Detective is a subgenre of Mystery-fiction and Crime-fiction, in which a detective or an investigator either an amateur, professional or retired investigates the crime and often murder. The detective games take place in the fictional environment full of puzzles, mysteries, and objectives. The player as the detective must investigate the crime scene, interact with the environment to find clues, analyze them, interrogate the suspect and find the person who is guilty. The detective is the person who is responsible for solving the murder, and criminal cases to enhance his reputation in the city. There are four different types of detectives such as the Amateur Detective, the Private Detective, the Police Detective, and the Forensic Specialist. Some detective games are inspired by television shows. In these games, the player deals with mysterious, crime scenes, suspects, environment, and clues. Some detective games use point and click interface to control the character, and while some games use hidden and object elements to fulfill the requirement or catch the guilty person.
#1 Layton’s Mystery Journey
Layton’s Mystery Journey is a Single-player, Puzzle and Adventure video game developed and published by Level-5. The game serves as the seventh title in the series of Professor Layton and revolves around the struggle of the new protagonist named as Katrielle Layton, who are looking for her missing father named as Professor Hershel Layton. You steps into the shoes of the female protagonist, a private detective and a daughter of Professor Hershel Layton, who wakes up from a nightmare about her father who goes missing. It brings a series of levels full of challenges and dangers. The primary aim is to explore the land, solve mind-bending puzzles, and unearth secret behind the disappearance of your father. Like previous titles, the game introduces different puzzles for you to accomplish using the touch screen as you explore the landscapes and progress through the story. Layton’s Mystery Journey includes core features such as Female Protagonist, Daily Puzzles to Solve, Customization, Additional Mini-Games, Offline Play, New Characters, and more. Try it out, and you’ll enjoy it.
#2 The Blackwell Convergence
The Blackwell Convergence is the third game in the Blackwell series and is developed by Wadjet Eye Games. This Graphic Action-Adventure and Interactive Drama video game features the character of Rosangela Blackwell a spiritual medium, and her spirit guide Joey Malone who basically provides with a connection between the ghosts and the living. Rosangela starts living in solitary after the death of her aunt Lauren Blackwell and gets asked by some unknown source to write a story on a Collage Dorm Suicide. She accepts and starts writing when suddenly Joey Malone’s ghost appears and tells Rosa that she is a Medium just like her aunt Lauren and asks her to solve a case of a little girl whose ghost in haunting a Dog Park and is being quite a problem for the people. You as the protagonist Rosa will have to visit the Park and gather clues and objects that can help you with your investigation. Meanwhile Joey will provide you with a connection to her ghost and will gather the clues and objects from the world of ghosts. It would be an unfair to not call The Blackwell Convergence a masterpiece for all the great things it offers. The story is superb, game-play totally is presented in a Film-Noir style and the graphics are a wonder. Play it and you’ll definitely enjoy this fantastic game.
#3 The Wolf Among Us
The Wolf Among Us is an Interactive Drama, Episodic and Graphic Adventure video game developed by “Telltale Game”. The story of the game is based on “Bill Willingham” Comic Book Series named as “Fables”. The game takes you back to the past in the year 1986 and fits you right into the character of “Bigby Wolf” a law enforcing officer. “The Wolf Among Us” starts off with you as the protagonist saving a fable girl from the attack of a woodsman. You take her to your place where she heals her wounds and leaves saying that “You are not as bad as People think you are”. Chapter ends and in next chapter someone gives you the news of the fable girl’s head resting at a Woodsman doorstep. Sherrif “Ichabod Crane” orders you to investigate and solve the case and take “Snow White” with you as your assistant. “The Wolf Among Us” is a super thrilling and exciting case solving and detective video game that lets you solve murder cases by investigating and collecting the clues/evidences and by interacting with objects and NPCs. The game has a twisted and strange story that literally makes you dive deep into imagination and curiosity. Wolf Among Us offers a brilliant Episodic, Interactive and Story Driven gameplay and beautiful visuals to enjoy.
#4 Detective Grimoire
Detective Grimoire is an addictive, Point and Click and Single-player video game developed by SFB Games and published by Armor Games. The game is a mix of Adventure and Puzzle elements and takes place in the fantastic world filled with traps, puzzles, and clues. You can take on the role of the protagonist who is a detective and your goal is to interrogate the suspects, gather clues, solve complicated puzzles and find the truth behind the scene. You act as Detective Grimoire, who is a mysterious adventurer. There are variety of levels and each level offers exciting and challenging gameplay that you enjoy. Score the highest points by completing different levels and use them to unlock further features in the game. You can interact with objects and NPCs to progress through the game and can show off your abilities to prove yourself as the best detective. With superb mechanics, addictive gameplay, and brilliant visuals, Detective Grimoire is the best game to play and enjoy.
#5 The Trace: Murder Mystery Game
The Trace: Murder Mystery Game is an Adventure, Hidden Object, Detective, Crime-solving and Single-player video game created by Relentless Software for mobile platforms. The game takes place in the fictional world and puts the player in the role of the detective who must solve a variety of murder cases by investigating the scene, collecting the clues, interrogating the suspects and solving the mind-bending puzzles. There are a variety of levels and the player must find hidden objects from each level to score the points and complete the level. As the player advances, the game becomes tough to play. The player explores the world from a first-person perspective and can interact with objects and environment to get information about the crime scene. The Trace: Murder Mystery Game includes prominent features such as 3D Landscapes, Ordinary Items, Collect Clues, Find Evidence to Solve Puzzles, Captivating Atmospheric Music, and more. With addictive gameplay, intuitive controls, and lots of challenging levels, The Trace: Murder Mystery Game is the best game to play.
#6 Hidden Objects: Mystery Crimes
Hidden Objects: Mystery Crimes is an immersive, Puzzle, Hidden Object, Adventure and Single-player video game by Storm8 Studios. The game takes place in different locations and puts you into the role of the detective and includes a variety of criminal scenes to solve. The ultimate task is to solve the murder cases and catch the persons who are guilty. According to the story, the city is threatened by criminals, and they become very sharp, and the local police are helpless to catch them. The government decides to send the special agents of FBI to take down criminals. Your main task is to navigate the crime scene, find clues and analyze and interrogate the suspects and solve the mystery by catching the murderer. You can explore a set of locations such as Gloomy Subway Terminal, Sunny Park and more. There are more than twenty murder cases in different locations. Hidden Objects: Mystery Crimes offers core features such as find hidden Objects, Explore various Locations, Unravel the Mysteries, Interrogate Suspicious, Solve (theft, murder, and other crime cases), show Detective Skills, and more. Hidden Objects: Mystery Crimes is the wonderful game as compared to other Hidden Object games.
#7 Broken Sword 5: The Serpent’s Curse
Broken Sword 5: The Serpent’s Curse is an Episodic, Comic Style Point-and-Click Puzzle-Platform and Action-Adventure video game by Revolution Software. The game take you to Paris and let’s choose your character from two choices, The Fearless Amarican George Stobbart and a French journalist named Nico Collard. Your task in the game is to find out the truth about a Stolen Painting, a Murder and a possible worldwide destruction by the hands of the Devil. You must solve this mysterious case by using your true detective skills, logic and unique abilities. To complete the game objectives, you’ll have to go through a lot of challenges, puzzles and a lot of difficulties because the strings are attached to the Devil himself. The mystery of Surpent’s Curse must be solved in order to save the world from chaos and destruction. With wonderful 5 episodes, amazing adventures across Europe, hand drawn visuals, a well written story and an amazingly addictive game-play, Broken Sword 5: the Serpent’s Curse is a brilliant game to play and enjoy.
#8 Gemini Rue
Gemini Rue is a Graphic-Adventure, Interactive Drama and Cyberpunk video game developed by Wadjet Eye Games. The story of the game bases on point-and-Click Puzzles and investigations and lets you explore the game world, interact with NPCs, collect clues and objects and engage in quite exciting Gun-play. The game takes place in the Gemini Star System in 23rd century and allows you to get into the character of Azriel Odin a gangster turned Law Enforcer. You must ride in your ship and travel to Barracus in search of your brother Daniel kidnapped by Boryokudan a terrorist organization. You must also collect the clues and objects pointing in the direction of your brother’s current location. You will be required to get information from the NPCs and solve some puzzles in order to find answers to the questions you have. As Matthius Howard will be your companion throughout your journeys, you can get help from him on specific points in the game by exchanging your place with him. You must eliminate the Syndicate too and save the whole universe along with your brother. Gemini Rue is a great Graphic-Adventure and interactive Drama based video game to play and enjoy. You should totally give it a try.
#9 Mystery Case Files: Madame Fate
Mystery Case Files: Madame Fate is hidden object puzzle and case solving video game developed by Big Fish Studios. This game is quite different from all the typical hidden object and case solving video games. The story presents Madame Fate as a fortune teller who foresees her own murder and asks the player to help her find the murderer before time to keep him from killing her. This is where the player gets into the game and starts investigating and collecting all the objects that can be an accessory to her murder. You’ll get tasked with interaction with all the people around Madame Fate and you must investigate in a disguise and the random people must not know who you really are. Your duty is to collect all the objects/clues as evidence and find out the man who is going to murder Madame Fate and stop it from happening. The game provides several level and difficulties to play and enjoy the game. For a great hidden object and case solving game-play, do try out this super thriller game.
#10 Mystery Manor
Mystery Manor is an Awesome, Adventure, Hidden Object, Puzzle, and Single-player video game created and published by Game Insight. The game is designed for mobile platforms such as Android and iOS. It offers puzzle-based gameplay and allows you to engage yourself in Hidden Object experience. According to the story, a mysterious event occurred and ruined the total life of its inhabitants. Their respectable master X has strangely misplaced leaving no clue but a strange message (Only you reveal the secrets of Mystery Manor). Choose your character and jump into the world of the game and challenge yourself with Hidden Object Action. The game includes challenging quests and allows you to complete it and earn points that you can use to unlock additional levels. The game includes hint features and lets you see the intricate items to this features. In the start, the game provides you with a list of things that you must find to locate your master X and uncover the mysteries of the manor. The game includes a lot of features such as Detective Story, Huge Variety of Objects, Puzzle to Solve, Search for the Objects, Help your Friends, and much more. Mystery Manor offers the best mechanics, superb visuals, exciting gameplay, and stunning visuals. It is the best game to play and enjoy.
#11 CSI: Hidden Crimes
CSI: Hidden Crimes is an addictive Puzzle, Hidden Object and Single-player video game released for iOS and Android by Ubisoft Entertainment. The game puts you in the role of the detective and introduces a variety of challenging crime scenes. Select your avatar and customize him using different items and accessories. Explore the game world, interact with NPCs, and struggle to complete the complex cases. Reach the exact location where the crime occurred, interrogate the case, find clues, and investigate the suspect, find the person who is guilty and put them in a case. Accomplish a series of levels and use hint system if you finds some difficulty. Earn experience points and enhance your level and abilities. Score the highest points, connect the Facebook and challenge your friends to beat it. Unlock valuables, and use them to unblock further character in the game. With the stunning environment, addictive gameplay, and superb soundtracks, CSI: Hidden Crimes is the best game as compared to other Hidden Object games. Try it out.
#12 Another Case Solved
Another Case Solved combines the elements of Detective, Hidden Object, and Puzzle. It has Single-player mode only and lets you a chance to become a detective and solve a set of complex cases. It is developed by Noddlecake Studios Inc. The game takes place in the fictional city threatened by Criminals. To get into the game world, you have to create your character and customize his look with different props, outfits and more. Explore the game world, find clues, analyze suspects, and find the person who is guilty. There are tons of story-driven cases that puzzle your mind. The game focuses on hidden-object gameplay and lets you solve challenging puzzles my matching orbs to complete tasks. It rewards you with experience points as you complete a case and can use these points to unlock different items, levels, and achievements. Find the criminals and interrogate them and save your city. Through customization option, you can modify the appearance of your office and can change yourself in the game. Another Case Solved is the wonderful puzzle game to play and enjoy.
#13 Nancy Drew
Nancy Drew is a Series of games that offers various Action-Adventure and Point-and-Click exploits of the character of Nancy Drew. The series features over a dozen games and is one of the longest running series of mysteries that tends to provide you with quality entertainment and immerses you deeply with the brilliant stories. Available on various gaming platforms such as PC, Mac, Linux, Nintendo and Smart phones, Nancy Drew offers Interactive and Visual Novel style aesthetics and allows you to solve puzzles, talk to NPCs, Collect items, and solve crimes and Mysteries. Being a fantastic video game series, Nancy Drew offers some of the most amazing Video games in the series and some of them are big hits such as Nancy Drew Adventures, Nancy Drew Dossier and Nancy Drew Mobile Mysteries etc. Throughout the series Nancy Drew offers a number of different environments, stories, characters and various gameplay experiences etc. With all the fantastic story-driven gameplays, Nancy Drew lets you enjoy both exploration and Detective aesthetics and that is what makes the whole series a marvelous creation of all time.
#14 Max Payne
Max Payne is an action and a Third-person Shooter video game developed by Remedy Entertainment and published by Gathering of Developers and Rockstar Games. The game revolves around the character of Max Payne, a detective in NYPD (New York Police Department). In the game, Max Payne follows the footprints of the killer who murdered his whole family. The story of the game draws the inspiration from the novels of Micky Spillane. Max Payne features fast-paced action and adventure filled game-play along with superbly crafted graphics. Being available on multiple platforms like PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 2, Xbox 360, Gameboy Advance, iOS and Android, Max Payne sold over 7.5 million copies worldwide and inspired a feature film under the same title. With all the fantastic Action and Thrill, Neo-Noir style, amazing graphic Novel Panels, Cut Scenes, Voice-Overs and the brilliant Narrative of the game, Max Payne offers a truly very amazing and brilliant Third-person Shooting gaming. Max Payne offers a number of cool weapons such as Semi-Automatic Pistols, Shot Guns, Aks, Grenades and lot of others and allows you to also use melee weapons while being close proximity to the enemies. The game lets you Dual Wield some of the weapons and allows yo to keep your health at max by using the Painkillers and keep on unleashing hell on the enemy soldiers. Max Payne offers the cool Bullet Time feature throughout the series that allows you to use the Slow Motion features while attacking your enemies and that helps save yourself from the incoming bullets. Furthermore the “Dead on Arrival” mode lets you use Seven Saves feature that helps you re-spawn if you are dead in the game for Seven Times. With all the fantastic and fast-paced action, thrill and drama, Max Payne is one of the best ever Third-person Shooting games. Try it out if you haven’t yet and enjoy the ultimate fun.
#15 Criminal Case: Pacific Bay
Criminal Case: Pacific Bay is an Adventure, Hidden Object and Single-player video game created by Pretty Simple for iOS and Android. The game offers you an opportunity to experience the life of the detective who solve complicated cases to prove his skills. It includes more than hundreds of crime scenes with unique puzzles to solve. You as the detective can join the police force of Pacific Bay to solve a variety of murder cases using the hidden object elements. Your job is to investigate the scene for clues, analyze evidence, bring the suspect in for questioning and catch the killer to solve the case. There are a series of levels available and you have to find a variety of objects from each level and add them in your inventory to solve the mystery of murder. The game becomes hard to master, as the game proceeds, and unlock further challenges to complete. Criminal Case: Pacific Bay includes core features such as Investigation the Crime Scenes, Examine the Clues, Interrogate the Suspects and Witnesses, and more. Try it out, if you want to be a detective.
#16 Criminal Case
Criminal Case is a hidden object game that puts you into the shoes of detectives and tasks you to find the objects/clues on different crime scenes to solve the murder cases. Your duty is to explore the crime scenes collect items as evidence, analyze them at the lab, record the alibi of the suspects and solve the cases on the basis of your findings. Criminal Case is an interesting video game that is widely famous across the globe and has a very strong user strength. The game sets in a fictitious city named as Grimsborough, USA and lets you be a rookie cop and a skilld investigator in the Grimsborough Police Department. With all the amazing talents and skills in hunting down the suspects and, defying all the obstacles in investigations, and arresting the murderers, serial killers, and notoriously crazy criminals, you have a big name in the department. After solving almost 50 difficult cases, you are able to bring back the peace to the city and your job in the city of Grimsborough in finished, its now time to move to the City of Pacific Bay, where countless unsolved cases are waiting for you. Your task is simple, get the case files, and start the hunt for the suspects, bring them to justice and bring the city’s peace back and move to the next city in need. With a chapter wise game story, beautifully designed and well portrayed missions/cases and a totally addictive and quite exciting gameplay, Criminal Case is one amazing Puzzle, Detective and Hidden Objects video game to play and enjoy. Do give it a try.
#17 Yesterday
Yesterday is an Adventure, Puzzle, Point and Click and Single-player video game developed by Pendulo Studios and published by Focus Home Interactive. The game takes place in the fictional City called New York and the story revolves around the disappearance of beggars one by one. The police and media gave the little attention to these events, and no one knows where the bagger goes. Henry White a young and rich person who run a charitable organization and Cooper, Henry’s friend are the first that begin an investigation the disappearance of beggars. There are two playable characters, and you can select one of them to start the game. The game puts you on an epic adventure where you have to solve lots of mysteries using points and click method and find the reason behind beggar disappearance. As you progress through the game, it becomes more challenges. Explore each level, gain experience and unlock further content. Yesterday is the best Point and Click the game to play and enjoy.
#18 Her Story
Her Story mixes the Psychological Horror, Adventure, Detective, Point-and-Click and Single-player video game developed and published by Sam Barlow. It is a mystery game, playing like a true crime documentary where the game enables the player go hand on with the database of police of live action footage. The game starts with a film actress named as Viva Seifert, Joe Gideon and Shark. In the game, the player takes on the role of the detective who must solve a variety of murder cases and experience a unique gameplay from start to finish. The player needs to find and collect evidence, interact with suspects, and progress through the story to solve complicated cases. It lets the player sits in front of the computer, logs into the police database to find out hundreds of video clips that covers several interviews from 1994, in which the women are interrogated about their missing husband. The player can manipulate the police database by typing words and watch the clips where the player needs to collect evidence. Her Story is the wonderful game to play and enjoy.
#19 Spy Fox in Dry Cereal
Spy Fox in Dry Cereal is an Adventure, and Single-player video game developed and published by Humongous Entertainment for multiple platforms. It is the 1st of three games in the series of Spy Fox and takes place on the fictional Island known as Acidophilus in Greece. It offers an exciting story, in which the antagonist known as William the Kid, who is the Nectar of the Goats Corporation’s CEO, plans to ride the world with the milk of a cow to take over the world of dairy. There are a set of levels, and each level offers a set of puzzles to complete. The player takes on the role of the Spy Fox, and he has an ability to ask a specific question to characters about anything in the game. The primary objective is to find the Mr. Udderly, save all the cows and fend off William, the kid from disturbing the supply of milk to the world. Using lots of detective gadgets, daring moves, and keen wits, the player jumps out on an epic adventure to immerse himself in fun-filled activities. Innovative New Tools, Earn Clues, Logical Puzzles, Spy Gadgets, etc. are prominent features in the game.