If you want a story that starts with unanswered questions and gradually reveals the forces behind them, these three games offer very different ways to investigate. Choose The Black Watchmen for research that spills into the real world, Return of the Obra Dinn for close observation and deduction, or Deus Ex for a conspiracy-driven action RPG.
Which kind of investigation do you want?
| Game | Best for | What you do to uncover the truth |
|---|---|---|
| The Black Watchmen | An investigation that extends beyond the screen | Research websites and media, solve codes and puzzles, and follow an alternate-reality narrative. |
| Return of the Obra Dinn | A contained mystery built around logical deduction | Explore a ship and piece together what happened as an insurance investigator. |
| Deus Ex | A science-fiction conspiracy with action and role-playing | Follow JC Denton through a conspiracy, approaching obstacles through different choices and methods. |
The Black Watchmen: investigate beyond the game
The Black Watchmen is the clearest pick if you want to feel like an investigator working across a web of clues. Its official site describes it as a permanent alternate-reality game that uses the real world as its game world, blending fiction with everyday interactions. Missions can involve codes, research, investigating unusual events, and uncovering connections.
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That format is its defining appeal—and the key distinction from a conventional adventure. You may need to engage with websites, social media, phone calls, text messages, or real-world locations, rather than expect every clue to appear in a self-contained game environment. The official site explains the format and examples of mission types at The Black Watchmen.
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Return of the Obra Dinn: solve the mystery by observing
If you would rather investigate entirely within a focused game, Return of the Obra Dinn centers on exploration and logical deduction. You board a ship as an insurance investigator and work out what happened to its crew. The PlayStation listing describes it as a first-person mystery adventure based on exploration and logical deduction; the creator’s official site is obradinn.com, and the listing is available from PlayStation.
#1 Best Overall
- New character: The game is a faithful but augmented adaptation of the original story, with a new character named Joanna Locke added to the mix. With her, you can regularly exit the train environment during playable flashbacks.
- Gameplay: Enter into Hercule Poirot’s head to discover mind maps and make deductions, adding an extra layer of depth to the gameplay. And don't forget the many puzzles with object manipulations that are scattered throughout each chapter.
- Plot: Get ready for major plot twists that will keep the players hooked until the very end. Murder on the Orient Express is renowned for having one of the best plot twists in literary history, and this game is no exception.
- Solve puzzles: As you play, you'll take on the roles of Poirot and Joanna, solve puzzles and make deductions to uncover the truth behind the murder. In a 3rd person view, you'll inspect the sets and talk to all the protagonists, searching for clues and confronting the suspects.
This is the best match of the three for watching carefully, gathering evidence, and making sense of a contained mystery. Its official description presents it as a mystery adventure, not specifically as a conspiracy story, so choose it for the investigative structure rather than a promise of hidden political forces.
Deus Ex: uncover a conspiracy through an action RPG
For a literal conspiracy plot combined with action and role-playing, choose Deus Ex. You follow protagonist JC Denton as he untangles a scheme involving mysterious groups. The publisher describes choices that shape humanity’s future, while the game’s broader appeal is approaching obstacles in different ways rather than solving everything as a detective. See the publisher’s Deus Ex page.
Rank #2
- Structured like a TV drama, each chapter in Path of Mystery: A Brush with Death is presented as an episode
- The tension builds as you gather key information from everyone connected to the murder 30 years ago
- The game world is brought to life by a talented cast of voice actors, great character designs and beautiful backgrounds
- Go back to the past during the retrocognition portions and experience a retro art style
Pick this if you want the secret to unfold alongside a science-fiction action RPG. It is less focused on pure observation and deduction than Return of the Obra Dinn, and it does not use the real-world, transmedia structure of The Black Watchmen.
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Best Value
- In this entry in the Layton mystery-puzzle series, The famous Professor Hershel Layton has gone missing, and it is up to his daughter Katrielle to take centre-stage as our new protagonist
- Layton's mystery journey: Katrielle and the Millionaires' Conspiracy - Deluxe Edition marks the first time that a Layton series game is playable on TV screens, providing the perfect opportunity for would-be Sleuth to share the Joy of puzzle-solving with friends and family
- this Deluxe Edition includes more than 40 brand-new puzzles and Additionally, some puzzles from the Nintendo 3DS version have been refined
- unlocked DLC: content that was previously released as paid DLC, including the "daddy's girl" And "Luke look alike" Outfits, is unlocked from the beginning
Rank #4
- Play as a Pokémon as you talk to, befriend and fight alongside your favourite characters
- Revisit the classic in this beautiful watercolour remake of the first Mystery Dungeon - on Nintendo Switch for the very first time
- Your personality decides who you are. Answer questions about yourself to see which of the 16 Pokémon starters you will become
- Meet over 386 Pokémon and go on adventures with your handpicked rescue team to save the world from natural disasters
- Explore Mystery dungeons that change terrain, enemies and rewards every time you enter?
Rank #3
- BEST COLD CASE FILE GAME AVAILABLE - Murder at The Movie Theater - Play detective to crack this gripping murder mystery game, and bring the criminal to justice - A murder has been committed in a small port town on Fidalgo Island in America’s Pacific Northwest. Movie Theater owner - Chris Hodgson - was found dead in his office with multiple lacerations to the chest..
- 27 PIECES OF PHYSICAL EVIDENCE - Inside the case file, you'll find newspaper articles, crime scene investigation documents, suspect profiles, a beer mat, police reports, a poster, CCTV footage, phone/text records, a coroners report, a map, witness statements, photographs and more.
- SEARCH THROUGH A POLICE DATABASE - In addition to the physical evidence supplied inside of the box, you'll need to access an online police officer's digital file storage system 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 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.
How to choose
- Choose The Black Watchmen if the fun is chasing clues across websites and other real-world media.
- Choose Return of the Obra Dinn if you want to infer what happened from evidence inside a tightly focused mystery.
- Choose Deus Ex if you want a conspiracy woven into an action RPG, with choices and varied approaches to obstacles.
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