Something feels strange and it is up to you to unravel what is behind it. If you are up to the challenge, then you will love playing mystery games. There are many titles under this genre of mobile games. The game plots and mechanics also vary so we’re to help you pick the best free and paid titles.
Mystery Games vs Horror Games
Before proceeding to the list, let us define what mystery games are because those are often confused with horror games.
The two genres have notable differences. To elaborate, the former centers on discovering and solving a strange situation or phenomenon. The top mystery games are often about criminal investigations, disappearances, or supernatural phenomena. Moreover, there are usually twists that happen throughout or by the end of the plot. The latter, meanwhile, may have elements of mystery but focuses more on scaring the player. To add, the best horror games typically have a paranormal theme.
Best Mystery Games
It is time to take a look at the top titles now that you understand what the genre is. There is something for you to enjoy no matter what your taste is because the list covers adventure, role-playing, hidden objects, puzzles, escape rooms, and detective mystery games on Android and iOS. Here are the best picks you should download now!
1. The Wolf Among Us
Fairytale characters, also known as the Fables, are now living in a mysterious town in New York City. One night, one of them turns out dead and there are more to follow. Find out who the culprit is when you play The Wolf Among Us, one of the best mystery games for mobile.
The Wolf Among Us is from Telltale, the maker of the hit game series The Walking Dead. It is based on the Fables DC comic book series. The game became popular on PCs and consoles that is why it was also made compatible with mobile devices.
The game puts you in the shoes of Bigby Wolf, the Big Bad Wolf turned sheriff of Fabletown. As a town official, you must maintain order and investigate the murders. To do those, you have to interact with the Fables and uncover the mystery behind the shocking events. Be careful with your in-game choices though, because every conversation and decision you make has consequences to the outcome of the story. That aspect of the game is an advantage over others because it means high replayability.
More adventures await you if you get The Wolf Among Us on Android and iOS. The first episode comes free with the game while episodes two to five can be purchased in the app.
2. Life is Strange
Will you change the past if you have the power to rewind time? Life is Strange is also among the top adventure mystery games that leave the choice in your hands.
In Life is Strange, you are teen Max Caulfield. You save your best friend Chloe Price from an accident through time traveling. Afterward, you and Chloe attempt to investigate and find missing Blackwell Academy schoolmate Rachel Amber.
There are decisions to make and puzzles to be solved like in other mystery games. As a result, you either get good or bad consequences. If you get an undesirable result, there is no need to worry because you can go back in time to change your actions.
Also, you can enjoy taking photos in and out of the school grounds. This is because Max Caulfield is a photography enthusiast. The game screen can simulate a real camera.
Life is Strange comes from Square Enix, the video game company behind the Final Fantasy RPG series. This popular PC and console game can be played on Android and iOS devices. The first episode is free with the game while the second to fifth episodes have to be bought through the app.
3. Ace Attorney: Dual Destinies
“Objection!” Phoenix Wright from Capcom’s popular Ace Attorney series is back. He will defend the innocent and prove who the real guilty party afterward. Help him gather clues and win over the court in Ace Attorney: Dual Destinies, one of the best crime mystery games ported to mobile devices.
Ace Attorney: Dual Destinies lets you examine the crime scenes and interrogate witnesses. You do those by the point-and-click method. Using the evidence and testimonies, you can press the witnesses for more information or contradictions. All these will help you make the right conclusions during the trials.
There are five episodes and an extra chapter in the game. The cases in each episode have twists waiting to be discovered. Moreover, there are plenty of unique characters and lawyers to meet.
Ace Attorney: Dual Destinies goes for $19.99 on the Google Play Store and $0.99 on the App Store. The game offers in-app purchases. You can also check out the rest of the Ace Attorney series; the Apollo Justice and Miles Edgeworth versions are equally exciting.
4. Layton: Curious Village
Do you like brain teasers? If yes, Layton: Curious Village should be among the mystery games on your wish list. This is because the world-famous title, originally from the Nintendo DS and remastered for mobile devices, features about 100 unique puzzles and a thrilling story.
The game combines detective and adventure elements you can enjoy. It is fun to help the famous Professor Layton and apprentice Luke find the mysterious Golden Apple. To elaborate on the backstory, whoever possesses the said treasure will inherit Reinhold Estate in St. Mystere.
If you want to sharpen your mind, immerse yourself in charming cartoon art, and get a dose of mystery, it is not too late to jump into the Layton: Curious Village craze. Even players who have not played the Professor Layton series on other platforms appreciate this game because of the features mentioned above. Get Layton: Curious Village now for $9.99 on the Google Play Store and App Store.
5. Criminal Minds: The Mobile Game
An FBI agent’s life is full of mystery because of the plethora of crime and murder cases that must be handled. Experience it in Criminal Minds, one of the detective mystery games based on long-running US crime drama TV series.
In this game, you get to freely control agents Rossi, Prentiss, Reid, J.J., Garcia, Lewis, Alvez, and Simmons from the Behavioral Analysis Unit of the FBI. For example, you can assign each character to profile suspects, scour crime scenes, and more to solve all cases. The gameplay resembles accurately the agents’ tasks from the Criminal Minds TV show. Moreover, you can feel like a real agent.
Criminal Minds by Tilting Point offers hours of fun with six cases to solve and 60 levels to pass in total. The game, including all its cases, is free for Android and iOS. Digital purchases are offered.
6. Broken Sword: Director’s Cut
A murder that has happened in a Paris café is possibly linked to a mysterious group, the Knights Templars. Find out the real story and culprits by playing Broken Sword: Director’s Cut for mobile.
Broken Sword: Director’s Cut is one of the adventure-packed mystery games with a variety of places to explore. It will take you on a trip around the world just like the other titles from the series.
In the game, you are journalist Nico Collard or lawyer George Stobbart who questions suspects in the murder. Because the case remains unsolved, you have to look for clues, solve puzzles, and talk to more characters. This can be done by pointing and clicking on items or people of interest.
Broken Sword: Director’s Cut by Revolution Software Inc. lists at $4.99 on the Google Play Store and App Store.
7. Ravenhill®: Hidden Mystery
Ravenhill®: Hidden Mystery combines hidden object games and match-3 puzzles. It is among the casual yet exciting mystery games for Android and iOS.
The game starts when you, the main character, travels to Ravenhill City. Upon arriving in the city that is already turning into a ghost town, you are tasked to prevent an unknown catastrophe. You will discover afterward what is behind the upcoming phenomenon and the secrets of the manor you are staying in by looking for objects and clues.
Ravenhill®: Hidden Mystery from MYTONA can be downloaded for free on your Android or iOS device. It is playable offline with in-app purchase offers.
8. Criminal Case: Mysteries of the Past
Criminal Case: Mysteries of the Past is a hidden object mystery game that adds detective mechanics. This is because you also have to analyze the crime scene, look for items and clues, do laboratory tasks, question suspects, and arrest the culprits to solve murder cases.
The plot is similar to other detective mystery games because of the murder theme. The events are set in the 19th century, though. To add, the game reflects the period well through its graphics.
Criminal Case: Mysteries of the Past by Pretty Simple can be downloaded for free. Moreover, players can opt to buy items through the app.
9. Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery
Your Hogwarts journey starts here. Learn to cast spells, fight magical creatures, and unravel the secrets of the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry in Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery.
This game is unique in this best mystery games list because it has RPG elements. For example, you are allowed to customize your character’s looks, outfit, and dorm. You can also choose to become a member of the Gryffindor, Slytherin, Ravenclaw, or Hufflepuff houses.
The story revolves around your life as a student of magic like Harry Potter. To elaborate, the game lets you socialize with fellow wizards and compete in school events. You are also investigating your sibling’s disappearance and its link to the Cursed Vaults while doing those.
If you are ready to immerse yourself in the world of magic, this free Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery for Android and iOS devices is the one for you. The game also offers in-app purchases.
10. Adventure Escape: Asylum
Room escape games are the craze. This is why people build escape rooms based on mystery games in real life. Experience the escape room trend anywhere by playing Adventure Escape: Asylum by Haiku Games on your mobile device.
In the game, you are Anna who suddenly wakes up in an eerie asylum. After you get a hold of yourself, you must make your way out through fragments of your memory and the objects in the area. Escaping is not easy because a killer is roaming around. Also, there is a mysterious girl giving you hints and appearing from time to time. You do not know if she is a friend or foe because her identity is not revealed in the early phase of the game.
Adventure Escape: Asylum’s plot resembles that of mind-twisting movies where the character may just be delusional or in real danger. Moreover, each event adds to the suspense and excitement. As a result, you get curious and think every step of the way.
If you believe you can escape, get the game from the Google Play Store or App Store. You are in for hours of excitement because the game and its 10 chapters are free. In-app purchases are available.
11. Her Story
Mystery games are mostly animated but Her Story is different. The award-winning detective game is realistic because it features footage of real people.
Her Story lets you browse suspect and witness profiles. Also, you get to watch and listen to testimonies as if you are in an actual police station with real people in there. To add, the cases also feel authentic. For example, you will be able to handle a case about the disappearance of the husband of a famous actress. That scenario is common in real life.
Experience a one-of-a-kind mystery game. You can purchase Her Story by Sam Barlow from the Google Play Store and App Store for $4.99 and $3.99, respectively.
12. Daganronpa 2: Goodbye Despair Mystery Games
Daganronpa 2: Goodbye Despair is a treat for anime fans because of its art style. Also, it is as enjoyable as Spike Chunsoft’s Daganronpa: Trigger Happy Havoc, the first game of the series that was adapted into an anime.
Daganronpa 2 is about the Hope Peak Academy island getaway that turns into havoc because of the headmaster’s schemes. In the game, you are one of the students who have to play a killing game to escape the island. The gameplay somehow mimics the Ace Attorney series in some aspects because you have to pinpoint who the killer is through testimonies and evidence. Also, the accusations are proven right or wrong via class trials. The characters even stress their objections intensely as depicted by the in-game texts.
The 10th-anniversary edition of Daganronpa 2: Goodbye Despair is available for $15.99 on the Google Play Store and App Store.
13. Thimbleweed Park
Thimbleweed Park may look retro because of the pixel art but its plots and gameplay are on par with many of the modern adventure mystery games available for mobile.
Multiple mysteries unfold in the game involving two agents, a clown, a ghost, and a game developer. It is up to you to discover the stories of each character by navigating and interacting with interesting items and solving puzzles. Furthermore, you can explore a haunted house, abandoned circus, factory, and other mysterious places in Thimbleweed Park.
Thimbleweed Park feels like you are playing the classic point-and-click adventure game series, Monkey Island. Why? First, two titles were developed by Ron Gilbert and Gary Winnick. Second, the former’s design, from the interface to the environment, will remind you of the latter. Lastly, there are easter eggs about Monkey Island hidden in the game. For example, there was an etching that is seen as a reference to the names of Monkey Island protagonists Guybrush Threepwood and his wife Elaine.
Thimbleweed Park is priced at $9.99 on the Google Play Store and App Store.
14. Who is the Killer? Episode 1
Who is the killer? Test your brain and detective skills to stop the chain of murders in this mystery game.
Who Is The Killer? Episode 1 traps you in a castle with strangers. Afterward, the task of uncovering the real identity of the murderer among the group is left in your hands. This is challenging because everyone seems to have motives. To add, testimonies can conflict with one another.
You beat the game if you catch the real killer and lose if everyone dies. To make the right accusation, you have to talk to the characters. Also, you must gather clues from place to place. Furthermore, there are mini-games and puzzles to play.
Who Is The Killer? Episode 1 by Guts United is free for Android and iOS devices. To add, you can find the succeeding episodes as well on the Google Play Store and App Store.
15. The Room
Try The Room if puzzles are your thing. It is a game that may look simple yet packs plenty of mysteries.
The Room is about you, the protagonist, who receives a letter from an old researcher friend. He is requesting your help because of an unspecified reason. You travel to his house afterward.
Once you are in your friend’s home, you find yourself looking for clues about what is happening. This is where exploration comes in. You have to examine objects in the rooms and solve puzzles.
The Room’s best feature is said to be its realistic graphics. Also, the gameplay creates “wow” moments. In fact, artifacts in the game resemble their counterparts in real life. Moreover, an ornate box is not just a container after all in the game.
The Room by Fireproof Games lists at $0.99 on the Google Play Store and App Store.
Takeaway on Mystery Games
Mystery games borrow good aspects from other genres. This is why many of those have the right balance of the excitement you get from adventure games and the unsettling feeling elicited by horror games, for instance. Additionally, the games stimulate your brain to think logically. If you want to experience these and loved our list, choose your mystery game now!
