Video games are the electronic games that display moving images or manipulating images on a single screen. Still, they can we be controlled by one or more consoles such as joysticks and sensor controllers. Video games are used for numerous purposes such as stress buster, relaxation element as well as for fun and enjoyment. A video game has different genres which are classified on the basis of the central aim of the game. Mystery games are one among such genres.
A mystery game is a video game in which the main objective is to display mystery as the central theme of the game. These games have so much relied on the mysterious theme that the game is considered as useless if on its absence. Let’s have a look on some of the Mystery Games on the PlayStation 4 platform.
The mysterious themed action-adventure video game “L.A. Noire” was launched on November 14, 2017, for the PlayStation 4 platform worldwide. It was developed and published by Team Bondi and Rockstar games respectively. The entire plot of the game is set in 1947 Los Angeles where the player has to work as a cop who investigated and solves the crimes by following the leads.
The adventure genre mysterious game “Sherlock Holmes: Crimes and Punishments” was launched on September 30 and October 3, 2014, depending on the place of release. It was developed and published by Frogwares. This game is set in 1894-95 London where the player has to solve six criminal cases involving thefts, murders and disappearances and has to make the right moral decisions in for or against all of them.
3.The wolf among us (2013):
The mysterious graphic adventure game “The wolf among us” is one among the very few games that are episodic. There were five episodes of the game, and all were released on different dates. October 14, 2013, being the marked day of the launch, it was given a great set of appreciation by the critics. The game was developed and published by Telltale Games and is considered as the prequel of the comic book “A wolf among us”. The game can only be played in the single-player mode.
4.Agatha Christie: The ABC Murders (2016):
The mysterious adventure genre video game “Agatha Christie: The ABC Murders” was launched on 4th and 23rd February 2016 for PlayStation 4 platform depending on Europe and North America releases. It was developed and published by Artefacts studios and Anuman/Kalypso respectively. The plot of the game deals with the basics of a murder, and it’s an investigation to solve it. The game is a part of the Agatha Christie series and was highly praised by the critics after its release.
5.The Sexy Brutale (2017):
The adventure mysterious video game “The Sexy Brutale” was launched on April 12, 2017, for the PlayStation 4 platform. It was developed and published by Tequila works in collaboration with Cavalier game studios for the development alone. The story revolves around the protagonist Lafcardio Boone who’s a preacher.
6.The witness (2016):
The mysterious puzzle game “The witness” was launched on January 26, 2016, for the PlayStation 4 platform. The game was developed and published by Thekla, Inc. It received a great appreciation from the critics and was ranked among the best. The single-player game works in a first-person perspective view where the protagonist visits and explores an unknown island. The game is about the struggle he/she faces in order to survive on that island.
The supernatural mystery game “The shapeshifting detective” was launched on November 6 2018. It was developed and published by Wales interactive in collaboration with D’Avekki studios Limited and Wales interactive respectively. In this murder mystery game, the protagonist or say, the player plays as a detective who’s investigating a murder. The detective having supernatural powers can shapeshift into other characters so as to listen to private conversations. The game was highly appreciated by the critics.
8.Broken sword 5: The serpent’s curse (2013):
The point and click adventure mystery game “Broken sword 5: The serpent’s curse” was launched in two different dates that are December 4, 2013, and April 17, 2014, respectively. The game was developed and published by Revolution software which received a great appreciation by the critics. The game sold millions of copies in just a few weeks after its release. The plot of the story revolves around a theft investigation and the journey, along with the struggles associated.
9.The vanishing of Ethan Carter (2014):
The horror mystery game “The vanishing of Ethan Carter” which has immense adventure associated was launched on July 15, 2015, for the PlayStation 4 platform. This game was developed and published by The astronauts. The protagonist in the story acts as a detective who’s on duty to solve the mystery behind the murder of the Carter family. The player can roam about anywhere he or she wants to yet be conclusive about the murder mystery. The game received a great appreciation from the critics and been ranked as one of the best among the few.
10.Firewatch (2016):
The adventure mystery game “Firewatch” was launched on February 9, 2016, for the PlayStation 4 platform. The game was developed and published by Campo Santo and panic along with the collaboration of Campo Santo again. The game was too hyped and was highly appreciated by the critics. It is a single-player game. The plot of the game was set a year after Yellowstone fires of 1988. This game was awarded for the best 3D visual experience at the unity awards 2016 and the best indie game at the 2016 golden joystick awards.
11.Murdered- Soul suspect (2014):
The adventure mystery game “Murdered- Soul suspect” was launched on June 3 2014. It was developed and published by Airtight Games and Square Enix respectively. The third-person view game can be played only on the single-player mode. The plot of the entire game revolves around a detective named Ronan O’Connor who investigates a serious crime like murder and tries to catch the guilty. After a point in the game, the detective finds a series of suspects, and it’s the part of the game that the player has to find the guilty among the prime suspects.
12.The Raven Remastered (2013):
“The raven remastered” is one of the few episodic games existing so far. This game is considered as the sequel of the game “The raven: the legacy of a master thief”. It was launched worldwide on July 23 2013. The game was developed and published by King art games and THQ Nordic respectively. This adventure game can only be played on the single-player mode and has a plot which revolves around the protagonist who’s a thief and was impossible to catch. The game was highly appreciated by the critics and been ranked as one of the best games.
13.Detroit: Become Human (2018):
The adventure mystery game “Detroit: Become Human” was launched on May 25, 2018, for the PlayStation 4 platform worldwide. It was developed and published by Quantic Dream and Sony interactive Entertainment respectively. The entire plot of the game revolves around three asteroids named Kara, Connor and Markus. The game looks more like a science-fiction game which received great appreciation from the critics.
14.Observer (2017):
The psychological mystery game “Observer” was launched on August 15, 2017, for the PlayStation 4 platform worldwide. It was developed and published by Bloober Team and Aspyr respectively. The game follows the story of the detective Daniel Lazarski who was an expert in hacking people’s minds. The game received a great appreciation from the critics and been ranked as one of the best.
15.Heavy Rain (2010):
The action mystery game “Heavy Rain” was launched on February 23, 2010, worldwide. It was developed and published by Quantic Dream and Sony computer entertainment respectively. This game can only be played on the single-player mode. The interactive drama-based game has its plot revolving around the four protagonists who are directly and indirectly involved with the origami serial killer and his mystery. The serial murderer in the game uses heavy rain to drown the victims. The developer of the game wrote a script of two thousand pages and utilized four years for the game’s development; one of the longest period a game ever took for its development. The game was also a commercial success and won the BAFTA awards three times. The game was highly appreciated by the critics and sold five million copies throughout the world.
Summing up
Mystery games have always been a useful platform to improve one’s critical thinking skills. These games are always based or a story and give the player a thrilling experience when he or she plays it, completely getting indulged in it. These mostly choose to make a police officer or a detective as the protagonist who further invests himself or herself in investigating, find the leads and solve in different criminal cases. At times, the critics say that mystery games can create a negative impact on the player’s mind, but it always depends on the person on how personally they take it. Such games are to be taken care of so that video games don’t create any impact on a person’s personal life.
