If you’re looking to do some sleuthing, we’ve consulted the evidence and put together this case file featuring the best detective games on Switch and mobile. These games can help you hone your interrogation skills and puzzle-solving prowess, and even teach you to escape from a fight with the enemy.
We’ve got tons of great game picks for you to check out, including lists of the best football games, cricket games, and golf games for all of you sports nuts. If you’re after alternatives to your favorite games, we’ve also got lists of the best games like Genshin Impact, games like Minecraft, and games like Stardew Valley.
Let’s grab our magnifying glasses and inspect the best portable detective games.
Master Detective Archives: Rain Code – Switch
Dive into a mysteriful masterpiece as you take the role of amnesiac detective-in-training, Yuma Kokohead. Accompanied by a literal god of death called Shinigami, you team up with other members of the World Detective Organization in order to uncover the truth behind the eternally-raining Kanai Ward’s ultimate secret – while also picking up plenty of curious cases along the way.
Investigate crime scenes, re-trace the perp’s steps, gather clues, and more, then head into the mind-boggling Mystery Labyrinths to crack the case once and for all. If you want to find out more about this ‘cult classic in the making’, be sure to check out our Master Detective Archives: Rain Code review.
The Professor Layton Series – Switch and mobile
If you’ve ever owned a Nintendo DS, you’ve probably heard of Professor Layton. This cartoony puzzler mystery series is set in a steampunk-inspired version of 1960s England and follows the titular Professor Layton and his apprentice Luke as they uncover strange mysteries together.
The most recent release, Layton’s Mystery Journey, follows Professor Layton’s adoptive daughter Katrielle as she carries on his legacy in his absence. This game was released on mobile, 3DS, and the Switch, and you can grab HD remasters of the original Nintendo DS trilogy on Google Play and the App Store. There are plenty of puzzles to solve while you wait for the Professor Layton and The New World of Steam release date for the Switch.
Danganronpa: Trigger Happy Havoc – Switch and mobile
Danganronpa is known for its colorful and unique style and its dark and twisted story. Sixteen gifted high school students, each considered the ‘Ultimate’ in their field, are kidnapped by a bear robot named Monokuma and forced to compete in a killing game.
The gameplay is split into two parts – a visual novel-style investigation phase and a class trial phase. As your classmates are picked off one by one, you’re tasked with finding the culprit and finding them guilty. There’s a whole catalog of Danganronpa games to explore, so feast your eyes on our guide.
Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Trilogy – Switch and mobile
OBJECTION! Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney is Capcom’s classic visual novel franchise set in the dramatic world of the courtroom.
While it’s technically more of a lawyer game than a detective game, you still have to consult the evidence before you and cross-examine witnesses to find the truth and declare your client not guilty.
Life is Strange – Switch and mobile
Again, Life is Strange isn’t technically a detective game, but playing as Max Caulfield practically qualifies you for a badge and gun given how much snooping she does. Max moves back to her childhood town to attend a prestigious high school, reconnects with her long-lost best friend, and gets tangled up in a missing person’s incident, all while contending with developing time travel powers. As if being a teenager wasn’t hard enough!
If you end up falling in love with Life is Strange just like several members of the Pocket Tactics team have, we’ve got a list of the best games like Life is Strange for you to check out next, and a Life is Strange 2 Switch review.
June’s Journey – Hidden Object – mobile
If you’re looking for a more casual detective experience, June’s Journey is the way to go. This hidden object mobile game is set in the roaring ‘20s and is filled with exotic locations, thrilling stories, and unique and diverse characters.
Plus, there’s a new episode added every single week so you’ll never run out of mysteries to solve. If you’re as much of a fan of this genre as we are, check out our list of the best hidden object games on Switch and mobile.
I Am Innocent – mobile
If you want to step completely into the role of an unwilling detective, I Am Innocent is the game for you. It uses realistic messaging and phone calls to immerse you in the life of a detective investigating a series of murders that target teenagers.
There’s a personal element, too – the murders seem to be tied to your sister’s disappearance many years ago. It’s gripping and emotional from start to finish.
Frog Detective: The Entire Mystery – Switch
Frog Detective: The Entire Mystery is a whimsical collection of the titular detective’s three cases which were originally released separately on PC. As we’re hoping this screenshot shows, it’s a hilarious and cozy take on the usually serious detective genre, using point-and-click mechanics for simple and intuitive gameplay.
As denizens of the internet, we’re obviously huge fans of frogs and all frog-related media, but to make sure we’re not biased, check out our Frog Detective: The Entire Mystery review for a deeper look at the game.
Princess Peach: Showtime! – Switch
While the whole game isn’t strictly a detective game, one of the many roles that you can take on as Peach in Princess Peach: Showtime is the detective. In the titular princess’s first solo outing on the Switch, you must transform into a range of characters from swordfighters to cake bakers to help save the Starlight Theater from the evil Madame Grape.
Come to think of it, there’s also an element of mystery to this game as we don’t know exactly why Grape decided to take over the theater. Maybe it’s a detective game after all? Either way, we had the chance to get hands-on with this game ahead of its release, so check out our Princess Peach: Showtime! preview to learn more.
That’s everything we have for the best detective games on Switch and mobile. If you want to take your investigative journey to the stars, check out our Honkai Star Rail review, Honkai Star Rail codes, and Honkai Star Rail tier list.