Does anyone have any recommendations for good computer/mobile games where you are a detective (police, PI or ‘amateur’ is fine)? Complex, interesting, high stakes cases preferred.
I don’t mean those ‘hidden object’ games, which annoy me.
TIA.
LA Noire would be an obvious high budget example.
Secret World is an MMORPG set in the modern age. Sort of X-Files meets Lovecraft with a number of in depth puzzles you’re supposed to investigate and solve (including an in-game internet search engine) although that’ll be mixed in with a bunch of zombie killing and stuff.
For the most part though, yeah, hidden object stuff.
The many Carmen Sandiego games, even if they’re really trivia games.
Papers, Please maybe? You’re a border guard in a communist-type dictatorship and have to investigate inconsistencies in visitors’ reasons for visiting.
I love Carmen Sandiego, but that’s not really suitable for adults, fun though they are.
I’m really curious why this has not been a more productive genre of gaming.
It seems like an obvious place to go…mysteries are very popular.
The CSI franchise has a whole host of games that are basically just a rehash of the show, but you play as the CSIs.
I had one of them a good number of years ago and they’re quite fun. The one I had featured a hard mode that forced you to reeeaaallllyyy pay attention at the scenes to get all of the evidence, and really know which questions to ask which person when interviewing them. I recommend these.
Almost forgot – Her Story
Should be right up your alley if you like clue collection and paying careful attention.
Sherlock Holmes: Crimes and Punishments is pretty good. Similar kind of gameplay as LA Noire, in a general sort of way, with less emphasis on interviewing witnesses and more focus on finding clues making deductions based on the clues and evidence on hand.
Murdered: Soul Suspect is pretty similar, but not nearly as well done.
If you want to go “old school”, a couple of the old Infocom text adventures (Witness; Suspect) were mysteries. There was a third in the “mystery series”, Ballyhoo, but it’s obvious from the start who’s guilty, and the game is just building a case against him.
Sherlock Holmes is a game series that has been consistently mediocre, sadly.
Murdered Soul Suspect was actually quite nice and does fit the bill.
The best detective game I’ve played in the past few years is Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective. It was a DS game originally, but is now also on iOS. Wonderful, wonderful game. One of the best stories I’ve played in years. You play a spirit trying to solve your own murder(and remember who you were exactly).
There was a very bad Tex Murphy game released recently, too. I’d avoid it at all costs.
Note: You should get Ghost Detective free on iOS. It comes with the first few levels, then you pay full price to get the rest.
And I highly recommend it.
Thanks for the recs! More welcome.
A friend rec’ed ‘Her Story’ but I haven’t played it yet. If it rewards paying close attention and finding actual clues I am so in.
It’s only an hour or two experience, but I enjoyed it quite a bit.
For a very light, quick, and super-cheap deduction game, you can pick up “Fingered!” on Steam for under $2. You’re given four clues by a witness, and shown a lineup of suspects. Witnesses have varying levels of reliability. One by one you eliminate suspects and decide who’s guilty. Your choice immediately goes to the electric chair. Very crude, but amusing if you’re into black comedy.
Are you sure you have the name correct? I can’t find anything named “Ghost Detective” for either iPhone or iPad. I’m always looking for good new games, particularly detective games!
Look for Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective
Fool is right. Here is a direct link to Itunes.
It’s only $9.99 for the whole game, but you can begin free to test it out. Trust me, it gets better and is a full game, not some short little rip-off. $9.99 is well worth the price of admission on this one.
Does Batman count? He is the World’s Greatest Detective, after all.
I mostly kid, but the various Batman games do have a detective element. It’s kinda weaksauce, though.
There are the Puzzle Agent games. You’re a federal agent from the puzzle division. You’re investigating a disappearance, and you need to notice details and interview subjects, but you also solve classic puzzle magazine style puzzles.
Also old school, but not as old school as Infocom text adventures, are theDeja Vu point and click adventure games. You can pick up both games on Steam for about three bucks each. Warning: they’re old school adventure games, so death is frequent, sudden, and often counter-intuitive.
Thanks! I’ll check it out.