Beware of the Fake INQUEST App on Google Play
A warning about a fake, paid clone of the former INQUEST identity published on the Google Play Store by Rizk Corsight, LLC. PLAY INQUEST is a free web game.
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Read the mystery.Solve the case.
A detective's journal on mystery films, television, and games, beside an original browser casebook where every witness has something to hide.
- Original handcrafted mysteries
- Free Daily generated cases
- Free to play co-op multiplayer
The Journal
Reviews, essays, and field notes on mystery films, television, games, and the craft of a fair-play case.
The Daily Dossier: a new murder mystery, every single day
PLAY INQUEST now drops a fresh, free murder mystery every day. The Daily Dossier sits at the top of the casebook with a new solvable case each morning, alongside the hand-crafted collection.
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A step-by-step method for solving any whodunit: read the case file, build an alibi timeline, find the contradiction, weigh means, motive, and opportunity, and avoid the obvious-suspect trap. Works for mystery novels, detective games, and escape rooms.
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A short history of the murder mystery, from Edgar Allan Poe's first detective story and Wilkie Collins to Sherlock Holmes, Agatha Christie and the Golden Age fair-play rules, hardboiled noir, true crime, and today's detective games.
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The honest map of Unsolved Case Files alternatives in 2026: more cold-case boxes like Hunt A Killer and Deadbolt, digital detective games like Her Story, Return of the Obra Dinn, and PLAY INQUEST, plus the free options worth trying first.
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Original whodunits, each a closed room of its own
The Ratnagiri House
Case 00The war had ended decades ago, but the books were never closed.
The Last Monsoon
Case 01A dead man cannot be tried for treason.
The Jade Peacock
Case 02The most valuable things in a room are rarely on display.
The Midnight Passenger
Case 03Everyone on the train had somewhere to be. None of them wanted to arrive.
The Widow's Season
Case 04She gave everything to this house. The house gave it to someone else.
The Signal Fire
Case 05Some secrets wash in with the tide. Others have to be buried with it.
From crime scene to verdict
- 01
Read the dossier
Open the case file. Learn what happened, when, and where. Walk each scene and log the clues you find.
- 02
Interrogate witnesses
Every alibi forms part of a time-grid. Cross-reference statements and find the contradiction that cannot hold.
- 03
Make one accusation
Choose the suspect whose story does not hold on the accusation board. There is no second attempt.
Everything you need to follow the lie
A New Case Daily
The Daily Dossier drops a fresh murder mystery every morning. Self-contained, solvable, always different.
Original Handcrafted Cases
Full-length original mysteries: contradictory alibis, a dossier of clues, and one irreversible accusation each.
Two-Player Co-op
Work the same case with a friend. Compare notes, argue the timeline, and each make your own call.
Free to start
Play today's Daily Dossier and the tutorial free. Sign in for the handcrafted casebook and latest seven daily cases.
Built in the tradition of fair-play mysteries
Every case is fictional, but the method is classic: a closed circle of suspects, a timeline that almost holds, and enough evidence for a careful reader to reach the truth without being handed the answer.
A growing casebook for detectives around the world.
Open a file, compare the testimony, and decide who is telling the truth.
The story behind the casebookHelp shape the casebook
Found a contradiction, got stuck on a case, or have a note about the investigation? Send a message and tell us what would make the next file better.
Send feedback
hello@playinquest.comFrequently asked questions
Is it free to play?
Yes. Today's Daily Dossier and The Missing Watch tutorial are free without an account. Signed-in detectives can play the handcrafted casebook and latest seven daily cases. Premium is normally $5 and currently 80% off: $1 for 30 days or $1/month. It adds replays, up to one year of daily cases, random challenges, and no ads while helping cover server and development costs.
Is there a new murder mystery case every day?
Yes. The Daily Dossier is a fresh murder mystery published every morning, shown at the top of the casebook with today's case featured and earlier days below. Today's dossier is free to play.
How long does a detective case take to solve?
Cases vary in length. Plan to read the file carefully, search the scenes, question the suspects, and compare their statements before you make your one accusation.
Can I play this multiplayer detective game with a friend?
Yes. Signed-in players can open a two-player co-op room over a peer-to-peer connection. Both detectives share the dossier in real-time, chat in-game, and submit their own accusations.
Do I need to download an app to play?
No download is required. PLAY INQUEST is a completely browser-based detective game that plays instantly in any modern browser on desktop, tablet, or mobile devices.
What makes PLAY INQUEST different from other online mystery games?
Unlike games where you just click around for hidden objects, PLAY INQUEST requires real deduction. You must read true crime-style case files, cross-examine witness statements, and find the one lie that breaks the alibi.
Are the murder mystery cases based on real true crime events?
No, all PLAY INQUEST cases are entirely fictional. However, they are written in a gritty, realistic police-dossier style that true crime fans will feel right at home with.
Can I stream PLAY INQUEST on Twitch or YouTube?
Absolutely! Our interactive crime solving game is great for streamers. You can invite your chat to help you review the evidence, connect the dots, and vote on the final accusation.
What platforms are supported?
It plays perfectly in any modern web browser on PC, Mac, iOS, and Android. A dedicated Android app build is also planned to follow soon.
Open PLAY INQUEST Premium
Today's mystery stays free. Premium unlocks replays, up to one year of Daily Dossiers, random unplayed-case challenges, and an ad-free game. Premium is normally $5; right now both plans are 80% off. Pay $1 once for 30 days or $1 monthly for continuing access. Your purchase helps cover server bills and ongoing development by one independent developer.
The file is open. The suspects are waiting.
Read carefully, catch the lie, and make the one accusation you cannot take back.
Start investigating