Computed from player tags · Not ranked by quality

24 games like A Detective's Novel (2026)

Recomputed 19 October 2026 · Ordered by overlap, not by score · Free to read, nothing here is paid for

Every game below overlaps with A Detective's Novel on things players said about it rather than on our opinion of what feels alike. Each entry shows what it matched on, so you can throw out the ones matching on the part you did not care about.

The games like A Detective's Novel on a map

Compare the whole catalogue

The same 24 games, plotted rather than listed. The two axes below are the ones the ranking is built from, so a game sitting high and right is a game the formula placed near the top. Change either axis to see the field a different way. Where we hold a publisher wordmark, the game is drawn as its mark rather than a dot.

Horizontal

Vertical

Platform

24 games have both

Axes are fitted to these 24 games rather than the full 0 to 100 scale, because a filtered list shares a narrow band and would otherwise sit in one corner. End values are marked. A point on the left edge is the lowest of thesegames, not a low score.

Players. The share of Steam reviews marked positive, pulled toward the catalogue average in proportion to how few reviews stand behind it. A game with 200 reviews moves a long way toward the average; one with 200,000 barely moves at all. Without this a title sitting at 100 percent on nine reviews outranks Half-Life 2 at 98 percent on 278,000.

Popularity. A blend of two things that are not the same. Audience is how many people wrote a Steam review, which is a floor on how many played it. Reach is how many language editions of Wikipedia document the game, which is cultural footprint rather than sales. A game can score high on one and low on the other: a huge free-to-play title has audience without reach, and a landmark console exclusive has reach without a Steam audience at all. Where both exist they are averaged; where only one does, that one carries it.

Mobile
Nintendo
PC
PlayStation

Every point links to that game's entry. The value map and the reception map are fixed views of the same data.

How positions are decided

No paid placement, no favouritism, live third-party data

Placed by the published method, not by us. Every coordinate is computed from the axis definitions and weights printed on this site. Nobody moves a point. See the axes.
Nothing here is paid for. No sponsored placements, no promoted slots, no arrangement of any kind affects a position. If that ever changes it will be labelled and sit outside the ranking.
No favouritism, including our own. The 16 games we have written full reviews of are scored by exactly the same formula as the other 1,510, from the same third-party inputs, and they land where it puts them. Our own opinion of a game does not enter its coordinates.
A position is not an endorsement. It says how a game was received and what it costs, not that we recommend it. Where we do recommend something, it carries a written review with a name on it.
Fetched from live third-party data. Player sentiment from Steam, critic aggregates as published on store pages, prices checked hourly, attention from Wikipedia. Each figure carries its source and the date it was read, and we do not adjust any of them.

The short version

Closest match: Orwell: Keeping an Eye On You, which both psychological.
A Detective's Novel is tagged Indie, Adventure, Visual Novel, Detective, Mystery by Steam players. Those tags are what the matching runs on.
24 games qualify, each with at least fifty player reviews behind its sentiment figure.
2 are free to download, so you can test the resemblance yourself at no cost.

Why players value A Detective's Novel

The five things Steam players tag A Detective's Novel with most. This is the yardstick every game below is measured against: the closer a game matches these, the more it is likely to scratch the same itch.

Indie
Adventure
Visual Novel
Detective
Mystery

A Detective's Novel at a glance
Reception	Mixed on Steam (68% of 896)
Watch-outs	no widespread problems reported by players
Price	$1.99

Tags, sentiment and reported problems come from Steam players; the story line is from Wikipedia. We do not add a written opinion of our own.

How these were matched

Steam tags carry the most weight, because players apply them and they describe how a game feels rather than how it was filed. Souls-like, Atmospheric and Cozy exist as tags and as nothing else, which is exactly the vocabulary this question needs. Formal genres count for less, themes and a shared studio for more.

Tags carried by more than a third of the catalogue are thrown out before matching. Nearly everything is tagged Singleplayer, so matching on it is matching on nothing. That cutoff is computed from the catalogue rather than fixed, so it moves as the catalogue grows.

All 24, closest first

1
Orwell: Keeping an Eye On You
Why it matched: both psychological; shares 4 player tags including Indie, Detective and Visual Novel; released around the same time (2016).
Big Brother has arrived - and it’s you. Investigate the lives of citizens to find those responsible for a series of terror attacks. Information from the internet, personal communications and private files are all accessible to you. But, be warned, the information you supply will have consequences.
Orwell: Keeping an Eye On You at a glance
Released 2016 Studio Osmotic Studios
Player sentiment 90% positive of 15,565 Price $9.99
Verdict: GamingPickz Score 7.6/10 · Steam: Very Positive (90% of 15,565)
Matches A Detective's Novel on: 5 of 5 — Indie, Adventure, Visual Novel, Detective, Mystery
Why players like it: Choices Matter, Political Sim, Dystopian , Story Rich, Indie — the tags Steam players apply most
Price vs A Detective's Novel: $9.99 — $8.00 pricier
Watch-outs: no widespread problems reported by players
Shared with A Detective's Novel:IndieDetectiveVisual NovelMystery
Full entry Games like this one Store page
2
The Wolf Among Us
Why it matched: both psychological; shares 3 player tags including Detective, Visual Novel and Mystery; released around the same time (2013).
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 at a glance
Released 2013 Studio LCG Entertainment, Inc.
Player sentiment 98% positive of 40,158 Price $14.99
Verdict: GamingPickz Score 8.2/10 · Steam: Overwhelmingly Positive (98% of 40,158)
Matches A Detective's Novel on: 4 of 5 — Adventure, Visual Novel, Detective, Mystery
Why players like it: Adventure, Detective, Story Rich, Episodic, Choose Your Own Adventure — the tags Steam players apply most
Price vs A Detective's Novel: $14.99 — $13.00 pricier
Watch-outs: players report crashes and freezes (details)
Shared with A Detective's Novel:DetectiveVisual NovelMystery
Full entry Games like this one Store page
3
Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Trilogy
Why it matched: both psychological; shares 3 player tags including Detective, Visual Novel and Mystery; released around the same time (2019).
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 at a glance
Released 2019 Studio CAPCOM Co., Ltd.
Player sentiment 98% positive of 44,855 Price $29.99
Verdict: GamingPickz Score 8.3/10 · Steam: Overwhelmingly Positive (98% of 44,855)
Matches A Detective's Novel on: 4 of 5 — Adventure, Visual Novel, Detective, Mystery
Why players like it: Detective, Visual Novel, Story Rich, Mystery, Great Soundtrack — the tags Steam players apply most
Price vs A Detective's Novel: $29.99 — $28.00 pricier
Watch-outs: no widespread problems reported by players
Shared with A Detective's Novel:DetectiveVisual NovelMystery
Full entry Games like this one Store page
4
Persona 4 Golden
Why it matched: both psychological; shares 3 player tags including Mystery, Detective and Visual Novel; released around the same time (2020).
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 at a glance
Released 2020 Studio ATLUS
Player sentiment 97% positive of 87,112 Price $19.99
Verdict: GamingPickz Score 8.6/10 · Steam: Overwhelmingly Positive (97% of 87,112)
Matches A Detective's Novel on: 4 of 5 — Adventure, Visual Novel, Detective, Mystery
Why players like it: JRPG, Great Soundtrack, Story Rich, Anime, Turn-Based Combat — the tags Steam players apply most
Price vs A Detective's Novel: $19.99 — $18.00 pricier
Watch-outs: no widespread problems reported by players
Shared with A Detective's Novel:MysteryDetectiveVisual Novel
Full entry Games like this one Store page
5
Return of the Obra Dinn
Why it matched: both psychological; shares 3 player tags including Detective, Mystery and Indie; released around the same time (2018).
Lost at sea 1803 ~ The good ship Obra Dinn.
Return of the Obra Dinn at a glance
Released 2018 Studio Lucas Pope
Player sentiment 97% positive of 35,093 Price $19.99
Verdict: GamingPickz Score 8.4/10 · Steam: Overwhelmingly Positive (97% of 35,093)
Matches A Detective's Novel on: 4 of 5 — Indie, Adventure, Detective, Mystery
Why players like it: Detective, Mystery, Puzzle, Story Rich, Atmospheric — the tags Steam players apply most
Price vs A Detective's Novel: $19.99 — $18.00 pricier
Watch-outs: no widespread problems reported by players
Shared with A Detective's Novel:DetectiveMysteryIndie
Full entry Games like this one Store page
6
Cube Escape: Paradox
Why it matched: both psychological; shares 3 player tags including Mystery, Indie and Detective; released around the same time (2018).
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 at a glance
Released 2018 Studio Rusty Lake
Player sentiment 97% positive of 12,197 Price Free
Verdict: GamingPickz Score 8.0/10 · Steam: Overwhelmingly Positive (97% of 12,197)
Matches A Detective's Novel on: 4 of 5 — Indie, Adventure, Detective, Mystery
Why players like it: Puzzle, Free to Play, Psychological Horror, Point & Click, Mystery — the tags Steam players apply most
Price vs A Detective's Novel: Free — free
Watch-outs: no widespread problems reported by players
Shared with A Detective's Novel:MysteryIndieDetective
Full entry Games like this one Store page
7
The Test
Why it matched: both psychological; shares 3 player tags including Visual Novel, Mystery and Detective; released around the same time (2020).
You will answer a series of questions that will reveal truths from deep within. These questions may make you uncomfortable, but with great knowledge comes great sacrifice. Can you make it all the way through The Test, and if you do, are you sure you want the answers you seek?
The Test at a glance
Released 2020 Studio Randumb Studios
Player sentiment 97% positive of 20,122 Price $1.19
Verdict: GamingPickz Score 8.2/10 · Steam: Overwhelmingly Positive (97% of 20,122)
Matches A Detective's Novel on: 3 of 5 — Visual Novel, Detective, Mystery
Why players like it: Choose Your Own Adventure, Simulation, Multiple Endings, Story Rich, Pixel Graphics — the tags Steam players apply most
Price vs A Detective's Novel: $1.19 — about the same price
Watch-outs: no widespread problems reported by players
Shared with A Detective's Novel:Visual NovelMysteryDetective
Full entry Games like this one Store page
8
Danganronpa 2: Goodbye Despair
Why it matched: both psychological; shares 3 player tags including Detective, Visual Novel and Mystery; released around the same time (2012).
Jabberwock Island—You and your classmates were ready for fun in the sun until Monokuma returned to restart his murderous game! Trapped in a kill-or-be-killed situation, your only hope rests in solving the island’s mysteries.
Danganronpa 2: Goodbye Despair at a glance
Released 2012 Studio Spike Chunsoft
Player sentiment 96% positive of 32,628 Price $19.99
Verdict: GamingPickz Score 7.8/10 · Steam: Overwhelmingly Positive (96% of 32,628)
Matches A Detective's Novel on: 4 of 5 — Adventure, Visual Novel, Detective, Mystery
Why players like it: Anime, Detective, Visual Novel, Mystery, Story Rich — the tags Steam players apply most
Price vs A Detective's Novel: $19.99 — $18.00 pricier
Watch-outs: no widespread problems reported by players
Shared with A Detective's Novel:DetectiveVisual NovelMystery
Full entry Games like this one Store page
9
Unheard - Voices of Crime
Why it matched: both psychological; shares 3 player tags including Detective, Mystery and Indie; released around the same time (2019).
What if you could hear every word spoken at the scene of a crime? “Acoustic Detectives” wanted for testing our new device! Return aurally to crime scenes and use the voices you hear to identify potential suspects and solve the mysteries. What is it that’s connecting these seemingly unrelated cases?
Unheard - Voices of Crime at a glance
Released 2019 Studio NEXT Studios
Player sentiment 96% positive of 33,900 Price $6.99
Verdict: GamingPickz Score 8.0/10 · Steam: Overwhelmingly Positive (96% of 33,900)
Matches A Detective's Novel on: 3 of 5 — Indie, Detective, Mystery
Why players like it: Detective, Puzzle, Mystery, Indie, RPG — the tags Steam players apply most
Price vs A Detective's Novel: $6.99 — $5.00 pricier
Watch-outs: no widespread problems reported by players
Shared with A Detective's Novel:DetectiveMysteryIndie
Full entry Games like this one Store page
10
What Remains of Edith Finch
Why it matched: both psychological; shares 3 player tags including Mystery, Indie and Visual Novel; released around the same time (2017).
What Remains of Edith Finch is a collection of strange tales about a family in Washington state. As Edith, you’ll explore the colossal Finch house, searching for stories as she explores her family history and tries to figure out why she's the last one in her family left alive.
What Remains of Edith Finch at a glance
Released 2017 Studio Giant Sparrow
Player sentiment 96% positive of 52,603 Price $4.99
Verdict: GamingPickz Score 8.4/10 · Steam: Overwhelmingly Positive (96% of 52,603)
Matches A Detective's Novel on: 4 of 5 — Indie, Adventure, Visual Novel, Mystery
Why players like it: Story Rich, Atmospheric, Walking Simulator, First-Person, Mystery — the tags Steam players apply most
Price vs A Detective's Novel: $4.99 — $3.00 pricier
Watch-outs: no widespread problems reported by players
Shared with A Detective's Novel:MysteryIndieVisual Novel
Full entry Games like this one Store page
11
Phasmophobia
Why it matched: both psychological; shares 3 player tags including Detective, Mystery and Indie; released around the same time (2020).
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 at a glance
Released 2020 Studio Kinetic Games
Player sentiment 94% positive of 838,254 Price $13.99
Verdict: GamingPickz Score 8.8/10 · Steam: Very Positive (94% of 838,254)
Matches A Detective's Novel on: 3 of 5 — Indie, Detective, Mystery
Why players like it: Horror, Online Co-Op, Multiplayer, Psychological Horror, Co-op — the tags Steam players apply most
Price vs A Detective's Novel: $13.99 — $12.00 pricier
Watch-outs: players report crashes and freezes, performance and stutter (details)
Shared with A Detective's Novel:DetectiveMysteryIndie
Full entry Games like this one Store page
12
Everlasting Summer
Why it matched: both psychological; shares 3 player tags including Visual Novel, Mystery and Indie; released around the same time (2014).
Visual novel loved by many – Everlasting Summer – now on Steam!
Everlasting Summer at a glance
Released 2014 Studio Soviet Games
Player sentiment 94% positive of 78,073 Price Free
Verdict: GamingPickz Score 8.3/10 · Steam: Very Positive (94% of 78,073)
Matches A Detective's Novel on: 4 of 5 — Indie, Adventure, Visual Novel, Mystery
Why players like it: Visual Novel, Story Rich, Free to Play, Anime, Great Soundtrack — the tags Steam players apply most
Price vs A Detective's Novel: Free — free
Watch-outs: no widespread problems reported by players
Shared with A Detective's Novel:Visual NovelMysteryIndie
Full entry Games like this one Store page
13
Disco Elysium - The Final Cut
Why it matched: both psychological; shares 3 player tags including Detective, Visual Novel and Indie; released around the same time (2019).
Disco Elysium - The Final Cut is a groundbreaking role playing game. You’re a detective with a unique skill system at your disposal and a whole city to carve your path across. Interrogate unforgettable characters, crack murders or take bribes. Become a hero or an absolute disaster of a human being.
Disco Elysium - The Final Cut at a glance
Released 2019 Studio ZA/UM
Player sentiment 93% positive of 130,598 Price $39.99
Verdict: GamingPickz Score 8.6/10 · Steam: Very Positive (93% of 130,598)
Matches A Detective's Novel on: 4 of 5 — Indie, Adventure, Visual Novel, Detective
Why players like it: RPG, Story Rich, Choices Matter, Detective, Isometric — the tags Steam players apply most
Price vs A Detective's Novel: $39.99 — $38.00 pricier
Watch-outs: no widespread problems reported by players
Shared with A Detective's Novel:DetectiveVisual NovelIndie
Full entry Games like this one Store page
14
Kathy Rain
Why it matched: both psychological; shares 3 player tags including Mystery, Detective and Indie; released around the same time (2016).
Set in the '90s, Kathy Rain tells the story of a strong-willed journalism major who has to come to terms with her troubled past as she investigates the mysterious death of her recently deceased grandfather.
Kathy Rain at a glance
Released 2016 Studio Clifftop Games
Player sentiment 92% positive of 4,003 Price $9.99
Verdict: GamingPickz Score 7.4/10 · Steam: Very Positive (92% of 4,003)
Matches A Detective's Novel on: 4 of 5 — Indie, Adventure, Detective, Mystery
Why players like it: Point & Click, Adventure, Pixel Graphics, Female Protagonist, Mystery — the tags Steam players apply most
Price vs A Detective's Novel: $9.99 — $8.00 pricier
Watch-outs: no widespread problems reported by players
Shared with A Detective's Novel:MysteryDetectiveIndie
Full entry Games like this one Store page
15
Danganronpa V3: Killing Harmony
Why it matched: both psychological; shares 3 player tags including Visual Novel, Detective and Mystery; released around the same time (2017).
A new cast of 16 characters find themselves kidnapped and imprisoned in a school. Inside, some will kill, some will die, and some will be punished. Reimagine what you thought high-stakes, fast-paced investigation was as you investigate twisted murder cases and condemn your new friends to death.
Danganronpa V3: Killing Harmony at a glance
Released 2017 Studio Spike Chunsoft
Player sentiment 83% positive of 23,187 Price $39.99
Verdict: GamingPickz Score 7.0/10 · Steam: Very Positive (83% of 23,187)
Matches A Detective's Novel on: 4 of 5 — Adventure, Visual Novel, Detective, Mystery
Why players like it: Visual Novel, Detective, Female Protagonist, Anime, Story Rich — the tags Steam players apply most
Price vs A Detective's Novel: $39.99 — $38.00 pricier
Watch-outs: no widespread problems reported by players
Shared with A Detective's Novel:Visual NovelDetectiveMystery
Full entry Games like this one Store page
16
Firework
Why it matched: both psychological; shares 3 player tags including Indie, Mystery and Visual Novel.
An accidental fire at a funeral forces the police to re-investigate a closed case of massacre. Lin Lixun participates the re-investigation by chances. As the investigation goes deeper, the past of the victims gradually emerges. However, the case becomes more bewildering.
Firework at a glance
Released 2021 Studio Shiying Studio
Player sentiment 98% positive of 44,417 Price $9.99
Verdict: GamingPickz Score 8.4/10 · Steam: Overwhelmingly Positive (98% of 44,417)
Matches A Detective's Novel on: 3 of 5 — Indie, Visual Novel, Mystery
Why players like it: Horror, Indie, Puzzle, Drama, 2D — the tags Steam players apply most
Price vs A Detective's Novel: $9.99 — $8.00 pricier
Watch-outs: no widespread problems reported by players
Shared with A Detective's Novel:IndieMysteryVisual Novel
Full entry Games like this one Store page
17
Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective
Why it matched: both psychological; shares 3 player tags including Mystery, Detective and Visual Novel.
Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective, the classic puzzle-solving mystery adventure directed by Ace Attorney creator Shu Takumi, is back! This long-awaited HD remaster features upgraded visuals and sound and new gallery content.
Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective at a glance
Released 2010 Studio Capcom
Player sentiment 97% positive of 8,549 Price $29.99
Verdict: GamingPickz Score 7.9/10 · Steam: Overwhelmingly Positive (97% of 8,549)
Matches A Detective's Novel on: 4 of 5 — Adventure, Visual Novel, Detective, Mystery
Why players like it: Puzzle, Adventure, Mystery, Story Rich, Action — the tags Steam players apply most
Price vs A Detective's Novel: $29.99 — $28.00 pricier
Watch-outs: players report launchers, accounts and anti-cheat (details)
Shared with A Detective's Novel:MysteryDetectiveVisual Novel
Full entry Games like this one Store page
18
Danganronpa: Trigger Happy Havoc
Why it matched: both psychological; shares 3 player tags including Visual Novel, Mystery and Detective.
Investigate murders, search for clues and talk to your classmates to prepare for trial. There, you'll engage in deadly wordplay, going back and forth with suspects. Dissect their statements and fire their words back at them to expose their lies! There's only one way to survive—pull the trigger.
Danganronpa: Trigger Happy Havoc at a glance
Released 2010 Studio Spike
Player sentiment 96% positive of 38,287 Price $19.99
Verdict: GamingPickz Score 8.0/10 · Steam: Overwhelmingly Positive (96% of 38,287)
Matches A Detective's Novel on: 4 of 5 — Adventure, Visual Novel, Detective, Mystery
Why players like it: Anime, Visual Novel, Mystery, Detective, Story Rich — the tags Steam players apply most
Price vs A Detective's Novel: $19.99 — $18.00 pricier
Watch-outs: no widespread problems reported by players
Shared with A Detective's Novel:Visual NovelMysteryDetective
Full entry Games like this one Store page
19
Persona 3 Reload
Why it matched: both psychological; shares 3 player tags including Visual Novel, Mystery and Detective.
Dive into the Dark Hour and awaken the depths of your heart. Persona 3 Reload is a captivating reimagining of the genre-defining RPG, reborn for the modern era with cutting-edge graphics and gameplay.
Persona 3 Reload at a glance
Released 2024 Studio ATLUS
Player sentiment 94% positive of 62,647 Price $59.99
Verdict: GamingPickz Score 8.4/10 · Steam: Very Positive (94% of 62,647)
Matches A Detective's Novel on: 4 of 5 — Adventure, Visual Novel, Detective, Mystery
Why players like it: JRPG, RPG, Anime, Party-Based RPG, Turn-Based Strategy — the tags Steam players apply most
Price vs A Detective's Novel: $59.99 — $58.00 pricier
Watch-outs: no widespread problems reported by players
Shared with A Detective's Novel:Visual NovelMysteryDetective
Full entry Games like this one Store page
20
The Operator
Why it matched: both psychological; shares 3 player tags including Detective, Mystery and Visual Novel.
Welcome to the FDI. As our newest Operator, your role is to use your detective skills to assist our field agents and investigate mysterious crimes. Use cutting-edge FDI software to dig for clues, solve puzzles, and uncover the truth.
The Operator at a glance
Released 2024 Studio Bureau 81
Player sentiment 92% positive of 8,837 Price $13.99
Verdict: GamingPickz Score 7.7/10 · Steam: Very Positive (92% of 8,837)
Matches A Detective's Novel on: 4 of 5 — Adventure, Visual Novel, Detective, Mystery
Why players like it: Detective, Investigation, Conspiracy, Puzzle, Atmospheric — the tags Steam players apply most
Price vs A Detective's Novel: $13.99 — $12.00 pricier
Watch-outs: no widespread problems reported by players
Shared with A Detective's Novel:DetectiveMysteryVisual Novel
Full entry Games like this one Store page
21
Demonologist
Why it matched: both psychological; shares 3 player tags including Mystery, Detective and Indie.
Demonologist is a Co-Op horror game that can be played with at least 1 and up to 4 players. Your goal is to identify the type of evil spirit in cursed places and exorcise it using your equipment, either alone or with your team.
Demonologist at a glance
Released 2023 Studio Clock Wizard Games
Player sentiment 85% positive of 24,124 Price $19.99
Verdict: GamingPickz Score 7.4/10 · Steam: Very Positive (85% of 24,124)
Matches A Detective's Novel on: 3 of 5 — Indie, Detective, Mystery
Why players like it: Horror, Multiplayer, Online Co-Op, Psychological Horror, Co-op — the tags Steam players apply most
Price vs A Detective's Novel: $19.99 — $18.00 pricier
Watch-outs: no widespread problems reported by players
Shared with A Detective's Novel:MysteryDetectiveIndie
Full entry Games like this one Store page
22
Tails Noir
Why it matched: both psychological; shares 3 player tags including Detective, Visual Novel and Mystery.
Tails Noir is a post-noir narrative adventure. Become raccoon private eye Howard Lotor and explore dystopian Vancouver inhabited by animals as you uncover a deeply personal story of change and transformation.
Tails Noir at a glance
Released 2021 Studio Eggnut
Player sentiment 67% positive of 3,472 Price $4.99
Verdict: GamingPickz Score 5.9/10 · Steam: Mixed (67% of 3,472)
Matches A Detective's Novel on: 4 of 5 — Adventure, Visual Novel, Detective, Mystery
Why players like it: Detective, Pixel Graphics, Visual Novel, Conversation, Adventure — the tags Steam players apply most
Price vs A Detective's Novel: $4.99 — $3.00 pricier
Watch-outs: no widespread problems reported by players
Shared with A Detective's Novel:DetectiveVisual NovelMystery
Full entry Games like this one Store page
23
The Room
Why it matched: both psychological; shares 2 player tags including Mystery and Indie; released around the same time (2014).
A mysterious invitation leads to the attic of an abandoned house. In the room is a cast-iron safe laced with strange carvings and on top, a note from your distant companion. It promises something ancient and astonishing concealed in the iron chamber - you need only find a way in.
The Room at a glance
Released 2014 Studio Fireproof Games
Player sentiment 98% positive of 31,750 Price $4.99
Verdict: GamingPickz Score 8.1/10 · Steam: Overwhelmingly Positive (98% of 31,750)
Matches A Detective's Novel on: 3 of 5 — Indie, Adventure, Mystery
Why players like it: Puzzle, Mystery, Point & Click, Atmospheric, Singleplayer — the tags Steam players apply most
Price vs A Detective's Novel: $4.99 — $3.00 pricier
Watch-outs: no widespread problems reported by players
Shared with A Detective's Novel:MysteryIndie
Full entry Games like this one Store page
24
Sally Face - Episode One
Why it matched: both psychological; shares 2 player tags including Indie and Mystery; released around the same time (2016).
An unsettling adventure following a boy with a prosthetic face. After a string of mysterious murders, Sal and his three friends discover something truly sinister casting shadows over their small town.
Sally Face - Episode One at a glance
Released 2016 Studio Portable Moose
Player sentiment 97% positive of 29,068 Price $2.99
Verdict: GamingPickz Score 8.2/10 · Steam: Overwhelmingly Positive (97% of 29,068)
Matches A Detective's Novel on: 3 of 5 — Indie, Adventure, Mystery
Why players like it: Story Rich, Psychological Horror, Indie, Horror, Dark — the tags Steam players apply most
Price vs A Detective's Novel: $2.99 — $1.00 pricier
Watch-outs: no widespread problems reported by players
Shared with A Detective's Novel:IndieMystery
Full entry Games like this one Store page

Orwell: Keeping an Eye On You at a glance
Released	2016	Studio	Osmotic Studios
Player sentiment	90% positive of 15,565	Price	$9.99

The Wolf Among Us at a glance
Released	2013	Studio	LCG Entertainment, Inc.
Player sentiment	98% positive of 40,158	Price	$14.99

Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Trilogy at a glance
Released	2019	Studio	CAPCOM Co., Ltd.
Player sentiment	98% positive of 44,855	Price	$29.99

Persona 4 Golden at a glance
Released	2020	Studio	ATLUS
Player sentiment	97% positive of 87,112	Price	$19.99

Return of the Obra Dinn at a glance
Released	2018	Studio	Lucas Pope
Player sentiment	97% positive of 35,093	Price	$19.99

Cube Escape: Paradox at a glance
Released	2018	Studio	Rusty Lake
Player sentiment	97% positive of 12,197	Price	Free

The Test at a glance
Released	2020	Studio	Randumb Studios
Player sentiment	97% positive of 20,122	Price	$1.19

Danganronpa 2: Goodbye Despair at a glance
Released	2012	Studio	Spike Chunsoft
Player sentiment	96% positive of 32,628	Price	$19.99

Unheard - Voices of Crime at a glance
Released	2019	Studio	NEXT Studios
Player sentiment	96% positive of 33,900	Price	$6.99

What Remains of Edith Finch at a glance
Released	2017	Studio	Giant Sparrow
Player sentiment	96% positive of 52,603	Price	$4.99

Phasmophobia at a glance
Released	2020	Studio	Kinetic Games
Player sentiment	94% positive of 838,254	Price	$13.99

Everlasting Summer at a glance
Released	2014	Studio	Soviet Games
Player sentiment	94% positive of 78,073	Price	Free

Disco Elysium - The Final Cut at a glance
Released	2019	Studio	ZA/UM
Player sentiment	93% positive of 130,598	Price	$39.99

Kathy Rain at a glance
Released	2016	Studio	Clifftop Games
Player sentiment	92% positive of 4,003	Price	$9.99

Danganronpa V3: Killing Harmony at a glance
Released	2017	Studio	Spike Chunsoft
Player sentiment	83% positive of 23,187	Price	$39.99

Firework at a glance
Released	2021	Studio	Shiying Studio
Player sentiment	98% positive of 44,417	Price	$9.99

Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective at a glance
Released	2010	Studio	Capcom
Player sentiment	97% positive of 8,549	Price	$29.99

Danganronpa: Trigger Happy Havoc at a glance
Released	2010	Studio	Spike
Player sentiment	96% positive of 38,287	Price	$19.99

Persona 3 Reload at a glance
Released	2024	Studio	ATLUS
Player sentiment	94% positive of 62,647	Price	$59.99

The Operator at a glance
Released	2024	Studio	Bureau 81
Player sentiment	92% positive of 8,837	Price	$13.99

Demonologist at a glance
Released	2023	Studio	Clock Wizard Games
Player sentiment	85% positive of 24,124	Price	$19.99

Tails Noir at a glance
Released	2021	Studio	Eggnut
Player sentiment	67% positive of 3,472	Price	$4.99

The Room at a glance
Released	2014	Studio	Fireproof Games
Player sentiment	98% positive of 31,750	Price	$4.99

Sally Face - Episode One at a glance
Released	2016	Studio	Portable Moose
Player sentiment	97% positive of 29,068	Price	$2.99

Common questions

What game is most like A Detective's Novel?

Orwell: Keeping an Eye On You, on the evidence we have. It both psychological. That is a statement about overlap, not a promise you will like it as much: two games can share every tag and still feel different to play.

How is "similar to A Detective's Novel" decided?

By overlap on the tags Steam players applied to each game, the formal genres, the themes both sit in, and whether the same studio made them. Tags carry the most weight because players write them, so they describe how a game feels rather than how it was filed. Tags carried by more than a third of the catalogue are ignored: matching on "Singleplayer" is matching on nothing. Every entry below shows exactly what it matched on.

Are these ranked by quality?

No. They are ordered by how much they overlap with A Detective's Novel. Where two games overlap equally, the better received one goes first, but that only moves a game a place or two. Each entry shows its own player sentiment so you can weigh that separately.

Do you get paid for these recommendations?

No. The order is computed from tag and genre overlap and nothing else. No placement here can be bought, and a game appearing high on this page is a statement about resemblance rather than an endorsement.

More on A Detective's Novel

A Detective's Novel: the full recordPrice, platforms, accessibility and what players report going wrong Best PC gamesRanked by the GamingPickz Score