Best Investigation Linux Games on Steam
Steam currently has 2,681 Investigation games, but not all of them are able to be played on Linux builds. 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 1/3/2025.
Looking for more? Explore other lists such as:
- Best investigation games on Steam
- Best investigation Steam Deck games
- Best investigation Steam games (for Mac OS)
- Free investigation games on Steam
- Free Steam games
- Most played Steam games
- Best rated Steam games
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 Linux Investigation game on Steam" with a Player Score of 95. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 7,917 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 7,790 positive reviews and 127 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.
It is priced at $17.99 to play and can be played and ran on Windows, Mac, and Linux systems. Valve has also verified it as playable on the Steam Deck and will run well.
| Steam Price | $17.99 |
| Release Date | 10/13/2022 |
| Franchise | Playstack |
| Developer | Color Gray Games |
| Publisher | Playstack |
| Steam App Id | 1677770 |
2. Arctic Eggs
Eggs: perfection in two parts. The simple whites. The sublime yolk. Each the lesser without its partner. Chorus and verse. A symphony of flavor. The catchy tune reminding us of warm baths and late-night movies. The elevator music to whatever lies beyond.
Arctic Eggs has achieved a Player Score of 93, placing it in the #2 spot for the best Linux Investigation games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 2,851 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 2,768 positive reviews and 83 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.
It is priced at $9.99 to play and can be played and ran on Windows, Mac, and Linux systems. Valve has also verified it as playable on the Steam Deck and will run well.
| Steam Price | $9.99 |
| Release Date | 5/16/2024 |
| Franchise | CRITICAL REFLEX |
| Developers | |
| Publishers | |
| Steam App Id | 2763670 |
3. Duck Detective: The Secret Salami
Solving crime is no walk in the pond. You are a down-on-his-luck detective who also happens to be a duck. Use your powers of de-duck-tion to inspect evidence, fill in the blanks, and bust the case wide open! This is a short but twisty detective case.
Duck Detective: The Secret Salami has achieved a Player Score of 92, placing it in the #3 spot for the best Linux Investigation games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 4,277 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 4,095 positive reviews and 182 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.
It is priced at $9.99 to play and can be played and ran on Windows, Mac, and Linux systems. Valve has also verified it as playable on the Steam Deck and will run well.
| Steam Price | $9.99 |
| Release Date | 5/23/2024 |
| Franchise | Happy Broccoli Games |
| Developer | Happy Broccoli Games |
| Publisher | Happy Broccoli Games |
| Steam App Id | 2637990 |
4. Escape Simulator
First-person puzzler you can play solo or in an online co-op. Explore a set of highly interactive escape rooms. Move furniture, pick up and examine everything, smash pots and break locks! Play thousands of community-made rooms through the level editor.
Escape Simulator has achieved a Player Score of 92, placing it in the #4 spot for the best Linux Investigation games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 16,466 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 15,508 positive reviews and 958 negative reviews — making it "Very Positive" on Steam.
It is priced at $19.99 to play and can be played and ran on Windows, Mac, and Linux systems. Valve has also verified it as playable on the Steam Deck and will run well.
| Steam Price | $19.99 |
| Release Date | 10/19/2021 |
| Franchise | Pine Studio |
| Developer | Pine Studio |
| Publisher | Pine Studio |
| Steam App Id | 1435790 |
5. Pools
Walking simulator. Explore, admire and listen. Uncanny. Relaxing. Unnerving. Eerie. Immersive. No monsters chasing you or jumping towards at your screen, but can feel oppressive at times by invoking fears of getting lost, the dark, tight spaces and liminal space architecture. Inspired by backrooms.
Pools has achieved a Player Score of 92, placing it in the #5 spot for the best Linux Investigation games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 3,912 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 3,727 positive reviews and 185 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.
It is priced at $9.79 to play and can be played and ran on Windows, Mac, and Linux systems. Valve has also verified it as playable on the Steam Deck and will run well.
| Steam Price | $9.79 |
| Release Date | 4/26/2024 |
| Franchise | UNIKAT Label |
| Developer | Tensori |
| Publishers | |
| Steam App Id | 2663530 |
6. The Darkside Detective: A Fumble in the Dark
Delouse your room with sage and pack up your travel-sized ouija board, it’s time to re-enter Twin Lakes - America’s 34th most haunted city. Join Detective McQueen as he puzzles his way through 9 chilling cases, risking life and pixelated limb to solve the macabre mysteries that plague the poor town.
The Darkside Detective: A Fumble in the Dark has achieved a Player Score of 92, placing it in the #6 spot for the best Linux Investigation games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 1,641 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 1,584 positive reviews and 57 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.
It is priced at $14.99 to play and can be played and ran on Windows, Mac, and Linux systems. Valve has also verified it as playable on the Steam Deck and will run well.
| Steam Price | $14.99 |
| Release Date | 4/15/2021 |
| Franchise | Akupara Games |
| Developer | Spooky Doorway |
| Publisher | Akupara Games |
| Steam App Id | 795420 |
7. Tales From Off-Peak City Vol. 1
On the corner of July Avenue and Yam Street, all is not what it seems. What role will you play in a city's fate?
Tales From Off-Peak City Vol. 1 has achieved a Player Score of 91, placing it in the #7 spot for the best Linux Investigation games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 553 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 546 positive reviews and 7 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.
It is priced at $9.99 to play and can be played and ran on Windows, Mac, and Linux systems. At the moment, it is possible to play Tales From Off-Peak City Vol. 1 on the Steam Deck (though some functionality may be limited).
| Steam Price | $9.99 |
| Release Date | 5/15/2020 |
| Franchise | Cosmo D Studios |
| Developer | Cosmo D |
| Publisher | Cosmo D Studios LLC |
| Steam App Id | 1129920 |
8. What Never Was
What Never Was is a short, story-driven first-person game focused on exploration and puzzle-solving about Sarah, having to shoulder the arduous task of clearing out her grandfathers attic, and soon finds that not everything about the attic is what it seems.
What Never Was has achieved a Player Score of 91, placing it in the #8 spot for the best Linux Investigation games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 4,896 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 4,645 positive reviews and 251 negative reviews — making it "Very Positive" on Steam.
It is completely free to play and can be played and ran on Windows, Mac, and Linux systems. Valve has also verified it as playable on the Steam Deck and will run well.
| Release Date | 1/11/2019 |
| Developer | Acke Hallgren |
| Publisher | Acke Hallgren |
| Steam App Id | 866440 |
9. I'm on Observation Duty 4
A spot the difference -type of puzzle horror game about monitoring live surveillance camera footage and spotting anomalies. Anomalies range from furniture movement to intruders. Fix anomalies by filing reports. You will need sharp eyes and good memory. The goal is to survive the entire night.
I'm on Observation Duty 4 has achieved a Player Score of 91, placing it in the #9 spot for the best Linux Investigation games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 751 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 735 positive reviews and 16 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.
It is priced at $4.99 to play and can be played and ran on Windows, Mac, and Linux systems. Valve has also verified it as playable on the Steam Deck and will run well.
10. Scarlet Hollow — Episode 1
The free-to-play first episode of a horror-mystery game with dark humor and hand-drawn art from award-winning graphic novelist Abby Howard.
Scarlet Hollow — Episode 1 has achieved a Player Score of 90, placing it in the #10 spot for the best Linux Investigation games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 701 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 680 positive reviews and 21 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.
It is completely free to play and can be played and ran on Windows, Mac, and Linux systems. At the moment, it is possible to play Scarlet Hollow — Episode 1 on the Steam Deck (though some functionality may be limited).
| Release Date | 9/25/2020 |
| Franchise | Black Tabby Games |
| Developer | Black Tabby Games |
| Publisher | Black Tabby Games |
| Steam App Id | 1406040 |
More Investigation Linux Games on Steam
Explore even more rankings for the 10 best Investigation games available on Steam.
| Image | Name | Actions | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 104 | 10/13/2022 | 95 | $17.99 | Steam Charts | |
| 14 | 5/16/2024 | 93 | $9.99 | Steam Charts | |
| 17 | 5/23/2024 | 92 | $9.99 | Steam Charts | |
| 609 | 10/19/2021 | 92 | $19.99 | Steam Charts | |
| 21 | 4/26/2024 | 92 | $9.79 | Steam Charts | |
| 8 | 4/15/2021 | 92 | $14.99 | Steam Charts | |
| 1 | 5/15/2020 | 91 | $9.99 | Steam Charts | |
| 1 | 1/11/2019 | 91 | Free | Steam Charts | |
| 5 | 12/22/2021 | 91 | $4.99 | Steam Charts | |
| 5 | 9/25/2020 | 90 | Free | 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. (2025, January 3). Steam Store. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2025, January 3). The Case of the Golden Idol on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2025, January 8). Arctic Eggs on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2025, January 2). Duck Detective: The Secret Salami on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2025, January 13). Escape Simulator on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2025, January 4). Pools on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2025, January 5). The Darkside Detective: A Fumble in the Dark on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2025, January 8). Tales From Off-Peak City Vol. 1 on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, October 19). What Never Was on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2025, January 4). I'm on Observation Duty 4 on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2025, January 9). Scarlet Hollow — Episode 1 on Steam. Steam Store.