fit here for players who want distinct cases and a consequential judgment at the end of an investigation. Nintendo confirms a Switch download edition; check the current store page for availability in your region. Nintendo’s Sherlock Holmes: Crimes & Punishments page.
Reconstruct events from clues
5. Return of the Obra Dinn
Return of the Obra Dinn asks you to investigate through exploration and logical deduction rather than follow a standard police procedural. PlayStation describes it as “a first-person mystery adventure based on exploration and logical deduction.” It is a mystery investigation, not a modern true-crime story. PlayStation lists a PS4 edition. PlayStation’s Return of the Obra Dinn page.
Rank #2
- Solve Together: Dive into the world of mystery with Buffalo Games' Junior Detective board game, a compelling choice for board games for family night. Cooperative play ensures everyone from kids to adults works together on one thrilling case, creating cherished memories indoors this fall
- Interactive Clue Solving: Uncover secrets with the hidden clue decoder, making this junior detective board game a hands-on adventure. Kids will find each clue more engaging, sparking excitement as they dive into this captivating spy game
- Quick Start Fun: With straightforward rules and quick setup, you can jump straight into the mystery without a lengthy prep. Perfect for spontaneous mystery games, it ensures more time spent playing and less time setting up, ideal for fall evenings
- Flexible Group Play: Accommodating 2-6 players, this game adapts to both small gatherings and larger family nights. Whether it's a cozy evening indoors or a family gathering, enjoy the flexibility of this board game for families
- Social Deduction Gameplay: Trust-based mechanics add a unique twist, turning this detective game into a strategic social experience. Perfect for kids who love deduction games, it keeps everyone engaged as they unravel the mystery together
6. The Case of the Golden Idol
For a more focused deduction exercise, The Case of the Golden Idol has you reconstruct deaths from clues and work out suspects, motives and murder weapons. Its Steam store page describes twelve deaths connected by a broader mystery and lists an October 13, 2022 release date. It suits players who want to infer what happened from the evidence rather than primarily inhabit a detective’s routine. The Case of the Golden Idol on Steam.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Choose a more expansive or lighter mystery
7. Disco Elysium
Disco Elysium is an adjacent recommendation for readers open to a broader, more expansive detective-game experience. It is a less direct match for evidence searching or a sequence of tightly framed cases, so consider it when you want a larger narrative RPG around the detective premise. Verify the current official store page for specific features and platform availability.
Rank #3
- Complex detective investigation using clues general knowledge and Antares Database
- 5 crime cases to solve all interconnected and telling one compelling story
- A fully cooperative immersive game night experience
- 1 to 5 Players ages 16 and up
- 120 to 180 minutes playing time.Can be played on video conferencing
8. Tangle Tower
Tangle Tower rounds out the list as a lighter, less realistic mystery-adventure option. It may fit if you want a change of tone from police cases and grim crime fiction. Current platform availability and detailed product features are not established here, so check the relevant store listing before choosing a version.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- A Serial Killer Case Collab With The Morbid Podcast: Co-created with Ash and Alaina, this immersive horror mystery game drops you into a 1985 cold case with realistic evidence and a hidden truth.
- Solve a Realistic Cold Case: Crack ciphers, examine forensic files, and dig through a mystery box of clues. A true crime detective game for adults who actually want to investigate, not roll dice.
- Includes an Exclusive Podcast Episode: Recorded just for this case. Listen for clues hidden inside the audio. More than a board game, it's a true crime puzzle box that talks back.
- Realistic Evidence at Your Fingertips: Vintage newspaper clippings, suspect profiles, a locked box, a bloody scrunchie, a train figurine. Detective board game energy, no plastic tokens in sight.
- Game Night for People Who Like Their Fun A Little Dark: Play solo or with a group. A murder mystery party game for date night, girls night, dinner parties, or any couples game night that needs a body.
Rank #4
- BEST COLD CASE FILE GAME AVAILABLE - Murder of a Millionaire - A murder has been committed in the town of Redmond, UK. The body of Chloe Whittle, a millionaire lottery winner, was found with a deadly stab wound to the chest. Play detective to crack this gripping unsolved case, and bring the criminal to justice.
- 29 PIECES OF PHYSICAL EVIDENCE - Inside the case file, you'll find newspaper articles, crime scene investigation photographs, receipts, betting slips, police reports, train times, CCTV footage, phone/text records, a coroners report, a map, witness statements, photographs and more.
- SEARCH THROUGH A POLICE INBOX - In addition to the physical evidence supplied inside of the box, you'll need to access an online police officer's inbox to prove the suspects innocent or guilty - but it's not easy...you'll need to be a smart investigator to gain access!
- A GREAT NIGHT IN - With approximately 2 hours of game play (depending on your skill level) and a difficulty rating of 3.5/5 this "whodunnit" style thriller will provide a fun night in for all who choose to participate. If you can't crack the case without a secret clue, hints and answers are available online.
- MADE FOR INDIVIDUALS, COUPLES, GROUPS & PARTIES - Murder mystery lovers and CSI fans will love this challenging brain teaser. It's perfect for teens or adults looking for a fun night in at home - whether you're looking for an interactive "couples night" experience, an immersive family games night, or a fun dinner party with friends.
Which investigative style should you pick?
| What you want to do | Good starting points | Why they fit |
|---|---|---|
| Search recordings for revealing details | Her Story; Telling Lies | Her Story explicitly centers on searching live-action footage. Telling Lies is identified as its successor; further mechanics are not established by the cited official page. |
| Investigate as a detective across cases | L.A. Noire; Sherlock Holmes: Crimes & Punishments | Both use a detective-led case structure; Sherlock Holmes explicitly features six cases, interrogations, deductions and decisions about suspects’ fates. |
| Infer what happened from clues | Return of the Obra Dinn; The Case of the Golden Idol | PlayStation frames Obra Dinn around logical deduction; Golden Idol focuses on reconstructing deaths and identifying suspects, motives and weapons. |
| Try a broader or lighter mystery | Disco Elysium; Tangle Tower | These are adjacent detective or mystery picks rather than direct equivalents to searchable recordings or conventional casework; verify current product details before purchase. |
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
