7 Video Games Every Mystery Lover Should Play

Developed by Team Bondi and published by Rockstar Games, L.A. Noire was praised at the time of release for its well-done facial animation and cinematic storytelling. The game’s protagonist, LAPD police officer turned detective Cole Phelps, investigates crimes involving murder, arson, drug smuggling, and the mob in 1940s Los Angeles.

The facial animation technology and perfectly recreated section of 1947 L.A. all gives the game a big dose of realism. If you’re a fan of detective stories from the 1940s/1950s and film noir, L.A. Noire is a must-play.

One of the best indie games of 2017 came from game developer Giant Sparrow. This award-winning mystery adventure game follows the titular Edith Finch as she visits her eccentric childhood home to investigate her family’s past. For generations, the Finch family has suffered many unexpected deaths, with only one person from each generation surviving long enough to carry on the bloodline. Discover the stories of her deceased relatives by reliving moments of their life and final moments.

The game features a beautiful and haunting setting, an intriguing story, various puzzles and minigames, and takes you on an emotional roller coaster.

Frogwares’ Sherlock Holmes game series is a huge treat for Sherlock fans, as they get the opportunity to solve cases while playing the famous detective. Out of the series, 2014’s Crimes & Punishments is the strongest title released so far. Inspired by the original stories, the game offers six cases with an ongoing wraparound story that comes to a conclusion at the end of the game.

Sherlock Holmes: Crimes & Punishments features intuitive gameplay mechanics for investigating, multiple endings for each case, and allows players control the fate of each culprit. Plus, it doesn’t shy away from the gritty London setting and dark themes.

If you enjoy Crimes & Punishments, be sure to check out the next game in the series, Sherlock Holmes: The Devil’s Daughter, as it is another great entry into the series.

Created by legendary game developers Ron Gilbert and Gary Winnick, Thimbleweed Park is a point-and-click adventure game that follows FBI agents Ray and Reyes as they investigate a murder. Between the glorious old-school 2D graphics, witty comedy, and Twin Peaks/X-Files inspired characters and setting, there is a whole lot of fun and case solving to be had.

Thimbleweed Park is the spiritual successor to Gilbert and Winnick’s earlier hit games Maniac Mansion and The Secret of Monkey Island, both of which were published by Lucasfilm Games. The 2D graphics will take you right back to those early games, which are still considered to be two of the best graphic adventure games ever made.

Developed by Telltale Games, The Wolf Among Us is based on the Fables comic series, written by Bill Willingham. The game is considered canon within the comic universe. Players take on the role of Bigby Wolf, who is sheriff of Fabletown, a place that many fairy tale characters known as “fables” call home. Fables glamour themselves to appear human and blend in with the world. You come across many recognizable characters, including Snow White, Tweedledee and Tweedle Dum, Mr. Toad, and Ichabod Crane, as you investigate a murder.

In true Telltale form, the game consists of five episodes and features gameplay that is heavily dependent on the player’s decisions. Although The Wolf Among Us Season 2 was previously announced, it has since been cancelled due to company lay offs. However, Season One is not to be missed.

If you were a gamer eight years ago, you probably remember the huge buzz Remedy Entertainment’s Alan Wake created upon its release. The game was unique at the time in that it was developed in a TV show-type format with six episodes, special episodes, and even had cliffhangers. Plus, it was in development for many years before we got the final product.

The game’s story follows novelist Alan Wake as he and his wife go on vacation in a small scenic Washington town to help clear his writer’s block. When Alan’s wife disappears, the terrifying and strange events in a novel he doesn’t recall writing come to life. As he tries to solve his wife’s disappearance, the game becomes a survival horror game as well.

A sequel for Alan Wake was cancelled, however it still inspired Remedy Entertainment’s 2016 game Quantum Break.

Players take on the role of Detective Ronan O’Connor as he investigates a serial killer in Salem, Massachusetts. However, the detective killed before he can solve the case, so he proceeds to do so in the afterlife. As O’Connor follows the evidence around town, players encounter other spirits and demons, and can utilize his ghostly abilities, such as possession.

While the gameplay mechanics aren’t perfect, and can even be a bit frustrating at times, the story and setting make for a fun mystery and ghost story.