Summary
We all lovea good mystery. From books to movies, whodunnits have always been a popular staple in all sorts of media, so it’s no wonder that there are plenty of mystery games that are beloved. From theAce Attorney seriesto Nancy Drew games, we’ve all thoroughly loved how they can immerse you in some fantastic mysteries.
But with the rise of indie gaming over the past decade, we’ve also seen a number of great mystery games to enjoy from all sorts of small studios and creators. Whether it’s set in the far future or an FMV game that takes you to the past, here are some of the best indie game mysteries that you need to play.
8Her Story
The Story Isn’t Just About Her
From the mind of Sam Barlow, the writer ofSilent Hill: Originsand Silent Hill: Shattered Memories comes an indie FMV game with a unique twist. You play as an unnamed protagonist who is going through police files of several interrogations of the same woman, Hannah.
However, due to a technical hiccup you can only watch clips of the interrogations out of order and must search for other clips via keywords. You only get five clips too, so you have to pay attention and listen carefully for any information. It’s a brilliant jigsaw puzzle of a mystery that comes together with shocking revelations, a brilliant performance and some sharp writing.
7Contradiction: Spot The Liar
Can You Spot The Liars In This Mystery?
Another FMV game, Contradiction: Spot The Liar is a little more interactive. You play as Detective Inspector Jenks, sent to a sleepy English village where a student, Kate Vine, has mysteriously drowned. Some say it’s an accident, but you say it’s murder.
You must question different villagers, explore the village for evidence and look for any contradictions to catch out any lies from the numerous suspects around. Trust us, you’ll never know where this mystery will take you, and it’s a cheesy bit of fun witha loveable protagonist.
6Frog Detective
A Charming Fun Little Mystery
If you want something more lighthearted than murder and family trauma, then you can enjoy the adventures of Frog Detective, the second-best detective in the world. This comedy mystery game takes place in a world of anthropomorphic animals where you are a frog with a comfortable sweater and your trusty magnifying glass.
Explore different environments, talk to funny NPCs and enjoy a fun little adventure that includes tracking down an invisible wizard or investigating a small wild west town.
5Unheard - Voices of Crime
What If You Could Only Solve The Crime By Hearing It?
In this unique mystery game, you take on several cases…except you can’t see anything. You’re an agent utilising a unique auditory system which only allows you to hear the environment around you for the few minutes leading up to a crime being committed.
You solve different cases from murder to robbery using only what people are saying. Listen to conversations, make notes, discover the names of each witness and answer specific questions on a case by case basis with the knowledge you hear.
4Night Call
The Mean Streets Of Paris Are No Joke
But what about the games in which you’re not a detective at all? Night Call takes place in modern day Paris. You’re a mere taxi driver with a shadowy past who ends up as the latest victim of a serial killer stalking the streets. The only difference is you’re the first victim who is still alive.
Recruited by a police officer, you are forced to get back to work and try to seek out what information you can as you encounter numerous customers getting a taxi ride…including the suspects. Don’t forget, if you don’t make enough money and get fired or don’t get the right suspect, then you will be blamed as the serial killer, making a tense and dialogue-heavy adventure that feels straight out of a gritty noir.
3Orwell: Keeping An Eye On You
Use Private Information To Solve The Mystery
From noir to cyberpunk, Orwell: Keeping An Eye On You is truly…Orwellian. Set in the near future in The Nation, you are hired by the government to dig through people’s personnel files, text messages and more to uncover and prevent a terrorist plot.
Between the backdrop of a sleek and futuristic aesthetic, you have to dig into the going ons of numerous characters who are all connected and part of a group that defies the government you work for. What information you can find will help piece together a story, so dig up everything you can. Nothing is off limits.
2Song Of Farca
Hack The Crime Scene
In another game set in the future, you aren’t a government agent but a freelance hacker. Under house arrest, your knowledge of the crime scenes is limited, but you have to hack into various locations across the city case by case in order to get more information.
You’ll have to make tough choices and discover more about the corrupt city whilst using your hacking knowledge to dig up information on all sorts of unique and interesting characters.
1Disco Elysium
One Of The Best RPGs You’ll Play
Known to be one of the best RPGs of all time,Disco Elysiumhas you waking up after a wild benderwith no memoryof who you are or the world around you. All you know is that you’re a detective assigned to a case with details you have completely forgotten about.
You must go through the world around you not only to piece together the mystery of a grisly murder but also who you are, who you want to be and what is going on with the world around you. It’s a heavily literate game which will have you spending much of your time absorbing swaths of information about the world, its people and, most importantly, yourself.
