Best Investigation Games on Steam
Steam currently has 2,284 Investigation games available to download and play. Explore our list of the best picks ranked by Player Score. Our Player Score rankings are calculated directly from reviews left on the Steam store and will be updated in real-time as more players leave their feedback. Investigation game rankings were last updated on 7/26/2024.
Looking for more? Explore other lists such as:
- Free investigation games on Steam
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- Best investigation Steam games for Mac OS
- Free Steam games
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1. The Case of the Golden Idol
A new kind of detective game that allows you to think and investigate freely. Discover clues surrounding 12 strange and gruesome deaths and build your own theory. Pick your suspect, deduce the motive, unmask the awful truth.
The Case of the Golden Idol holds the #1 spot for "best Investigation game on Steam" with a Player Score of 95. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 6,731 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 6,635 positive reviews and 96 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.
It is priced at $17.99 to play and can be played and ran on both Windows and Mac systems. At the moment, it is possible to play The Case of the Golden Idol on the Steam Deck (though some functionality may be limited).
| Steam Price | $17.99 |
| Release Date | 10/13/2022 |
| Franchise | Playstack |
| Developer | Color Gray Games |
| Publisher | Playstack |
| Steam App Id | 1677770 |
2. Phasmophobia
Phasmophobia is a 4 player online co-op psychological horror. Paranormal activity is on the rise and it’s up to you and your team to use all the ghost-hunting equipment at your disposal in order to gather as much evidence as you can.
Phasmophobia has achieved a Player Score of 95, placing it in the #2 spot for the best Investigation games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 693,314 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 665,250 positive reviews and 28,064 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.
It is priced at $13.99 to play and can be played and ran on Windows systems. Valve has also verified it as playable on the Steam Deck and will run well.
| Steam Price | $13.99 |
| Release Date | 9/18/2020 |
| Developer | Kinetic Games |
| Publisher | Kinetic Games |
| Steam App Id | 739630 |
3. Murders on the Yangtze River
"Murders on Yangtze River" is an Ace Attorney-like detective game that takes you on a journey through early 20th century China as you solve a series of intriguing cases. Use your logical reasoning and deduction skills to uncover clues, interrogate suspects, and solve the mysteries.
Murders on the Yangtze River has achieved a Player Score of 95, placing it in the #3 spot for the best Investigation games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 12,261 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 11,961 positive reviews and 300 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.
It is priced at $11.99 to play and can be played and ran on both Windows and Mac systems. At the moment, it is possible to play Murders on the Yangtze River on the Steam Deck (though some functionality may be limited).
| Steam Price | $11.99 |
| Release Date | 1/31/2024 |
| Developer | OMEGAMES STUDIO |
| Publishers | |
| Steam App Id | 1746030 |
4. The Test
You will answer a series of questions that will reveal truths from deep within. These questions may make you uncomfortable, but with great knowledge comes great sacrifice. Can you make it all the way through The Test, and if you do, are you sure you want the answers you seek?
The Test has achieved a Player Score of 95, placing it in the #4 spot for the best Investigation games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 19,385 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 18,807 positive reviews and 578 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.
It is priced at $1.59 to play and can be played and ran on Windows systems. Valve has also verified it as playable on the Steam Deck and will run well.
| Steam Price | $1.59 |
| Release Date | 2/24/2020 |
| Developer | Randumb Studios |
| Publisher | Randumb Studios |
| Steam App Id | 1241510 |
5. Far Away
Far Away is a visual novel full of dark humor depicting immersive storylines rather than romantic drama. You will play as Krosa, a typical girl who experiences gang conflicts, crimes, conspiracies, and family grudges in the port city of Bedjan.
Far Away has achieved a Player Score of 94, placing it in the #5 spot for the best Investigation games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 6,315 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 6,184 positive reviews and 131 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.
It is priced at $12.99 to play and can be played and ran on Windows systems. At the moment, it is possible to play Far Away on the Steam Deck (though some functionality may be limited).
| Steam Price | $12.99 |
| Release Date | 8/17/2021 |
| Franchise | Thermite Games |
| Developer | Gratesca |
| Publishers | |
| Steam App Id | 1250760 |
6. The Test: Final Revelation
The third chapter in The Test Trilogy. Answer a series of in-depth questions to reveal hidden truths about yourself and unlock secrets to discover who you really are as a person. The Final Revelation is upon us... but are you sure you TRULY want the answers you seek?
The Test: Final Revelation has achieved a Player Score of 94, placing it in the #6 spot for the best Investigation games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 5,235 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 5,133 positive reviews and 102 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.
It is priced at $1.99 to play and can be played and ran on Windows systems. Valve has also verified it as playable on the Steam Deck and will run well.
| Steam Price | $1.99 |
| Release Date | 10/12/2020 |
| Developer | Randumb Studios |
| Publisher | Randumb Studios |
| Steam App Id | 1428310 |
7. The Test: Hypothesis Rising
The second chapter in The Test trilogy. Answer a series of in-depth questions to reveal hidden truths about yourself and unlock secrets to discover how your life can change drastically with just a few, slight modifications. ...But are you sure you want the answers you seek?
The Test: Hypothesis Rising has achieved a Player Score of 94, placing it in the #7 spot for the best Investigation games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 5,747 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 5,620 positive reviews and 127 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.
It is priced at $1.99 to play and can be played and ran on Windows systems. Valve has also verified it as playable on the Steam Deck and will run well.
| Steam Price | $1.99 |
| Release Date | 4/27/2020 |
| Developer | Randumb Studios |
| Publisher | Randumb Studios |
| Steam App Id | 1282200 |
8. Unheard - Voices of Crime
What if you could hear every word spoken at the scene of a crime? “Acoustic Detectives” wanted for testing our new device! Return aurally to crime scenes and use the voices you hear to identify potential suspects and solve the mysteries. What is it that’s connecting these seemingly unrelated cases?
Unheard - Voices of Crime has achieved a Player Score of 94, placing it in the #8 spot for the best Investigation games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 29,926 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 28,827 positive reviews and 1,099 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.
It is priced at $6.99 to play and can be played and ran on both Windows and Mac systems. At the moment, it is possible to play Unheard - Voices of Crime on the Steam Deck (though some functionality may be limited).
| Steam Price | $6.99 |
| Release Date | 3/28/2019 |
| Developer | NExT Studios |
| Publishers | |
| Steam App Id | 942970 |
9. Bugsnax
Catch mysterious living snacks and feed them to your friends in this unusual island adventure!
Bugsnax has achieved a Player Score of 94, placing it in the #9 spot for the best Investigation games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 5,650 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 5,498 positive reviews and 152 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.
It is priced at $24.99 to play and can be played and ran on both Windows and Mac systems. Valve has also verified it as playable on the Steam Deck and will run well.
| Steam Price | $24.99 |
| Release Date | 4/28/2022 |
| Developer | Young Horses |
| Publisher | Young Horses |
| Steam App Id | 674140 |
10. 买个可乐饼吧！ - Buy a Croquette!
2012年3月，长野。智慧勇敢的女高中生青空千绪，竟面临着没有钱买可乐饼的重大危机！穿行在长野的大街小巷，和形形色色的角色互动，解决错综复杂的谜题，收集380円硬币，买个可乐饼吧！
买个可乐饼吧！ - Buy a Croquette! has achieved a Player Score of 94, placing it in the #10 spot for the best Investigation games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 1,554 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 1,539 positive reviews and 15 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.
It is completely free to play and can be played and ran on Windows systems. At the moment, there is no confirmed information regarding Steam Deck support for this game.
| Release Date | 4/27/2024 |
| Developer | 越青 |
| Publisher | Eternal Dream |
| Steam App Id | 2167960 |
More Investigation Games
Explore even more rankings for the 100 best Investigation games available on Steam.
| Image | Name | Actions | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | 72 | 10/13/2022 | 95 | $17.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 16,020 | 9/18/2020 | 95 | $13.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 326 | 1/31/2024 | 95 | $11.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 2 | 2/24/2020 | 95 | $1.59 | Steam Charts | |
 | 16 | 8/17/2021 | 94 | $12.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 1 | 10/12/2020 | 94 | $1.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 1 | 4/27/2020 | 94 | $1.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 85 | 3/28/2019 | 94 | $6.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 106 | 4/28/2022 | 94 | $24.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 50 | 4/27/2024 | 94 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 2 | 3/26/2020 | 94 | $29.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 2 | 10/26/2022 | 94 | $4.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 7 | 1/17/2024 | 94 | $6.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 50 | 10/21/2021 | 93 | $13.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 112 | 7/28/2021 | 93 | $8.74 | Steam Charts | |
 | 3,446 | 4/1/2024 | 93 | $7.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 4 | 3/15/2024 | 93 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 100 | 1/21/2022 | 92 | $15.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 1 | 2/20/2023 | 92 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 301 | 9/14/2022 | 92 | $39.99 | Steam Charts |
Soures & References
Steambase has best-in-class data powered directly by Steam, our data partners, and in-house experts. Reviews and rankings are enriched, analyzed, and updated in real-time to ensure we surface the most up-to-date insights. Learn more about the Steambase approach to data collection and our review methodology.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, July 26). Steam Store. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, July 26). The Case of the Golden Idol on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, July 25). Phasmophobia on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, July 24). Murders on the Yangtze River on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, July 16). The Test on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, July 24). Far Away on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, July 27). The Test: Final Revelation on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, July 14). The Test: Hypothesis Rising on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, July 26). Unheard - Voices of Crime on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, July 19). Bugsnax on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, July 27). 买个可乐饼吧！ - Buy a Croquette! on Steam. Steam Store.