Best PC Mystery-Solving Games: Unraveling Thrills and Mysteries

Mystery-solving games on PC captivate players with engaging narratives, complex puzzles, and immersive environments. From detective adventures to supernatural investigations, these games test your logic, creativity, and intuition. Here’s a look at some of the best PC mystery-solving games you can play.

1. Sherlock Holmes: Crimes and Punishments

Developer: Frogwares

Release Date: September 30, 2014

Genre: Adventure, Puzzle

Step into the shoes of the world’s most famous detective, Sherlock Holmes. In Crimes and Punishments, players solve a series of complex cases, each with multiple potential outcomes. You’ll explore detailed crime scenes, gather clues, interrogate suspects, and make deductions. What makes this game stand out is the moral choices—your decisions can alter the storyline, making it feel highly personal.

2. Return of the Obra Dinn

Developer: Lucas Pope

Release Date: October 18, 2018

Genre: Puzzle, Adventure

Return of the Obra Dinn takes you aboard a ghost ship where 60 people have mysteriously died. As an insurance investigator, you must figure out how these people perished using your unique ability to witness their last moments. The game stands out with its monochrome, vintage art style and a story that unfolds through clever puzzle mechanics, allowing players to deduce the fates of the crew.

3. The Vanishing of Ethan Carter

Developer: The Astronauts

Release Date: September 26, 2014

Genre: Horror, Puzzle, Adventure

In this atmospheric horror-adventure game, players take on the role of Paul Prospero, a detective with supernatural abilities. You explore a hauntingly beautiful open world, solve environmental puzzles, and uncover the fate of a missing boy, Ethan Carter. The game’s immersive storytelling and its combination of mystery, horror, and exploration make it a standout in the genre.

4. L.A. Noire

Developer: Team Bondi, Rockstar Games

Release Date: May 17, 2011

Genre: Adventure, Crime, Open World

L.A. Noire is set in post-World War II Los Angeles, where you play as a detective solving a variety of criminal cases. What sets this game apart is its pioneering use of facial animation technology, allowing you to read suspects’ facial expressions during interrogations. With a sprawling city to explore, noir-style crime stories, and a gripping narrative, L.A. Noire is a must-play for mystery lovers.

5. Her Story

Developer: Sam Barlow

Release Date: June 24, 2015

Genre: Interactive Fiction, Puzzle

Her Story presents a unique mystery-solving experience. Players sift through video interviews of a woman discussing her husband’s disappearance. The game’s innovative structure allows you to search through video clips by typing in keywords, with the goal of piecing together the truth. Its non-linear narrative and the eerie performance by the lead actress make it an unforgettable mystery game.

6. The Wolf Among Us

Developer: Telltale Games

Release Date: October 11, 2013

Genre: Adventure, Narrative-driven

Based on the comic book series Fables, The Wolf Among Us puts you in the role of Bigby Wolf, a detective solving murders in a gritty world filled with fairy tale characters. The game is rich with atmosphere, blending noir and fantasy elements. The choices you make heavily impact the story, with consequences that span across the game's episodes.

7. Outer Wilds

Developer: Mobius Digital

Release Date: May 28, 2019

Genre: Adventure, Puzzle

Outer Wilds is an open-world mystery that combines exploration, science fiction, and time-loop mechanics. Players are tasked with unraveling the mysteries of a doomed solar system trapped in an endless loop. The game’s unique approach to storytelling, mixed with complex puzzles and physics-based exploration, creates an incredibly rewarding mystery-solving experience.

8. Disco Elysium

Developer: ZA/UM

Release Date: October 15, 2019

Genre: RPG, Adventure

Though Disco Elysium is an RPG at heart, its deep, detective-focused storyline makes it an exceptional mystery game. Set in a crumbling city, you play as a detective suffering from amnesia, trying to solve a murder while piecing together your own life. The game is renowned for its excellent writing, complex character interactions, and its unique approach to dialogue and decision-making, allowing you to shape the investigation in unexpected ways.

9. The Occupation

Developer: White Paper Games

Release Date: March 5, 2019

Genre: Adventure, Stealth

In The Occupation, you are a journalist investigating a political scandal in a fictional 1980s England. The game operates in real-time, meaning you must manage your time wisely as you gather evidence, interrogate people, and avoid security systems. The sense of urgency and the branching storylines based on your actions make this game a suspenseful mystery experience.

10. Tangle Tower

Developer: SFB Games

Release Date: October 10, 2019

Genre: Adventure, Puzzle

Tangle Tower is a charming, visually appealing murder mystery with a unique art style. Players must solve the murder of Freya Fellow, with suspects that each have their own quirky personalities. The game combines traditional point-and-click mechanics with logical puzzles, and its engaging story is packed with humor and intrigue, making it a relaxing yet absorbing mystery adventure.

PC mystery-solving games offer a wide variety of experiences, from supernatural investigations to crime-solving adventures. These titles stand out for their intricate puzzles, captivating stories, and immersive environments that keep players coming back for more. Whether you prefer the hard-boiled detective work of Sherlock Holmes or the mind-bending puzzles of Return of the Obra Dinn, the world of mystery-solving games has something for everyone.

Feel free to dive into any of these games and test your detective skills! Which one will you start with?