The best mystery games allow you to take on the role of a super sleuth even if it might be only on the virtual terrain. You’ve seen this particular genre being explored on TV, in the movies and maybe even in your local neighborhood. Well, this time around instead of picking up your trusty magnifying glass, you’ll have to reach out for your best video game gear. There are some great titles that will have you stumped for hours on end as you try to unwrap the secrecy that shrouds each one of them.
1 – L.A. Noire:
From the brilliant minds who gave you Grand Theft Auto, Red Dead Redemption and Max Payne, comes another delectable treat that’ll have you engrossed for many a day. The title released just last year and made it across different platforms such as the PS3, Xbox 360 and PC. The captivating storyline takes you to Los Angeles where the year is 1947.
The violent crime thriller boasts of being an amalgamation that includes true detective work and breathtaking action among other attributes. It’s up to you to interrogate witnesses, chase down the bad guys and scout high and low for important clues.
2 – Detective Grimoire:
This next entrant in our roster can be played directly through your browser. If you liked the good old ‘point and click’ action titles, then you’re definitely going to adore this one.
This Flash gem is looked upon as a character-driven story that involves discovering evidence, searching for clues and chatting up with key witnesses. Here, you get to step into the shoes of Detective Grimoire and prepare to come face to face with a whole slew of interesting individuals.
3 – Heavy Rain:
Get ready to step into an interactive action-adventure that’ll chill your bones while keeping you engrossed in gameplay. Developed by Quantic Dream and published by Sony, the psychological thriller game Heavy Rain hit the PS3 just a couple of years ago. The events that play out here are set in a fear-ridden town situated on the East Coast of USA. You get to race through the title as a combination of four characters. The decisions you make will determine how the plot shapes up. Dive in and solve the Origami Killer murders.
4 – Hotel Dusk Room 215:
The graphic adventure title houses plenty of hidden secrets that’ll surely capture the imagination and interest of all you crime-solving enthusiasts out there. This inclusion in our array unveils across the Nintendo DS console. Blessed with an intriguing storyline, this portable gem takes complete advantage of the handheld system’s dual screen.
You can expect to see a full 3D environment and an interactive map on two screens, respectively. Here you step into the shoes of a retired New York cop known as Kyle Hyde who runs away from the big apple when he gets involved in the disappearance of his pal Bradley.
5 – Broken Sword: Director’s Cut:
This adventure-driven delight tells the tale of intrepid American George Stobbart and journalist Nico Collard as they embark on a fantastic escapade that takes them to the four corners of the earth. Their journey is filled with peril as they set out to solve a dark conspiracy that involves the secrets of the Knights Templar.
What’s more, the title is available on Google Play for Android-powered devices. And if you happen to own an Apple gadget instead, don’t look so glum. You can always try your hand at Broken Sword – The Smoking Mirror: Remastered.
6 – Azada: Ancient Magic:
Here, you’re called on to plunge right into more than 20 magical books in order to unlock the powerful Azada. Brace yourself as you’ll get to meet some well-known faces such as Rapunzel, Buffalo Bill, King Arthur and Henry Jekyll, to name a few. It provides plenty of stimulating puzzles for the curious mind as well as two exciting modes namely Relaxed and Adventure. In this Android gem, you’ll also be able to unlock the Collector’s Edition for extra content like access to The Lost Pages with 8 new mini-games and a helpful strategy guide.
7 – Scooby-Doo! and the Spooky Swamp:
Now what roundup could ever be complete without the mention of a brave Great Dane and his crime-solving pals? Well, Scooby-Doo and his pals – Shaggy, Fred, Velma and Daphne find themselves in the midst of yet another great hair-raising adventure. You can travel to various haunted locations such as the Southwestern ghost town and snow-covered Alpine village in search for vital clues that might lead to the perpetrator behind all this madness.
And according to the brains behind this endeavor, you can expect drop-in, drop-out two-player co-op bliss. The title rolls out for the Nintendo Wii, DS, PS2 and PC.
8 – Professor Layton and the Diabolical Box:
Like a few of the others, our final contender is also fashioned for the Nintendo DS platform. It allows you to jump right into a fantastic adventure while on the move. This particular installment in the acclaimed Professor Layton series of titles unleashed for the portable console around three years ago. There are over 150 new brain teasers, logic puzzles and riddles as well as new animated movie scenes and voice work to avail of here.
Conclusion:
The best mystery games listed here aren’t limited to any specific genre. In fact, the stories and gameplay elements featured in each of these titles span across adventure settings, hidden objects terrain and other similar layouts. And if you like to dabble in the unknown and love unraveling mysteries, then we’re sure you’ll want to get a taste of all the aforesaid gems. So which ones are you going to try first? Did we give any of your favorites a miss? Well, don’t hesitate to drop your comments in the box located just below.
