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A Case of Distrust similar games & best alternatives

A Case of Distrust

PC (Microsoft Windows), iOS, Nintendo Switch, Mac • 2018

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Quick resume

A Case of Distrust is a narrative mystery from 1924 San Francisco. Play as private investigator Phyllis Cadence Malone in this historical 2D adventure game.

Global score

82/100

Genres

Adventure, Indie, Puzzle, Point-and-click

Similar games

    Pros

    • Engaging noir detective story
    • Stylish minimalist art and jazz soundtrack
    • Logical deduction and clue gathering gameplay
    • Immersive 1920s setting with historical flavor
    • Well-written characters and dialogue

    Cons

    • Short game length with limited replay value
    • Some tedious backtracking and menu navigation
    • Lack of voice acting
    • Price considered high for content length
    • Final plot twist and ending received mixed reactions

    Motivations

    • Autonomy

      Game with the same Autonomy vibe

      3

      "Players direct investigations, choose how to question suspects and piece together evidence, showing moderate control over actions."

      Capsule for Lucifer Within Us Lucifer Within Us

      "Players direct their own investigation by choosing which clues to pursue and how to interrogate suspects, with some freedom in dialogue choices."

    • Competence

      Game with the same Competence vibe

      3

      "Engages players in logical deduction and contradiction finding, providing satisfying skill-based challenges."

      Capsule for Lucifer Within Us Lucifer Within Us

      "Players engage in logical deduction and puzzle-solving by collecting clues and contradicting statements, requiring attention and reasoning."

    • Competition

      Game with the same Competition vibe

      -5

      "Single-player narrative experience with no competitive elements or comparison to others."

      Capsule for Stray Cat Crossing Stray Cat Crossing

      "Single-player narrative experience with no competitive elements or comparison to others."

    • Continuation

      Game with the same Continuation vibe

      -3

      "Short game length (~2-4 hours) and limited replay value reduce habitual or long session play."

      Capsule for Toby: The Secret Mine Toby: The Secret Mine

      "Short game length (~2-4 hours) and limited replay value reduce habitual or long session play."

    • Cooperation

      Game with the same Cooperation vibe

      -5

      "Entirely single-player with no multiplayer or cooperative gameplay."

      Capsule for FAR: Lone Sails FAR: Lone Sails

      "Entirely single-player with no multiplayer or cooperative gameplay."

    • Creativity

      Game with the same Creativity vibe

      2

      "Players create their own investigative path and hypotheses, but within a structured narrative and predefined puzzles."

      Capsule for The Séance of Blake Manor The Séance of Blake Manor

      "Players creatively piece together clues and decide interrogation strategies, though within a structured narrative."

    • Domination

      Game with the same Domination vibe

      -5

      "No social or multiplayer interactions involving control or superiority over others."

      Capsule for Sound of Drop - fall into poison - Sound of Drop - fall into poison -

      "No social or multiplayer interaction involving control or superiority over others."

    • Escapism

      Game with the same Escapism vibe

      4

      "Strong immersion in 1930s noir atmosphere and story provides escape from real life."

      Capsule for Jack Orlando: Director's Cut Jack Orlando: Director's Cut

      "Immersive 1920s noir setting and story provide a strong escape from real life."

    • Expectation

      Game with the same Expectation vibe

      -4

      "Players engage voluntarily out of intrinsic interest in story-driven detective gameplay and narrative."

      Capsule for Lacuna – A Sci-Fi Noir Adventure Lacuna – A Sci-Fi Noir Adventure

      "Players engage voluntarily out of interest in detective stories and narrative puzzles."

    • Experimenting

      Game with the same Experimenting vibe

      2

      "Players explore dialogue options and some new mechanics, though largely within established narrative routines."

      Capsule for OXENFREE II: Lost Signals OXENFREE II: Lost Signals

      "Players try different dialogue options and interrogation approaches to uncover new information."

    • Exploration

      Game with the same Exploration vibe

      1

      "Players explore environments and uncover story elements, but locations are limited and familiar within the game context."

      Capsule for Morphine Morphine

      "Players explore several locations and revisit them to gather clues, but environments are limited and familiar."

    • Expression

      Game with the same Expression vibe

      -4

      "Minimal character or environment customization; focus is on narrative and routine rather than self-expression."

      Capsule for The Stillness of the Wind The Stillness of the Wind

      "Minimal character customization or self-expression; focus is on narrative and investigation."

    • Fantasy

      Game with the same Fantasy vibe

      -3

      "Grounded in realistic 1930s crime setting with plausible scenarios and historical detail."

      Capsule for Mafia Mafia

      "Realistic 1920s setting and grounded detective story with historical references."

    • Fellowship

      Game with the same Fellowship vibe

      -5

      "No social or community features; purely solo experience."

      Capsule for Lucius Demake Lucius Demake

      "No social or community features; purely solo experience."

    • Growth

      Game with the same Growth vibe

      3

      "Players develop deductive reasoning and investigative skills through gameplay and case solving."

      Capsule for Sherlock Holmes: Crimes and Punishments Sherlock Holmes: Crimes and Punishments

      "Players develop deductive reasoning and investigative skills through gameplay."

    • Health

      Game with the same Health vibe

      -5

      "Sedentary gameplay with no physical activity."

      Capsule for NEKOPARA Vol. 1 NEKOPARA Vol. 1

      "Sedentary gameplay with no physical activity."

    • Idle

      Game with the same Idle vibe

      -3

      "Requires focused attention on dialogue and choices; not suited for passive or background play."

      Capsule for Quarantine Circular Quarantine Circular

      "Requires focused attention to dialogue and clue gathering; not suitable for passive or background play."

    • Intimacy

      Game with the same Intimacy vibe

      -4

      "Limited emotional connection through narrative, but no social or interpersonal relationship building."

      Capsule for My Friend is a Raven My Friend is a Raven

      "Limited emotional connection through narrative but no social or close relationship building."

    • Leadership

      Game with the same Leadership vibe

      -5

      "No leadership or group management elements."

      Capsule for High On Life High On Life

      "No leadership or group management elements."

    • Progression

      Game with the same Progression vibe

      3

      "Progression through solving cases and unlocking story branches; accumulation of clues and evidence."

      Capsule for Lamplight City Lamplight City

      "Progression through accumulating clues and evidence to solve the case."

    • Relaxation

      Game with the same Relaxation vibe

      3

      "Calm, atmospheric gameplay with jazz soundtrack and narrative focus provides a relaxing experience."

      Capsule for Blackwell Unbound Blackwell Unbound

      "Calm pacing with jazz soundtrack and reading-based gameplay offers a relaxed experience."

    • Sensation

      Game with the same Sensation vibe

      1

      "Simple visuals and music provide moderate sensory stimulation without intense excitement."

      Capsule for Dictators:No Peace Countryballs Dictators:No Peace Countryballs

      "Stylized visuals and music provide moderate sensory stimulation without intense excitement."

    • Status

      Game with the same Status vibe

      -5

      "No social recognition or status systems."

      Capsule for Alan Wake Alan Wake

      "No social recognition or status systems."

    • Story

      Game with the same Story vibe

      5

      "Strong narrative focus with engaging characters and plot."

      Capsule for Bloomtown: A Different Story Bloomtown: A Different Story

      "Strong narrative focus with engaging plot, characters, and dialogue."

    • Strategy

      Game with the same Strategy vibe

      3

      "Requires logical thinking, puzzle solving, and planning to gather clues and solve the case."

      Capsule for Nancy Drew®: Secrets Can Kill REMASTERED Nancy Drew®: Secrets Can Kill REMASTERED

      "Requires logical thinking and planning to gather evidence and interrogate suspects effectively."

    • Thrill

      Game with the same Thrill vibe

      1

      "Some suspense in mystery and final choice, but overall controlled and calm experience."

      Capsule for Subsurface Circular Subsurface Circular

      "Some suspense from mystery and plot twists but overall controlled and calm experience."

    • Value

      Game with the same Value vibe

      -2

      "Short length and limited replay value make full price seem high; better value on sale."

      Capsule for The Station The Station

      "Short length and limited replay value reduce perceived value at full price; better on sale."

    • Violence

      Game with the same Violence vibe

      -3

      "Minimal violence depicted; focus on investigation and story rather than combat or destruction."

      Capsule for Urban Myth Dissolution Center Urban Myth Dissolution Center

      "Minimal depiction of violence; focus is on investigation rather than combat or destruction."

    • Survival

      Game with the same Survival vibe

      -5

      "No survival or threat avoidance mechanics; stable narrative environment."

      Capsule for Love Is All Around Love Is All Around

      "No survival or threat avoidance mechanics; stable narrative environment."

    Analysis

    Less representative of its motivational profile, with noticeable differences. Motivations that often define this kind of title include Survival, Violence, Fellowship, Expression. It leans lower than usual among comparable games on Fantasy, Value, Continuation.

    How to use the graph
    Similar games map

    Each dot is a game. They are arranged from the same motivation profile as in the “Motivations” section below. Closer dots usually mean more similar reasons to play (exploration, competition, relaxation, etc.)—not that one game is “better” than another.

    • Larger dot with a light outline: the game you are viewing.
    • Colour: groups of games with comparable motivation patterns (statistical clusters).
    • Hover a dot to see the game name; click to open its page.
    • Scroll or double-click the chart to zoom out and see more games.

    Why don’t the axes read like a score? This view uses t-SNE: it only keeps who is close to whom. The scales are not “good to bad” or hours played—they separate groups on the map. Read distance between dots, not the axis numbers.

    Last update: 30/04/2026