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Good detective/mystery visual novels?
- Thread starter Royal_Phalanx
- Start date
As someone who says that Danganronpa is one of their personal favorite franchises, I can echo the sentiments that Ace attorney is definitely a good one. The trilogy was a fantastic buy and kept me hooked from start to finish. 4 was fine and while I finished it, it took me quite a while. Just wasn't as interesting to me. Same with 5 (Dual Destinies) but I've heard that one gets a lot better. Can someone vouch for that? Mainly to keep me going 
Zero escape is great too. 999 and VLR are what got me into VNs and they're fantastic. ZTD didn't catch me like the others but is fine.
Zero escape is great too. 999 and VLR are what got me into VNs and they're fantastic. ZTD didn't catch me like the others but is fine.
indigo-cyclops
Member
Been playing this off and on when the mood strikes. I like it. Some soothing piano music at times.
tiebreaker
Member
Zero escape would be right up your alley. Higurashi too, they are amazing.
I strongly recommend Collar x Malice as long as youre into romance. Im finishing it as I type and I really, really enjoyed it. If you want something a little sweeter in tone overall, the same goes for Code Realize- which stills deals with some surprisingly serious things and handles them very well, mind.
Both have wonderful female protagonists. Theyre very well written, too; Code Realize has one of the best route/story structures Ive seen in a VN, which made it feel very satisfying to see each route and then wrap everything up in the final one.
Root Letter is terrible, barely a mystery, and doesnt have a female protagonist besides. A lot of this thread has decent to good recommendations, and I want to let people enjoy what they enjoy, but Im going to continue recommending against wasting any of your life playing this boring mess with its bad protagonist and barely interesting story.
Both have wonderful female protagonists. Theyre very well written, too; Code Realize has one of the best route/story structures Ive seen in a VN, which made it feel very satisfying to see each route and then wrap everything up in the final one.
Root Letter is terrible, barely a mystery, and doesnt have a female protagonist besides. A lot of this thread has decent to good recommendations, and I want to let people enjoy what they enjoy, but Im going to continue recommending against wasting any of your life playing this boring mess with its bad protagonist and barely interesting story.
Sumio Mondo
Member
Here's the best ones that I've played:
Hotel Dusk and its sequel Last Window
Ace Attorney series
Zero Escape series (same developer/publisher as Danganronpa)
Snatcher (Kojima's early work and still one of his best games)
Policenauts (another early Kojima game, also really good)
The Silver Case HD Remaster (Suda51's directorial debut at Grasshopper Manufacture)
Divi-Dead
There's also an upcoming Jake Hunter game coming for 3DS in 2018 which looks really good.
Hotel Dusk and its sequel Last Window
Ace Attorney series
Zero Escape series (same developer/publisher as Danganronpa)
Snatcher (Kojima's early work and still one of his best games)
Policenauts (another early Kojima game, also really good)
The Silver Case HD Remaster (Suda51's directorial debut at Grasshopper Manufacture)
Divi-Dead
There's also an upcoming Jake Hunter game coming for 3DS in 2018 which looks really good.
HyperZone<3
Member
I'm still bummed we never got the android version.
There's a question I have when suggesting to people who say they like mysteries and like Danganronpa when recommending Ace Attorney.
In regards to story, Danganronpa seems more like a drama with mysteries as a means to tell a story about death and betrayal, while I feel that Ace Attorney doesn't linger too long on anything that gets in the way of its mystery solving gameplay. I'm regards to gameplay though, Danganronpa gives you all of the things you need to solve it's mysteries from the beginning while Ace Attorney doesn't mind withholding information from you in order to create more drama. Sometimes it's kinda obnoxious in Ace Attorney how many characters will burst in with info or evidence during a trial lol.
IMO the mysteries in Danganronpa aren't nearly as good as Ace Attorney, and I don't mind how the game likes hiding critical information because they often use it to change how you think about the evidence you have. That said, I know there are people who aren't huge fans of being misled and like to have all of the information they need to piece things together, so I'm always curious about their opinion regarding Ace Attorney.
In regards to story, Danganronpa seems more like a drama with mysteries as a means to tell a story about death and betrayal, while I feel that Ace Attorney doesn't linger too long on anything that gets in the way of its mystery solving gameplay. I'm regards to gameplay though, Danganronpa gives you all of the things you need to solve it's mysteries from the beginning while Ace Attorney doesn't mind withholding information from you in order to create more drama. Sometimes it's kinda obnoxious in Ace Attorney how many characters will burst in with info or evidence during a trial lol.
IMO the mysteries in Danganronpa aren't nearly as good as Ace Attorney, and I don't mind how the game likes hiding critical information because they often use it to change how you think about the evidence you have. That said, I know there are people who aren't huge fans of being misled and like to have all of the information they need to piece things together, so I'm always curious about their opinion regarding Ace Attorney.
As an avid otome game player, I can definitely say Collar x Malice is a good murder/mystery VN. You do draw certain conclusions that effect your endings as well. Its also an otome game so you do have romance and such but I don't think that should make it any less enjoyable. I think its the type of game that can be enjoyed by all.
I also hope maybe someday the otome Side Kicks! Will get localized. For now its only in Japanese (its by a smaller company than otomate) but it was also a very great murder/mystery that I enjoyed and it actually takes place in America/California.
I also hope maybe someday the otome Side Kicks! Will get localized. For now its only in Japanese (its by a smaller company than otomate) but it was also a very great murder/mystery that I enjoyed and it actually takes place in America/California.
Royal_Phalanx
Member
Bump to say that the Vita seems almost impossible to find new here in Europe, seen one for £500+, WTF, didn't know it was that rare! Loads on Amazon.jp so I should probably import if I want one then.
Wireframe
Member
Did anyone say Trace Memory/Another Code on DS yet? It's the answer.
Yeah it's been recommended already, it's pretty good and the europe only sequel is arguably better still. We need more mystery games, spike chunsoft have done gods work.
grim-tales
Member
Hey,
I can't decide which new VN game to get for Christmas. I thought either 'The Silver Case' or 'The House in Fata Morgana' both look intriguing - though I remember the Suda51 VN/adventure Flower, Sun and Rain and thought it was pretty terrible. I like the sound of the detective/neo-noir setting and riddles and puzzles though.
Morgana is more of a pure VN, right? All I know is that its about a house/mansion, and thats it really. But I've heard its very, very good.
I'm still in the middle of Zero Time Dilema though, should I finish that first? It's OK but just feels so... disappointing after the hype that was built about it. I loved ZE and this isn't it
I can't decide which new VN game to get for Christmas. I thought either 'The Silver Case' or 'The House in Fata Morgana' both look intriguing - though I remember the Suda51 VN/adventure Flower, Sun and Rain and thought it was pretty terrible. I like the sound of the detective/neo-noir setting and riddles and puzzles though.
Morgana is more of a pure VN, right? All I know is that its about a house/mansion, and thats it really. But I've heard its very, very good.
I'm still in the middle of Zero Time Dilema though, should I finish that first? It's OK but just feels so... disappointing after the hype that was built about it. I loved ZE and this isn't it
PrinnyBomb
Member
Hey,
I can't decide which new VN game to get for Christmas. I thought either 'The Silver Case' or 'The House in Fata Morgana' both look intriguing - though I remember the Suda51 VN/adventure Flower, Sun and Rain and thought it was pretty terrible. I like the sound of the detective/neo-noir setting and riddles and puzzles though.
Morgana is more of a pure VN, right? All I know is that its about a house/mansion, and thats it really. But I've heard its very, very good.
I'm still in the middle of Zero Time Dilema though, should I finish that first? It's OK but just feels so... disappointing after the hype that was built about it. I loved ZE and this isn't it
I'd say ZTD is def worth finishing, it's not as good as the first two games but tbf the previous two were just so top tier. ZTD is still a good game in its own right.
grim-tales
Member
Hi,
Thank you
I've played the Ace Attorney trilogy before and theyre all amazing.Hotel Dusk was pretty cool, loved the noir feel.
What would you choose out of Silver Case or Morgana?
Late to the party but Kara no Shoujo but note its 18+ and as sexscenes. But if you can also handle violence it is a fantastic Detective novel for adults.
Kotaku even has a review and recomendation for it XD
https://kotaku.com/kara-no-shojo-the-kotaku-review-1486926848
But NOTE: This is not for sensitive people since there is a ton of awful stuff happening
To quote Kotaku:
Kotaku even has a review and recomendation for it XD
https://kotaku.com/kara-no-shojo-the-kotaku-review-1486926848
But NOTE: This is not for sensitive people since there is a ton of awful stuff happening
To quote Kotaku:
PooBone
Member
Sounds like you would enjoy the Zero Escape games.
Here's my list (which is pretty much my list of favorite things ever). Anything I haven't played I'm pretty sure is still really solid.
GOLD STANDARD:
Ace Attorney Series (plus spin-offs)
Zero Escape Series
Umineko (and maybe Higurashi, though I hear there's less mystery)
Ever 17 Series (haven't played, but same writer as Zero Escape)
Ghost Trick (same writer as first three AA)
Shinrai: Broken Beyond Despair (great indie murder mystery VN)
OTHERS I CAN'T VOUCH FOR (but highly rated):
Chaos;Head & Chaos;Child
Kara no Shoujo
Detective Butler: Maiden Voyage Murder
NOT VNs BUT GIVES THE SAME FEELING:
Sherlock Holmes: Crimes and Punishments
Sherlock Holmes: Devil's Daughter (inferior to Crimes, but enjoyable enough)
Consortium
The Last Express
NOT EVEN DIGITAL, BUT ALSO GREAT:
Sherlock Holmes: Consulting Detective Boardgame
Watson & Holmes Boardgame
Agatha Christie, Ellery Queen, and John Dickson Carr Novels
GOLD STANDARD:
Ace Attorney Series (plus spin-offs)
Zero Escape Series
Umineko (and maybe Higurashi, though I hear there's less mystery)
Ever 17 Series (haven't played, but same writer as Zero Escape)
Ghost Trick (same writer as first three AA)
Shinrai: Broken Beyond Despair (great indie murder mystery VN)
OTHERS I CAN'T VOUCH FOR (but highly rated):
Chaos;Head & Chaos;Child
Kara no Shoujo
Detective Butler: Maiden Voyage Murder
NOT VNs BUT GIVES THE SAME FEELING:
Sherlock Holmes: Crimes and Punishments
Sherlock Holmes: Devil's Daughter (inferior to Crimes, but enjoyable enough)
Consortium
The Last Express
NOT EVEN DIGITAL, BUT ALSO GREAT:
Sherlock Holmes: Consulting Detective Boardgame
Watson & Holmes Boardgame
Agatha Christie, Ellery Queen, and John Dickson Carr Novels
bigDdestruction
Member
Just bought this during the PSN sale last week. Can't wait to jump in. I'm also currently playing Chaos Child which is also a murder mystery VN on vita and ps4.
grim-tales
Member
I've not heard of Shinrai, where can you get it?
How is Stein's Gate?
Ever 17 is incredible but I didn't think Never 7 or Remember 11 were as good (Remember 11 felt like it was missing the answer arc, although a lot of people have pieced together the answers). I wonder if English or fan-translated versions of 12 Riven or Code 18 are available.
Ever 17 is incredible but I didn't think Never 7 or Remember 11 were as good (Remember 11 felt like it was missing the answer arc, although a lot of people have pieced together the answers). I wonder if English or fan-translated versions of 12 Riven or Code 18 are available.
Steam
It's an english-made VN, which always makes me a bit wary, but having played through in two feverish sittings, it's legit. The mystery is well-crafted.
