Summary
Detective games are incredibly popular, allowing players to live out their sleuthing fantasies, solving major crimes like theft and murder. The likes of Hercule Poirot, Sherlock Holmes, and Phoenix Wright are the dominant figures in the market, each starring in multiple acclaimed crime-solving sagas across several decades.
Some developers like to do things a little differently, stepping outside the box and puttinganthropomorphized animals at the forefront, perhaps to add a sprinkle of humor to a dark story or endear gamers to the adorable characters. There are manygreat detective games that allow the player to control animals. Here are some of the best, ranked by their general quality and popularity with fans.
Set in a dystopian Vancouver,Tails Noirhas players controlling a raccoon private eye called Howard Lotor. Underscored by a soundtrack that captures the mood, the art style is also very eye-catching. The story deals with pain, loss, and change, taking inspiration from many sources, includingthe works of David Lynchand Sartre’s existential philosophy.
The end is always the same outcome, but dialogue choices do change the character of Howard, determining what kind of raccoon he is. The second game,Tails Noir Preludes, is also worth looking into, featuring many improvements and giving valuable insights into the backstories of several characters.
Taking a more comedic approach isDuck Detective: The Secret Salami,a relatively short mysteryfor players to tackle. A salami has gone missing, and detective Eugene McQuacklin must investigate, interview, and interrogate in order to get to the bottom of this heinous crime.
Utilizing the fact that ducks can gaze unblinking for long periods of time, simply staring at suspects can make them nervous, revealing valuable information. Solutions are figured out in a mad-lib style word game, and though the outcome is always the same in each playthrough, there are multiple ways to reach the end, so it is worth replaying.
Mixing several gameplay genres into one package,BROK the InvestiGatoris arguably the most unique entry amongdetective games that let the player control an animal. As the titular Brok, a former heavyweight champion boxer, private detective, and 35-year-old alligator, players must search for clues, question suspects, and engage in combat with other hostile animals.
Blending point-and-click with beat ‘em up and interrogation scenes inspired byAce Attorney, it’s already a niche game without the addition of all characters being anthropomorphized animals who refer to themselves as humans. There are even RPG elements, since players can level up certain attributes, making for a very innovative title.
Another interesting blend of genres can be found inCat Detective Albert Wilde, an homage to classic noir fiction with science fiction elements. Playing as the typical down-on-his-luck detective, the story delves into quantum theory and parallel universes, taking the narrative in unexpected directions while mixing in plenty of humor.
Once again, there is a diverse cast of 27 animalistic characters, from Albert’s angry moose bookie to a dangerous crocodile gang. The striking black-and-white visuals, cheesy jokes, and gritty story add to the feel of classic movies, and questioning the locals is fun, too, making use ofAlbert’s natural feline charm.
Paying homage to Sherlock Holmes and the works of Agatha Christie,Lord Winklebottom Investigatesis full of British witticisms. Set on the Isle of Barghest in the 1920s, the eponymous Lord Winklebottom and his hippopotamus companion, Dr. Frumple, seek todiscover the identity of the killerof their old friend.
The art is completely hand painted, and the humor is quite dark at times, but the narrative is always compelling, taking many twists and turns along the way. Gameplay is once again split between point-and-click while searching for clues and dialogue during interrogation and interviews.
The final game in Telltale’s trilogy,Sam & Max: The Devil’s Playhouse, is regarded by many as the best of the three. Moving away from the traditional point-and-click controls seen in prior entries in the series, this game features a second control scheme, allowing players to directly control the titular heroes, even switching between the two.
All the supernatural fare fans of the series adore is present here, in this adventure full of paranormal occurrences and wacky characters.The Devil’s Playhouseis arguably the best of the trilogy, but it’s definitely recommended that curious players check out the previous two games, too.
As the revolution of 1848 looms, Paris is full of crime and corruption inAviary Attorney, and two birds aim to bring justice to those who deserve it. As lawyer Jayjay Falcon and his somewhat dim-witted but lovable companion, Sparrowson, players tackle several cases across four chapters, with several different endings depending on choices.
Using the timeless sketches of J.J. Grandville and backed up by the classical music of Camille Saint-Saens, the atmosphere is perfect for the 19th century Parisian setting. Naturally, this game is full of bird puns, tons of zany animal characters, and the trials are very muchinspired byAce Attorney.
Despite being a point-and-click adventure game,Later Alligatorfeatures a wide variety of gameplay, boasting a total of 31 differentmini-games and challenges. Successfully completing these tasks earns the unnamed player-character badges, which contribute to overall success at the end. In Alligator New York City, the paranoid Pat needs the player to figure out what is planned to occur at “the Event,” which he fears will be his murder.
There are over 100 unique alligators to meet and get to know and multiple endings to enjoy. The strict time limit means that players will likely not achieve the best ending on the first playthrough, but progress is retained in each subsequent run, so the ending will be different each time.
There are three relatively short cases bundled together inFrog Detective: The Entire Mystery, all taking an hour or two to complete. As The Detective, a local frog, players will be pointing and clicking their way through these head-scratching cases with some humorous and family-friendly investigations sprinkled in.
On top of the cast of animals, other entities range from ghostly apparitions to an invisible wizard, all situated in a variety of interesting locations. Players can crack these entertaining cases with the help of their trusty magnifying glass and by questioning the diverse cast of cartoonish characters.
In the shady and corrupt city of Clawville, Sonny Featherland and Marty MacChicken must work together tobring justice to the guiltyinChicken Police: Paint It Red!. Clearly influenced by both classic noir films and buddy cop movies, the story deals with dark topics and is filled with humor and many characters who are full of secrets for players to uncover.
Utilizing photographs of human models for the bodies and real animals for the heads makes for very striking visuals, emphasized by the black and white aesthetic with rare hints of color. The moody soundtrack and excellent voice acting also add to the overall atmosphere, and the sequel,Into the Hive!,is a must-play title, too.
