Released to critical acclaim,Lost Judgmentis a spin-off from theYakuzasaga. So that series is an easy recommendation for fans that want to explore the city streets of Kamurocho even further. However, setting aside the mini-games, exploration, and combat,Lost Judgmentdoes a great job of setting itself apart as a neo-noir detective game with a crime drama-style setup that makes its play like an interactive drama or a visual novel.
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In fact, the investigations and how they contribute to the series’ mysteries and crime-solving to develop the plot are some ofLost Judgmentand its predecessor’s strongest aspects. For players that enjoyed feeling like a super sleuth, there are other recommendations that fans should explore.
10Batman: Arkham VR
Even though it’s often the Rocksteady-developedArkham Knighttrilogy that gets the most credit, its prequelArkham: Originsintroduced some of the actual detective aspects to the game. However, it’s theBatman: Arkham VRthat took experiencing the world of Batman through the eyes of “the world’s greatest detective” to another level.
Arkham VRwill have the player investigate the crime scene of a brutal murder, scan for clues, track down witnesses, and more. It’s a much shorter experience than the mainlineArkhamgames but that’s a perfect fit for a VR title as immersive as this one.
9Detroit Become Human
Lost Judgmentwears its neo-noir influences proudly on its sleeve and perhaps one of the most interesting games in the genre isDetroit: Become Human.Games developed by Quantic Dream can often be an acquired taste but fans ofLost Judgment’sinteractive movie/visual novel-style presentation should find a lot to enjoy inDetroit: Become Human.
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It’s easily the most approachable and cohesive title from the studio to date and the detective scenarios with Android Connor and his human partner Hank – played byHighlander’sClancy Brown – will touch upon some of the more sensitive issues that are prevalent inLost Judgment. The production values are outstanding and remain one of the most stunning technical achievements in any generation.
8Professor Layton And The Unwound Future
The Professor Layton serieshas always combined elements of detective work, puzzle-solving, and visual novel style experience that should appeal to fans of Lost Judgment’s sleuthing.
Fans of the genre will have fun with any of theLaytontitles but it’sThe Unwound Futurethat is considered a fan favorite. More importantly, this title from Level 5 studios features some of their most engaging storytelling to date.
7The Wolf Among Us
Better known for theirWalking Deadseries, Telltale’sThe Wolf Among Usis perhaps some oftheir best work in terms of storytelling and world-building.
It’s based on the graphic novel series published by DC known asFables.It combines a modern world murder mystery with well-known fairytale characters. The story is played out through the eyes of Bigby the sheriff of Fabletown and werewolf. Unlike,Lost Judgment, however, there is more emphasis placed on dialogue choices that can change the course of the story.
6Sleeping Dogs
For gamers looking for a more action-oriented experience that combines elements ofLost Judgmentand theGrand Theft Autoseries thenSleeping Dogsmay be just what they are looking for.
Set in Hong Kong, players take on the role of an undercover detective known as Detective Wei Shen. There’s a heavy focus on combat and shooting but the Police Investigations side quests that can be obtained from the station are easily the most interesting in the game. One standout investigation is when he’s looking into a serial killer that’s roaming Hong Kong killing Triad members.
5Phoenix Wright Trilogy
Fans ofLost Judgment’scourtroom dramas along with the crime drama elements should definitely check out thePhoenix Wright Trilogydeveloped by Capcom.
The two series share many similarities but it’s fair to say that the puzzle elements in thePhoenix Wrightseries are more in-depth. Gathering evidence from crime scenes and taking notes from statements to piece together a mystery are taken to the next level in thePhoenixgames.
4Observer: System Redux
Part horror and part cyberpunk detective game, Bloober Team’sObserveris one of the most unique experiences on this list. Taking a lot of inspiration from theBlade Runnermovies,Observerhas one of the mostvisually stunning worlds to explore this generation, particularly on next-gen systems.
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The player is taking on the role of an aging detective named Daniel Lazarski played by none other thanthe late Rutger Hauer. As an “Observer”, Daniel can hack into people’s minds for the purpose of his investigations. In addition, he has to perform in-depth investigations at crime scenes using biological and physical evidence. As a crime game,Observeris as dark and as deep as it gets with some immense world-building in place.
3Her Story
As a non-linear experience,Her Storyis one of the most unique video games on the market.Developed independently by Sam Barlowthe director behind the criminally underratedSilent Hill: Originson the PC,Her Storyis an investigation game that tasks the player with watching interview footage with the wife of a missing man.
From there, the player has to decipher clues and hidden meanings behind her words to piece together as much information about the case as possible. It’s a unique game that succeeds in making the player feel like they are an investigator, perhaps more than any other game.
2L.A Noire
First released in 2011,L.A. Noirebroke new groundwhen it came to facial animation and motion capture. The players take on the role of a straight-laced investigator and former World War 2 veteran Cole Phelps. The story is divided by the cases that Phelps needs to solve as he advances in the ranks to become a detective in a late 1940s L.A setting.
Of course, by today’s standards, the slightly overacted expressions can seem awkward at times but the way they contribute to Detective Cole’s investigations is still as innovative as ever. The combination of action, detective work, and a gripping narrative set in a unique open-world should scratch thatLost Judgmentitch for fans.
1Sherlock Holmes: The Devil’s Daughter
As the title suggests,The Devil’s Daughterputs players in the shoes of the titular Sherlock Holmes. Set in Victorian London the game appears to take some inspiration from the Guy Ritchie-directed versions of Holmes rather than the classical adaptations of the past like Granada’sAdventures of Sherlock Holmesstarring Jeremy Brett.
This leads to a more action-oriented experience than its predecessorTestament of Sherlock Holmes.The investigative mechanics remain some of the best in the genre as player pieces together the evidence to deduce the facts from fiction. In addition,Lost Judgmentfans will appreciate being able to leave Sherlock’s famous residence on Baker’s street and explore the cobbled streets of London. From there, he can participate in arm wrestling minigames and take in the sights.
