The best Detective Games on PC, there are few things more enjoyable in a work of fiction than a good mystery. Those crimes that seem impossible and make your brain spin. Murders that can’t be explained, people who just vanish, and riddles that are hard to figure out. And while it’s fun to read or watch these kinds of stories in books, TV shows, or movies, games take it a step further by letting you investigate yourself and feel the satisfaction of solving a case for yourself.
It was 7 a.m., and you could tell by the smell of coffee in the air, which was like the gas a dead body gives off when it breaks down. Detective McKeand was thinking about the case and studying the clues as raindrops hit his window. Below we mentioned the Best Detective Games on PC.
Best Detective Games on PC Comparison Table
| Game | Price | Offline Play | Age Rating | Gameplay Style |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Broken Sword | Paid | Yes | 12+ | Adventure, Point & Click, Detective |
| The Wolf Among Us | Paid | Yes | 17+ | Adventure, Interactive Story |
| The Vanishing of Ethan Carter | Paid | Yes | 16+ | Adventure, Exploration, Detective |
| Sherlock Holmes: Crimes and Punishments | Paid | Yes | 12+ | Adventure, Investigation |
| Discworld Noir | Paid | Yes | N/A | Adventure, Point & Click, Detective |
| Grim Fandango | Paid | Yes | 12+ | Adventure, Point & Click, Detective |
Broken Sword
Features
- Adventure game
- Puzzle solving
- Point-and-click gameplay
- Rich storyline
- Stunning artwork
- Memorable characters
Broken Sword is not as good as Monkey Island when it comes to point-and-click adventure games, but it more than makes up for its lack of pirates, sword fights, and grog with clever puzzles that will make you think for just long enough before you figure out the right answer. Thus, this is one of the Best Detective Games on PC.
In the Broken Sword series, George Stobbart and Nico Collard get caught up in dark plots and old conspiracies. The writing is sharp and charming. Over the course of the series, George and Nico get into all kinds of bad situations and meet and question strange people wherever they go. Broken Sword is a great point-and-click adventure series that takes murder and intrigue to the romantic and idyllic cobblestone streets of Paris and beyond.
Pros
- Intriguing storyline and characters
- Beautiful hand-drawn graphics
- Challenging but rewarding puzzles
- Memorable music and voice acting
Cons
- Some illogical puzzle solutions
- Slow pacing at times
The Wolf Among Us
Features
- Choice-based narrative gameplay
- Detective-style investigation mechanics
- Comic book-style graphics
- Complex, morally gray characters
- Dark, mature themes
In this iridescent noir setting, all of our childhood dreams live together in a dirty, dangerous place called Fabletown, which is in modern-day Manhattan. Detective Bigby, you play the role of the Big Bad Wolf. In this mystery game from Telltale Games, you have to keep the town in order while looking into the violent deaths of fairytale characters. The main way to find justice is by making choices in the dialogue. Overall, this is one of the Best Detective Games on PC.
Your roommate is a pig with a bad attitude, Mr. Toad isn’t taking his Glamour an enchantment used to make fairytale characters look like humans, and a severed head just showed up on your doorstep. As you slowly figure out who the Fabletown killer is, you’ll run into familiar characters like Snow White, the Huntsman, and Sleeping Beauty. The premise seems cutesy, but in typical Telltale style, this is a serious and somber story. There’s not much to do here, but just like in The Walking Dead, your decisions have serious and far-reaching effects.
Pros
- Unique art style
- Excellent voice acting
- Engaging quick-time events
Cons
- Short playtime
- Some technical issues
- Limited replay value
The Vanishing of Ethan Carter
Features
- Open-world exploration
- Immersive storytelling
- Stunning visuals
- Unique investigation mechanics
- Atmospheric soundtrack
- Supernatural elements
In this first-person exploration game, you play as Detective Paul Prospero, who is looking for a boy named Ethan Carter who went missing in Red Creek Valley, Wisconsin. The Vanishing of Ethan Carter is a lot like Twin Peaks and Village of the Damned. You use paranormal observation skills to look for clues and recreate scenes.
In The Vanishing of Ethan Carter, the natural beauty of the area is contrasted with the creepy search to find the missing boy before it is too late. You are free to look around the whole isolated valley. This gives you the chance to find out what really happened to Ethan Carter and what the secrets of Red Creek are. Still, this is one of the Best Detective Games on PC.
You’ll find small clues in the strangest places, which will make you go off the beaten path often to find more story bits. The Vanishing of Ethan Carter is different from many other detective games because it lets you draw your own conclusions from the clues you find.
Pros
- Beautiful visuals
- Atmospheric soundtrack
- Engaging narrative
- Interesting puzzles
- Non-linear exploration
Cons
- Short playtime
- Limited replay value
Sherlock Holmes: Crimes and Punishments
Features
- Investigate crime scenes and clues.
- Make moral choices with consequences.
- Multiple suspects and solutions.
- Play as Sherlock Holmes.
- Engaging and immersive gameplay.
It’s not easy to make players feel as smart as the best detective in the world without giving them too many supernatural powers. In Sherlock Holmes: Crimes and Punishments, it’s mostly up to you to look for clues, put them together, and point the finger at the right person. Overall, this is one of the Best Detective Games on PC.
Holmes’s out-of-this-world intuition will help you sometimes, but what makes Crimes and Punishments special is how much room you have to make mistakes. You might get lucky and put away the right criminal, but as a case comes to a close, you’ll often wonder if you came to the right conclusions or missed a key piece of evidence.
Even though the animations and graphics aren’t perfect, the performances are always good, and each case has the same mystery and grandeur as the books. It’s not just one of the best detective games, but also the best Sherlock Holmes game we have played in years.
Pros
- Engaging story and characters
- Challenging and varied puzzles
- Multiple outcomes and choices
- Excellent voice acting
Cons
- Some puzzles can be frustrating
- Occasional technical issues
Discworld Noir
Features
- Mystery-solving adventure game
- Set in the Discworld universe
- Noir-style atmosphere and storytelling
- Multiple story paths and endings
Lewton, a private investigator, is hired to look into a brutal murder in the seedy part of Ankh Morpork. He quickly gets caught up in a dark and sinister plot. Fans of the Discworld books will recognize places and characters in Ankh Morpork, like The Palace and the City Watch. However, unlike the first two Discworld games, Noir has its own edge. Instead of wizards and magic, it has werewolves and jazz bars, which is different from the usual tone of the series. If you need some more information then visit its official website.
Rincewind has his trusty luggage to store things, but Lewton has a notebook where he writes down all the clues and slowly crosses them off as he finds new places and new dangers. There’s something scary about the empty streets of Ankh Morpork, not to mention the creepy people you’ll meet in the dark corners of the city. Currently, this is one of the Best Detective Games on PC.
Pros
- Witty writing and humor
- Engaging storyline and characters
- Unique setting and atmosphere
- Challenging but rewarding puzzles
- Memorable soundtrack
Cons
- Outdated graphics and controls
- Occasional pacing issues
Grim Fandango
Features
- Film noir-inspired setting
- Memorable characters and dialogue
- Puzzle-solving gameplay
- Unique art style
- Engaging story
In the world of Grim Fandango, when you die and start your journey to the Land of the Dead, you are given a travel agent who decides how you get there based on how many good things you did while you were alive. Manny Cavelera is a travel agent for the afterlife. He has a jerk for a boss, a slick rival, and a plot to solve. For now, this is one of the Best Detective Games on PC.
In this point-and-click detective game, Manny’s journey is both funny and dark. He starts out as a travel agent and then becomes a noir detective when he finds out that his boss has been cheating the system and sending a lot of people on a hard journey to the Land of the Dead. The people you meet are full of charm and humor, and each new chapter is a visual feast as you visit new places in the afterlife.
Pros
- Memorable characters and story.
- Unique blend of humor and noir.
- Amazing art direction and music.
- Challenging but rewarding puzzles.
Cons
- Outdated control scheme.
- No autosave function.
- May be too difficult for some.
- Some may not enjoy the humor.
What are the best detective games on PC?
Some of the best detective games on PC include:
- Disco Elysium
- Return of the Obra Dinn
- Her Story
- L.A. Noire
- Sherlock Holmes: Crimes and Punishments
- Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Trilogy
Are there any realistic police games?
Even though it’s been out for more than ten years, SWAT 4 is still one of the most realistic and atmospheric police games. SWAT 4 puts you in charge of a five-person team and has you take down armed targets and save hostages in 21 missions that are based on real police work.
FAQs
Is there a cop simulator PC game?
What devices can you play Police Simulator: Patrol Officers on? Police Simulator is available for PC (Steam), PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X|S.
What is Killer detective game?
One person leaves the room and becomes the Detective. While It is out, other players select one person to be the Murderer (or Killer) (or Killer). Request that the Detective come back and stand in the middle. The murderer starts to “kill” people one by one by giving them a wink.
