Best Sherlock Holmes Games, Ranked

Whodunit scenarios are an absolute favorite. Deducing the big picture from bits and pieces of clues you collect delivers an overwhelming sensation of accomplishment. Frogwares’ Sherlock Holmes series is one such game you can’t get enough of. With more than nine titles in the series, each storyline is a roller-coaster of adventure into the unknown. Players take on the role of the noble Sherlock Holmes, who’s always in the company of his loyal aide, Dr. John H. Watson. Using point-and-click mechanics, you embark on a mysterious adventure to solve a series of conundrums. 

The games are based on the legendary Sherlock Holmes stories by Arthur Conan Doyle. However, each installment has a distinct storyline and plot. We’ve sampled the top five best Sherlock Holmes games, brimming with baffling puzzles, mysteries, and adventure. So put on your detective hat and brace yourself for the mysteries.

5. Sherlock Holmes: The Awakened

The Awakened is the third title in the game’s series. Traditionally, Sherlock and his aide would get to the bottom of mysteries in London. However, this title sends the duo to a Swiss asylum in Europe and New Orleans in the US. Described as a Lovecraftian adventure, the title is the first in the series to feature a first-person perspective with modern gameplay and graphics—talk of a surreal mystery in 3D.

The game takes you to a different setting away from the usual mysteries; this time, you come face to face with the legendary Cthulhu Mythos, an unfathomable mystic horror. After a series of kidnappings are reported, Sherlock and Watson uncover that a cluster of madmen is behind it. The group kidnaps victims to accomplish a barbarous ritual for the otherworldly entity. 

The always unapprehensive Sherlock Holmes experiences a primal fear after realizing this is not his conventional mystery. Watson, too, becomes timid with fear that this story becomes the only one he fails to publish. Undeniable, this is a one-of-a-kind mystery for the duo, which propels them to achieve world-class recognition as the impeccable crime-solving pair.

4. The Testament of Sherlock Holmes

In a peculiar turn of events, The Testament of Sherlock Holmes has Holmes accused of being a thief. The sixth installment is brim with tricky puzzles, murder, a poisoning incident, and more so, Holmes is pictured as an antihero. The game’s storyline is a tad ghastly compared to previous titles. Your first clue to collect is a severed finger, which sets the macabre tone that succeeds the events in the game. You then encounter several corpses and a wild cemetery exploration. Things settle down to the conventional Sherlock Holmes theme after a few hours into the game. 

In this title, you take control of Holmes, Watson, and occasionally the dog, Toby, to uncover clues. Moreover, you can play the game from three perspectives; an over-the-shoulder view, first-person, and a third-person camera angle. 

The game’s horror-centric plot is riddled with challenging puzzles beyond your imagination. What you’d consider out of the ordinary is another day in the life of the game’s characters. For instance, the regular priest may not hide a bunch of love letters under a chessboard. The Testament calls for out-of-the-box thinking to get to the bottom of the mystery. All this and more give The Testament a deserving spot as one of the best Sherlock Holmes games.

3. Sherlock Holmes vs Jack the Ripper

The notorious and infamous Jack the Ripper comes face to face with Sherlock’s ingenious notoriety of crime solving in Sherlock Holmes vs Jack the Ripper. The fifth installment in the series takes place during the British Empire. Every town in the United Kingdom is endowed with wealth except Whitechapel. The poor town becomes a habitat for beggars, alcoholics, and prostitutes. The narrow streets are littered with dirt and emit a solid stench of neglect. All these ingredients create the perfect atmosphere for the rise of a serial killer.

After a series of murder scenes, Holmes and Watson are again put on the task of uncovering the fugitive behind them. You can play Watson or Holmes to get a fresh perspective on the murder. Your aim is to reconstruct the crime scenes and get an account of events prior to the gruesome killing. Don’t get it twisted. Sherlock Holmes vs. Jack the Ripper is not for the fainthearted. The devil is in the details, meaning you must comb through the gory details and face England’s most notorious serial killer.

With a 3D view of the game, you can play from two perspectives; a first-person view for a close insight into the crime scene or a third-person view for the point-and-click gameplay. Moreover, traversing through the horrid alleyways of Whitechapel deals with a terrifying yet exciting sensation. Will you restore peace to England and unmask the serial murderer, causing the town sleepless nights? There’s only one way to find out. 

2. Sherlock Holmes: Crimes and Punishment

Do you have what it takes to be the greatest detective of all time? The seventh installment of the series, Sherlock Holmes: Crimes and Punishment, takes you on a wild ride full of thrills and mystery. There are six varying cases to solve. Each case pits you against complying with the law or embracing your compassionate side after you uncover the truth. 

Set in London, the game focuses on tracking the fugitive and playing judge. You have to decide whether to forgive or punish the culprits, hence the title, Crimes and Punishment. Moreover, the game features more of Arthur Conan Doyle’s narrations, with each murder case having an origin story from his novels. If you’re a fan of Doyle’s work, you may have a clue on how to work this one out.

As usual, you take on the roles of Holmes and Watson. Occasionally, you also play as the hound, Toby, and Constable Marrow. The gameplay involves collecting clues and examining them on a deduction board. The interpretation of the clues is up to you. Whichever path you take with your deductions leads to a different outcome in the game. Sounds pretty simple, right? However, the game forces you to adjust your moral compass. Are you able to do what is just and right?

1. The Case of the Silver Earring

The second installment in the series graces our list as the best Sherlock Holmes game. In a classic whodunit scenario, Sherlock and Watson are faced with the inexplicable death of a construction tycoon, Sir Melvin Brombsry. With plenty of suspects with equal motives, this case is one for the books. Uncovering the mystery will reveal a plot twist riddled with greed, lies, and, of course-murder.

In yet another intriguing mystery, players encounter hordes of corpses related to the main incident. The story starts with Holmes attending a homecoming party, where, unfortunately, the host meets an untimely death. Seemingly, Sherlock Holmes doesn’t get sick days.

Dive deep into a horrifying and conspiracy-filled storyline once more. With plenty of mind-bending puzzles to piece together, a fresh set of eyes can help you see the hidden from the unhidden.

So, what’s your take? Do you agree with our top five? Are there other Sherlock Holmes games we should include? Let us know in the comments below or over on our socials here!