Detective Games

For a game to be added here it must have mechanics that are indicative of the detective genre's investigative and logic/deduction focus adapted inside a video game. So this means games where you play as a detective don't count unless the mechanics match that as well

Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Trilogy
Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Trilogy
Stand-in for the entire Ace Attorney franchise. Personal feelings on each game aside Ace Attorney is my go-to for explaining what I mean by a detective game since it involves the usual aspect of searching for clues but also tests your deductive reasoning during the trial segments. As the series progressed the games started adding in even more mechanics appropriate to the detective genre.
Danganronpa: Trigger Happy Havoc
Danganronpa: Trigger Happy Havoc
Stand-in for all three mainline games. Despite being incredibly basic on the logic/deduction side of mechanics the investigation mechanics are arguably better than Ace Attorney's largely helped by the settings being places you can move around in
Judgment
Judgment
Stand-in for both Judgment entries. Detective mechanics exist but they are rather poor.
Your Turn to Die: Death Game by Majority
Your Turn to Die: Death Game by Majority
AI: The Somnium Files
AI: The Somnium Files
Stand-in for both games. There are investigative elements as well deductions you have to make.
Broken Sword: The Shadow of the Templars
Broken Sword: The Shadow of the Templars
Stand-in for the entire Broken Sword franchise.
Her Story
Her Story
Kagetsu Tooya
Kagetsu Tooya
Deadly Premonition
Deadly Premonition
Famicom Tantei Club: Kieta Koukeisha
Famicom Tantei Club: Kieta Koukeisha
Stand-in for the Famicom Detective Club franchise.
The Portopia Serial Murder Case
The Portopia Serial Murder Case
Return of the Obra Dinn
Return of the Obra Dinn
Kara no Shoujo
Kara no Shoujo
Cartagra ~Affliction of the Soul~
Cartagra ~Affliction of the Soul~
Disco Elysium: The Final Cut
Disco Elysium: The Final Cut
L.A. Noire
L.A. Noire
Batman: Arkham Asylum
Batman: Arkham Asylum
Stand-in for the Batman Arkham games. Admittedly not a fan of the detective mechanics here, Origin seems to be the peak of those mechanics though.
Condemned: Criminal Origins
Condemned: Criminal Origins
Stand-in for both Condemned games.
Shadows of Doubt
Shadows of Doubt
The Case of the Golden Idol
The Case of the Golden Idol

7 Comments


1 month ago

LA Noire, Shadows of Doubt, Case of the Golden Idol, Batman arkham, AC unity.

Additionally, Trails from Zero and Trails to Azure have deductions needed to make by the player within the main story and side stories.

1 month ago

How could I forget? YAKUZA 3's murder at Cafe Alps substory

1 month ago

Condemned 1 and 2. There are parts of it where you investigate crime scenes to progress looking for evidence.
@Touchdown @FallenGrace Did some research and they fit the criteria, added

1 month ago

dunno if this counts but SIfu has a detective board thats prevalent throughout the game, as you go through the levels you collect items that either opens a shortcut somewhere or expands the story of the game,these items then gets posted on the board, the game's story is told through your POV and so the board helps you connect the dots on what is actually happening in the game as well as how to get the true ending
@CorvoCorvus I have a friend playing through Sifu at the moment, haven't played it myself but once I get their opinions on this mechanic I'll decide if I should to add it

1 month ago

Haven't played, but The Black Watchmen seems like it fits on this list, it involves a lot of clue searching both inside and outside of the game


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