Summary

9Most games out there have a mystery element to them, some unknown element that holds the story together, things to find out, and places to explore, but mystery games have to do more than just that. They need to make you think. They tend not to have fighting or levels, making the genre fairly unique.

But mysteries have a tendency to get gritty and grim. This doesn’t have to be the case. There are many cute mysteries out there featuring cute art styles and humor. If you want to shake things up in your cozy gaming life, one of these games may be worth trying.

While many fans of thePokemonfranchise are aware of the movie sharing the same title, few seem to remember the concept’s roots. While Pokemon isn’t quite considered as being not cozy, it isn’t necessarily described as cozy either. In the realm of mystery games, however, this one fits in just fine.

Detective Pikachu Returns Detective Pikachu looks at Slowpoke in the Southern Ruins

Follow Tim Goodman and his Pikachu as they take on the case of a recent jewel theft while also still looking for Tim’s father in this absolutely adorable sequel. Explore the city, find clues, and interact with others as you dive into the mystery.

This explorative mystery game may just be what you need to get into a spooky state of mind. It has everything a cozy gamer could want. Frogs? Check. Cute animal characters? They’re there. A cute ghost? Perhaps. With a stellar soundtrack, there’s nothing more you could possibly want.

Frog Detective holding a lantern

Well, you could want more. More mysteries, that is, and that’s already taken care of. Frog Detective 2: The Invisible Wizard and Frog Detective 3: Corruption at Cowboy County are also available to play, adding their own fun twists to the series. You can also get them all as Frog Detective: The Complete Mystery, so you don’t have to get them all separately.

6Detective Grimoire Secret Of The Swamp

It may seem hard to think that a murder mystery can be cozy, but this game may just change your mind. Follow Detective Grimoire into the swamp. A murder has taken place, everyone is a suspect, including the monster that is believed to live there.

This game combines investigation with simple puzzles, from figuring out clues to organizing the thoughts in Detective Grimoire’s head. If you want more of a challenge later in the series, the puzzles get amped up. The art style is whimsical, adding to the cozy vibe in what otherwise could be a moody story.

Man in boat at an old dock. Clolors are muted greens and browns, there’s fog in the background obscuring things from view.

Can you Quack the case?Eugene McQuaklin is down on his luck.Recently divorced, a detective with no cases, and a duck. Well, maybe being a duck has no effect on his circumstances, but it’s all about to change if he can solve this lunch theft case.

Enter a world of cute animal creatures as you interview suspects and chase down clues. Don’t worry—the mystery may keep you on the edge of your seat, but nothing will scare you. The game is engaging and fun, with its office setting and word-focused gameplay. It is also fully voice-acted, which really adds to the experience.

A detective duck standing in the center of an office. A large painting is on the left, and a large bear is on the right.

4Lord Winklebottom Investigates

If you’re okay with murder in your cozy games but prefer non-humanoid characters, then this is the noir-styledetective game of your dreams. Play as Lord Winklebottom as he takes on the case of the murder of an old friend in this point and click focused investigation game. This is a classic who-dun-it-style game with a dash of whimsy.

Although a murder is involved the silliness of the character design, names, and the voice acting keep it all on the light side. Lord Winklebottom is a giraffe in a suit, what more could you want in your murder mystery?

Lord Winklebottom giraffe with top hat talks about doing an autopsy to an axolotl in a suit to his associate Dr.Frumple a hippo

3Aviary attorney

If detectives aren’t really your speed, then a lawyer, Jayjay Falcon, who searches for the truth may be just up your alley. Take flight in this mystery adventure from the courtroom to prominent places in France. Interview other characters, bribe your way out if situations, and play it again and again for different outcomes.

While this game is filled with bird puns, there are some pretty dark moments. So, take this as cozy with an edge. This 1840s French mystery is drawn in a style reminiscent of newspaper art of the time, making it a unique visual experience.

Aviary Attorney courtroom scene

2Inspector Waffles

Let this catterific game whisk-er you away in this pun filled cat mystery taking place in none other than cat town. This familiar style police detective who is tired of the job is called back to the scene since he’s the best they’ve got when a well-liked CEO turns up dead.

This pixel art game may play a classic noir trope when it comes to Waffles’ attitude and state of mind, but the rest of the game is rather light, leading away from the dark side. It has different settings to allow for different difficulty levels, making this game accessible and keeping you from getting too frustrated.

Inspector Waffles (cat humanoid) stands in a kitchen.

This may be an adventure game with a spooky vibe, but it is more than just that. Play asMae, a cat who returns to her hometown after dropping out of college, just to realize something is off, although no one else seems to notice the changes in Possum Springs. It’s emotional with a strong mystery element that keeps you engaged and wanting to dig deeper.

This isn’t a traditional mystery game, not by a long shot. There’s no case, crime, or true investigation, but the desire for answers is almost unmatched. Don’t be surprised whenyou think of this game for years after playing.

Night In The Woods group of friends sat together