Agatha Christie was an English writer famed for her detective stories centering around the investigations of fictional detectives Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple, earning her the title of best-selling fiction writer of all time.
Game developers looking to novels for their games is nothing new, with Christie's incredible array of detective stories and murder tales having unsurprisingly had more than their fair share of console adaptations. So whether you're looking to solve a Death On The Nile or a Murder On The Orient Express, here are the best video game adaptations out there for Agatha Christie fans and budding Poirot's alike.
10 Agatha Christie: Death On The Nile
Death On The Nile is one of Christie's most recognizable and acclaimed novels; seeing Poirot taking time off for a well-earned holiday before finding himself at the center of a grisly murder investigation.
Death On The Nile is a classic hidden object game with 24 illustrated scenes of cabins and areas upon the S.S. Karnak containing vital hidden evidence for Poirot to recover. Alongside the hunt for clues, you'll also have 12 investigations to complete with a ticking time limit, requiring you to question all 14 suspects aboard the vessel and examine the evidence at your disposal, hopefully, solving the mystery once and for all.
9 Agatha Christie: Dead Man's Folly
Dead Man's Folly sees a charity murder mystery game organized by Sir George, Lady Stubbs, and acclaimed crime novelist Ariadne Oliver become center stage for a real murder, leaving guest Hercule Poirot to step in and solve the case.
Playing as Poirot, you'll need to search through 48 hidden object scenes, decrypt clue notes and solve puzzles across 11 chapters to reveal this English manor's dark secrets in a manner any aspiring detective would relish. This game also featuring a comic book style for the story segments, providing the details you need to understand the original novel and aiding in your locating of the mystery killer.
8 4:50 From Paddington
After Elspeth McGillicuddy witnesses a frightening murder through the window of a passing train, she finds the police will not believe her. This leaves her friend – acclaimed amateur detective Miss Marple – to step in and solve the case instead.
4:50 From Paddington is the last of the hidden object games in the Agatha Christie collection, and the only one to have you playing as Miss Marple. Within the 12 chapters, you'll need to gather evidence, analyze key clues, cross-examine witnesses, and play through key story moments as you seek to unmask the killer.
7 Agatha Christie: Peril At The End House
The best of the four Agatha Christie Hidden object games; Peril At End House sees the return of Hercule Poirot as he vacations on the Cornish Coast. Here he meets Nick Buckly, the mistress of End House who has narrowly escaped a series of life-threatening accidents that feel more akin to foul play than natural coincidence.
Peril At End House sees you collecting key items and clues from the story along with Clue Cards that reveal details about possible potential suspects. It's one for puzzle fans, who will need to solve a variety of mini-games and object hunts in order to piece together the evidence and reveal the true story. With 13-time limited investigations to complete and scenes from the novel shown in comic-strip style graphics, this is a fantastic way for people to discover or even relive this acclaimed tale.
6 Agatha Christie: Death On The Cards
Agatha Christie's tabletop debut, Death On The Cards, is a cooperative card game where players must work together to uncover their fellow players' dark secrets and ultimately unmask the murderer that sits among them.
At its heart, this is a game of strategy, deduction, and traitors. It's seen rave reviews from players and is a must for any Christie fan, delivering a social deduction game with fan-favorite characters and the natural tension readers of the novels know all too well.
5 Agatha Christie: And Then There Were None
Agatha Christie's And Then There Were None was the author's first point-and-click adventure game. Based on the novel of the same name, it follows the story of ten guests invited by a mysterious host to a lavish island estate. Once there, the guests are killed off in apparent mock-justice for a previous crime until one by one their number diminishes.
Released back in 2016 for the Nintendo Wii and PC, this is a challenging third-person murder mystery game that immerses the player as a brand new character within the story. With evidence and clues to collect and puzzles designed specifically for the Wiimote, get ready to unravel the mysteries of this sinister island game and novel from the inside.
4 Agatha Christie: Murder On The Orient Express
This detective adventure game is based on Christie's most well-known novel. Murder On The Orient Express sees you playing alongside Poirot as a brand new character upon the train as a savage murder is committed and all passengers seem to have a motive.
Murder On The Orient Express asks players to decipher clues and put their sleuthing skills to the test. With 25 characters on board to interact and cross-examine, and a brand new ending meaning even fans of the novel won't know the identity of the killer without some intense investigation.
3 Agatha Christie: Evil Under The Sun
Evil Under The Sun sees Poirot arriving on holiday at an exclusive island resort frequented by the rich and famous. Here he witnesses the murder of a famous actress, and as he begins to question the other guests, finds everyone seems to have an alibi and a motive.
Evil Under The Sun is the third and last game in the point-and-click adventure trilogy and the second on the Nintendo Wii. The game throws players into this classic novel headfirst, needing to use their sleuthing skills to interact and grill 20possible suspects. Players can make use of camera perspectives that emphasize suspects' emotions, similar to Rockstar's L. A Noire, allowing the player to look for lies in their statements along with a shadowing ability to stealthily follow suspects and observe their activity from a distance.
2 Agatha Christie: The ABC Murders DS
The only Agatha Christie novel adaptation to hit the DS, Agatha Christie: The ABC Murders follows Captain Hastings and Hercule Poirot as they investigate a string of alphabetical murders committed across the UK.
This is a different take on previous titles, with Poirot actively targetted by the killer with messages leading the detective and Hastings to the murder sites, albeit always a touch too late. Playing as Poirot, players will need to solve the crime through mind-bending puzzles and the investigation and recording of clues and notes in the investigator's journal, all in the hopes of piecing together the clues and tracking down the killer in time.
1 Agatha Christie: The ABC Murders
The latest and greatest Agatha Christie adaptation; Agatha Christie: The ABC Murders is the same story but adapted for all platforms, from mobile to the Nintendo Switch. Once again, it follows the trail of a madman and his string of alphabetical murders.
This adventure investigation game has you stepping into the shoes of Poirot as, for the first time, you analyze crime scenes in a fully 3D environment. Players will need to talk to and interrogate key characters and witnesses, gather hidden evidence, and solve a variety of challenging puzzles with decisions that can have a lasting impact on the story. This is one for any fan of investigative and detective-style games, expertly capturing the thrill of the chase and the tension of Agatha Christie's novels for past readers and new players alike.