Whether it was via the brilliant Sherlock Holmes books or thrilling anime shows like Death Note and Monster, the detective subgenre has managed to garner quite a number of fans. Finding someone who dislikes the thrill of such a book, anime, movie, or video game is like searching for a needle in a haystack. So here are the six best detective video games that will awaken the inner sleuth in you.
There will be entries that’ll suit otakus, bookworms, and gamers alike. The list is ranked in no particular order.
L.A. Noire
An obvious pick for a list like this, L.A. Noire comes from Rockstar Games. It’s one of their hidden gems. You play Detective Cole Phelps, who’ll encounter various cases that will push him to his limit. The game is set in 1940s Los Angeles; the game is somewhat open-ended, allowing you to explore a few notable landmarks in L.A. and solve crimes that will take place in them.
Sherlock Holmes: Crimes and Punishments
It’s safe to say that the Sherlock Holmes books by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle pioneered the detective subgenre. And Crimes and Punishments is what many fans consider to be the ultimate Sherlock Holmes video game experience.
With multiple cases that will awaken the nostalgia in the book readers, this game manages to deliver just what a Sherlock Holmes fan wants.
What are some of your favorite Sherlock Holmes books? Let us know on the forums!
Danganronpa Franchise
The Danganronpa franchise is an anime high school-themed detective thriller video game series, so this entry will surely make the otakus happy. There are multiple entries in the franchise that allow you to play different characters. It’s better that I refrain from overly explaining anything about this brilliant franchise, and I also discourage searching Google and the web because it might ruin the plot twists for you.
Batman: Arkham Collection
Play as the world’s greatest detective in these grim and atmospheric video games. Many consider Batman Arkham games to be the greatest superhero games ever, and for good reason. There’s a brilliant combat system, an appealing stealth system, and of course the investigative gameplay that will keep everyone glued to the screen for hours.
The franchise regularly goes at low prices in sales too, so keep an eye out and you might be able to get the entire collection for cheap at retailers like the Humble Store.
Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Trilogy
Here’s another anime-themed entry like Danganronpa. Some might argue that these games are lawyer simulators, not detective games. But there’s a good bit of investigating and questioning in these games too. You’ll be faced with a lot of tricky and sinister cases, and this will surely be a thrilling ride.
Check out this masterpiece of a manga if you like anime-themed detective stories: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monster_(manga)
Heavy Rain
Heavy Rain is more of an interactive movie than a game that focuses on gameplay like some of the other entries on this list, and I think detective movie fans will love this one. You play as multiple persons trying to find a mysterious killer who kidnaps children and imprisons them. This killer was based on the Zodiac Killer. Heavy Rain is one of the most emotional and thought-provoking gaming experiences ever.
