Top 5 Subgenres of Mystery Games

And a list of over 20 games to investigate!

Nov 13, 2023

Happy Mystery Monday!

If you’re anything like me, then the term “mystery game” probably brings to mind games like Ace Attorney, Zero Escape, Danganronpa, and Umineko.

Usually, when a fan of one of those games asks for recommendations, the other three are immediately brought up.

Even though all of those games have vastly different game mechanics, we’re drawn toward those games like they exist within a game genre of their own.

I’ve decided to call these games “mystery games”, not only in an attempt to better classify the games, but in an attempt to better understand their audiences too.

Mystery games tend to have strong roots in the mystery genre of fiction and film, emphasizing narrative elements of detectives, murder, and moral conflict.

But the primary focus of these narrative games, unlike the plethora of romance-focused visual novels, is to piece together a puzzle.

At some point I began to ask myself what exactly is the difference between a mystery game and a puzzle game — and to be honest, I’m still a little unsure.

There is probably some crossover, since a mystery is just a puzzle — but ironically, a lack of narrative is almost a defining aspect of famous puzzle games like Tetris.

I’ll have to solve the “puzzle vs. mystery” question another day.

Defining a Mystery Game

We seem to know a mystery game when we see one, yet it seems so difficult to put into words any accurate definition.

The best I’ve come up with so far is a game with deduction as its core game mechanic.

I came up with this definition from the “core gameplay loop” of Umineko, which is simply asking the player to think as they read the story.

But this definition is actually broad enough to include games like Among Us or Phasmophobia as mystery games — a far cry from visual novels and adventure games.

This definition also excludes games that might feature detectives and courtrooms in a context where there isn’t anything to think about at all, like a romance visual novel between a lawyer and her guilty client.

So, whether that definition is too narrow might still be up for debate.

But I think it’s a good starting point.

Defining a Mystery Game Subgenre

The problem with the above definition is that it fails to account for puzzle games.

You might argue that you’re making deductions all the time when playing puzzle games, and so it became clear we needed to modify the definition just a bit.

When I launched Mystery Gamedev, I talked with several other mystery game developers, and we came up with a few clearly-defined subgenres.

These subgenres narrow our focus to games “along the lines” of the four games I mentioned at the very beginning: games with themes of detectives, crime, and potentially broken moral compasses.

Below are the definitions for each subgenre, as well as a large number of examples, consisting of massive hits and lesser-known indie titles alike.

Some popular mystery games aren’t on this list, but please don’t take it the wrong way — I can only mention so many games in one article!

Please also keep in mind that some games may share overlapping subgenres.

Many mystery games are actually a blend of subgenres, but there are definitely some that stick out as entirely one or entirely another.

By identifying subgenres, we can better understand what makes specific mystery games appealing to specific audiences, which can help us make better games.

So my final definition for “mystery game” would require the game to fit into one of these subgenres, because that means it will likely appeal to the same core audience.

And remember, this is just my opinion. Let me know in the comments if you agree or disagree (some of these are just my best guesses)!

1. Detective Whodunnit

A sub-genre where a detective, either professional or amateur, investigates and solves a crime. The crime might even be considered “impossible” or “locked room”, adding an extra layer of complexity.

Examples:

2. Courtroom Drama

A sub-genre focusing on legal conflicts, usually taking place in a courtroom and between professionals in the legal field.

Examples:

3. Death Game

A sub-genre where characters must participate in a lethal game, often involving survival or solving complex problems, with the risk of dying if they fail.

Examples:

4. Escape Room

A sub-genre where the protagonist is trapped in a confined space and must solve puzzles and clues to escape.

Examples:

5. Ontological Mystery

A sub-genre in which the protagonist wakes up in an unfamiliar environment without recollection and seeks to understand the nature of that environment.

Examples:

Honorable Mention: Battle of Wits

This is a subgenre more prominent in books and TV, such as Liar Game, Death Note, and Columbo. These stories involve a battle of wits between characters, whether it’s a high-stakes competition or a cat-and-mouse battle between detective and culprit.

In games, I’d argue this genre shines most in online multiplayer worlds, where the players have fun from constantly trying to outsmart each other. But there aren’t a whole lot of those games just yet.

Examples:

And possibly many more!

There are even more ways we can classify mystery games, but those are definitely the most prominent.

Mystery games can be further categorized into genres of science fiction or even fantasy, as long as the core game mechanic involves deduction.

Mystery games also aren’t limited to the traditional game genres of visual novel, puzzle game, or RPG — but are often some blend of many genres put together.

If you widen your horizons beyond just “mystery visual novel” and focus on what makes mystery games appealing to their audiences, you’ll see that there are many, many different ways to approach mystery games.

I believe we’re still in the early stages of understanding the potential of mystery games, so the definition might continue to change as time goes on.

That’s why my mission is to help developers create these games and share them with the aspiring detectives who want to play them!

Thank you for reading!

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