5 Best Mystery Games Like The Suicide of Rachel Foster

Like many things in life, mysteries long to be uncovered; and The Suicide of Rachel Foster, being just one of said mysteries, is one well deserving of a good old-fashioned hammer and chisel. But this isn't the only case that's worth brushing over, though, as you'll quickly come to find as you scrub the barrel of the treasure trove of mystery games that flesh out the likes of Steam, Microsoft Store, and, of course, the PlayStation Store.

The simple fact is this: there are plenty of puzzle-heavy cold cases out there to solve, and a lot more that trickle along the same lines as the likes of One-O-One Games' The Suicide of Rachel Foster, too. And so, if you're itching to crack another case this coming weekend, then be sure to check out these five best-selling essentials.

5. The Vanishing of Ethan Carter

The Vanishing of Ethan Carter delves into the world of Red Creek Valley, an isolated mining village that serves as the staging grounds for a nexus of paranormal happenings. As an out-of-state investigator on a quest to capture the quaint town's occurrences, you must venture deep into its nooks and crannies and chronicle the most peculiar case of all — the vanishing of lifelong fan Ethan Carter.

Like a lot of other mystery-based lookalikes, The Vanishing of Ethan Carter centers its gameplay around exploration, documenting, and mystery solving. Although fairly short compared to a lot of other full-on triple-A releases, it's certainly a trip down memory lane worth taking. It's immersive, puzzling, and one of the closest things you'll get to The Suicide of Rachel Foster. 

4. The Town of Light

The Town of Light is as much of a walking simulator as it is a mystery game; it's mostly the case of waltzing around the abandoned wards of an old psychiatric hospital, but it's also the case of digging deep into the history of one patient in particular — you. As an ex-patient of the nonfictional Italian facility, your goal is to rummage through its forgotten hallways and thread together a plausible timeline that explains your psyche's gradual decline into oblivion.

As it goes, The Town of Light isn't the lengthiest experience in the world, though it is equally as memorable and well worth the time and effort. It also delves deep into a lot of real-life problems surrounding mental health and the medical practices that were used during a horrific time in human history. And so, if that's your cup of tea, then you'll definitely get a kick out of LKA's debut chapter.

3. Everybody's Gone to the Rapture

Everybody's Gone to the Rapture paints such a vivid portrait of what life in isolation would be like, that it's almost unnerving—scary, even. And yet, no amount of silence will ever make you not want to plummet deeper into the rabbit hole than its relatively short but surprisingly immersive experience. It's bittersweet, and yet it's a story worth listening to, especially if you're all for paranormal investigations that factor in mysteries by the boatload.

In Everybody's Gone to the Rapture, you assume the role of an out-of-town guest, one who's goal is to traverse a fictional Shropshire town and find the answer to one question: where is everyone? With nothing left but deserted streets and empty homes, you must explore the memories of its missing citizens and establish a timeline of events that explains the downfall of the once-loved village.

2. What Remains of Edith Finch

To this day, no other tale regarding the life and death of an entire family tree has come anywhere near as close to perfection as What Remains of Edith Finch. In spite of its topic being a little morbid, the story itself is perhaps one of the most fascinating in the history of indie-led video games. And what's more, it brings that ideal level of replayability to the table, too, which alone makes it well worth the price of admission.

What Remains of Edith Finch puts you in the boots of Edith, the last known survivor of a cursed bloodline. As the lone wolf of the family tree, it's your role to venture back to your childhood home, unlock its dusty doors, and unravel the mysteries that once claimed your entire family. With time against you, it's your duty to complete your final journal entries before the aforementioned curse comes to plunge its final victim into everlasting darkness. Just what happened to the Finch family?

1. Firewatch

Firewatch, much like its mystery-loving cousins, revolves around two things: the death of an innocent, and a summer in solitude, engulfed in a canyon district that has no lifelines other than the one friendly voice that hangs on the other end of a radio frequency. It's your job, as the newest firewatch assistant, to ponder the plumes of smoke that light up the sky, and investigate a cold case that involves the disappearance and untimely tragedy of a minor. With the summer days whittling away, it's the case of solving the mystery before extraction day comes knocking.

Firewatch isn't your run-of-the-mill action-adventure game, nor is it exactly difficult. In fact, it's almost entirely story-driven, and asks only that you listen, learn, and explore your surroundings while weaving together a tale that definitely deserves to be heard. Although its cast consists of only two characters, its story is beyond worthy of your Sunday afternoon. And if you enjoy heartfelt dialogue with waves of consequences for each spoken passage, then you'll be pleased to know that Campo Santo's award-winning has it by the truckload.

So, what's your take? Do you agree with our top five? Are there any games like The Suicide of Rachel Foster you'd suggest playing? Let us know over on our socials here or down in the comments below.