Detective Case and Clown Bot in: Murder in the Hotel Lisbon similar games & best alternatives

Detective Case and Clown Bot in: Murder in the Hotel Lisbon

PC (Microsoft Windows), Nintendo Switch, Linux, Mac • 2014

Should you play it?

A strange murder has occurred in the Hotel Lisbon, a man committed suicide with 14 stabs to the back while at the same time he peacefully drank his coffee. This case with contradictory facts could only be solved by the amazing Detective Case and his sidekick, Clown Bot.

What works
  • Charming retro pixel art style
  • Humorous and witty dialogue
  • Engaging murder mystery story
  • Innovative interrogation gameplay
  • Pleasant jazz and fado soundtrack
Things to keep in mind
  • Short game length
  • Some bugs and translation issues
  • Repetitive interrogation mechanics
  • Some offensive humor and stereotypes
  • Slow movement and pixel hunting

What to play next

Similar games, hidden gems, and fresh directions from this game.

Top picks

Games that feel the closest overall

  • The Darkside Detective: A Fumble in the Dark

  • Kathy Rain: Director's Cut

  • Cleo - a pirate's tale

  • Sherlock Holmes and The Hound of The Baskervilles

  • The Darkside Detective

  • Delores: A Thimbleweed Park Mini-Adventure

  • Duck Detective: The Ghost of Glamping

  • TSIOQUE

  • Loco Motive
Hidden Gems

Less popular games with surprisingly high similarity

  • Cleo - a pirate's tale

  • TSIOQUE

  • Milkmaid of the Milky Way
If you liked…

Recommendations by what you enjoyed most

Similarity map

Explore nearby similar games and see why they’re close.

How to use the graph
Similarity map

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

  • Purple star: this page’s game — everything on the map is relative to it.
  • Coloured chips: click to highlight games that mainly differ on that motivation; click again to reset.
  • Dotted line: link between this page’s game and the one selected for comparison.
  • Hover a dot for a screenshot preview, score, and top score gaps; click to compare in the panel on the right.
  • 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 (hidden on purpose).

Detective Case and Clown Bot in: Murder in the Hotel Lisbon: Broadly representative of its motivational profile, with a few distinct shifts. Motivations that often define this kind of title include Expression, Fellowship, Cooperation, Status. Here, the score leans higher than usual among comparable games on Relaxation. It leans lower than usual among comparable games on Survival, Violence.

Why this game works

A motivational profile of the game, with the closest similar game for each player motivation.

  • Autonomy

    Game with the same Autonomy vibe

    3

    "Players can choose dialogue options affecting character behavior and endings, explore levels with some freedom, and decide how to approach puzzles and interactions."

    Capsule for Pinstripe Pinstripe

    "Players choose dialogue options and interrogation approaches freely, with some choice of character for questioning."

  • Competence

    Game with the same Competence vibe

    2

    "Gameplay involves puzzle solving and stealth mechanics that require some skill but are not highly challenging."

    Capsule for Infliction Infliction

    "Gameplay involves puzzle-solving and interrogation mechanics requiring some skill and attention, though generally not very challenging."

  • Competition

    Game with the same Competition vibe

    -4

    "Focus is on single-player experience with no competitive elements or leaderboards."

    Capsule for Sherlock Holmes and The Hound of The Baskervilles Sherlock Holmes and The Hound of The Baskervilles

    "Focuses on single-player experience with no competitive elements or leaderboards."

  • Continuation

    Game with the same Continuation vibe

    1

    "Short game length (~2-4 hours) limits habitual play, but some players enjoy replaying for secrets and achievements."

    Capsule for A Story About My Uncle A Story About My Uncle

    "Players tend to complete the game in a few hours; some sidequests and mini-games add replay value but overall short length limits habitual play."

  • Cooperation

    Game with the same Cooperation vibe

    -5

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

    Capsule for Quantum Break Quantum Break

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

  • Creativity

    Game with the same Creativity vibe

    2

    "Players engage in creative problem solving and exploration, though within a fixed narrative and puzzle structure."

    Capsule for Beneath a Steel Sky (1994) Beneath a Steel Sky (1994)

    "Players engage in creative problem solving through interrogation and exploration, but within a fixed narrative and structure."

  • Domination

    Game with the same Domination vibe

    -5

    "No elements of exerting control or superiority over others; interactions are narrative-driven and equal."

    Capsule for Firework Firework

    "No elements of exerting control or superiority over others; interactions are narrative-driven and equal."

  • Escapism

    Game with the same Escapism vibe

    3

    "The noir setting and story provide an immersive escape from reality, engaging players in a fictional detective world."

    Capsule for Confidential Killings - A Detective Game Confidential Killings - A Detective Game

    "Provides a humorous, fictional detective story set in a stylized version of 1980s Lisbon, allowing players to escape reality."

  • Expectation

    Game with the same Expectation vibe

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    "Players engage voluntarily for entertainment and nostalgia, with no indication of obligation or external pressure."

    Capsule for Bloodwash Bloodwash

    "Players engage voluntarily for entertainment and nostalgia, with no external pressure or obligation."

  • Experimenting

    Game with the same Experimenting vibe

    2

    "Players explore investigation mechanics and test evidence combinations, though within limited scenarios."

    Capsule for Lucifer Within Us Lucifer Within Us

    "Players experiment with different interrogation questions and evidence combinations, though within a limited set of options."

  • Exploration

    Game with the same Exploration vibe

    1

    "Players explore detailed pixel art environments and uncover story elements, though areas are small and limited."

    Capsule for If On A Winter's Night, Four Travelers If On A Winter's Night, Four Travelers

    "Players explore a small number of locations repeatedly; some pixel hunting is required but overall limited discovery."

  • Expression

    Game with the same Expression vibe

    -3

    "Limited customization or personalization; players experience predefined characters and story."

    Capsule for Kelvin and the Infamous Machine Kelvin and the Infamous Machine

    "Minimal customization or personalization; players follow a predefined story and character roles."

  • Fantasy

    Game with the same Fantasy vibe

    1

    "Game is based on fictional detective stories with some imaginative reconstruction but grounded in realistic Victorian setting."

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

    "The game is a fictional detective story with comedic elements, but grounded in a realistic setting and period."

  • Fellowship

    Game with the same Fellowship vibe

    -5

    "No social or community features; experience is solitary."

    Capsule for POOLS POOLS

    "No social or community features; experience is solitary."

  • Growth

    Game with the same Growth vibe

    1

    "Players develop investigative skills and learn story details, though gameplay complexity is moderate."

    Capsule for Doctor Who: The Lonely Assassins Doctor Who: The Lonely Assassins

    "Players develop investigative skills and learn story details, but gameplay is relatively simple and linear."

  • Health

    Game with the same Health vibe

    -5

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

    Capsule for DRAGON BALL Z: KAKAROT DRAGON BALL Z: KAKAROT

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

  • Idle

    Game with the same Idle vibe

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    "Requires focused attention during puzzles and dialogue; not designed for idle or background play."

    Capsule for MechaNika MechaNika

    "Requires focused attention during puzzles and interrogations; no background or idle play."

  • Intimacy

    Game with the same Intimacy vibe

    -5

    "No social or emotional relationship building; interactions are limited to scripted NPCs."

    Capsule for Rewind Or Die Rewind Or Die

    "No close social or emotional relationships formed; interactions are limited to scripted NPCs."

  • Leadership

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    "No leadership or management roles; player follows a narrative without directing others."

    Capsule for Tricolour Lovestory Tricolour Lovestory

    "No leadership or management roles; player follows a narrative without directing others."

  • Progression

    Game with the same Progression vibe

    2

    "Players progress through story and unlock achievements, but no complex item or upgrade systems."

    Capsule for RATSHAKER™ RATSHAKER™

    "Players collect evidence and unlock story progression and achievements, though no complex upgrade systems."

  • Relaxation

    Game with the same Relaxation vibe

    3

    "Humorous and lighthearted tone provides a relaxing and enjoyable experience."

    Capsule for Four Last Things Four Last Things

    "Lighthearted tone and humor provide a relaxing experience despite some repetitive elements."

  • Sensation

    Game with the same Sensation vibe

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    "Visuals are stylized and pleasant but not highly stimulating; music is mellow and fitting."

    Capsule for Rise of Industry Rise of Industry

    "Visuals and audio are stylized but not highly stimulating; the pixel art and jazz soundtrack create a pleasant atmosphere."

  • Status

    Game with the same Status vibe

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    "No social recognition or status systems; achievements are personal and not publicly ranked."

    Capsule for God of War Ragnarök God of War Ragnarök

    "No social recognition or status systems; achievements are personal and not publicly ranked."

  • Story

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    "Strong narrative focus with engaging characters, humor, and a murder mystery plot."

    Capsule for Adventures of Bertram Fiddle 1: A Dreadly Business Adventures of Bertram Fiddle 1: A Dreadly Business

    "Strong narrative focus with a murder mystery plot, character interactions, and humor driving player engagement."

  • Strategy

    Game with the same Strategy vibe

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    "Puzzles require logical thinking and problem solving, though overall gameplay is straightforward."

    Capsule for Detective Di: The Silk Rose Murders Detective Di: The Silk Rose Murders

    "Players must think logically to choose correct questions and evidence during interrogations, but puzzles are not deeply complex."

  • Thrill

    Game with the same Thrill vibe

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    "Some suspense in puzzles and story, but overall tone is light and comedic, limiting sustained tension."

    Capsule for No Sleep For Kaname Date - From AI: THE SOMNIUM FILES No Sleep For Kaname Date - From AI: THE SOMNIUM FILES

    "Some suspense from mystery and plot twists, but overall a light and comedic tone reduces tension."

  • Value

    Game with the same Value vibe

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    "Generally considered good value especially on sale, with engaging story and gameplay for price."

    Capsule for Yes, Your Grace Yes, Your Grace

    "Generally considered good value for price, especially on sale, with a complete story and achievements."

  • Violence

    Game with the same Violence vibe

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    "Violence is mostly narrative and psychological; no player-driven combat or destruction."

    Capsule for Amnesia™: Memories Amnesia™: Memories

    "Violence is only narrative (murder case) with no combat or destructive gameplay."

  • Survival

    Game with the same Survival vibe

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

    Capsule for Spiritfarer®: Farewell Edition Spiritfarer®: Farewell Edition

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

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Last update: 01/06/2026