Best Detective Games on Steam

Steam currently has 3,398 Detective 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. Detective game rankings were last updated on 3/22/2026.

Looking for more? Explore other lists such as:

1. Chants of Sennaar

In this award-winning puzzle adventure game, play as the Traveler on a quest to reunite the Peoples of the Tower. Observe, listen, and decipher ancient languages in a fascinating universe inspired by the Myth of Babel.

Chants of Sennaar banner

Chants of Sennaar holds the #1 spot for "best Detective game on Steam" with a Player Score of 96. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 29,062 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 28,570 positive reviews and 492 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.

It is priced at $11.99 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 $11.99
Release Date 9/5/2023
Franchise Focus Entertainment
Developer Rundisc
Publisher Focus Entertainment
Steam App Id 1931770

2. The Wolf Among Us

From the makers of the 2012 Game of the Year: The Walking Dead, comes a thriller based on the award-winning Fables comic books. As Bigby Wolf you will discover that a brutal, bloody murder is just a taste of things to come in a game series where your every decision can have enormous consequences.

The Wolf Among Us banner

The Wolf Among Us has achieved a Player Score of 96, placing it in the #2 spot for the best Detective games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 38,754 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 37,929 positive reviews and 825 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.

It is priced at $14.99 to play and can be played and ran on Windows systems. At the moment, it is possible to play The Wolf Among Us on the Steam Deck (though some functionality may be limited).

Steam Price $14.99
Release Date 10/11/2013
Franchise Telltale Games
Developer Telltale
Publisher Telltale
Steam App Id 250320

3. Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Trilogy

Become Phoenix Wright and experience the thrill of battle as you fight to save your innocent clients in a court of law. Play all 14 episodes, spanning the first three games, in one gorgeous collection.

Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Trilogy banner

Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Trilogy has achieved a Player Score of 96, placing it in the #3 spot for the best Detective games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 42,566 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 41,531 positive reviews and 1,035 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.

It is priced at $29.99 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 $29.99
Release Date 4/9/2019
Developer CAPCOM Co., Ltd.
Publisher CAPCOM Co., Ltd.
Steam App Id 787480

4. Persona 4 Golden

A coming of age story that sets the protagonist and his friends on a journey kickstarted by a chain of serial murders.

Persona 4 Golden banner

Persona 4 Golden has achieved a Player Score of 95, placing it in the #4 spot for the best Detective games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 83,883 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 81,383 positive reviews and 2,500 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.

It is priced at $9.99 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 $9.99
Release Date 6/13/2020
Franchise ATLUS
Developer ATLUS
Publisher SEGA
Steam App Id 1113000

5. 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! banner

Buy a Croquette! has achieved a Player Score of 95, placing it in the #5 spot for the best Detective games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 7,122 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 7,036 positive reviews and 86 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, 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

6. Persona 5 Royal

Don the mask and join the Phantom Thieves of Hearts as they stage grand heists, infiltrate the minds of the corrupt, and make them change their ways!

Persona 5 Royal banner

Persona 5 Royal has achieved a Player Score of 95, placing it in the #6 spot for the best Detective games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 125,141 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 120,733 positive reviews and 4,408 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.

It is priced at $17.99 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 $17.99
Release Date 10/20/2022
Franchise ATLUS
Developer ATLUS
Publisher SEGA
Steam App Id 1687950

7. 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 banner

The Case of the Golden Idol has achieved a Player Score of 95, placing it in the #7 spot for the best Detective games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 10,127 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 9,915 positive reviews and 212 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

8. 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 banner

Phasmophobia has achieved a Player Score of 95, placing it in the #8 spot for the best Detective games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 814,331 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 778,824 positive reviews and 35,507 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. At the moment, it is not possible to play or run Phasmophobia on the Steam Deck.

Steam Price $13.99
Release Date 9/18/2020
Developer Kinetic Games
Publisher Kinetic Games
Steam App Id 739630

9. Cube Escape Collection

In this classic point-and-click adventure anthology you follow the path of Dale and Laura and other famous Rusty lake characters such as Mr. Crow and Mr. Owl. The series will be updated, preserved and bundled to survive the end of the Flash Games era.

Cube Escape Collection banner

Cube Escape Collection has achieved a Player Score of 95, placing it in the #9 spot for the best Detective games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 7,424 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 7,285 positive reviews and 139 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.

It is priced at $4.99 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 $4.99
Release Date 10/14/2020
Franchise Rusty Lake
Developer Rusty Lake
Publisher Rusty Lake
Steam App Id 1292940

10. The Murder of Sonic the Hedgehog

Sonic the Hedgehog...was murdered!? Get to the bottom of the mystery in this brand-new adventure!

The Murder of Sonic the Hedgehog banner

The Murder of Sonic the Hedgehog has achieved a Player Score of 95, placing it in the #10 spot for the best Detective games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 24,745 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 24,018 positive reviews and 727 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.

It is completely free to play and can be played and ran on both Windows and Mac systems. At the moment, it is possible to play The Murder of Sonic the Hedgehog on the Steam Deck (though some functionality may be limited).

Release Date 3/31/2023
Franchise SEGA
Developer SEGA
Publisher SEGA
Steam App Id 2324650

More Detective Games

Explore even more rankings for the 100 best Detective games available on Steam.

Page 1 of 5

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. (2026, March 22). Steam Store. Steam Store.
  • Valve Corporation. (2026, March 22). Chants of Sennaar on Steam. Steam Store.
  • Valve Corporation. (2026, March 12). The Wolf Among Us on Steam. Steam Store.
  • Valve Corporation. (2026, March 22). Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Trilogy on Steam. Steam Store.
  • Valve Corporation. (2026, March 25). Persona 4 Golden on Steam. Steam Store.
  • Valve Corporation. (2026, January 6). Buy a Croquette! on Steam. Steam Store.
  • Valve Corporation. (2026, March 25). Persona 5 Royal on Steam. Steam Store.
  • Valve Corporation. (2026, March 26). The Case of the Golden Idol on Steam. Steam Store.
  • Valve Corporation. (2026, March 27). Phasmophobia on Steam. Steam Store.
  • Valve Corporation. (2026, March 26). Cube Escape Collection on Steam. Steam Store.
  • Valve Corporation. (2026, March 26). The Murder of Sonic the Hedgehog on Steam. Steam Store.

Explore

Discover the best of Steam. Find your next game, free weekend, or even track the next Steam Sale all in one spot.