L.A. Noire captivated players with its immersive detective gameplay, cinematic storytelling, and the allure of solving intricate cases in a noir-inspired setting. If you’ve enjoyed stepping into the shoes of Detective Cole Phelps and are craving more crime-solving adventures, you’re in for a treat. In this post, we present a carefully curated selection of 10 games that capture the essence of L.A. Noire, offering immersive narratives, challenging investigations, and atmospheric settings that will test your detective skills.
From the open-world crime saga of Mafia II to the gritty undercover world of Sleeping Dogs, each game on this list immerses players in captivating stories filled with intrigue, suspense, and moral dilemmas. Whether you unravel mysteries in the interactive drama of Heavy Rain or navigate a noir-inspired fantasy realm in The Wolf Among Us, these games offer a blend of storytelling and investigative gameplay that will keep you engaged. With a range of settings, from the criminal underworld of Yakuza 0 to the futuristic world of Detroit: Become Human, these 10 games provide diverse experiences that will satisfy your appetite for crime-solving adventures. So put on your detective hat, sharpen your deductive skills, and prepare to delve into the thrilling investigations of these captivating titles akin to L.A. Noire.
Yakuza 0
Yakuza 0 is an open-world action-adventure game set in Japan during the late 1980s. Players take on the roles of Kazuma Kiryu and Goro Majima, exploring the criminal underworld and unraveling a complex narrative. With its immersive world, intricate storyline, and a blend of action, investigation, and side activities, Yakuza 0 offers a comparable experience to L.A. Noire.
Detroit: Become Human
Detroit: Become Human is an interactive drama game set in a futuristic Detroit where androids have become self-aware. Players control multiple characters as they navigate a world filled with moral dilemmas and complex choices that shape the outcome of the story. With its branching narratives, captivating performances, and futuristic setting, Detroit: Become Human provides a narrative-driven experience similar to L.A. Noire.
The Saboteur
The Saboteur is an open-world action-adventure game set in Nazi-occupied Paris during World War II. Players assume the role of Sean Devlin, an Irish mechanic turned saboteur, seeking revenge against the Nazis. With its stylish noir-inspired aesthetic, open-world exploration, and stealthy sabotage missions, The Saboteur offers a unique experience reminiscent of L.A. Noire's immersive world and undercover operations.
Mafia II
Mafia II is an open-world action-adventure game set in the 1940s and 1950s. Players take on the role of Vito Scaletta, a World War II veteran who becomes entangled in the world of organized crime. With its immersive storyline, period-authentic setting, and a focus on narrative-driven gameplay, Mafia II offers a similar experience to L.A. Noire.
The Wolf Among Us
The Wolf Among Us is an episodic interactive drama game based on the Fables comic book series. Players control Bigby Wolf, the sheriff of Fabletown, as he investigates a series of brutal murders. With its noir-inspired setting, complex characters, and choice-driven gameplay, The Wolf Among Us provides a similar narrative-driven experience to L.A. Noire.
LA Cops
LA Cops is a top-down shooter set in 1970s Los Angeles. Players control a pair of hard-boiled cops as they clean up the streets, taking down criminals and solving cases. With its retro visuals, fast-paced gameplay, and focus on police work, LA Cops offers a stylized and action-packed experience akin to L.A. Noire's crime-solving adventures.
Sherlock Holmes: Crimes & Punishments
Sherlock Holmes: Crimes & Punishments is a detective game that puts players in the shoes of the legendary detective as he investigates a series of crimes. With its immersive mysteries, deduction mechanics, and multiple possible outcomes, Crimes & Punishments offers a similar detective experience to L.A. Noire, challenging players to solve intricate cases through observation and deduction.
Beyond: Two Souls
Same developer as Heavy Rain with a lot of similarities between all 3 games. This is more of a paranormal mystery with a stronger focus on a single story as well, but falls into the detective mystery kinda thing too.
Deadly Premonition
This recommendation needs to come with a warning since it is a weird game. It looks like a PS2 game, plays like something created for a college project, but it is a really good mystery game. You are a detective in a town where everything is just weird (including a lot of the development decisions). Very unusual game.
Heavy Rain
Heavy Rain was a big deal when it first came out due to the amound of decisions you could make and how it could affect the final outcome of the game. The game is set around one larger story rather than lots of smaller murder mysteries. Very good game though that looks great and has an interesting story.
Sherlock Holmes: The Devil's Daughter
There has been a bit of a revamp in the Sherlock Holmes games recently, probably to do with the success of the TV series. The games are nothing like the series as it's back to the old fashioned Sherlock Holmes, but the games are great. It's possible to just get a murder wrong and thats it, you move onto the next story having gotten things wrong. This puts you under some pressure to really make sure you are making the correct judgement and have found all of the clues before making any decisions.
Max Payne 3
Max Payne 3 is a third-person shooter that follows the story of former detective Max Payne, who becomes embroiled in a web of crime and corruption. With its dark narrative, cinematic presentation, and intense gunplay, Max Payne 3 offers a similar gritty atmosphere and action-packed gameplay as L.A. Noire.
Sleeping Dogs
Sleeping Dogs is an open-world action-adventure game set in Hong Kong. Players assume the role of undercover police officer Wei Shen, tasked with infiltrating a criminal organization. With its gritty storyline, martial arts combat, and an immersive open-world, Sleeping Dogs offers a similar blend of crime-solving and action as L.A. Noire.
