Steam wastes no time launching 2026 sales calendar. Detective Fest runs January 12-19 featuring discounts up to 93% on sleuth classics and modern indies alongside playable demos for unreleased investigative titles. Perfect timing following Winter Sale cooldown.
Event celebrates deduction across visual novels, point-and-click adventures, document hunts, noir simulations. Blue Prince leads with prominent placement after 2025 breakout success, joined by genre-defining Return of the Obra Dinn, Disco Elysium: Final Cut, Rise of the Golden Idol.
Headliners On Sale
| Title | Discount | Genre |
|---|---|---|
| Blue Prince | Lowest ever | Puzzle deduction |
| Return of the Obra Dinn | Deep cut | Document mystery |
| Disco Elysium | Final Cut pricing | RPG investigation |
| Rise of Golden Idol | Sequel discount | Case deduction |
New Demo Spotlights
Fresh investigative indies showcase:
- The Ratline: Nazi hunting document puzzle (Owlskip)
- Surradia: WWII artist disappearance, museum investigation
- Detective’s Apprentice: Cleo learns from Maya Lynch (3 cases playable)
- Sleuth Saga: Phoenix Wright-style journalist’s daughter (Ch. 0 soon)
- Obsidian Moon: Noir detective simulator debut
Deep Cuts Worth Investigation
- Kona: $1.49 (90% off) Canadian village horror
- Call of Cthulhu: $2.99 (85% off) tentacle investigation
- Tangle Tower: $3.99 (80% off) 3D object interaction
- Sherlock Holmes Awakened: $5.99 (85% off)
- Paper Perjury: Visual novel police clerk cases
Genre Evolution Showcase
Detective Fest reveals maturation:
- Document puzzles (Obra Dinn lineage)
- Visual novels (Ace Attorney/Danganronpa)
- 3D interaction (Tangle Tower successor)
- Noir sims (L.A. Noire spirituals)
- Family tree mysteries (Roottrees influence)
Steam curation favors innovative deduction over action-heavy detective games.
Sale Schedule Context
- Detective Fest: Jan 12-19
- Board Game Fest: Jan 26-Feb 2
- Typing Fest: Feb 5-9
- Spring sale ecosystem established
Steam Deck Verified Focus
Many titles optimized:
- Blue Prince: Verified
- Return of Obra Dinn: Playable
- New demos: Deck-ready
- Portable sleuthing viable
FAQs
When does it end?
January 19, 2026 at 10AM Pacific. One week duration standard.
Best new demo?
The Ratline leads for Nazi-hunting document puzzles with March release.
Worth buying classics?
Obra Dinn, Disco Elysium represent genre peaks at historic lows.
Steam Deck safe?
Headliners verified, new demos optimized for portable play.
Next fest coming?
Board Game Fest January 26. Two-week gap typical.
Refund policy applies?
Standard 2hr/14day rules. Demos mitigate purchase risk.
Indie dominated?
AAA presence minimal. Pure investigative focus over action detectives.
Conclusion
Steam Detective Fest delivers genre showcase minus filler. Blue Prince/Obra Dinn anchor reliability while Ratline, Surradia demos preview 2026 innovation. Deep discounts hit exactly when deduction itch needs scratching post-Winter Sale. Perfect event for magnifying glass enthusiasts – Steam’s 2026 thematic calendar launches strong.