Proving once again that the creators at Obsidian Entertainment aren't afraid to radically reinvent themselves, their latest hit Pentiment shows their commitment to the cutting edge of video gaming. Steeped in a gripping mystery and dedicated to historical accuracy, Pentiment is another great puzzle to be unlocked by fans.
From indie sensations like L.A. Noire, there are a host of amazing cases to crack once finishing Pentiment. Though the popularity of mystery games is on the rise, only the very best are worth tackling after solving Obsidian's newest gem.
Heavy Rain (2010)
Unlike Pentiment which is heavily steeped in history, the critically acclaimed mystery drama Heavy Rain is a stunningly modern tale of murder and intrigue. The game follows a man who is on the hunt for the Origami Killer, a sadistic serial murderer who uses rainfall as a weapon.
While it lacks a lot of actual gameplay, Heavy Rain's plot is its strongest suit and makes up for any technical failings the game may have. Unflinching in its dark tone, there is a general gloom about the experience that is just as atmospheric and moody as the best detective films.
Firewatch (2018)
Even if it isn't the distant past like in Pentiment, the understated indie mystery Firewatch still hearkens back to the historical time period of 1989. Playing as a new firewatch officer in a national park, the player must explore the surrounding area to get to the bottom of the strange occurrences that have been plaguing the fire tower.
The visually appealing style of the game helps players escape into nature, and the bulk of the gameplay is through branching dialogue options over a walkie-talkie. Pentiment fans will find a lot of similarities between the two games, and the subtle nature of the gameplay is just as appealing as in Obsidian's newest release.
What Remains Of Edith Finch (2017)
With its beautiful design and attention to detail, Pentiment is a modern game that has helped prove the "video games as art" narrative. What Remains of Edith Finch is another contemporary example and follows a woman as she reflects on the perceived curse that has afflicted her family for generations.
Slow-paced and yet concise with its experience, What Remains of Edith Finch isn't as complicated as Pentiment''s mystery plot, but is just as engrossing. The visual style of the game is eye-catching, and the game contrives ways to keep the gameplay interesting instead of having the player simply click their way through the story.
Oxenfree (2016)
Mystery and horror collide in Oxenfree, and the gameplay experience was actually used as inspiration for the development of Pentiment. The game follows a young woman named Alex who accidentally unleashes a supernatural force on the island she is vacationing on.
Using a 2.5D presentation, the game eschews any cutscenes in favor of a free-flowing game style that integrates speech bubbles into the action. Each dialogue choice has an effect on the character's relationships and the choices ultimately affect the outcome of the story. More spooky than downright terrifying, Oxenfree's influence should put it near the top of the list for Pentiment fans.
Little Misfortune (2019)
Taking a detour from Pentiment's dour tone and historical accuracy, Little Misfortune approached the interactive adventure format with a hilariously dark sense of humor. Playing as an eight-year-old girl named Misfortune, the player sets out to earn eternal happiness for the little girl's mother.
Like most graphic adventure games, there is no way to lose Little Misfortune, but each choice has an effect on the outcome. The game frequently breaks the fourth wall and generally does everything it can to turn the genre on its ear in clever ways. While it may appear silly on the surface, the game's dark sense of humor quickly becomes shockingly obvious.
L.A. Noire (2011)
Setting the gold standard as one of the best detective games of all time, L.A. Noire is still praised over a decade after its initial release. Playing as a young detective in Los Angeles during the '40s, the player is tasked with cracking a series of cases that expose the city's dark underbelly.
Like Pentiment, the detective work of L.A. Noire is all based on clues and hunches, and the game rewards or punishes players for making bad guesses. Unlike Pentiment which has a classical art aesthetic, the developers at Rockstar gave fans a visual experience that was like a time machine to the 1940s and attempted to remain accurate to its era.
Valiant Hearts: The Great War (2014)
Much in the same way that the developers of Pentiment hoped to shine a light on a misunderstood period of time, so too did the creators of Valiant Hearts aim to deliver a historical story with realism. The game follows four interlocking narratives that surround characters who are affected by WWI.
Using puzzle solving as a way to spice up the gameplay, the real heart of the game is its truly emotional story. Instead of a mystery tale like Pentiment, the game wraps its historical narrative in heart-breaking drama to keep players invested as they work their way through. Some games are scary while others are intriguing, but Valiant Hearts is a rare title that is as emotionally devastating as any award-winning flick.
Night In The Woods (2017)
Generally regarded as one of the best 2D walking simulators, Night in the Woods is so much more than its banal genre description makes it out to be. The player assumes the role of Mae, a recent college dropout who returns to her hometown to find that things have changed.
Using cutesy anthropomorphic animals to tell a story of depression and economic stress, Night in the Woods is less of a mystery and more of a narrative that the player is engrossed in. Through interactions with other characters, the gets a clearer picture of the descent of the town and its denizens. While it lacks a pointed mystery like Pentiment, it is just as engrossing.
Ken Follett's Pillars Of The Earth (2017)
Using the novel of the same name as inspiration, Ken Follett's Pillars of the Earth is a point-and-click game that far exceeds the limitations of the genre. Set in 12th-century England, the game follows the denizens of a small village as they attempt to construct a new cathedral.
Though some critics panned the game for its slow pace, the story and character-driven narrative are just as gripping as any action title. Pentiment might be more historically accurate, the setting of Pillars is nevertheless brought to life with care and precision.
Disco Elysium (2019)
Absolutely wowing critics and gamers alike with its unique spin on the detective genre, Disco Elysium is the new gold standard for mystery games and graphic adventure titles as well. Set in a devastated coastal city still trying to recover from war, the player controls a detective as he pulls from his own hazy past to solve a case.
Like Pentiment, the game has no combat but instead relies on a TTRPG-style skill tree to determine the outcome of attempted moves. Each interaction changes the course of the story, and there is a fair amount of luck and cunning that goes into cracking the case. With the addition of a beautiful hand-painted aesthetic, Disco Elysium is unlikely to be topped any time soon.
