Alright, so yesterday I laid out some of the best room escape-style games and I guess I'm in a bit of a mystery-solving mood as of late. I'm not talking about your typical puzzlers, I mean mysteries that really need deductive reasoning.
These titles make you think a little harder than usual and you'll feel so good figuring out each tiny piece. That's why these sorts of games may not be for everyone – each victory is small, but it progresses you further into the story.
Layton's Mystery Journey – download on iOS
When Layton's Mystery Journey: Katrielle and the Millionaire's Conspiracy first launched on iOS, it was uncertain whether it would be a success on mobile when it was destined for Nintendo 3DS. Thankfully, it was an absolute riot and made you think about every little detail.
Layton's Mystery Journey follows Layton's daughter, Katrielle, as she opens up her own detective agency and searches for her missing father. Unlike other Layton games, you have to solve a bunch of smaller mysteries that relate to an overall plot, making victories feel more complete in themselves.
The characters are enjoyable, the dialogue witty, the animations and overall graphics are extremely high quality, and it's just a cracking title all round.
Ace Attorney: Spirit of Justice – download on iOS
Yet another 3DS translation, Ace Attorney: Sprit of Justice takes your deductive mind and puts it to use at the bench. You'll be getting a healthy dose of court room drama, that's for sure.
Enjoy epic twists and entertaining battles as you work your mental magic to dismantle lies and contradictions. Well, so long as you've done your homework and have the evidence to back yourself up, of course.
With each client you need to defend, make sure you cover all areas to find out the truth. You may be able to see memories of the dead, but you should also approach with a rational head and see what comes out of it. That's what makes it so much fun.
Framed 2 – download on iOS
Though not a traditional detective game, you're aiding an unknown ally through a series of comic book-like puzzles. All you know is that you need to help them to transport a briefcase safely without being caught by the enemy.
It's not just the noir design and snappy suits that makes this a detective game. No, it's the panel-swapping and overall analysis on your end that really fits it into the category. This isn't just a 'blindly swap things around'-sort of gig.
Sometimes the answer can be as simple as you think and sometimes there's a more complicated answer hiding in a simple layout. You can watch every outcome happen without limited lives or lasting consequences, and it's really good fun.
Her Story – download on iOS
If you haven't had the pleasure of playing Her Story yet, I can't recommend it enough. The whole game is told through a series of live action interrogation videos which may seem a bit weird to you at first.
You need to type keywords in the computer's search engine to watch the clips and slowly piece together the mystery. A murder has been committed, but it's not as open and closed as that. The wonderful thing about this game is that the investigation is truly in your hands to solve.
Each keyword you think of might be relevant and it might not be, but you'll have to use rational thinking to work through it.
A Dark Room – download on iOS
You're not swapping around panels or gathering evidence in this one, but you are figuring things out as you go. A Dark Room is a text-based adventure which develops as you play further.
What initially feels like choosing between menial tasks, such as gathering wood, branch out into stories of survival and you'll find out that there's so much more to it than you originally thought. It's slow-going at first, but quickly you'll find yourself torn between basic survival and a greater mystery.
You may not be solving other people's issues, but you are having a good whack at your own and – y'know – trying not to die while doing so.
