TOP 5 Best Detective Games of All Time 2022

by Mike Alexander / Articles, Lists / 15 Apr 2022

Everyone loves a good mystery. Putting yourself in the shoes of a top-tier detective and solving any kind of crime or puzzle is the basis for endless forms of media, including Arthur Conan Doyle’s iconic Sherlock Holmes character, who first appeared all the way back in 1887 in a story called “A Study in Scarlet”. Since then, detective characters inspired by Sherlock have continued to be created, even in the world of video games. In just the past few years, clue-collecting crazies have been graced with a number of awesome detective games, a few of which will be covered on this list of the Top 5 Best Detective Games of All Time. When you’re ready to solve a conundrum and save the day, grab your hat, pipe, and magnifying glass, and let’s get started!

Sherlock Holmes: Chapter One

Speaking of Sherlock Holmes, the long-running game series that follows his exploits was just recently rebooted with Sherlock Holmes: Chapter One. Developed by Frogwares, the studio behind the series, this game follows a much younger, less experienced Sherlock as he embarks on a path that will define the course of his life. You’ll explore highly detailed environments, collect clues, and build a case using a free-form system that allows you to form your own conclusions. As a young hothead, this version of Sherlock will get into many fights, and an enemy vulnerability-spotting mechanic will help you take them down quickly, efficiently, and with style. Play the young man who will grow up to be one of the most iconic detectives in all of history in Sherlock Holmes: Chapter One.

Disco Elysium

Released in 2019 by ZA/UM, Disco Elysium is an expertly-crafted CRPG detective game that relies on NPC interaction, dialogue choices, and character builds to make your way through the game. Disco Elysium is completely devoid of combat in the traditional sense, but odds are you’ll be so engrossed in the story and characters that you won’t even notice. As you play, the skills you selected for your character will lead him to make certain decisions, many of which are either bad or morally gray. The grimey city of Revachol is full of places to visit and characters to interrogate, but you don’t really have to do any of that. Take part in side quests, drink at bars, or hang out at beaches in between interrogations. Your actions are entirely up to you, and that is part of what makes Disco Elysium so great.

Backbone

Don’t let the cute, fluffy animal characters of Backbone fool you, this game is a hardcore murder mystery, and it holds nothing back. As a raccoon detective named Howard Lotor, you’ll find yourself embroiled in an investigation that spans from the gutters of the animal city you call home, all the way to the upper crust inhabited by the richest of the rich. Experience Lotor’s growth as a character and a person as he finds purpose in his work and in his life, and interacts with friends new and old. On top of the engrossing story, Backbone has an incredible soundtrack and gorgeous 2D art.

Return of the Obra Dinn

In Lucas Pope’s Return of the Obra Dinn, you’ll play an East India Company insurance inspector as he investigates a ship that has miraculously reappeared after 5 years. All of the ship’s crew is long dead, and it is up to you to comb the entire ship for clues and attempt to piece together what happened. You’ll have to use what you find to determine the cause of death for all 60 crew members. This might sound like an impossible task, but with your handy pocket watch, the “Memento Mortem”, you are able to transport yourself to the moment of death for each corpse you encounter. The game is visually stunning, using a unique “1-bit” art style to bring its world to life.

L.A. Noire

You can’t have a discussion about video games that feature detectives without mentioning Rockstar Games and Studio Bondi’s L.A. Noire. The game was built from the ground up to immerse players in a late 1940s LA cop drama. As policeman Cole Phelps, you’ll take down criminals and rise through the ranks while solving all kinds of cases. The game uses a specially designed facial capture system to allow incredibly realistic facial animations in interrogations. In many cases, you’ll only have those facial expressions to determine if the person you are interrogating is lying or not.

Mike Alexander

Mike has been playing video games since he was able to hold a controller, having been fascinated by Sonic 2 on his mom’s Sega Genesis. That fascination and passion for the art form has grown exponentially nearly 30 years later, and he doesn’t see that fading away anytime soon.
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