Free Detective Games on Steam
Steam currently has 3,304 Detective games available to download and play. Explore our list of the best free games ranked by popularity and ratings. Data for this list is calculated from reviews and player counts reported directly by Steam and will be updated in real-time. Free Detective game rankings were last updated on 2/9/2026.
Looking for more? Explore other lists such as:
- Best detective games on Steam
- Best detective Steam Deck games
- Best detective Steam games for Mac OS
- Best detective Linux games on Steam
- Free Steam games
- Most played Steam games
- Best rated Steam games
1. GeoGuessr Steam Edition
Explore the world with GeoGuessr Steam Edition! Compete against others, climb divisions, and prove your geography skills. Travel to stunning locations, analyze clues, and make your best guess. Quickplay Duels is unlimited Free-to-play, Competitive Duels is subject to payment/subscription.
GeoGuessr Steam Edition holds the #1 spot for "best free Detective game on Steam" with a Player Score of 63. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 20,412 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 13,065 positive reviews and 7,347 negative reviews — making it "Mixed" on Steam.
It can be played and ran on Windows systems. Valve has also verified it as playable on the Steam Deck and will run well.
2. Buy a Croquette!
March 2012, Nagano. The brave and clever high school girl, Chio Aozora, is facing a major crisis: she doesn’t have enough money to buy a croquette! Navigate through the streets and alleys of Nagano, interact with a variety of characters, solve complex puzzles, collect 380 yen, and buy a croquette!
Buy a Croquette! has achieved a Player Score of 95, placing it in the #2 spot for the best free Detective games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 6,701 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 6,619 positive reviews and 82 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.
It can be played and ran on Windows systems. At the moment, it is possible to play Buy a Croquette! on the Steam Deck (though some functionality may be limited).
| Release Date | 4/27/2024 |
| Developer | 越青 |
| Publisher | Eternal Dream |
| Steam App Id | 2167960 |
3. Cube Escape: Paradox
The tenth Cube Escape follows the story of detective Dale Vandermeer who finds himself trapped in two different universes and needs to escape. Cube Escape: Paradox will be released together with the accompanying Paradox: A Rusty Lake Film.
Cube Escape: Paradox has achieved a Player Score of 94, placing it in the #3 spot for the best free Detective games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 11,393 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 11,066 positive reviews and 327 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.
It can be played and ran on both Windows and Mac systems. At the moment, it is possible to play Cube Escape: Paradox on the Steam Deck (though some functionality may be limited).
| Release Date | 9/20/2018 |
| Franchise | Rusty Lake |
| Developer | Rusty Lake |
| Publisher | Rusty Lake |
| Steam App Id | 909080 |
4. Fear Surrounds
Fear Surrounds is a horror-tinged take on the werewolf-style social subterfuge genre, where two evil spirits hide within a group of players and attempt to sabotage and murder them.
Fear Surrounds has achieved a Player Score of 84, placing it in the #4 spot for the best free Detective games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 10,832 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 9,300 positive reviews and 1,532 negative reviews — making it "Very Positive" on Steam.
It 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 | 10/20/2021 |
| Developer | SaltyEgg Studio |
| Publisher | Yooreka Studio |
| Steam App Id | 1526490 |
5. Life Makeover
Explore Life Makeover: Unleash your style, dye outfits, and design freely. Dive into unlimited dress-up, build your dream home - all for free.
Life Makeover has achieved a Player Score of 80, placing it in the #5 spot for the best free Detective games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 1,497 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 1,250 positive reviews and 247 negative reviews — making it "Very Positive" on Steam.
It can be played and ran on Windows systems. At the moment, it is possible to play Life Makeover on the Steam Deck (though some functionality may be limited).
| Release Date | 11/15/2023 |
| Developer | Archosaur Games |
| Publisher | Archosaur Games |
| Steam App Id | 2626940 |
6. Crime Scene Cleaner: Prologue
When there’s a call, you are the man to clean up after your client’s dirty job. Siding with the mafia is a dangerous game, but they pay well, and you need money, right? So take your mop and better remove those bloodstains quickly before the police come.
Crime Scene Cleaner: Prologue has achieved a Player Score of 91, placing it in the #6 spot for the best free Detective games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 5,314 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 5,038 positive reviews and 276 negative reviews — making it "Very Positive" on Steam.
It can be played and ran on Windows systems. At the moment, it is not possible to play or run Crime Scene Cleaner: Prologue on the Steam Deck.
| Release Date | 4/4/2024 |
| Developers | |
| Publishers | |
| Steam App Id | 2540100 |
8. Adventure Escape Mysteries
Play a story-driven room escape game with unique puzzles enjoyed by tens of millions of players. Solve mysteries, puzzle through escape rooms, and find the clue that will crack the case in a critically acclaimed puzzle adventure game!
Adventure Escape Mysteries has achieved a Player Score of 82, placing it in the #8 spot for the best free Detective games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 1,072 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 929 positive reviews and 143 negative reviews — making it "Very Positive" on Steam.
It can be played and ran on both Windows and Mac systems. At the moment, it is possible to play Adventure Escape Mysteries on the Steam Deck (though some functionality may be limited).
| Release Date | 5/5/2020 |
| Developer | Haiku Games Co |
| Publisher | Haiku Games Co |
| Steam App Id | 1141020 |
9. Contraband Police: Prologue
Take over the duties of a border guard inspector in a communist country of the 80's. Smuggling, corruption and forgery are the order of the day here. Be vigilant and earn the respect of your superiors.
Contraband Police: Prologue has achieved a Player Score of 87, placing it in the #9 spot for the best free Detective games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 7,499 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 6,688 positive reviews and 811 negative reviews — making it "Very Positive" on Steam.
It can be played and ran on Windows systems. At the moment, it is possible to play Contraband Police: Prologue on the Steam Deck (though some functionality may be limited).
| Release Date | 2/16/2021 |
| Developer | Crazy Rocks |
| Publishers | |
| Steam App Id | 1396240 |
10. Escape Memoirs: Mini Stories
"Escape Memoirs: Mini Stories" is a series of co-operative escape-room style puzzle scenarios. Each one is sure to test your wits as you try to overcome the challenges that stand in the way of your escape.
Escape Memoirs: Mini Stories has achieved a Player Score of 82, placing it in the #10 spot for the best free Detective games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 5,835 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 4,906 positive reviews and 929 negative reviews — making it "Very Positive" on Steam.
It can be played and ran on Windows systems. At the moment, it is possible to play Escape Memoirs: Mini Stories on the Steam Deck (though some functionality may be limited).
| Release Date | 9/30/2022 |
| Franchise | 0 Deer Soft |
| Developer | 0 Deer Soft |
| Publishers | |
| Steam App Id | 2098350 |
More Free Detective Games
Explore even more rankings for the 100 best free Detective games available on Steam.
| Image | Name | Actions | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1,589 | 5/8/2025 | 63 | Free | Steam Charts | |
| 160 | 4/27/2024 | 95 | Free | Steam Charts | |
| 139 | 9/20/2018 | 94 | Free | Steam Charts | |
| 127 | 10/20/2021 | 84 | Free | Steam Charts | |
| 105 | 11/15/2023 | 80 | Free | Steam Charts | |
| 92 | 4/4/2024 | 91 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 92 | 7/28/2025 | 66 | Free | Steam Charts | |
| 82 | 5/5/2020 | 82 | Free | Steam Charts | |
| 55 | 2/16/2021 | 87 | Free | Steam Charts | |
| 36 | 9/30/2022 | 82 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 31 | 10/15/2024 | 48 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 24 | 11/22/2024 | 84 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 22 | 11/24/2022 | 85 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 22 | 2/6/2025 | 94 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 21 | 9/5/2020 | 79 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 20 | 4/27/2016 | 57 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 17 | 7/23/2020 | 84 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 16 | 3/31/2023 | 95 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 15 | 12/31/2025 | 89 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 15 | 8/28/2020 | 82 | Free | Steam Charts |
Soures & References
Steambase has best-in-class data powered directly by Steam, our data partners, and in-house experts. Player counts 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. (2026, February 9). Steam Store. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2026, February 9). GeoGuessr Steam Edition on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2026, January 6). Buy a Croquette! on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2026, January 28). Cube Escape: Paradox on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2025, August 21). Fear Surrounds on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2026, February 2). Life Makeover on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2026, February 2). Crime Scene Cleaner: Prologue on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2026, February 6). Sherlock: Hidden Object & Match-3 Mystery on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2026, January 12). Adventure Escape Mysteries on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2025, December 18). Contraband Police: Prologue on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2025, November 30). Escape Memoirs: Mini Stories on Steam. Steam Store.