The Best Detective Games for PC Windows
James Williams
Published Apr 20, 2026
Update : The Rise of the Golden Idol added at rank #8.
Here are our 10 Best Detective Games for PC Windows:Hypnospace Outlaw (2019)
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Review score
Nintendo Switch Playstation 4 Xbox One PC Windows Mac OS Linux
Hypnospace Outlaw is a unique game that takes you to the world of the early internet circa 1999. As an assigned moderator of the Hypnospace community, you have to investigate unapproved commerce, strike down images and links with copyright infringement and page through personal blogs and projects. You will explore a web browser as well as a customizable desktop with programs and documents, while having to scan for references and redirects.
What we like:
- Unique game setting in the early internet
- Investigative detective work
- Engaging storyline
- Eye-searing kitsch comedy
- Built with consistent world elements
- Limited color palette
- Grainy pixelated artwork
- detective
- alternate
- conspiracy
- simulation
- parody
- funny
- online
- puzzle
- 1990s
Lost Judgment (2021)
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Review score
Xbox One Xbox Series X Playstation 4 Playstation 5 PC Windows
Lost Judgment is an action-adventure game set in a dark and humorous story full of twists, with great visuals and animations. Explore two amazing cities with tons of side quests, shops and places to eat, while fighting gang members, delinquent students and more. Switch between three different combat styles to upgrade your stats and skills. Enjoy detective inspired mini-games, the return of the drone races, plus a bunch of Master System games to collect and play.
What we like:
- Amazing story with likable characters
- Fun side quests
- Smooth combat system
- Two immersive cities to explore
- Variety of mini-games and collectibles
- Some immersion breaking moments
- Limited skateboard tricks
- Some undertones may not be okay with everyone
- Mediocre lock picking mini-game
- Drone flies wonky at times
- detective
- skateboard
- fight
- combat
- crime
- brawler
- mystery
- stealth
- boxing
- spin-off
- parkour
- narrative
- turn-based
Return of the Obra Dinn (2018)
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Review score
Xbox One Mac OS PC Windows
Return of the Obra Dinn is an adventure puzzle game set in a supernatural maritime world. Players assume the role of an appraiser for a maritime insurance company and are given a pocket watch that reveals the fates of the ship's unfortunate passengers. The game features stunning foley work, voice acting, and score to set its tone. Players must use their deductive reasoning to unravel what happened to all passengers on board.
What we like:
- Mystery elements require sound deductive reasoning
- Brilliant foley work and voice acting
- Innovative visuals inspired by early computer games
- Supernatural angle adds intrigue and suspense
- High replay value
- Simulated assistance may make some tasks too easy
- Minimalist aesthetic can be off-putting to some players
- Limited area surrounding each scene restricts exploration
- detective
- mystery
- puzzle
Chicken Police (2020)
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Review score
PC Windows Xbox One Playstation 4 Nintendo Switch IOS iPhone stadia Playstation 5 Mac OS
Chicken Police - Paint it RED! is an off-kilter adventure game and visual novel that takes you to the city of Clawville as private detective Sonny Featherland and his partner, Marty MacChicken investigate a case. Follow them as they meet the denizens of the seedy underbelly, interrogate suspects and investigate crime scenes in this hard-boiled noir.
What we like:
- Smoothly running game
- Well-made
- Excellent story supported by good voice acting
- No-longer weird seeing animal heads on human bodies
- Initial weirdness of seeing animal heads on human bodies
- Minimal action with only occasional minigames
- detective
- visual-novel
- noir
- mystery
- point-and-click
Judgment (2018)
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Review score
Playstation 4 Xbox One IOS iPhone Android PC Windows stadia Xbox Series X Playstation 5
Fight for the truth and uncover the twisted crime running deep beneath the surface of Tokyo. In this legal thriller , the balance between justice and mercy teeters on the edge.
- detective
- crime
- fight
- drama
- combat
- spin-off
- narrative
Disco Elysium (2019)
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Review score
PC Windows Mac OS
Disco Elysium is an immersive detective RPG where you play the role of a belligerent drunk, trying to solve a murder in a Parisian style town full of creeps and drunks. With an incredibly deep character creation system, you can choose how to approach each situation as you interrogate suspects and follow clues. The game features excellent writing, skill checks, thought processes, conversations and beautiful visuals.
What we like:
- Depth of character development
- Rich story and environments
- Surreal conversations
- Gorgeous visuals and voice acting
- Occasional bugs
- Cumbersome inventory system
- rpg
- detective
- dice
- political
- isometric
- tabletop
- mystery
- skill
- old-school
GHOST TRICK: Phantom Detective (2023)
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Review score
IOS iPhone Nintendo Switch Xbox One Playstation 4 PC Windows
In Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective, you're a ghost solving your own murder mystery before sunrise. With time manipulation, object possession, and mind-bending puzzles, you'll uncover a story full of twists and turns. This HD remaster offers an upgraded visual experience, new music arrangements, and a gallery of artwork, making it the ultimate version of this classic adventure.
What we like:
- Engaging story with satisfying twists
- Endearing, unique characters
- Fantastic art style and graphic upgrades
- Fun voice acting
- Intriguing puzzle-solving mechanics
- Puzzles can be frustrating and require trial-and-error
- Unhelpful hint system
- Lack of bonus content
- puzzle
- mystery
- detective
- cult
- adventure
- narrative
- supernatural
- classic
- assassin
The Rise of the Golden Idol (2024)
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Review score
PC Windows Android IOS iPhone Xbox Series X/s
The Award-winning detective saga returns. Uncover the truth behind 15 strange cases of crime, death and depravity in the 1970s. The world has changed dramatically - the sins of humanity have not.
- detective
- mystery
- crime
- puzzle
- investigation
- pixel
- fiction
- conspiracy
- political
- historical
Inspector Waffles (2021)
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Review score
Xbox One Playstation 4 Nintendo Switch PC Windows
Join Inspector Waffles, a jaded and witty feline detective as he attempts to solve the murder of Fluffy, beloved owner of Fluffy Box Furniture. Interrogate suspects, investigate leads and combine inventory items in the charming pixel art world of Cat Town. Enjoy sharp writing, a likeable cast of characters and enjoyable puzzles as you try to solve the case by any means necessary!
What we like:
- Sharp writing
- Likeable cast of characters
- Charming pixel art presentation
- Enjoyable puzzles
- Clever hint system
- Short game length
- Can't just drag objects onto characters during conversations
- detective
- pixel
- point-and-click
- mystery
- noir
- dog
- cats
- crime
- investigation
- narration
- classic
- funny
- old-school
- thriller
BROK the InvestiGator (2022)
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Review score
PC Windows Playstation 5 Playstation 4 Xbox Series X Xbox One Nintendo Switch Linux Mac OS
BROK the InvestiGator is an adventure game set in a futuristic cyberpunk city where humans have been replaced by animals and robots. Join Brok, a former boxer turned private detective, as he attempts to uncover a sinister plot while struggling with parenthood and providing for his deceased wife's son. Experience the fusion of point-and-click adventure and beat 'em up gameplay styles as you explore your surroundings, talk to NPCs and solve puzzles.
What we like:
- Fully voiced cast
- Seamless fusion of point-and-click and beat 'em up genres
- Relatable story with heartfelt moments
- Sherlock Holmes-esque interrogation sequences
- Multiple endings for replayability
- Some puzzles are too simple to work out
- Some sequences drag on too long serving little purpose outside of padding out the runtime
- point-and-click
- detective
- beat-em-up
- cyberpunk
- dystopian
- adventure
- soundtrack
- choices
- investigation
- futuristic
- fight
- mystery
- cartoony
- puzzle
- post-apocalyptic
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