Murder by Numbers Thumbnail

Murder by Numbers similar games & best alternatives

Murder by Numbers

PC (Microsoft Windows), Nintendo Switch • 2020

Related articles

Quick resume

Solve Pixel Puzzles to find clues. Use those clues to interrogate witnesses. Work your way to the truth... ...and uncover the mystery of Murder by Numbers!

Global score

84/100

Genres

Adventure, Indie, Visual Novel, Puzzle

Similar games

    Pros

    • Engaging puzzle and story blend
    • Charming characters and art style
    • Catchy and fitting soundtrack
    • Good difficulty progression
    • Inclusive lgbtq+ representation

    Cons

    • Linear story with limited player choice impact
    • Repetitive music and puzzles
    • Tedious replay for s-rank and unlockables
    • Some pacing issues due to frequent puzzles
    • Minor ui and quality-of-life shortcomings

    Motivations

    • Autonomy

      Game with the same Autonomy vibe

      3

      "Players can make dialogue choices and solve puzzles in multiple ways, but the overall story progression is mostly linear with limited impact from choices."

      Capsule for Faefever Faefever

      "Players have some freedom in puzzle solving and dialogue choices, but story progression is mostly linear with limited impact from choices."

    • Competence

      Game with the same Competence vibe

      4

      "The game offers challenging puzzles that require skillful logic and optimization, with feedback via leaderboards and metrics."

      Capsule for The Signal State The Signal State

      "The game offers a steady increase in puzzle difficulty requiring skillful nonogram solving and provides feedback via ranks."

    • Competition

      Game with the same Competition vibe

      -3

      "Focus is on personal puzzle solving and story progression without competitive elements or leaderboards."

      Capsule for Helltaker Helltaker

      "Focus is on individual puzzle solving and story progression without competitive elements or leaderboards."

    • Continuation

      Game with the same Continuation vibe

      3

      "Players often engage in long sessions to complete challenging puzzles and progress through the story."

      Capsule for King's Quest™ Collection King's Quest™ Collection

      "Players tend to engage in long sessions due to many puzzles and story content, though some find it tedious over time."

    • Cooperation

      Game with the same Cooperation vibe

      -4

      "Gameplay is primarily single-player with no cooperative or multiplayer features."

      Capsule for Freddi Fish 3: The Case of the Stolen Conch Shell Freddi Fish 3: The Case of the Stolen Conch Shell

      "Gameplay is primarily single-player with no cooperative or multiplayer features."

    • Creativity

      Game with the same Creativity vibe

      2

      "Players solve puzzles with some unique mechanics and explore detailed environments, but limited ability to modify or create."

      Capsule for Ghost Town Ghost Town

      "Players solve puzzles that reveal images but have limited ability to create or modify content."

    • Domination

      Game with the same Domination vibe

      -5

      "No evidence of exerting control or superiority over others; interactions are balanced and respectful."

      Capsule for BUSTAFELLOWS BUSTAFELLOWS

      "No evidence of exerting control or superiority over others; interactions are balanced and respectful."

    • Escapism

      Game with the same Escapism vibe

      4

      "Players use the game as a relaxing escape and distraction from real-life stress."

      Capsule for Lumberjack's Dynasty Lumberjack's Dynasty

      "Players use the game as a relaxing distraction with engaging story and puzzles, escaping real-life stress."

    • Expectation

      Game with the same Expectation vibe

      -4

      "Players engage voluntarily out of interest in puzzles and story, with no external obligation or pressure."

      Capsule for Another Perspective Another Perspective

      "Players engage voluntarily out of interest in puzzles and story, with no pressure or obligation."

    • Experimenting

      Game with the same Experimenting vibe

      1

      "Some exploration of environment and puzzle solving, but mostly following established routines."

      Capsule for [Chilla's Art] The Convenience Store | 夜勤事件 [Chilla's Art] The Convenience Store | 夜勤事件

      "Some exploration of puzzle solving techniques and story choices, but mostly follows established routines."

    • Exploration

      Game with the same Exploration vibe

      -2

      "Story and environments are mostly familiar and linear, with limited discovery or open-world elements."

      Capsule for Utawarerumono: Prelude to the Fallen Utawarerumono: Prelude to the Fallen

      "Game environments and story are mostly linear and familiar, with limited discovery or open exploration."

    • Expression

      Game with the same Expression vibe

      -3

      "Minimal customization or self-expression; players use preset characters and aesthetics."

      Capsule for Cursed Castilla (Maldita Castilla EX) Cursed Castilla (Maldita Castilla EX)

      "Minimal customization or self-expression; players use preset characters and visual styles."

    • Fantasy

      Game with the same Fantasy vibe

      3

      "The game offers a stylized noir/cyberpunk detective fantasy with imaginative procedural narratives."

      Capsule for Shadows of Doubt Shadows of Doubt

      "Game features fictional detective story with robot companion and stylized characters, blending fantasy and reality."

    • Fellowship

      Game with the same Fellowship vibe

      -4

      "Primarily a solo experience with little social interaction or community involvement."

      Capsule for Deadlings: Rotten Edition Deadlings: Rotten Edition

      "Primarily a solo experience with little social interaction or community involvement."

    • Growth

      Game with the same Growth vibe

      3

      "Players develop puzzle-solving skills and gain narrative understanding as they progress."

      Capsule for Rusty Lake: Roots Rusty Lake: Roots

      "Players develop puzzle-solving skills and gain narrative understanding over time."

    • Health

      Game with the same Health vibe

      -5

      "Sedentary gameplay with no physical activity or health-related features."

      Capsule for THE ENIGMA MACHINE THE ENIGMA MACHINE

      "Sedentary gameplay with no physical activity or health-related features."

    • Idle

      Game with the same Idle vibe

      -3

      "Requires focused attention to solve puzzles and follow story; not suited for casual or background play."

      Capsule for Syberia Syberia

      "Requires focused attention to solve puzzles and follow story; not suited for casual background play."

    • Intimacy

      Game with the same Intimacy vibe

      -4

      "Minimal social or emotional connection beyond character interactions in single-player context."

      Capsule for The Wonderful 101: Remastered The Wonderful 101: Remastered

      "Limited social or emotional connections beyond character interactions in a single-player context."

    • Leadership

      Game with the same Leadership vibe

      -5

      "No leadership or management roles; player follows story and puzzle progression individually."

      Capsule for Deponia Doomsday Deponia Doomsday

      "No leadership or management roles; player follows linear story and puzzle progression."

    • Progression

      Game with the same Progression vibe

      4

      "Players accumulate items, unlock achievements, and advance through story and puzzles."

      Capsule for Leisure Suit Larry - Wet Dreams Dry Twice Leisure Suit Larry - Wet Dreams Dry Twice

      "Players accumulate ranks, unlock bonus puzzles and story content through successful puzzle completion."

    • Relaxation

      Game with the same Relaxation vibe

      3

      "Generally relaxing gameplay with balanced challenge and engaging story, though some puzzles may cause frustration."

      Capsule for Broken Age Broken Age

      "Generally relaxing gameplay with balanced challenge, though some puzzles can cause frustration."

    • Sensation

      Game with the same Sensation vibe

      2

      "Colorful graphics and music provide pleasant sensory stimulation, though some find music repetitive."

      Capsule for Quest Hunter Quest Hunter

      "Enjoyable music and colorful visuals provide sensory stimulation, though some find repetition tiring."

    • Status

      Game with the same Status vibe

      -4

      "No social recognition or ranking systems; achievements exist but limited social visibility."

      Capsule for Polarity Polarity

      "Achievements and ranks exist but have limited social visibility or recognition."

    • Story

      Game with the same Story vibe

      4

      "Strong narrative immersion through player-created stories and character development."

      Capsule for The Sims™ 4 The Sims™ 4

      "Strong narrative immersion with character development and connected cases driving player engagement."

    • Strategy

      Game with the same Strategy vibe

      3

      "Requires logical thinking and planning to arrange story elements to meet puzzle goals."

      Capsule for Storyteller Storyteller

      "Puzzle solving requires logical reasoning and planning, though story choices are limited."

    • Thrill

      Game with the same Thrill vibe

      -2

      "Puzzle gameplay is mostly calm and logical with minimal suspense or risk."

      Capsule for Divide By Sheep Divide By Sheep

      "Game mostly provides controlled, predictable puzzle challenges with few suspenseful moments."

    • Value

      Game with the same Value vibe

      3

      "Players perceive good value from challenging puzzles, story, and length, especially at discounted price."

      Capsule for Sherlock Holmes - Nemesis Sherlock Holmes - Nemesis

      "Players perceive good value from extensive puzzles and story content for the price."

    • Violence

      Game with the same Violence vibe

      -4

      "Game focuses on investigation and puzzle solving rather than combat or destruction."

      Capsule for Cyber Manhunt 2: New World - The Hacking Simulator Cyber Manhunt 2: New World - The Hacking Simulator

      "Game focuses on investigation and puzzle solving without emphasis on combat or destruction."

    • Survival

      Game with the same Survival vibe

      -4

      "No survival or threat avoidance mechanics; stable and safe game environment."

      Capsule for Rick and Morty: Virtual Rick-ality Rick and Morty: Virtual Rick-ality

      "No survival or threat avoidance mechanics; stable and safe game environment."

    Analysis

    Broadly representative of its motivational profile, with a few distinct shifts. Motivations that often define this kind of title include Survival, Violence, Fellowship, Expression. It leans lower than usual among comparable games on Exploration, Experimenting, Thrill.

    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.

    Where to buy

    Come talk about it on Discord!

    Last update: 30/04/2026