Part of the appeal of detective games is the fact that they challenge one's critical thinking and observational skills. Sometimes, all it takes is one missed clue or one biased opinion that determines whether a case is solved or not. Players have to pay close attention and engage their minds in order to solve the mystery.
And when occult themes like ghosts, devils, otherworldly dimensions, and more are factored in, it is even harder to discern the truth. Even in real life, there are some criminal cases that seem to be the result of the occult. But while mystery may still surround those cases, it's possible to find a satisfying conclusion in occult detective games, like the following titles.
9 Deadly Premonition
Deadly Premonition is an open-world horror game that's reminiscent of the series Twin Peaks. Players play through the perspective of special FBI agent Francis York Morgan as he goes to the town of Greenvale to investigate a murder.
The murder is similar to a string of other murders that have been happening in the world of the game, where red seeds were found on or near the body of the victim. Greenvale is a town full of secrets, and as York tries to solve his case he finds himself periodically trapped in a space called the Other World where he has to battle supernatural creatures. A sequel/prequel for the game, Deadly Premonition 2, came out in June 2022.
8 Murdered: Soul Suspect
Usually, in occult detective games, players are investigating cases that deal with paranormal entities. But in Murdered: Soul Suspect, the player is the paranormal entity in question. The game is from the perspective of Detective Ronan O'Connor, who ends up getting murdered during his investigation of a deadly serial killer.
Stuck in limbo, the only way to pass on to the afterlife is to solve his own murder. Players get to control Ronan, who along with his detective instincts, has ghostlypowers like possession and teleportation.
7 The Sinking City
Inspired by the works of H.P. Lovecraft, The Sinking City is an investigation and exploration game with elements of horror. Players take on the role of a private investigator in the 1920s as he explores Oakmont, a New England city. Oakmont isn't a normal city, though — it suffers from an extreme amount of flooding, with half of the city already submerged.
If that wasn't bad enough, the denizens of Oakmont are plagued by some supernatural force that's driving them insane. It's up to the player to figure out the mysteries of the town by exploring both the land and the water, all while avoiding going mad themselves.
6 Lucifer Within Us
Lucifer Within Us is a short but engaging investigation game made by Kitfox Games, the creators of the dungeon-crawling dating sim, Boyfriend Dungeon. In Lucifer Within Us, players take on the role of Ada, a digital exorcist who can probe into the minds of people.
Using this ability, players are tasked with solving three murder cases. Ada can dig into the subconscious minds of suspects and watch their testimonies play out. Players can find out the truth by comparing testimonies and sussing out contradictions. Then, they can exorcise guilty suspects of their "digital daemons."
5 The Darkside Detective
The Darkside Detective is a point-and-click adventure game that takes a more humorous approach to the occult. Players follow Detective McQueen, the detective of the Darkside Division, as he investigates the more supernatural crimes that happen in the city of Twin Lakes.
Doorways to alternate dimensions, ghosts trains, and famous cryptids might be above the pay grade for the average detective, but these are just the everyday cases that get handed to McQueen and his sidekick, Officer Dooley. There are nine cases (and a special Christmas one) to play through.
4 Night Cascades
Night Cascades is a visual novel game set in an alternate 1980s timeline that saw a rise in the belief and fear of the paranormal with things like "The Satanic Panic." Players take on the role of Diane Carter, who has just been hired by the local police as a special consultant for her knowledge in folklore.
Diane is tasked with helping solve the case of a rash of occult-themed fires that had been happening in the city. It's a great opportunity, except for the fact that the detective she's partnered with is Jackie, a woman she's intimately familiar with. Players get to solve mini-games to both solve the case and explore their past relationship with one another.
3 The Vanishing Of Ethan Carter
In The Vanishing of Ethan Carter, players take on the role of Paul Prospero. Paul is a detective with the power of the occult; he can communicate with the dead and witness the memories of their moments right before death. Paul receives a letter from a boy named Ethan Carter. Sensing that the boy is in danger he goes to where he lives, Red Creek Valley, and finds that there is something much more sinister going on.
The Vanishing of Ethan Carter is a first-person exploration game. Players can interact with the environment to try and piece together what happened to various victims as they draw their own conclusions to what happened to Ethan.
2 Return of the Obra Dinn
Return of the Obra Dinn is a mystery puzzle-solving game with a Noir flair. Players take on the role of an insurance investigator in 1807, tasked with investigating the Obra Dinn, a ship that suddenly drifted into port after being lost at sea for roughly five years.
With damaged sails and no crew anywhere in sight, it's up to the player to search the boat and use their mysterious pocketwatch to discover exactly what happened to the crew of fifty-one men.
1 The Rewinder
The Rewinder is a visually beautiful 2D puzzle game based on Chinese mythology. In the world of The Rewinder, there are people who have the power to speak with spirits and enter people's memories. These people are called "rewinders," and with their abilities, they can influence people's past decisions ultimately changing the future.
The game focused on Yun, the last rewinder, who is tasked with investigating an incident in a small village. While trying to figure out why a spirit couldn't be reincarnated, Yun discovers that the entire village is abandoned and filled with vengeful, restless spirits.