Single-player games like A Detective's Novel
Below are 17 single-player Steam games similar to A Detective's Novel, ranked by player overlap. Every pick carries Steam's Single-player category, so multiplayer-only titles or always-online games don't sneak in. imho.run pulls the category data from Steam directly — Single-player here matches what the store labels.
Want the full alternatives list (paid + free + Steam Deck + cheaper picks)? See the parent games like A Detective's Novel page.
Ranked picks
- 1
Sarawak
Single-player alternative to A Detective's Novel — playable solo, no multiplayer required. Shares Indie and Adventure with A Detective's Novel.
A short literary mystery game set in Oxford and Borneo
- 2
Aviary Attorney
Single-player alternative to A Detective's Novel — playable solo, no multiplayer required. Shares Indie and Adventure with A Detective's Novel.
The hottest bird lawyering game to come out of 1840s France! Join Jayjay Falcon and his witty apprentice, Sparrowson, as the two take on clients, interview witnesses, collect evidence, and deliver justice to the guilty.
- 3
Orwell: Ignorance is Strength
Single-player alternative to A Detective's Novel — playable solo, no multiplayer required. Shares Indie and Adventure with A Detective's Novel.
Step into the shoes of a government official in a top-secret department of the Orwell surveillance program. Given the power to both uncover and fabricate "the truth", how far will you go in the service of your country? Season 2 of Orwell, the award-winning surveillance thriller.
- 4
The Darkside Detective: A Fumble in the Dark
Single-player alternative to A Detective's Novel — playable solo, no multiplayer required. Shares Indie and Adventure with A Detective's Novel.
Delouse your room with sage and pack up your travel-sized ouija board, it’s time to re-enter Twin Lakes - America’s 34th most haunted city. Join Detective McQueen as he puzzles his way through 9 chilling cases, risking life and pixelated limb to solve the macabre mysteries that plague the poor town.
- 5
Subsurface Circular
Single-player alternative to A Detective's Novel — playable solo, no multiplayer required. Shares Indie and Adventure with A Detective's Novel.
When the truth is buried, go underground. Step into this new take on text-based adventure from the award-winning team behind Thomas Was Alone and Volume. A short story that hands you the fate of the world above, as a detective looking for answers on the Subsurface Circular.
- 6
The Simen Rumors
Single-player alternative to A Detective's Novel — playable solo, no multiplayer required. Shares Indie and Adventure with A Detective's Novel.
本游戏以视觉小说的形式，收录了十四个奇幻恐怖的短篇故事。从网站专栏的投稿、社团的恐怖故事分享会、到某座设施中的秘密实验……你将以不同的视角，探索发生在鸶门市周边的种种奇妙传闻。
- 7
Threefold Recital
Single-player alternative to A Detective's Novel — playable solo, no multiplayer required. Shares Indie and Adventure with A Detective's Novel.
Threefold Recital is set in an oriental fantasy world where the metropolis of Bluescales faces turmoil after a long golden age. The mix of magic, modern, and ancient technologies challenges governance, while tensions between humans, beastlings, and dragons grow. In the shadows, a crisis looms...
- 8
노베나 디아볼로스
Single-player alternative to A Detective's Novel — playable solo, no multiplayer required. Shares Indie and Adventure with A Detective's Novel.
Novena diabolos is an Ocult mystery adventure game. The main character, Park Joon-sung, has to find a single human woman who doesn't know who she is and get out of town safely.
- 9
Umineko When They Cry - Question Arcs
Single-player alternative to A Detective's Novel — playable solo, no multiplayer required. Shares Adventure with A Detective's Novel.
Umineko When They Cry is the 2nd series of Sound Novel released by 07th Expansion. The steam version features renewed character sprites which is swappable from the classic art.
- 10
1914: Prelude to Chaos
Single-player alternative to A Detective's Novel — playable solo, no multiplayer required.
Enter the year 1914, which will mark the beginning of the Great War. This Indie adventure RPG will show you the glory of dying empires, death, despair and chaos that hasshaken the world and finally put an end to the ancient European monarchies.
- 11
Unforgiving Trials: The Darkest Crusade
Single-player alternative to A Detective's Novel — playable solo, no multiplayer required. Shares Indie and Adventure with A Detective's Novel.
Embark on an epic adventure to save the lands. Form a party by selecting 4 different adventurers from a pool of over 12 unique classes. Battle your way through the cursed lands scaling the highest mountains and exploring the darkest dungeons. Face more than 30 unique challenging bosses in order to reach the capital of the kingdom.
- 12
Unforgiving Trials: The Space Crusade
Single-player alternative to A Detective's Novel — playable solo, no multiplayer required. Shares Indie and Adventure with A Detective's Novel.
The world is dying. Many years after the banishment of the evil that plagued the land, the world was hit by waves of unbearable heat. Now in order to save the world the band of young adventurers have set upon a quest to vanquish the Sun.
- 13
Nuclear Contingency
Single-player alternative to A Detective's Novel — playable solo, no multiplayer required. Shares Indie and Adventure with A Detective's Novel.
Nuclear Contingency is a top down action stealth game set during the height of the cold war.
- 14
Space Beret
Single-player alternative to A Detective's Novel — playable solo, no multiplayer required. Shares Indie with A Detective's Novel.
Space Beret is a top down sci-fi shooter set in a "Starship Troopers" and "Crimsonland" inspired setting. In it, mankind is forced to fight hordes of horrible monstrosities in a desperate struggle for survival.
- 15
The Last Sin
Single-player alternative to A Detective's Novel — playable solo, no multiplayer required. Shares Indie and Adventure with A Detective's Novel.
The world is stuck in permanent limbo where the living don't realize what is going on and the dead cannot rest. Recruit a party of balanced heroes to save the endless plane of existence.
- 16
Introvert Quest
Single-player alternative to A Detective's Novel — playable solo, no multiplayer required. Shares Indie and Adventure with A Detective's Novel.
Introvert Quest is a comedy based JRPG set in a fictional, modern setting. Experience the life of a socially awkward shut-in who is pushed into herculean tasks by his therapist.
- 17
Tomb Joe
Single-player alternative to A Detective's Novel — playable solo, no multiplayer required. Shares Indie and Adventure with A Detective's Novel.
Embark on a journey to unravel the mystery of the Sceptre of Gods and Tomb Joe's father's disappearance. Armed only with his sharp wit and his trusty whip, Joe will have to face deadly traps, dangerous wildlife, and the best soldiers of the Reich to reach his goal and bring fame to his father's name once again.