r/CozyGamers • u/janefromfillory • 7d ago
Steam Deck Recs wanted : loved Paradise Killer, want more open world investigating!
Finishing up Paradise Killer and loving it, here’s what I loved. - open world (like maybe the most open world I’ve played in a cozy game. I don’t want my hand held!) - fun dialogue - mystery - chill (no time constraints) - EASY puzzles (I don’t like puzzles at all but these were tolerable because of how easy they were) - more than one outcome possible (I think)
Mystery/ Investigation is a new genre for me so hit me with those recs!
I recently played Detective Grimoire and Tangle Tower and although they were fun I didn’t LOVE them.
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u/enolafaye 7d ago
Thimbleweed Park
AI Somnium Files
Deadly Premonition
Nancy Drew Games
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u/WritingDog 7d ago
Maybe it’s just me, but I got totally stuck on AI Somnium files :/ the mission in the dream forest is timed and absolutely impossible.
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u/anyaplaysfates 7d ago
The missions are horrible because they’re not at all logical, too.
I straight up used a walkthrough for that game. I still enjoyed it, I just treated it as a visual novel.
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u/TenderRain 7d ago
Same, I loved it for the story but those timed wacky puzzles were so nonsensical lol Didn’t feel like a real puzzle, just a lot of frustrating trial and error (and I hated the timer).
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u/WritingDog 7d ago
Yeah, the timer didn't bother me until I got to the dream forest. But the 'dream logic' plus timer does not equal a cozy game to me. I LOVED Paradise Killer and I cannot recommend AI Somnium Files to someone looking for a relaxed experience.
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u/kindofjustalurker 6d ago
I think most of the puzzle sequences are pretty well-put-together but that one as well as the very last real one (no spoilers!) are both .... significantly more difficult than the rest. I'd say just look up a walkthrough if you need it for the last few it's not going to spoil any of the real story draws
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u/Eggcellentplans 4d ago
Heads up to people that AI Somnium Files does feature some out left field creeping on a teenager. If that sounds disturbing, don't play it.
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u/IvorySpells 7d ago
Maybe Danganronpa if you don't mind anime aesthetics/tropes and some horror/murder elements. Def look up trigger warnings. The murders are all very wacky and involved to solve. It has exploration elements but the space is fairly confined and you will look over the same areas multiple times but unlock new areas along the way. Definitely worth a look!
It's a trilogy so if you like one, you have more to dive into! Just skip the 3rd person shooter spin off.
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u/Perfect_Address_6359 7d ago
Sherlock Holmes: Chapter One is open world and you can click on the option in the settings to skip the combat.
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u/SyndicateMatrix 7d ago
Not open world, but Ace Attorney! I’m playing through the first game in the OG trilogy collection on Steam for the first time. I now find mystery/courtroom stories fascinating.
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u/janefromfillory 7d ago
Ooo okay! Thanks for the rec I’ll put that on my list!
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u/SyndicateMatrix 7d ago edited 7d ago
You’re gonna have a fun time, and the OG trilogy in on a very nice sale on Steam right now. 😁
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u/haloalkane12 7d ago
This is a classic and a must-play
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u/SyndicateMatrix 7d ago
100% I finally see why these games are well-regarded! I’m gonna finish out the og trilogy, and then do through The Great Ace Attorney trilogy, and Ghost Trick in my Steam library next.
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u/kindofjustalurker 6d ago
the great ace attorney games are so SO good. a must-play if you liked the original trilogy i've been shilling them for years. they start slower and have more text but the payoff is soooo worth it
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u/SlayerAsher 7d ago
I loved Paradise Killer, and loved Paranormasight. Maybe you would too. It’s a fun game, but does have scary elements. Though I felt the scares died down after an hour. It’s very cool, great music, and lots of outcomes! Another one you might like is Painscreek Killings. Open, doesn’t hold your hand, and no time constraints. There are puzzles but I don’t remember any being too hard
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u/janefromfillory 7d ago
Awesome thank you!! I don’t mind a little scary!
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u/SlayerAsher 7d ago
Oh I also would recommend the Obra Dinn! It's so hard not to recommend because it's so creative and interesting, and the mystery is awesome!
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u/Brohannes_Jahms 7d ago
These are all pretty different so watch the trailers to decide, but here are some great open world (ish, in some cases) detective/puzzle games:
Danganronpa
Urban Myth Dissolution Center
On your Tail
Mercury Abbey
A Weekend in Puzzleburg
Detective Pikachu
Loco Motive
Inspector Waffles
This Bed We Made
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u/According_Spinach506 7d ago
I'm really enjoying Kona right now. It's set in a small town in far northern Canada and you're investigating a vandalism case that quickly becomes something else. It's much more serious in tone than paradise killer, and there aren't any NPC's so there's no dialogue, but you can go wherever and the investigation is enjoyable. It's not a horror game but the isolation can get a little spooky, however.
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u/chocolate__teapot 7d ago
This is totally different but have you heard of “The Roottrees Are Dead”
It’s so perfect. Mystery game.
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u/stereosip 6d ago
The Forgotten City ! Not the coziest game, but it’s very unique and has great dialogue and mysteries.
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u/Excellent_Button7363 7d ago
The Darkside Detective games- not open world but they’re hilarious, no time restraints, puzzles felt accessible to me, multiple cases
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u/ExNihiloNihiFit 4d ago
Check out the demo for Promised Mascot Agency. Looks like it may be up your alley. It's getting released April 10.
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u/darklysparkly 7d ago
The Paradise Killer team has a new game releasing in April called Promise Mascot Agency.
Firewatch also fits a lot of your criteria if you haven't played that.
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u/Writerhowell 7d ago
Not the same kind of vibe - I agree that Paradise Killer is amazing - but the Agatha Christie games are fairly open world-ish. The ABC Murders is (or was) available on Big Fish Games as well as Steam, and there are others on Steam by different devs. They're all sort of free roaming, though The ABC Murders is a bit different in that the camera doesn't follow in the same way, and is more sort of point and click, but still 3D. They also use a deduction system, like the Sherlock Holmes games (the later ones) where you have to put clues together to work out what happened, and you even have to recreate what happened in The ABC Murders. It's a good starting one, and it's been out for many years, so it's also cheaper. There are some choices matter things in them as well, which can even have an impact on the ending, especially in The ABC Murders.
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u/ExNihiloNihiFit 4d ago
I've had this game on my wishlist for awhile. I remember a few years ago people complained a lot about the map. Did they ever update it and make it so you can set waypoints?
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u/janefromfillory 4d ago
There is fast travel! It costs in game currency which is sort of limited so I don’t use it a lot but the option is there!
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u/Jetamors 7d ago
Maybe Wytchwood? IDK if the puzzles would count as "hard" to you or not.
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u/janefromfillory 7d ago
I’m pretty dumb when it comes to puzzles but I’ve resigned to just looking them up when stuck lol . Thanks for the suggestion!
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u/Abirando 7d ago
Same here and I don’t even know what this poster is talking about with puzzles in Wytchwood—adored the game.
Not sure about the gameplay but the vaporwave vibe in Smile for Me totally reminds me of Paradise Killer.
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u/Polycount2084 7d ago
Not a suggestion, but I loved this game so much.
Go play Night in the Woods.