2025 was a great year for mystery and detective games, with Rise of the Golden Idol releasing multiple waves of DLC, Duck Detective and Strange Horticulture both getting sequels, and stand-alone titles like The Roottrees are Dead, Little Problems, and The Seance of Blake Manor giving gamer sleuths plenty to keep themselves occupied all year long. And that’s not even getting into the genre-busting journey that was Blue Prince!
Fortunately, 2026 is not slowing down when it comes to detective games. The year started strong, with Steam’s Detective Fest offering tons of promising demos to check out and January alone seeing multiple detective games hit the shelf. Here are fifteen detective games that mystery lovers should be keeping a careful eye on in 2026.
TR-49
OVERBOARD! and Heaven’s Vault developer Inkle started the year off strong with TR-49, which released in January. Players are tasked with utilizing a bizarre machine to sort through the writings of a variety of authors in order to discover a deeply hidden truth. The books range from philosophical musings on the nature of dark matter to a trashy fantasy series that I desperately wish really existed. The game’s plot is many-layered, with revelations lurking in nearly every document you unearth. Truly a game for both detectives and literature lovers!
You can purchase TR-49 on Steam here.
The Incident at Galley House
In 2025, a mystery game titled Type Help was released for free on itch.io. The game told the story of a series of bizarre events occurring at a manor called Galley House – events that resulted in the deaths of everyone present. Now, in 2026, Type Help is being remade as The Incident at Galley House, with all-new graphics, voice acting, and other changes yet to be revealed. Take on the role of an investigator collecting audio files and transcripts from that bloody night – will you be able to piece together a timeline and determine what truly happened within the walls of Galley House?
You can wishlist The Incident at Galley House on Steam here. You can also play the original Type Help on itch.io, but it DOES contain spoilers for Galley House.
Grave Seasons
Cozy farming simulators and mystery games are not two genres that you often see combined. Grave Seasons does something completely new – you’re a farmer living alongside a group of eligible bachelors and bachelorettes who are eager to fall for you. But there’s a twist: one of them is a killer, and it’s up to you to find out who. Will you fall in love? Will you stay alive? Will your crops make it through the season? The answers to these questions can only be found in the upcoming mystery/horror/farming title Grave Seasons.
You can wishlist Grave Seasons on Steam here.
Desktop Explorer
Another recent trend in mystery games is the inclusion of a nostalgic UI that hearkens back to the early days of the Internet. Desktop Explorer is the perfect example of this. Your job is to rifle through the files and folders of a long-abandoned desktop that will bring back fond memories of classrooms, Clippy, and Oregon Trail games – but all is not as it seems. There’s something sinister lurking beneath the friendly veneer of a mid-90s operating system, and, if you go to deep, you might not like what you find. If you like your mystery games sprinkled with a liberal dose of horror, check out Desktop Explorer when it launches in Q2 2026.
You can wishlist Desktop Explorer on Steam and try out a free demo here.
Legion Was Here
You are a secret agent with a very particular set of skills: the ability to drastically alter your appearance to infiltrate the enemy ranks. But your handlers aren’t just going to tell you whose appearance you need to copy to avoid detection. Legion Was Here offers a unique twist on standard investigation gameplay as you look through files, documents, photos, and more to craft the perfect disguise for each assignment. But be careful – if you make one mistake, your identity could be discovered, and the consequences could be world-ending!
You can wishlist Legion Was Here on Steam and try out a free demo here.
INKBLOOD
Fans of the Golden Idol duology who are looking for more bizarre cults and potentially supernatural goings-on should be sure to check out INKBLOOD, an upcoming title from Critical Reflex. You take on the role of an investigator looking into the doings of a strange and sinister cult whose activities have led to multiple deaths. As you explore the game’s richly designed world, you’ll piece together a timeline of what really happened, using your unique ability to travel into the past and gather evidence from several different time periods. There’s at least one sinister secret hiding under the surface in the world of INKBLOOD; are you the intrepid investigator who will bring those secrets to light?
You can wishlist INKBLOOD on Steam here.
The Granny Detective Society
Cozy mysteries are not a style we see often in video game format, with 2025’s Little Problems as one of the few examples. The Granny Detective Society looks to be an excellent addition to the list of cozy investigation titles. You play as Madeleine, a nosy granny determined to suss out every secret and mystery on the street where she lives – which turns out to be full of them. The game features an adorable art style and a mix of classic elements of granny life, such as crossword puzzles, and modern high-tech investigation utilizing computers and surveillance equipment. Channel your inner Miss Marple in this exciting 2026 release!
You can wishlist The Granny Detective Society on Steam and try out a free demo here.
of the devil
On the complete opposite side of the spectrum from cozy sleuthing is of the devil, an episodic mystery series that has drawn comparisons to titles like Ace Attorney and Danganronpa. Set in a dark, grim world of serial killers, powerful gangs, and more, each episode of of the devil challenges players to step into the role of defense attorney Morgan and solve a different complex and twisted case. So far, Episodes 0, 1, and 2 have been released, with Episode 3 planned to debut in 2026. Episode 0 is available for free – and we won’t say any more, because the twists come hard and fast from the very first moments of the game!
You can try out of the devil Episode 0 on Steam here. Episodes 1 and 2 are also available for purchase.
Death at Fleming Manor
The year is 1959. The setting is Fleming Manor. The crime… is murder. It’s your job to interrogate witnesses, examine documents and figure out what happened in this upcoming whodunit brimming with 1950s flair. With a focus on bizarre deaths and forensic investigation, Death at Fleming Manor hearkens back to the classics of the genre – you’ll feel like you’ve stepped into a golden age detective novel combined with a vintage comic book. Will any of the residents and guests at Fleming Manor survive the strange events that are unfolding? Perhaps not, but at least there’s an investigator on the case to figure out the truth – we’re talking about you, of course!
You can wishlist Death at Fleming Manor on Steam and try out a free demo here.
Servant of the Lake
The mystery genre and the point and click gameplay style are old friends, and they reunite in Servant of the Lake, an upcoming title from Cube Escape developer Rusty Lake. You step into the role of a new servant working at the Vanderboom mansion – but your job turns deadly as you soon discover that your new masters have some dark alchemy-related secrets they are hiding. Explore the manor room by room, investigate what each resident is up to, and hope that you can find out the truth before it’s too late for you when Servant of the Lake debuts later this year.
You can wishlist Servant of the Lake on Steam and try out a free demo here.
The Red Pearls of Borneo
The Red Pearls of Borneo is the newest mystery game from developer Bushmonkey, best known for What Happened to the Crew? Available for free on itch.io, this Type Help-inspired title challenges players to find out what happened on a wealthy estate in Borneo on the eve of the Japanese invasion. Filled with a scheming and gossip-loving cast, several twists, and even educational content that helps players learn more about the historical context behind the game, The Red Pearls of Borneo is an absolutely addictive experience throughout. And did we mention it’s TOTALLY FREE?
You can play The Red Pearls of Borneo on itch.io here.
The Ratline
Developer Owlskip Games is a huge name in the mystery scene, having previously released titles including Rivals, Conspiracy, and Riley & Rochelle. Their work is known for its deep historical context, document-based evidence gathering and investigation mechanics, and twisty stories with unexpected but satisfying conclusions. The Ratline, the latest title from Owlskip, takes place in 1971 and challenges the player to seek out Nazi fugitives in hiding following the mysterious murder of a priest. Those who simply can’t wait for The Ratline’s debut can check out the rest of Owlskip’s catalog on itch.io!
You can wishlist The Ratline on Steam and try out a free demo here.
Funeral for the Sun
What would you get if you combined Return of the Obra Dinn with Gabriel Garcia Marquez’ classic novel 100 Years of Solitude? The answer is Funeral for the Sun, an expansive mystery that challenges you to recreate hundreds of years of a single family’s history. Identify key people as they change across time, figure out family relationships, and chart the events both mundane and supernatural that led to the present day you find yourself in: a town in ashes. An epic mystery on a grand scale featuring stunning art and a deeply emotional story, this one is absolutely not to be missed.
You can wishlist Funeral for the Sun on Steam or try out a free demo here.
Cult Vacui
You can wishlist Cult Vacui on Steam or try out a free demo here.
Five Day Detective
We’ve had plenty of horror, tension, and paths on this list, so how about some humor? Five Day Detective introduces players to Inspector Dermot Dervish, who hates crime more than anything else… well, except technology. As he’s assigned to solve multiple murder cases throughout the game, Dervish will do things the old fashioned way: taking notes, interviewing witnesses, and perhaps occasionally (and reluctantly) using a computer for evidence gathering and fingerprint analysis. Can you help Inspector Dermot Dervish find the truth, deal with his boss and survive the daily grind of the workday all at the same time? If you think you can, then Five Day Detective might just be the game for you!
You can wishlist Five Day Detective on Steam or try out a free demo here.
