Free Investigation Games on Steam
Steam currently has 3,246 Investigation 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 Investigation game rankings were last updated on 9/5/2025.
Looking for more? Explore other lists such as:
- Best investigation games on Steam
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- Best investigation Linux games on Steam
- Free Steam games
- Most played Steam games
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1. 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 holds the #1 spot for "best free Investigation game on Steam" with a Player Score of 82. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 1,000 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 861 positive reviews and 139 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 |
2. We Were Here
Lost in a frozen wasteland and split up from your partner inside an abandoned castle, the only possession you have left is a walkie-talkie with a familiar voice on the other end. Can the two of you find your way out in time?
We Were Here has achieved a Player Score of 88, placing it in the #2 spot for the best free Investigation games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 30,691 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 27,603 positive reviews and 3,088 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 We Were Here on the Steam Deck (though some functionality may be limited).
| Release Date | 2/3/2017 |
| Franchise | Total Mayhem Games |
| Developer | Total Mayhem Games |
| Publisher | Total Mayhem Games |
| Steam App Id | 582500 |
3. 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 86, placing it in the #3 spot for the best free Investigation games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 7,351 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 6,555 positive reviews and 796 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 |
6. 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 #6 spot for the best free Investigation games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 5,610 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 4,724 positive reviews and 886 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 |
7. Unsolved Case
A new lead turns up old doubts about an 'Unsolved Case'. A trap, or a copycat killer? In this co-op puzzle game prequel to the award-winning Cryptic Killer series, put on your detective badges as you collaborate and communicate to crack the codes, solve the riddles, and catch the Cryptic Killer.
Unsolved Case has achieved a Player Score of 85, placing it in the #7 spot for the best free Investigation games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 5,975 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 5,240 positive reviews and 735 negative reviews — making it "Very Positive" on Steam.
It can be played and ran on both Windows and Mac systems. At the moment, there is no confirmed information regarding Steam Deck support for this game.
| Release Date | 11/24/2022 |
| Franchise | Eleven Puzzles |
| Developer | Eleven Puzzles |
| Publisher | Eleven Puzzles |
| Steam App Id | 2084050 |
8. 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 #8 spot for the best free Investigation games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 5,668 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 5,605 positive reviews and 63 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 |
9. The Panic Room. House of secrets
The Panic Room offers an exciting hidden object experience and mystery detective story.
The Panic Room. House of secrets has achieved a Player Score of 57, placing it in the #9 spot for the best free Investigation games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 566 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 329 positive reviews and 237 negative reviews — making it "Mixed" 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 | 4/27/2016 |
| Developers | |
| Publishers | |
| Steam App Id | 436160 |
10. Hello Neighbor Alpha 4
Alpha 4 of Hello Neighbor was the final alpha during the stealth hit's development. Sneak into your creepy Neighbor's house to figure out what he's hiding.
Hello Neighbor Alpha 4 has achieved a Player Score of 81, placing it in the #10 spot for the best free Investigation games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 5,268 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 4,428 positive reviews and 840 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 Hello Neighbor Alpha 4 on the Steam Deck (though some functionality may be limited).
| Release Date | 10/19/2019 |
| Franchise | Hello Neighbor Game |
| Developer | Dynamic Pixels |
| Publisher | tinyBuild |
| Steam App Id | 1096710 |
More Free Investigation Games
Explore even more rankings for the 100 best free Investigation games available on Steam.
| Image | Name | Actions | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 72 | 5/5/2020 | 82 | Free | Steam Charts | |
| 51 | 2/3/2017 | 88 | Free | Steam Charts | |
| 35 | 2/16/2021 | 86 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 28 | 7/28/2025 | 67 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 27 | 10/15/2024 | 54 | Free | Steam Charts | |
| 24 | 9/30/2022 | 82 | Free | Steam Charts | |
| 22 | 11/24/2022 | 85 | Free | Steam Charts | |
| 18 | 4/27/2024 | 95 | Free | Steam Charts | |
| 17 | 4/27/2016 | 57 | Free | Steam Charts | |
| 14 | 10/19/2019 | 81 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 13 | 9/5/2020 | 79 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 10 | 10/12/2019 | 89 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 10 | 10/15/2019 | 91 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 10 | 8/28/2020 | 82 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 9 | 6/15/2022 | 77 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 8 | 3/25/2025 | 84 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 8 | 8/7/2023 | 90 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 6 | 2/28/2024 | 49 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 6 | 11/11/2024 | 59 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 5 | 6/13/2020 | 84 | 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. (2025, September 5). Steam Store. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2025, September 5). Adventure Escape Mysteries on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2025, September 22). We Were Here on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2025, September 29). Contraband Police: Prologue on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2025, September 29). Sherlock: Hidden Object & Match-3 Mystery on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2025, September 27). Mystery Manor: hidden objects on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2025, August 16). Escape Memoirs: Mini Stories on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2025, September 27). Unsolved Case on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2025, September 19). Buy a Croquette! on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2025, September 28). The Panic Room. House of secrets on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2025, September 28). Hello Neighbor Alpha 4 on Steam. Steam Store.