Investigative/Mystery RPGs

Make me aware of that which I'm not aware. Specifically, I'm looking tabletop games/RPGs which primary focus is promoting mystery or investigation mechanics into game play. Favorites or worst ever for your own reasons; why or what not is optional but preferred. What did you like/dislike about the game. Include links for extra credit.

I'm not all that familiar myself I can only think of two such RPGs

Baker Street
Beyond the Supernatural

I defer to the wisdom others.
The short of it is I'm looking for games/modules to review.

GUMSHOE is what I usually see people talking about for this. http://site.pelgranepress.com/index.php/gumshoe/

For me, any system with a decent skill system works. YMMV.

Ditto for Gumshoe.  I have my own quibbles with the system, but it seems to resolve a problem many have with investigative scenarios.

Seth Ben-Ezra's Dirty Secrets takes a very different approach to the concept, based in part on the fact that whether or not a hardboiled PI actually solves a case is less important than the (wait for it) dirty secrets he uncovers in the process.

A Dirty World by Greg Stolze is the one I've had most fun with;).

It's made to emulate noir stories, and feature no magic, but also gives advice on constructing a "crime of the week" by randomly generating it. And it also gives advice on the "investigative approach of noir cops", which is an approach every player can handle:D!

Quote from: daniel_ream;920415Ditto for Gumshoe.  I have my own quibbles with the system, but it seems to resolve a problem many have with investigative scenarios.

Gumshoe tries to "fix" a problem that didnt exist in the rules. The problem was with the GM. Its on my "Dont waste your money on this like I did." warning list to others.

As for investigative RPGs.

Call of Cthulhu: Probably does it best of all.
Beyond the Supernatural: Runner up for best at it.
Gangbusters: if you can find a copy.
Shadowrun: can handle an investigative game in some interesting ways from the physical, magical or net angle.
Albedo: Though its mostly war focused in setting. It can also handle non-military investigative characters for example.

Several Superhero RPGs can handle investigative style heroes pretty well. MSH comes to mind and I've heard others mention DC Heroes and someone else suggested Justice Inc. Which Im still hunting for.

Secret Agent RPGs may too. Mercenaries, Spies & Private Eyes and Top Secret for example, and probably also the old James Bond: 007 RPG

I already mentioned A Dirty World:).

That's still my first recommendation, but I'd like to recommend the Maelstrom Domesday as well. Sleuthing in 11-centyry Britain, looking for possibly magic-using criminals or ones that appear to be using it, what's not to like;)?

This looks like a thread about investigative RPGs in general, so moving from the other games to the RPG forum.

Mercenaries Spies and Private Eyes is a Tunnels and Trolls variant but the skill system adds some depth in the area of investigation.  It does have a nice page or two of discussion for running mystery games.

GURPS Mysteries is a good, largely systemless resource as well.

Ghostories: Supernatural Mysteries
Mean Streets: Film-Noir Mysteries
Bloodshadows: Fantasy-Noir Mysteries

Call of Cthulhu for me... with ideas on running mysteries borrowed from hither and yon.

Also, I prefer Raymond Chandler, Dashiell Hammett and Mickey Spillane over the Agatha Christie, Sherlock Holmes variety of sleuthing. Less about a puzzle box of 'clues' and encyclopedic knowledge of tobacco and feathers... more about legwork and talking to people.

If just about the investigation and nothing else and specifically about the occult, Call of Cthulhu is your bag.

For everything else, there's World of Darkness.