How to play
Click to interview, examine evidence, visit crime scenes. Case-board lets you pin and connect evidence. Confront suspects with supporting evidence; premature accusations fail the case.
Game features
- Twelve cases connected by larger narrative
- Visual case-board UI
- Evidence-witness integration
- Mouse-and-keyboard recommended
- Touch supported
- No microtransactions
Editor review
Detective Files is a mystery adventure where you investigate a series of connected crimes. Each case has suspects, evidence, and witness interviews. The format is reminiscent of the Phoenix Wright series with grounded modern settings rather than courtroom theatrics.
What works is the evidence-interview integration. Witness statements only become useful when you have collected supporting evidence. Premature accusations fail the case. Careful evidence-gathering before confronting suspects is the format's main skill.
Twelve cases across one campaign. Each case has its own suspect roster and crime scene. Cases connect to a larger narrative arc about a serial criminal across the city.
Tested over a week of evening sessions. Mouse-and-keyboard works for the deduction-heavy format. Touch is supported.
Where the design earns its rating is the evidence-management UI. The case-board lets you pin evidence and witnesses, draw connections between them, and flag inconsistencies. The visual evidence-board makes the deduction tractable.
Where I would push back is the absence of difficulty modes. The cases are calibrated for a specific deduction skill level. Players who find that level too easy or too hard have no adjustment options.
Four stars. Strong mystery adventure with thoughtful evidence-management UI. Limited by absence of difficulty options.
Trained as a librarian, started a hobby blog about browser games during her library science degree, took it freelance when the blog crossed 5,000 subscribers. Tests games on her morning train commute.
Frequently asked questions about Detective Files
How do I play Detective Files?
Click to interview, examine evidence, visit crime scenes. Case-board lets you pin and connect evidence. Confront suspects with supporting evidence; premature accusations fail the case.
Is Detective Files free to play in my browser?
Yes. Detective Files runs free in any modern browser. No installation, no signup, no payment required. Click the play button to load the game.
Does Detective Files work on mobile devices?
Detective Files runs in mobile browsers on iOS and Android with touch controls. Most adventure games on AJ Arcade support both desktop and mobile, though precision-heavy titles tend to play better on desktop with a keyboard or gamepad.
Who reviewed Detective Files on AJ Arcade?
Eliza Chambers reviewed Detective Files. Their full editor review appears above and their other coverage is available on their author profile.
Where can I find more games like Detective Files?
More adventure titles are available on the Adventure category page. Every game on AJ Arcade has been played and reviewed by one of our three reviewers before publication.