No matter whether you are an RPG lover or an adventure hunk, you must have a weakness when it comes to the best detective games for PC. This genre simply takes us on a thrilling journey into the virtual realm of crime, where we become Sherlock Holmes, and finding the criminal is our task to move on to the next level.
Games of this genre usually offer immersive experiences full of suspense, intrigue, and mind-bending puzzles. That’s why people love this genre regardless of their age, profession, and preference.
However, if you have some time to enjoy some of the best detective games on your PC, we have a list of some solid games for you.
Best Detective Games for PC
Before we start, let me inform you about something important. Even if the genre is detective games, the listed games have different plots, styles, and features. That’s why you should check out the details of each game so that you can choose the best one for you.
1. The Wolf Among Us
The Wolf Among Us must be our first recommendation as it offers an iridescent noir experience set in a town covered by crimes. Here, you’ll get the role of the popular and honest Detective, Bigby, the Big Bad Wolf. Your task in this episodic game is to investigate the violent murders of different fairytale characters.
For many players, The Wolf Among Us is not just a favorite detective game but also a form of emotion. This narrative-driven game will place you in situations with impactful choices, and your decision can shape the storyline.
However, the plot is filled with familiar fairytale characters like Snow White and Sleeping Beauty.
2. Sherlock Holmes: Crimes and Punishments
Sherlock Holmes’s Crimes and Punishments is the game without which we can’t form the list of the best detective games for PC. This one offers an immersive detective experience that is completely related to the original series.
Here, you’ll have to investigate scrutinizing crime scenes for evidence and deducing the correct culprits.
The game balances Holmes’ intuition with player freedom in an extraordinary way. Just remember that your decision will change the future of the game, so you need to avoid the possibility of incorrect conclusions.
Here, each case exudes mystery and grandeur like what you read in the novels. So, if Sherlock Holmes is your personal favorite and you like games focused on investigation, try this one first.
3. Gemini Rue
If you prefer a gripping sci-fi mystery across a rain-drenched planet, stop here and try Gemini Rue. With over 60 hand-drawn backgrounds, it takes players in a moody and serious atmosphere where crime is the ruler.
Here, you can navigate dual protagonists, Azriel Odin and Delta-Six, each with a unique story.
These two people come closer by fate, as they are the chosen ones who will save the commoners. The town is in misery, where people can’t live freely, identities are commodities, and redemption can alter a galaxy’s fate.
However, as a detective game lover, you’ll definitely love Gemini Rue for its compelling visuals and suspenseful, interwoven storyline.
4. Broken Sword
Broken Sword is a point-and-click adventure series that is full of clever puzzles. As a detective, you have to solve these puzzles that challenge your problem-solving skills and only this way, you can solve a mystery. However, the narrative revolves around two people, George Stobbart and Nico Collard.
The plot of this game is sharp and charming. You will experience villainous escapades and encounter eccentric characters in adventurous locations like the cobbled streets of Paris.
The game is full of mystical crimes, and you are the one to solve them. You will have many cases, each with more difficult puzzles than before.
5. The Great Ace Attorney Chronicles
The next one is The Great Ace Attorney Chronicles. This game will transport you to 19th-century England and Japan as the rookie lawyer Ryunosuke Naruhodo. This character is the ancestor of the Phoenix Wright.
However, the entire gameplay will revolve around Ryunosuke’s adventures with the legendary Herlock Sholmes.
This game is specifically good for entry-level detective games as it offers a convenient storytelling mode where the game unfolds like a TV show and flawlessly takes control at any point.
The best part of the plot is the inclusion of Herlock Sholmes, which adds a whimsical touch to the narrative. At least for the engaging storytelling and user-friendly features, you should give it a try.
6. Unavowed
After Gemini Rue, we’ll recommend The Wadjet Eye Games’ another production that is Unavowed. This one is a gripping detective game set in a blood-soaked New York where a malevolent demon uses your body for murders. So, all you have to do is join the Unavowed, an ancient society that battles this evil.
Here, you can customize your experience by choosing companions with unique abilities like seeing ghosts or controlling fire. In that sense, it’s not just a classic detective game but one with a blending of supernatural detective work. The game has 3 different stories where you will experience different plots and gameplay.
7. Gabriel Knight: Sins of the Fathers
Gabriel Knight: Sins of the Fathers is a reimagined blockbuster murder-mystery adventure game. Originally acclaimed in 1993, it has been recently developed with HD graphics, new puzzles, and scenes. I would specifically suggest this game to the 90’s kids and I’m sure many of you will remember the unforgettable plot of this game.
In this game, you will play the role of Gabriel Knight, a struggling author in New Orleans. You have to investigate ritual killings tied to voodoo mysteries.
However, the updated version comes with a remastered soundtrack by composer Robert Holmes, along with special extras like original concept art, behind-the-scenes content, and exclusive interviews.
8. The Vanishing of Ethan Carter
The Vanishing of Ethan Carter is another unique mystical game where the plot revolves around Detective Paul Prospero’s paranormal investigation into the disappearance of Ethan Carter in Red Creek Valley, Wisconsin.
Drawing inspiration from Twin Peaks and Village of the Damned, the game combines natural beauty with unsettling mysteries.
Here, you have to analyze clues and recreate scenes using paranormal observation skills. You can freely explore the isolated valley to look for hints and clues that will help you solve the mysteries.
Unlike typical detective games, it offers a personal theorizing experience based on the evidence you will collect in your journey.
9. L.A. Noire
I’m sure that a group of games are here that love the settings of the time around WW1 and 2. If you are one of them, L.A. Noire is your must-play detective game for PC. It’s like a 1940s crime drama where you will play the role of Cole Phelps, a dedicated detective whose task is all about crime scene investigation and witness interrogation to solve cases.
The interrogation system in this game is unique as they are completely skill-based. Here, you can interpret microexpressions and use acquired clues to find the mysteries.
This game is full of unexpected twists, incorporating Hollywood shootouts and thrilling car chases. So, for the best-ever dramatic mystery-solving experience, you shouldn’t miss it.
10. Disco Elysium
For the RPG lover, Disco Elysium is the bonus for today. For me, the best part of this game is the freedom of choice, where you can select your own skill assignments, clothing, and other items.
This game is set in a murder mystery scenario, and you are the protagonist who is suffering from a severe hangover when the game is introduced.
As you continue to play, unexpected twists will appear, and you will be in an inconvenient situation from which you can only come out with your intelligence.
So, with mystery-solving skills, you will need clever RPG experience to finish the game. However, the best part of this game is its multiple plot progression paths based on the protagonist’s personality traits.
Wrapping Up
You must check that we have added the best detective games for PC from different categories. For a classical detective experience, you should try Sherlock Holmes or Broken Sword.
If you love the extra twists of supernaturalism, try Gabriel Knight or Unavowed. Other games also have their unique criteria, so check out their features once again to choose the right one.
However, do you have friends who love to play detective games? If yes, don’t forget to share this article with them to let them enjoy these masterpieces as well. Also, don’t forget to let us know which one you are starting with. Best of luck.
