# Detective computer games
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/detective-computer-games/749698
**Category:** The Game Room
**Created:** [March 20, 2016, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/detective-computer-games/749698 "2016-03-20T22:07:01Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@DaphneBlack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DaphneBlack)
#### Post date: [March 20, 2016, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/detective-computer-games/749698/1 "2016-03-20T22:07:01Z")
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.
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### Author:  [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)
#### Post date: [March 20, 2016, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/detective-computer-games/749698/2 "2016-03-20T22:56:05Z")
[LA Noire](http://store.steampowered.com/app/110800/) would be an obvious high budget example.
[Secret World](http://store.steampowered.com/app/215280/) 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.
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### Author:  [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)
#### Post date: [March 20, 2016, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/detective-computer-games/749698/3 "2016-03-20T22:59:59Z")
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.
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### Author:  [@DaphneBlack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DaphneBlack)
#### Post date: [March 20, 2016, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/detective-computer-games/749698/4 "2016-03-20T23:24:45Z")
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.
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### Author:  [@Sir\_T-Cups](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sir_T-Cups)
#### Post date: [March 20, 2016, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/detective-computer-games/749698/5 "2016-03-20T23:29:04Z")
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.
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### Author:  [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)
#### Post date: [March 20, 2016, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/detective-computer-games/749698/6 "2016-03-20T23:45:00Z")
Almost forgot – [Her Story](http://store.steampowered.com/app/368370/)
Should be right up your alley if you like clue collection and paying careful attention.
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### Author:  [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)
#### Post date: [March 20, 2016, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/detective-computer-games/749698/7 "2016-03-20T23:55:18Z")
**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.
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### Author:  [@That\_Don\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/That_Don_Guy)
#### Post date: [March 21, 2016, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/detective-computer-games/749698/8 "2016-03-21T01:18:00Z")
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.
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### Author:  [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)
#### Post date: [March 21, 2016, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/detective-computer-games/749698/9 "2016-03-21T14:18:28Z")
> [@DCnDC](#):
>
> **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.
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](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/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.
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### Author:  [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)
#### Post date: [March 21, 2016, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/detective-computer-games/749698/10 "2016-03-21T14:19:52Z")
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.
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### Author:  [@DaphneBlack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DaphneBlack)
#### Post date: [March 21, 2016, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/detective-computer-games/749698/11 "2016-03-21T16:20:27Z")
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.
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### Author:  [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)
#### Post date: [March 21, 2016, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/detective-computer-games/749698/12 "2016-03-21T16:25:47Z")
> [@DaphneBlack](#):
>
> 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.
[Contradiction: Spot the Liar! is a really fun game where you are the detective and interview suspects, looking for inaccuracies. My wife and I liked it a lot.](http://store.steampowered.com/app/373390/)
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### Author:  [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)
#### Post date: [March 21, 2016, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/detective-computer-games/749698/13 "2016-03-21T16:40:21Z")
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.
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### Author:  [@Anamorphic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anamorphic)
#### Post date: [March 21, 2016, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/detective-computer-games/749698/14 "2016-03-21T18:55:04Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#):
>
> 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.
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!
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### Author:  [@Fool\_in\_the\_Rain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fool_in_the_Rain)
#### Post date: [March 22, 2016, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/detective-computer-games/749698/15 "2016-03-22T18:24:09Z")
> [@Anamorphic](#):
>
> 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**
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### Author:  [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)
#### Post date: [March 22, 2016, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/detective-computer-games/749698/16 "2016-03-22T23:24:37Z")
> [@Anamorphic](#):
>
> 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!
> [@Fool\_in\_the\_Rain](#):
>
> Look for **Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective**
Fool is right. [Here is a direct link to Itunes](https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/ghost-trick-phantom-detective/id489113377?mt=8).
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.
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### Author:  [@Dr.Strangelove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Strangelove)
#### Post date: [March 22, 2016, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/detective-computer-games/749698/17 "2016-03-22T23:33:32Z")
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.
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### Author:  [@Johnny\_Angel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Angel)
#### Post date: [March 22, 2016, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/detective-computer-games/749698/18 "2016-03-22T23:46:34Z")
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.
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### Author:  [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)
#### Post date: [March 23, 2016, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/detective-computer-games/749698/19 "2016-03-23T00:11:51Z")
Also old school, but not as old school as Infocom text adventures, are the[Deja Vu point and click adventure games](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/D%C3%A9j%C3%A0_Vu_%28video_game%29). 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.
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### Author:  [@Anamorphic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anamorphic)
#### Post date: [March 23, 2016, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/detective-computer-games/749698/20 "2016-03-23T02:15:51Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#):
>
> Fool is right. [Here is a direct link to Itunes](https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/ghost-trick-phantom-detective/id489113377?mt=8).
>
> 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.
Thanks! I’ll check it out.
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