Discover captivating mysteries and intriguing storylines with these immersive games reminiscent of Return of the Obra Dinn
Return of the Obra Dinn is a truly unique gaming experience that blends mystery, puzzle-solving, and an unforgettable visual style. Developed by Lucas Pope, the mastermind behind Papers, Please, this game puts you in the shoes of an insurance adjuster investigating the sudden reappearance of the long-lost merchant ship, the Obra Dinn. Through a magical pocket watch, you are able to relive the final moments of the ship's crew and piece together their fates. The game’s striking 1-bit monochromatic art style is a throwback to old Macintosh graphics, and it's paired with an incredibly immersive sound design. Return of the Obra Dinn offers a compelling narrative that challenges you to think critically and pay attention to even the smallest details.
If you find yourself captivated by Return of the Obra Dinn, you'll be pleased to know that there are other games with similar elements that you might enjoy. Games like Her Story and The Case of the Golden Idol offer riveting murder mysteries, while The Sexy Brutale presents an intricately designed puzzle where you must unravel looping timelines to save lives. For fans of visually striking and atmospheric games, titles like What Remains of Edith Finch and Firewatch deliver emotional narratives combined with beautiful, immersive worlds. These games share the same DNA of clever storytelling, critical thinking, and rich, atmospheric environments that define Return of the Obra Dinn. Stay tuned as I have an article that goes in-depth into these games and many more you won’t want to miss...
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25. Papers, Please
If you loved Return of the Obra Dinn for its unique storytelling and investigation elements, you'll find Papers, Please just as intriguing! Both games place you in a role where attention to detail is paramount—while Obra Dinn had you solving a series of maritime mysteries using a special timepiece, Papers, Please has you working as an immigration officer inspecting paperwork with precision to detect discrepancies. The tension builds as you strive to make the right decisions under increasing pressure, creating a gripping experience that feels very rewarding.
Moreover, much like Return of the Obra Dinn utilized a monochromatic art style to create a distinct atmosphere, Papers, Please uses a retro, pixelated aesthetic that immerses you in the grim, dystopian world of Arstotzka. Both games also excel in creating immersive environments through sound design and narrative depth, engaging you not just as a player but as a critical decision-maker in a complex world. Fans of Obra Dinn will appreciate how Papers, Please blends meticulous detail-work with a compelling, morally ambiguous story.
Papers, Please is available on PC, Mac, Linux, and PlayStation Vita, typically priced around $9.99 USD.
24. The Witness
The Witness shares a deep sense of mystery and exploration much like Return of the Obra Dinn. Both games prioritize brain-teasing puzzles that require keen observation and critical thinking. In The Witness, you'll explore an expansive open-world island filled with intricate environmental puzzles that gradually reveal a larger narrative, much like piecing together the fragmented story in Obra Dinn. The captivating sense of unlocking each piece of the puzzle makes for an incredibly rewarding experience, encouraging you to pay attention to every small detail and pattern in the world around you.
Another similarity is both games' minimalist yet incredibly effective storytelling. In Return of the Obra Dinn, the story unfolds through your investigative prowess, as you piece together what happened aboard the ship. Similarly, The Witness uses its environment as a storytelling tool. You'll uncover the island's secrets and the tale it tells through careful examination and solving puzzles scattered throughout the landscape. This non-linear approach allows you to immerse yourself deeply into the world, making every discovery feel genuinely earned and personal.
The Witness is available on PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, iOS, and Mac, typically priced around $39.99 USD.
23. Outer Wilds
If you loved the investigative nature and the unique storytelling approach of Return of the Obra Dinn, you'll certainly appreciate what Outer Wilds brings to the table. Much like how Obra Dinn immerses you in uncovering the mysteries of a vanished crew through visual and auditory clues, Outer Wilds puts you in the midst of a time-looped adventure that requires keen observation and puzzle-solving skills. You'll explore a vibrant, handcrafted solar system, each location filled with its own secrets and lore, waiting to be discovered through careful exploration and deduction.
Outer Wilds also shares with Obra Dinn an emphasis on piecing together stories in a non-linear fashion. As with the titular ship in Obra Dinn, the secrets in Outer Wilds are scattered across different planets and moons, each with their own history and events to uncover. The sense of interconnectedness and discovery is palpable, providing that same intellectual satisfaction when a crucial piece of the puzzle falls into place. Plus, both games cultivate a haunting yet alluring atmosphere, drawing you deeper into their respective worlds with every new revelation.
Outer Wilds is available on PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch, typically priced around $25 USD.
22. Her Story
If you loved piecing together the intricate mystery in Return of the Obra Dinn, you'll find Her Story equally captivating. Her Story presents a complex narrative where you sift through police interview footage, akin to analyzing the fate of each crew member in Obra Dinn. Both games engage you in a non-linear approach to storytelling, requiring your keen observation skills to connect the dots and uncover the truth hidden within fragmented glimpses of the story.
Moreover, the sense of satisfaction from gradually uncovering the bigger picture is a shared experience in both games. In Her Story, as in Obra Dinn, you aren't just a passive observer but an active participant in the investigation. The minimalist designs and focus on detailed clues foster a deep sense of immersion. You'll feel like a true detective, driven by curiosity and the thrill of piecing together elusive details to solve the mystery.
Her Story is available on PC, iOS, and Android, typically priced around $5 USD.
21. Tacoma
If you enjoyed the detective-like experience of piecing together the mystery in Return of the Obra Dinn, you'll find a lot to love in Tacoma. Just like Obra Dinn, Tacoma immerses you in a richly detailed world where you uncover the story through exploration and observation. Instead of a ghost ship, Tacoma places you on an abandoned space station. You'll use an augmented reality device to replay holographic records of the crew's final moments, which is similar to Obra Dinn's use of the pocket watch to reveal the past. Both games deliver a compelling narrative where every detail matters, encouraging you to pay close attention and piece together the events that transpired.
Another key similarity between these two games is the attention to atmosphere and environmental storytelling. Tacoma, much like Return of the Obra Dinn, excels at creating a sense of place that is both immersive and eerie. The space station is meticulously designed, with personal items, logs, and other artifacts providing clues about the lives and relationships of the crew members. This environmental storytelling draws you deeper into the world and makes the mystery more engaging as you uncover the layers of the narrative. The tension and curiosity you feel while uncovering the fate of Tacoma's crew will remind you of the thrill of identifying the fates on the Obra Dinn.
Tacoma is available on PC, Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and Nintendo Switch, typically priced around $20 USD.
20. Oxenfree
While Oxenfree and Return of the Obra Dinn are distinct in their visual and narrative styles, they both excel at creating immersive, thought-provoking experiences through unconventional storytelling and atmosphere. In Return of the Obra Dinn, you unravel a mystery through revisiting the past and piecing together events on an abandoned ship. Similarly, Oxenfree places you in a rich narrative involving supernatural elements and time loops, where you solve puzzles and uncover secrets to progress. Both games demand your attention to detail and provide that satisfying 'aha' moment when everything starts to make sense.
Furthermore, both games offer a sense of isolation and intrigue, making you feel like an essential part of the story. In Oxenfree, you control Alex, who, along with her friends, finds themselves on a mysterious island after accidentally opening a ghostly rift. The game masterfully employs dialogue choices to drive the narrative, much like how Return of the Obra Dinn gives you agency through investigation and deduction. Both games rely on player's interaction and decision-making to reveal their full narratives, ensuring that no two playthroughs are exactly the same.
Oxenfree is available on multiple platforms including PC, PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch, typically priced around $9.99 USD.
19. The Vanishing of Ethan Carter
If you enjoyed Return of the Obra Dinn, you'll likely find The Vanishing of Ethan Carter equally captivating. Both games immerse you in a deeply atmospheric world where your primary objective is to solve a mystery using limited clues. In The Vanishing of Ethan Carter, you'll step into the shoes of paranormal detective Paul Prospero, who uses his supernatural abilities to piece together what happened to Ethan. Much like in Obra Dinn, you'll rely on exploration, observation, and deduction to uncover the story, making every discovered clue a rewarding experience.
Another aspect where The Vanishing of Ethan Carter shines is in its environmental storytelling. The game places you in a beautifully crafted open world filled with hauntingly gorgeous visuals that pull you deeper into the narrative. While Return of the Obra Dinn used minimalist graphics reminiscent of old computer games to create a unique atmosphere, Ethan Carter opts for photorealistic scenery that makes its eerie moments all the more impactful. This contrast in visual style still offers a similar sense of immersion and discovery, helping to unravel a story that's both intriguing and emotionally engaging.
The Vanishing of Ethan Carter is available on multiple platforms including PC, PlayStation, and Xbox, typically priced around $20 USD.
18. Firewatch
Just like Return of the Obra Dinn, Firewatch offers a deeply immersive narrative experience that places you at the heart of a mystery. While Return of the Obra Dinn has you piecing together the fates of a ship's crew through detailed, monochromatic visuals and intricate puzzles, Firewatch drops you into the lush, expansive wilderness of Wyoming where you'll communicate via radio with your supervisor, uncovering secrets and making choices that affect the storyline. In both games, the emphasis on exploration and attention to detail is crucial—every object, every piece of dialogue serves to pull you deeper into their compelling stories.
Both games excel in creating a sense of isolation and intrigue. In Telling the story through a singular perspective, Firewatch, much like Return of the Obra Dinn, uses minimalistic but highly effective sound design and atmospheric visuals to build tension and keep you engaged. In Return of the Obra Dinn, you felt the eerie stillness of an abandoned ship; in Firewatch, the vast, occasionally eerie silence of the forest amplifies your sentiments of isolation and curiosity. The relationship-building in Firewatch is also an intriguing parallel to the character-reconstruction in Obra Dinn, creating an emotional drive that keeps you invested from beginning to end.
Firewatch is available on PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch, typically priced around $19.99 USD.
17. Gone Home
If you loved the atmospheric storytelling and investigative elements of Return of the Obra Dinn, you're in for a treat with Gone Home. Much like Obra Dinn, Gone Home excels in creating a richly crafted narrative through exploration and discovery. Instead of a 19th-century ship, you'll find yourself in a vacant family home, unraveling the story by examining everyday objects and piecing together clues. The sense of immersion and curiosity to understand every little detail is strikingly similar, making you feel like a detective uncovering secrets at your own pace.
Both games emphasize environmental storytelling, where the setting itself becomes a crucial character in the narrative. While Obra Dinn features a monochromatic art style and a hauntingly vacant ship, Gone Home opts for a beautifully detailed suburban house in the '90s, filled with personal belongings that tell their own stories. The emotional weight and sense of intimacy you felt in Obra Dinn are equally present here, as you navigate through the personal lives and hidden truths of the Greenbriar family. Gone Home's blend of mystery and personal discovery will keep you engaged, much like your experience with Return of the Obra Dinn.
Gone Home is available on PC, PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch, typically priced around $14.99 USD.
16. What Remains of Edith Finch
What Remains of Edith Finch shares that same captivating mystery and story-driven adventure you loved in Return of the Obra Dinn. Both games shine in their unique narrative structures, urging players to piece together stories and uncover hidden truths. What Remains of Edith Finch immerses you in a series of vignettes as you explore the Finch family home, unraveling the tragic fates of each family member through a blend of gameplay styles and deeply personal tales.
Just like Return of the Obra Dinn’s monochromatic and meticulously crafted visual style, What Remains of Edith Finch excels in creating a strong atmosphere, though it opts for a more colorful and detailed aesthetic to bring the Finch home and its varied stories to life. Both games require a keen sense of observation and curiosity as you explore each environment, piecing together clues and understanding the overarching narrative through clever design and storytelling techniques.
What Remains of Edith Finch is available on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and PC, typically priced around $19.99 USD.
15. Subsurface Circular
If you enjoyed the rich narrative and unique detective mechanics of Return of the Obra Dinn, then Subsurface Circular is a fantastic next step. Just like in Obra Dinn, you'll find yourself piecing together a story through dialogue and critical thinking rather than action. The game is set in a futuristic environment where you play as a detective robot interviewing passengers on an underground train, trying to solve a compelling mystery. The puzzles require keen observation and logical deduction, much like determining the fates of the crew in Obra Dinn, which adds a layer of satisfaction when you connect the dots.
The art and audio design in Subsurface Circular also elevate its immersive quality, similar to the atmospheric, monochromatic aesthetic of Obra Dinn. The dialogue-driven gameplay allows you to delve deep into each character's backstory and motives, adding emotional weight to your investigative efforts. The minimalist visual style ensures you stay focused on the text and story, allowing your imagination to fill in the blanks, a technique that players praised in Obra Dinn for its ability to create a vivid and engaging experience.
Subsurface Circular is available on PC, Nintendo Switch, and macOS, typically priced around $5.99 USD.
14. The Sexy Brutale
If you enjoyed the intricate puzzle-solving and unique narrative structure of Return of the Obra Dinn, then you'll find a lot to love in The Sexy Brutale. Both games feature compelling, non-linear storytelling where players are required to piece together the sequence of events to solve a mystery. In The Sexy Brutale, you inhabit a time loop, reliving the same day over and over again to save guests at a masked ball from being murdered. Much like in Return of the Obra Dinn, you use acquired clues to prevent the events rather than just uncovering what has already happened.
The graphical presentation is another point of similarity between the two games. While Return of the Obra Dinn employs a distinctive monochromatic art style that feels like an old computer game, The Sexy Brutale opts for a lush, colorful aesthetic that brings its mansion to life with a touch of eerie charm. Both titles excel in creating an atmosphere that engrosses players, inviting you to explore every nook and cranny for clues. The attention to detail in both games ensures that no two mysteries unfold in the same way, giving you a satisfying sense of deductive achievement upon solving them.
The Sexy Brutale is available on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and PC, typically priced around $19.99 USD.
13. Heaven's Vault
Heaven's Vault shares a deeply immersive and intricate narrative structure much like Return of the Obra Dinn. In both games, you play a detective-like character unraveling a mystery, using clues scattered throughout the environment to piece together a larger story. The sense of discovery is palpable as you uncover secrets, details, and hidden connections that bring you closer to understanding the broader narrative. The ancient language you decipher in Heaven's Vault adds an extra layer of depth, similar to identifying the fates of the crew in Obra Dinn.
Moreover, both games place a strong emphasis on observation and deduction rather than combat or fast action. The slow-paced, thoughtful gameplay allows you to immerse yourself fully in the worlds they create. Just like in Return of the Obra Dinn, in Heaven's Vault you explore various locations, and the art design and storytelling work together to create a unique, memorable experience. The satisfaction of slowly putting the pieces together and seeing the full picture come to life is a rewarding experience that fans of Obra Dinn will greatly appreciate.
Heaven's Vault is available on PC, PlayStation 4, and Nintendo Switch, typically priced around $19.99 USD.
12. Myst
If you enjoyed Return of the Obra Dinn, you’ll likely find Myst captivating for its immersive, puzzle-driven gameplay and intricate storytelling. Much like Obra Dinn, Myst places you in a richly detailed and atmospheric world teeming with mystery. Instead of relying on combat or fast-paced action, both games emphasize exploration and deduction. In Myst, you traverse various beautifully designed Ages, piecing together the narrative through environmental clues and enigmatic puzzles, which will remind you of deciphering the fate of Obra Dinn's doomed crew.
Both games also excel in creating a solitary yet deeply engaging experience where you piece together the story at your own pace. Just as Obra Dinn's monochromatic, first-person perspective adds a unique aesthetic and aids in building tension, Myst’s ethereal environments and compelling sound design pull you deeply into its world. Each new discovery in Myst feels as rewarding and impactful as uncovering each crew member's fate on the Obra Dinn, making it an excellent next choice for fans of intense, puzzle-centric adventures.
Myst is available on platforms like PC, Mac, iOS, and various consoles, and is typically priced around $29.99 USD.
11. The Room
If you loved the intricate, puzzle-filled mystery of Return of the Obra Dinn, then The Room series is right up your alley. Both games are tremendous in how they encourage meticulous observation and critical thinking. In Return of the Obra Dinn, you pieced together narratives by scrutinizing details and connecting clues. Similarly, in The Room, you'll engage deeply with beautifully crafted mechanical puzzles, each requiring a sharp eye and a keen mind to solve. The tactile and immersive nature of The Room makes it feel as though you're physically manipulating objects, much like the immersive detective work you experienced with the Obra Dinn's notebook and pocket watch.
Another similarity lies in the atmospheric storytelling. Return of the Obra Dinn draws you in with its distinct monochrome art style and haunting sounds, creating a rich, immersive world. The Room achieves a similarly compelling atmosphere through its gothic, almost steampunk-like aesthetics and eerie yet captivating sound design. Each room in the series offers a standalone story veiled in mystery, pulling you into its enigmatic world much as the ghost ship of the Obra Dinn did. You'll find yourself thoroughly engrossed in uncovering the secrets behind every locked compartment and hidden mechanism.
The Room is available on multiple platforms including iOS, Android, PC, and various consoles, typically priced around $4.99-$9.99 USD depending on the platform and edition.
10. 11-11 Memories Retold
If you enjoyed the intricate and absorbing detective work in Return of the Obra Dinn, you'll find a lot to love in 11-11 Memories Retold. While it may not share the same investigative gameplay mechanics, it does offer a narrative richness and detailed artistic experience that can draw you in just as effectively. Like Obra Dinn, 11-11 Memories Retold focuses on uncovering deeply personal stories, allowing you to piece together events from multiple perspectives to form a more comprehensive understanding of the characters' journeys during World War I.
Both games excel in their unique visual styles—Return of the Obra Dinn with its monochromatic, retro-inspired aesthetic and 11-11 Memories Retold with its gorgeous, painting-like visuals. These distinctive art styles serve not only to mesmerize you but also to immerse you deeper into their respective worlds. Additionally, both games utilize audio and narrative cues to enhance storytelling, creating a holistic and highly engaging experience.
11-11 Memories Retold is available on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC, typically priced around $19.99 USD.
9. Call of the Sea
If you enjoyed the story-rich, puzzle-solving experience of Return of the Obra Dinn, then you'll love Call of the Sea. Both games excel in crafting a deeply immersive narrative, but where Obra Dinn uses monochrome visuals to draw you into its maritime mystery, Call of the Sea uses vibrant, lush tropical environments. Despite the difference in settings, both games effectively draw you into their worlds, making you feel like a part of the story as you piece together clues to uncover long-buried secrets.
Another similarity is in the way both games make you think critically to solve puzzles. In Return of the Obra Dinn, you'd rely on careful observation and logical deduction to solve the fates of the crew. Likewise, Call of the Sea challenges your mind with intricate puzzles that gradually unlock the mysteries of the island and the protagonist's past. Both games ensure that your journey feels rewarding and intellectually stimulating, making each revelation feel earned and satisfying.
Call of the Sea is available on PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, and PlayStation 5, typically priced around $19.99 USD.
8. Telling Lies
In Telling Lies, much like in Return of the Obra Dinn, you’ll find yourself diving into a complex mystery that requires your keen analytical skills. Both games revolve around piecing together fragmented narratives by closely examining various sources of information. In Return of the Obra Dinn, you worked to uncover the fate of each crew member by exploring the ship and observing detailed scenes frozen in time. Similarly, Telling Lies offers a unique narrative experience where you review video clips from different perspectives, attempting to solve the mystery by connecting the dots hidden within each conversation and scenario.
Another shared feature between Telling Lies and Return of the Obra Dinn is the sense of immersion and active detective work they provide. In Telling Lies, you’ll spend hours meticulously searching through an extensive database of secretly recorded video chats, making you feel like a real investigator uncovering secrets. This immersive storytelling technique is reminiscent of the satisfaction you felt while incrementally solving the mysteries aboard the ill-fated Obra Dinn. Both titles reward patience and attention to detail, offering a fulfilling experience as you gradually piece together the larger story from scattered clues.
Telling Lies is available on multiple platforms, including PC, Mac, PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch, typically priced around $19.99 USD.
7. Obduction
Obduction, like Return of the Obra Dinn, offers an immersive and enigmatic experience that beckons you to solve complex puzzles and uncover a mysterious narrative. Both games create an isolated and captivating atmosphere, where every detail in your surroundings can be a crucial clue to its greater story. In Obduction, you’ll find yourself transported to strange, alien worlds teeming with secrets, much like Obra Dinn's eerie ghost ship. This thrilling sense of discovery and the satisfaction of piecing together disparate clues will absolutely resonate with anyone who enjoyed the meticulous investigation in Return of the Obra Dinn. The core mechanic of both games revolves around exploration and observation, making sure that every step you take brings you closer to unraveling the overarching mystery.
Moreover, both titles challenge your deductive reasoning and attention to detail, pushing you to think outside the box. In Return of the Obra Dinn, you meticulously reconstruct the fate of the ship's crew by examining frozen moments in time. Similarly, Obduction requires you to interact with the environment in unique ways, solving intricate puzzles to unlock new areas and progress the story. The non-linear storytelling, combined with the sense of isolation and the need for deep contemplation, provides a deeply engaging experience that fans of detective-style games will appreciate. Additionally, the stunning visuals and atmospheric soundscapes in Obduction are on par with the distinctive, monochromatic art style of Obra Dinn, offering a different, yet equally compelling, aesthetic to lose oneself in.
Obduction is available on PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One, typically priced around $29.99 USD.
6. Paradise Killer
In Paradise Killer, much like Return of the Obra Dinn, you will find yourself thrown into a deeply mysterious narrative that requires you to piece together clues to solve a complex crime. Both games offer a non-linear approach to investigation, allowing you to explore the world and gather evidence at your own pace. The sense of freedom in exploring the rich environments and the satisfaction of connecting the dots between seemingly unrelated events are strong points in both titles. Fans of the intricate deduction processes in Return of the Obra Dinn will appreciate the similarly compelling but more colorful and stylized universe in Paradise Killer.
Additionally, Paradise Killer stands out with its unique and immersive world filled with eccentric characters and lore. While Return of the Obra Dinn was applauded for its distinctive, monochromatic art style and period setting, Paradise Killer offers a vibrant, neon-soaked island with a touch of the surreal. Both games excel at building a captivating atmosphere, though in vastly different aesthetics. The efforts you put into investigating the island’s various corners and interviewing its diverse inhabitants offer a deeply engaging experience much like tracking the fate of the Obra Dinn's lost crew.
Paradise Killer is available on PC, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation, and Xbox, typically priced around $19.99 USD.
5. The Occupation
If you loved the intricate unfolding of a story and the investigative elements of Return of the Obra Dinn, you’ll find The Occupation to be just as captivating. While Obra Dinn immerses you in a mystery aboard a ghost ship, The Occupation drops you into a politically charged environment where you play as a journalist unraveling a controversial event through real-time investigation. Both games challenge you to piece together clues, constructing narratives that reveal deeper truths.
Another compelling similarity between the two games is their emphasis on time mechanics. In Return of the Obra Dinn, you had the magical stopwatch to revisit crucial moments, while The Occupation presents a persistent world with a rigid timeline that continuously progresses, constantly encouraging you to make strategic decisions and prioritize your tasks. These time-sensitive mechanics provide a heightened sense of urgency and immersion, keeping you on the edge of your seat as you strive to uncover the truth.
The Occupation is available on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC, typically priced around $30 USD.
4. The Painscreek Killings
If you loved the investigative and immersive experience of Return of the Obra Dinn, you'll definitely want to check out The Painscreek Killings. Similar to Obra Dinn, The Painscreek Killings drops you into an open-world mystery where you play as a journalist uncovering the dark secrets of an abandoned town. Both games emphasize a non-linear approach, allowing you to piece together clues, interrogate environmental details, and arrive at your conclusions independently. The atmosphere in The Painscreek Killings is just as rich and engrossing, with detailed settings and a gripping narrative that will keep you glued to the screen.
Another strong similarity is the sense of discovery and satisfaction that comes from solving complex puzzles. In Return of the Obra Dinn, you used the 'Memento Mortem' stopwatch to travel back to the moment of death and deduce the fate of crew members. In The Painscreek Killings, you’re armed with a camera and a notebook to document your findings and unravel the truth behind each character’s story. The game is designed to make you feel like a true detective, rewarding your attention to detail and deductive reasoning abilities with each uncovered secret. Both titles excel at making you feel like you're actively participating in the unfolding story, rather than just passively observing it.
The Painscreek Killings is available on PC and is typically priced around $20 USD.
3. Murdered: Soul Suspect
If you enjoyed the investigative elements and the unique narrative structure of Return of the Obra Dinn, Murdered: Soul Suspect offers a compelling experience that you might find equally captivating. Both games revolve around solving a complex mystery using unconventional methods – in Obra Dinn, you used the Memento Mortem compass to witness the final moments of the crew, while in Murdered: Soul Suspect, you play as a ghost detective who can possess people, gather clues, and uncover the truth behind his own murder. The supernatural and eerie atmosphere in both games creates a captivating environment that keeps you engaged from start to finish.
Additionally, both games emphasize piecing together fragmented stories to form a coherent narrative. In Murdered: Soul Suspect, every clue you find builds towards understanding the overarching mystery, much like how every scene in Return of the Obra Dinn helps you unravel the fates of the ship’s crew. Each discovery feels rewarding and draws you deeper into the story. The games are also visually distinct and artistic, though different in style – Return of the Obra Dinn features a monochromatic, old-school aesthetic, while Murdered: Soul Suspect offers more of a ghostly, atmospheric noir feel.
Murdered: Soul Suspect is available on PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, Xbox One, and PC, typically priced around $20 USD.
2. Shadow of the Comet
Shadow of the Comet is a fantastic choice if you loved the intricate storytelling and mystery-solving elements of Return of the Obra Dinn. Both games are rooted in immersive narratives that require keen observation and logical deduction skills. Just as in Obra Dinn, Shadow of the Comet places you in an environment where every detail matters. You play as a protagonist diving deep into a haunted town to uncover its dark secrets, blending investigative gameplay with a rich, atmospheric setting that keeps you engaged from beginning to end.
One of the striking similarities is how both games utilize unique visual styles to enhance the story. Return of the Obra Dinn is renowned for its monochromatic, 1-bit art style, and while Shadow of the Comet operates within the bounds of early 90s graphics, it similarly uses its aesthetic to evoke a sense of foreboding and mystery. The interplay of light and shadow and the meticulously crafted environments in Shadow of the Comet serve to draw you into its eerie world, much like how Obra Dinn's visuals create an unforgettable and immersive experience.
Shadow of the Comet is available on Windows, typically priced around $5 USD.
1. Contradiction: Spot the Liar!
If you loved the investigative elements of Return of the Obra Dinn, you'll find Contradiction: Spot the Liar! equally compelling. Much like the innovative approach Obra Dinn brought to detective games with its monochrome art style and deduction mechanics, Contradiction deals heavily in the art of deduction. Instead of piecing together a ghost ship's tragic past, you set out in a live-action format to uncover inconsistencies in suspects' statements. Your goal is to catch lies and unravel the mystery by scrutinizing every detail, paralleling the mental challenges you surmounted while solving Obra Dinn's puzzles.
Both games emphasize close observational skills and attention to detail, ensuring that you stay engaged and invested from start to finish. In Contradiction, your interactions are driven by analyzing video footage of suspects, giving you a firsthand experience of being in the detective's shoes, much like how Obra Dinn used its unique visual and auditory cues to immerse you in the ship's eerie mystery. The satisfaction of matching clues and discovering the truth is analogous, providing a similar sense of achievement and narrative depth.
Contradiction: Spot the Liar! is available on PC and iOS, typically priced around $9.99 USD.
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