.png){kind=logo}
Ewan is Deputy Editor for ScreenRant's gaming section. He still quite hasn’t gotten out of his mid 00’s emo phase, and knows more about The Legend of Zelda and Doctor Who than is probably healthy.
Ewan oversees the content operation of ScreenRant's gaming output, working with a talented team of writers and editors to cover everything from the latest GTA 6 news to the indie games you need on your radar.
Former Editor of GAMINGbible, Ewan also has words at Kotaku, Den of Geek, NME, and UNILAD. He's appeared on various podcasts, including VGC's and BBC's Let's Talk About Tech.
2026 is shaping up to be a pretty massive year for video games, but if you can't quite crack the mystery of what to play next, Steam has you covered with an extra-special limited-time promotion. That thing about cracking a mystery will be really funny in a second, trust me.
From now until January 19, Steam is running an event entirely focused on detective games. There are tons of deep discounts on some of the best games the mystery genre has to offer, including The Case of the Golden Idol, Strange Horticulture, and my own personal game of 2025, Blue Prince. While discounts are all well and good, you'll probably be more interested to know there are also some free downloads to claim. And by some, I mean loads. Like, loads.
Steam Gamers, Don't Miss These 24 Freebies
Available until January 19
From now until January 19 at 10am PT, you can get your hands on over 24 free demos for a range of excellent detective games. While I can't imagine you'll be able to play through them all, some of these are almost certainly going to sink their teeth into you and leave you feeling the need to buy the full game. Let's take a look at the 24 most popular games with demos below:
- Detroit: Become Human
- The Séance of Blake Manor
- Ace Attorney Investigations Collection
- Heavy Rain
- Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective
- The Rise of the Golden Idol
- Strange Horticulture
- Dinocop
- Scene Investigators
- Detective Instinct: Farewell, My Beloved
- Murder on the Orient Express
- The Darkest Files
- 再见断刀
- Staffer Case
- Penelope Pendrick and the Art of Deceit
- 52Hertz
- Tyrion Cuthbert: Attorney of the Arcane
- On Your Tail
- Trials of Innocence
- A Case of Fraud
- Daemon Masquerade
- Mind Diver
- Darkside Detective: A Fumble in the Dark
- The Case of the Golden Idol
I should stress this really is the tip of the iceberg. There are a huge number of demos for some lesser-known detective games, to the extent that I couldn't actually count them all. There are well over 50 to choose from though, so if the games listed above don't quite do it for you, there are plenty of others to choose from. You can take a look at those over on Steam.
If That Wasn't Enough...
You really wanted more?
If that's not enough for you, Steam has also added three new limited-time items to the Steam Points Shop. You can now pick up a mystery-themed animated avatar, frame, and sticker, provided you've enough points.
So there we have it: Steam has kicked off 2026 with an absolutely massive event packed with fun freebies. All you have to do is find the time to take advantage of it. Good luck with that.
English (US) ·