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Murder by Numbers similar games & best alternatives

Murder by Numbers

PC (Microsoft Windows), Nintendo Switch • 2020

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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

    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.

    Motivations

    • Autonomy
      3

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

    • Competence
      4

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

    • Competition
      -3

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

    • Continuation
      3

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

    • Cooperation
      -4

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

    • Creativity
      2

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

    • Domination
      -5

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

    • Escapism
      4

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

    • Expectation
      -4

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

    • Experimenting
      1

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

    • Exploration
      -2

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

    • Expression
      -3

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

    • Fantasy
      3

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

    • Fellowship
      -4

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

    • Growth
      3

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

    • Health
      -5

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

    • Idle
      -3

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

    • Intimacy
      -4

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

    • Leadership
      -5

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

    • Progression
      4

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

    • Relaxation
      3

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

    • Sensation
      2

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

    • Status
      -4

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

    • Story
      4

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

    • Strategy
      3

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

    • Thrill
      -2

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

    • Value
      3

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

    • Violence
      -4

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

    • Survival
      -4

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

    Where to buy

    Come talk about it on Discord!

    Last update: 29/04/2026