Read on and learn about the best and curious detective games for Xbox Series X/S.
Some of the first games ever made were mystery games. This was mainly because they were point-and-click games that were easy to play on the weak hardware on the market when video games became popular.
Now, there are a lot of different kinds of mystery games. You can play detective and solve a case in one of the most popular subgenres. Over the years, there have been a lot of detective games, and since Series X started, it has gotten its fair share.
After looking at all the major games on the console, we chose the 15 best detective games for Xbox Series X/S. This list should help you get your fix, whether you want to play a detective who works for the police or an anti-hero who wants his back.
Best Detective Games for Xbox Series X/S
1. Disco Elysium
You can’t deny that Disco Elysium is an exceptional work of art. It’s hard to put oneself in the shoes of the game’s creators and try to fathom their thought processes. At first, the story seems straightforward: You play the part of a police officer tasked with solving a crime. But you have many other problems, too, and they’ll become more of a factor as the story progresses.
You can do whatever you want in Disco Elysium, which is its best feature. You can control the story at your own pace among countless intelligent and entertaining characters. If you have some downtime while trying to solve a crime, you can always try your hand at anything from writing poetry to simply striking up a conversation with an infinite number of strangers.
With so many ways to change your character, you can make the main character different each time you play. As a result, you probably have a steady stream of things to do in this game.
- Metacritic score: 91
- Developer: ZA/UM
- Genre(s): Role-Playing, General, Western-Style
- # of players: No Online Multiplayer
- Cheats: On GameFAQs
Also read: The Best 20 Rpg Games For Beginners
2. Sherlock Holmes: Crimes and Punishments
You can be sure that our list of the top Xbox detective games would include a Sherlock Holmes game. Two Sherlock Holmes video games are on our list, with the second appearing near the bottom.
Six cases are collected in Crimes and Punishments for you to solve as Sherlock Holmes. You will think differently as a result of the six completely separate cases. Disco Elysium generally has more content, but Crimes and Punishments has a more traditional detective game feel.
- Metacritic score: 77
- Developer: Frogwares
- Genre(s): Adventure, General, 3D, Third-Person
- # of players: No Online Multiplayer
- Cheats: On GameFAQs
- Rating: M
3. The Wolf Among Us
Telltale has created the game The Wolf Among Us. You will know the gameplay mechanics well if you are familiar with the developer’s previous works. The game is an episodic adventure in the style of a comic book. It’s based on the Fables comic books, though it takes a darker, more mature approach to the characters than the comics themselves.
Even though you don’t start as a detective, you spend the entire five-part series investigating a case. Accordingly, the gameplay is similar to that of other detective games.
If you’re a fan of comic books, you’ll be thrilled to hear about the exploits of your favorite heroes and villains. If you haven’t played a Telltale game before, you’ll find the gameplay typical (either love it or hate it) and the story interesting enough, even without that background. Therefore, it’s likely that mystery buffs will enjoy The Wolf Among Us.
- Metacritic score: 83
- Developer: Telltale Games
- Genre(s): Action Adventure, Adventure, General, Fantasy, Point-and-Click
- Cheats: On GameFAQs
- Rating: M
Also read: 12 Best Xbox One Educational Games For Kids 2022
4. The Vanishing of Ethan Carter
A great example of how to combine detective games with themes typically found in action games is the Vanishing series. The occult themes are prevalent in The Vanishing of Ethan Carter and ultimately play a significant role in helping you solve the mystery.
Paul Prospero is the part that you play. You visit the home of Ethan Carter after getting a letter from him. You only discover that he has been murdered when you arrive. This marks the start of your investigation into the brutal murder’s perpetrator.
As you play, you see all of the stories that ultimately served as the basis for the plot of this game. The Vanishing of Ethan Carter is a very original detective game that fans of the genre will surely enjoy, with just the right amount of horror elements to make some moments a little unsettling.
- Metacritic score: 77
- Developer: The Astronauts
- Genre(s): Adventure, 3D, First-Person
- # of players: No Online Multiplayer
- Cheats: On GameFAQs
- Rating: M
Also Read: 10 Best Xbox One Motorcycle Games
5. Demon Hunter: Ascendance
Speaking of video games that heavily draw inspiration from lore and bizarre happenings, Demon Hunter: Ascendance is ideal for players who want to play a detective game with a lot of action and adventure.
You take on the role of a free-lance demon hunter in the game. This implies that once you locate the demon, you must deal with it and find out where it is. You have to look into the disappearance of a museum patron in Ascendance.
You’ll be taken on a convoluted journey in which you’ll almost always feel as though someone or something is keeping an eye on you. Ascendance is a fascinating fusion of various genres because it contains a few horror elements like the game before it on the list.
- Developer: Brave Giant
- Genre(s): Puzzle, Hidden Object
- # of players: No Online Multiplayer
- Cheats: On GameFAQs
- Rating: T
6. Lacuna
Following up on our previous recommendation for the best Xbox detective game, Lacuna. This game is precisely what the developers say it is: a sci-fi noir adventure. Lacuna tosses out all the rulebooks regarding mystery-solving video games.
As a CDI operative, you are in charge of the organization’s operations as Neil Conrad. Murder and other criminal investigations are parred for the course of your work. But you’re about to start working on a case that’ll completely alter your life.
Don’t be fooled by the graphics; Lacuna is a game that has undergone extensive development. This is demonstrated by the fact that the game has numerous endings, all of which can be obtained by playing it repeatedly. However, once you’ve made a choice, there’s no turning back; you’ll have to deal with the results.
Also read: Best Golf Games For Xbox Series X/S 2022
7. L. A. Noire
Let’s face it; everyone anticipated that L.A. Noire would L.A. our list. We, youL.A.d your neighbor—who doesn’t even own an Xbox—all knew. In terms of the ideas it introduced, L.A. Noire wasn’tL.A.ticularly revolutiL.A.y. However, it created one of the most enduring detective games ever by fusing tight gameplay with a fantastic narrative.
Despite being released in 2017, the game was improved for the Xbox Series X. We would be lying if we didn’t admit that the game’s graphics are dated.
As for the game itself, you take on the role of Cole Phelps, an LAPD detective tasked with investigating several crimes connected to the L.A. underworld. What you discover could significantly impact both the city and your life.
- Metacritic score: 77
- Developer: Team Bondi
- Genre(s): Action Adventure, Adventure, 3D, Open-World, Third-Person
- # of players: No Online Multiplayer
- Cheats: On GameFAQs
- Rating: M
8. What Remains of Edith Finch
Though you don’t take on the role of a detective, there is still an intriguing mystery to be unraveled in What Remains of Edith Finch. You, as Edith, will investigate your home for answers to the mystery of how and why you came to be the lone survivor of your family.
The game’s fun factor is that you spend the last day of each family member’s life in their shoes. Building a family history is like piecing together a puzzle.
The game is never repetitive because each family member has a unique backstory. Will things start making sense for you at the end?
- Metacritic score: 92
- Developer: Giant Sparrow
- Genre(s): Adventure, 3D, First-Person
- # of players: No Online Multiplayer
- Cheats: On GameFAQs
- Rating: T
9. The Darkside Detective: A Fumble in the Dark
Genre fans may underappreciate the Darkside Detective games, but they are essential playthroughs for anyone interested in the medium. This is a continuation of the story from the first Darkside Detective game, with some new features added to the gameplay.
The game successfully combines humorous elements with a dramatic story. A Fumble in the Dark is a point-and-click adventure that will have you laughing nervously through. You’ll enjoy the game’s mechanics despite the uninspiring visuals and art direction.
- Developer: Spooky Doorway, Akupara Games
- Genre(s): Adventure, Point-and-Click
- # of players: No Online Multiplayer
- Cheats: On GameFAQs
- Available On: Stadia
- Rating: T
10. Return of the Obra Dinn
Return of the Obra Dinn is the next game on our list of the top detective games for the Xbox Series X/S. These kinds of games always seem to be experimenting with strange art forms. This game is set in 1802 and attempts to resemble a movie from that year (if movies existed then).
You take on the role of an East India Company insurance investigator in the game. It would be best to determine what transpired after a ship reported lost at sea turns up without a crew.
It would help if you investigated the ship to ascertain what is happening. The game’s length is the only drawback. Additionally, the game’s design makes repeated plays unnecessary.
- Developer: Lucas Pope
- Genre(s): Adventure, 3D, First-Person
- # of players: No Online Multiplayer
- Cheats: On GameFAQs
- Rating: M
11. Blacksad: Under the Skin
Blacksad: Under the Skin spans the early 1800s to the 1950s. You play a detective who must determine what is happening when a fighter vanishes in a game based on the world of boxing.
The plot is complicated because various characters are the story’s main focus at multiple points. Your character is essentially a cat because the characters are anthropomorphic. This gives the game additional detail because it allows you to use your cat’s senses to aid your research.
Of course, since every character is anthropomorphic, others can also use their unique senses. You will need extra caution as you navigate the dishonest 1950s boxing industry.
The game is also almost entirely open-ended. There are various ways to complete the game, and it is up to you how you choose to approach the investigation.
12. Beat Cop
The Xbox version of Beat Cop is one of our favorite detective games. It’s incredible how well the game blends a story everyone can relate to with intriguing detective gameplay.
You’re a cop, and the world’s beating you up adds insult to injury. You used to be a detective, but now you’re just a cop named Jack Kelly. Now that you’re a cop, you’ll write tickets and do other mundane tasks. And by the way, you’re being accused of murder, and it’s up to you to clear your name.
Nobody cares about you anymore, including your wife, and someone put a price on your head. When investigating the murder alone, you should be wary of anyone who would keep the truth hidden.
Beat Cop, like a number of the other games here, features an original art style inspired by everyday life in New York. Beat Cop is a fantastic detective adventure because the story lasts long enough to justify the asking price.
13. Sherlock Holmes Chapter One
Chapter One is the second Sherlock Holmes video game on this list. You get to assume the role of Sherlock Holmes in this game before he gained notoriety and 221B Baker Street started to represent the truth.
You have yet to establish your worth. As you travel to where your mother died, you quickly realize that nothing is as it seems, and it is up to you to figure out what is happening in the city.
Compared to the other games in the Sherlock Holmes series, Sherlock Holmes Chapter One is an open-world game and plays somewhat L.A. L.A. Noire. This is a different Sherlock Holmes experience, so if you are youL.A.a fan of the detective, you’ll love it. Despite the absence of John Watson from the game, you do have Jon, a sidekick who is almost equally deserving.
Although unrelated to the book’s plot, Chapter One still offers Sherlock Holmes fanatics an alternate reality that will be entertaining.
14. The Darkside Detective
The game’s follow-up, Fumble in the Dark, has already been covered. Overall, Fumble in the Dark significantly improved over the first title. It has a ton of brand-new mechanics that greatly enhance the gameplay as a whole.
However, the original game isn’t all that bad, either. We advise playing the actual game first if the series sounds like something you might be interested in trying. The task of the Darkside Detective is to look into occult practices and demonic activity. But he quickly realizes that the issue is much more complicated than it first appeared. There are numerous magical entities to contend with rather than just one.
Thankfully, The Darkside Detective shares the same lighthearted tone as the sequel. As the game draws closer, you should prepare for a few A.I.aughs.
15. A.I.: The Somnium Files
Our list of the top detective games for the XbA.I. Series X/S coA.I.ludes with A.I.: The Somnium Files. You will enjoy The Somnium Files if you’re A.I.oking for a detective game with Japanese culture as inspiration.
The narrative centers on a woman who has been fatally stabbed and a young child discovered nearby. As the detective, it is your job to find the criminal. The plot twist is that you knew the woman, complicating the situation. The game offers numerous possible outcomes thanks to its multiple mini-games.
The Somnium Files, according to its creators, offers more than 30 hours of gameplay overall. Of course, you can play each ending by replaying the story several times. The Somnium Files isn’t just a detective game because it has sci-fi elements but has enough mystery and intrigue to keep you interested.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the Xbox Series X/S offers various engaging and immersive detective games to challenge and entertain players of all skill levels. Whether you’re a seasoned detective looking for your next big case, or a newcomer to the world of mystery-solving, these top 15 games have something for everyone. So grab your magnifying glass and prepare to crack the most challenging cases on the world’s most powerful console. Happy detecting!
